Appalachia--Science in the Public Interest

SPRING 2003 NUMBER 75

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 31st & June 1st – Solar Water Heating Workshop
June 7th – River Day (see below)

PLAN TO ATTEND ASPI'S REVAMPED
RIVER DAY ON JUNE 7th
By Ben Perry

Rockcastle River Day 2002 was winding up and I had just gathered up my umpteenth
disposable plastic plate to be taken to the local landfill, when I announced to
the staff, "Next year we are going make River Day a 'zero-waste' event". So now
that River Day 2003 is just 2 months away, it is time to walk the talk.
Environmental organizations using disposable plastic items at their events has
always been a pet peeve of mine and now I have the opportunity to demonstrate an
alternative.

We hope to achieve "zero-waste" through a combination of donated silverware,
cups, plates, etc. that we will provide, plus people bringing their own
utensils. We ask that folk coming to the event bring no disposable items and
refrain from bringing disposable party trays or other containers to the potluck.
Please help us achieve our goal and feel free to contact us with any ideas you
have or share your experience in producing such an event.

Our plan is to turn River Day into an event that draws people from far and wide
to enjoy themselves, learn about ASPI's work, and participate in some way if
they so desire. Please contact us with any ideas you may have for making River
Day a better event.

New for 2003

* Introducing the inaugural Rockcastle River Day
Rocktathalon, to crown the champion Rocktathalete!
* We're bringing back Volleyball and Horseshoes, and
adding rock-skipping, canoeing, watermelon seed
spitting, an egg toss, and a river cane javelin throw
* "Zero-waste" event and potluck (see above)
* More musicians
* More kid's activities and many new nature
center exhibits
* A "green" silent auction under the tent
* A volunteer project for those willing to pitch in
* More community participation

Donations of the following items will be greatly appreciated: Silverware, cups,
plates, bowls, and items for the silent auction. As always, we appreciate those
who make financial contributions to help defray River Day costs.

SOLAR WATER HEATING WORKSHOP MAY 31st & JUNE 1st
By Joshua Bills

The Kentucky Solar Partnership and Appalachia – Science in the Public
Interest are hosting a 2-day workshop (2nd day optional) on sizing, designing,
and installing solar water heating systems in Kentucky's climate. For a
suggested donation of $20, you will receive up to 2 days of instruction and a
lite lunch each day. For an extra $32, you will receive a copy of Tom Lane's
new book, Solar Hot Water Systems 1977 to Today: Lessons Learned. The book is
not required for attendance, but it will be referred to frequently during the
workshop and will be a valuable take-home reference.

On Saturday, May 31st, we will focus on assessing your hot water needs and
available sunshine, in addition to sizing and designing a system. A cost-
analysis will be performed and different types of systems will be discussed. On
Sunday, June 1st, we will install a "propylene glycol closed-loop hot water
system with a heat exchanger mounted to an existing propane gas fired water
heater" on the ASPI office building. You will learn how to mount a solar water-
heating panel and plumb the system to an existing water heater. You may attend
May 31st only, but you need to attend May 31st if you plan to attend June 1st.

The workshop will be held from 9 AM to 5 PM both days at the ASPI office
in Mount Vernon, KY. Space is limited, so please reserve your place by calling
ASPI at 606-256-0077 and sending an appropriate workshop donation to: ASPI, 50
Lair Street, Mt. Vernon, KY 40456. Please send $32 for the book by May 10th in
order for it to arrive by the 31st.

ROCKCASTLE COUNTY STUDENTS BUILD ENERGY CYCLE
By Joshua Bills

Rockcastle Area Technology Center students, in conjunction with
ASPI, are in the process of building an "Energy Cycle". This is a portable
device featuring solar panels and a bicycle-type pedal system which helps kids
understand solar power and gives them a direct experience of the energy required
to power various small electrical devices such as incandescent, fluorescent, and
LED lighting technologies, as well as a DC fan.

Kids can sit down in a recycled automobile bucket seat and turn the
pedals as the demonstrator switches from one device to the other, dramatically
increasing or decreasing the difficulty of turning the pedals, according to the
energy efficiency of the technology. They can also compare their leg power to
the power generated by the solar panels. We have been borrowing one from Berea
College (built by ASPI's Josh Bills) for special events and it is always a big
hit with kids.

A total of 14 students have been working on the project and they hope to
have it completed by the end of April. When completed, the "Energy Cycle" will
reside at ASPI's Mary E. Fritsch Nature Center or at the Mt. Vernon office. It
will be available to the Rockcastle County School System anytime there is no
direct conflict with ASPI's needs, and if there is a conflict, we will attempt
to borrow Berea College's energy cycle to allow the schools to use the one they
constructed. This project is one of our first efforts to connect our solar work
with the local community, and we hope it is one of many to come. It was funded
by a grant from the Captain Planet Foundation.

KENTUCKY SOLAR PARTNERSHIP
NET METERING UPDATE
By Joshua Bills

As many of you may know, ASPI installed a net-metered solar system at its Mt.
Vernon office in 2002. A net-metered solar system incorporates solar electric
panels which pass through a grid intertie inverter. It offsets a customers
monthly electric bill by the amount of energy the solar electric panels produce.
Since its connection on March 15, 2002, the ASPI solar system has generated
1500-kwhs of electricity, reducing the ASPI electric bill for the year by over
$100.

ASPI's Kentucky Solar Partnership has been pushing for net metering statewide.
It is a cost-free way for Kentucky to encourage the development of clean energy
throughout the state. Presently, only Kentucky Utilities, LG&E, and Union
Light, Heat and Power offer a net metering option to their customers, and Berea
College Utilities has recently proposed a net metering service, but it's still
awaiting Public Service Commission approval.

House Representative Lonnie Napier sponsored the Net Metering Bill (House Bill
382) in the latest legislative session, which would require all electric
utilities in Kentucky to offer net metering to their customers. This
legislation has already been passed in the majority of other states. The Bill
was received by the Tourism Development and Energy Committee and posted for
discussion on February 19, 2003. ASPI's Joshua Bills spoke about the benefits
of net metering to the state, utility customers, and the utilities themselves.
The concept was viewed with much hesitation, however, as the Committee members
were unfamiliar with net metering. The suggestion was made to review the issue
in more depth during the 2003 interim. You can help by contacting your Kentucky
state representative and letting them know you want to see a net metering bill
filed next year. Refer them to this past session's HB 382 for the language of
such a bill.

GINSENG NEWS
By Therese Tackett and Jack Kieffer

March 1st Workshop
On March 1, 2003, Syl Yunker and Therese Tackett conducted a virtually-
wild ginseng workshop at ASPI's Mary E. Fritsch Nature Center near Livingston,
Ky. Six men and nine women attended from western, eastern, and central
Kentucky. Planting, harvesting, grading, marketing and crop protection were
covered in the workshop, and participants that paid $20 above the regular $20
workshop fee left with a quarter-pound of ginseng seed and ASPI's Ginseng
grower's manual. Syl Yunker's video was also available for sale.

Ginseng Lab
Just prior to the March 1 workshop, we received the results of the latest
research conducted by Dr. Laura Murphy of Southern Illinois University, testing
the ability of our own Jack Kieffer's ginseng leaf extracts to inhibit the
growth and reproduction of human breast cancer cells. Her research shows that
leaves harvested in September and October were considerably more effective that
those harvested in May through August, although all were at least moderately
effective. Even leaves that had begun to turn yellow remained quite potent.

These results point to the conclusion that the leaves gain in potency as
the growing season progresses, but this hypothesis needs further testing.
Confirmation of these results could be a boon for ginseng growers, as they may
be able to harvest leaves late in the season without adversely affecting root
development. ASPI will be collaborating on a research project to determine the
potency of the leaves at various times of the year, and the effects of leaf
harvest on soil chemistry and root development.

Ginsenosides (extracts) produced from either leaves or roots can be
valuable commodities. Chemical companies sell them in powder form for more than
$100 for less than 1/1,000 of an ounce. A couple of the workshop attendees
expressed an interest in setting up an extraction lab, but Jack discouraged them
by pointing out that it would be difficult without a chemistry background (Jack
has a D.Sc. in Chemical and Environmental Engineering), and that the cost of
equipping a lab capable of producing marketable quality and quantities of
extracts would be prohibitive to most.

NATURE CENTER NEWS
By Ben Perry

Andri Kukas has worked tirelessly all winter to upgrade the exhibits in
the Mary E. Fritsch Nature Center. If you visited the center last year, you
won't recognize it! The overall theme of the exhibits is Biodiversity in
Appalachia, and Andri has made the exhibits more dynamic and interactive than
before. The new exhibits were recently field-tested by a couple of Knox County
elementary schools and Andri received effusive praise from many of the teachers.
By the time River Day rolls around, Andri should be finished with the
educational booklet that will provide interpretation at several numbered
locations along the nature trail. The nature trail project was funded by a
grant from Eastern Kentucky PRIDE.

ASPI ORGANIC GARDENS
By Ben Perry

We have still not found an individual or group willing to coordinate the
garden project for 2003, so the responsibility has fallen back to me. ASPI's
Eddie Stallsworth tilled the garden, I spread a couple of 5 gallon buckets of
compost per row, and Eddie and I mulched with aged sawdust and some yard-waste.
I got an early start putting out sugar-snap peas, lettuce and mustard greens,
but have since been busy and only put in beets and Swiss chard. Jack Kieffer
and Therese Tackett are prepping and planting the river site garden.

READER FEEDBACK WANTED

The board and staff have had several conversations recently discussing how
we can better serve our readership. Please feel free to call and give us some
feedback as to what you might like from us. Are there certain topics you would
like us to cover better? Are there certain products, publications or services
you would like us to offer?

NEWSLETTER REMINDER

Please let us know if you would prefer to receive the newsletter via e-
mail. This is also the second reminder for newsletter recipients to let us know
if they are not the proper addressee, no longer care to receive the newsletter,
or want to keep receiving it, but cannot afford the $10 per year minimum
donation. Please use the contact information on the back page to communicate
with us if any of the above apply to you.

NEW DONATION INFORMATION
By Ben Perry

Bequests

We are asking our supporters to consider placing a bequest clause in their
will to help support ASPI's work after they have passed on. As director of
ASPI, I try not to ask anyone to do anything that I am not willing to do myself,
so I recently updated my Will and added a $10,000 bequest to ASPI. It turned
out to be quite an empowering experience and I needed to update my Will anyway.
Several ASPI board members have agreed to follow suit.

The provisions in your Will for making a bequest to ASPI depend on your
state law, the type of gift, and your specific circumstances. You may choose to
give your attorney ASPI's contact information and let the attorney take care of
it, or you may choose not to inform ASPI at all. Following are a few samples of
bequest clauses that may be helpful. We also have samples that fit other
circumstances (available upon request).

Sample of an "unrestricted general bequest" - I bequeath to Appalachia – Science
in the Public Interest, Mt. Vernon, Kentucky, the sum of __________ Dollars
($__________) for its general purposes.

Sample of a "specific legacy" – I bequeath my arrowhead collection, my garden
tools and equipment, and my Old Town canoe, to Appalachia – Science in the
Public Interest, Mt. Vernon, Kentucky.

Sample of a "gift of residuary estate" – I devise and bequeath the residue of
the property owned by me at my death, real and personal and wherever situate, to
Appalachia – Science in the Public Interest, Mt Vernon, Ky, for its general
purposes.

Sample of a gift for specific purposes – I bequeath to Appalachia – Science in
the Public Interest, Mt. Vernon, Kentucky, the sum of ______ Dollars
($__________) to be used for equipment for the nature center and equipment for
high-profile solar installations.

THANK YOU'S 1-6-03 to 4-7-03 - Helen Latour, George Bullard/ Lifeworks
Foundation, Phillip & June Allen, Charles & Katherine Fritsch, Gwendolyn Hall,
Len Levine, Gregory & Ruth Maletta, Roger & Arleta Hommes, Sr. Noel LeClaire,
George Oberst, Burton Barnes, Ed Lorenz, Sandy & Cecil Hudson, Paul O'Brien, Tom
& Rita Maurer, David & Martha Lester, Joyce Gros, OP./Dominicans of St.
Catharine, Beth Dotson Brown, Mary Dresser, Bernard Kern, Anne & John Horstman,
Georgia Herring, Joan Anderson, Randall Hayes, Nancy Acara, Edith Kearfott,
Robin Hille/ The Cumberland Center for J. & P., George Steenken, Ursuline
Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, William & Loretta Galbraith, Rosemary Corsetti,
Richard Hoar, SJ., Bernie & Ellen Engelman, Perry-O & David Sliwa, Peg & Tim
Taylor, Richard & Martha Lammers, Thomas Camp, Kathleen Hogan, Mary Ann Smith,
David & Ethyl Merrick, Carolyn Vadala, Mike Eisenstat, Shirley Reynolds, Douglas
& Laura Fortmeyer, Walter Farrell, SJ., Nancy Jackson, Mary White Goodwyn, Gwen
& Andy McMahon, Mary Wicksten, Mary Wiss, Myrtle Hendrickson, Sr. Loretto
Driscoll, CDP, Sr. Marie Gangwich, Barbara Ottewell, Judson Cramer, Ralph
Pickerell, Twila Colley, Donald & Nancy Moloney, Rebecca Glasscock, Janette
Shetter, Tom & Carol French-Corbett, Tony Hayes, Mark Schimmoeller & Jennifer
Lindberg, Tom DeLaura, Catholic Diocese of Lexington KY., Veronica Ries, Mary
Clark, John & Sandra Freda, Darrel Griffin, Pam English, Stephen & Patricia
Boyce, Ann Peery, SCN Ministry Fund/SCN Center.

PUBLICATIONS

Rob Roy's new book has been released. Cordwood Building: The State of the
Art, New Society Publishers, 2003, contains a chapter written by ASPI's Al
Fritsch and Jack Kieffer about Jack's mobile home which has been wrapped in
cordwood. Cost is $26.95 plus $6.00 S&H and $1.62 tax for Kentucky residents.
We will be stocking copies to sell.

THE ASPI FLEA MARKET

Notecards – We still have many ASPI Appalachian Wildflower & Appalachian
Winter notecards. There are still 6 different varieties of the wildflower
cards, but the winter cards are down to 5, so you will get 2 of the same scene
in your set of 6 winter cards. The Wildflower notecards are all full-color
pictures of daisies, roses, dogwood blossoms, rhododendron, phlox, and black-
eyed susans growing near rustic structures such as split-rail fences and log
cabins or in other Appalachian settings. If you have not seen Warren Brunner's
color photography, you are in for a treat. The Appalachian Winter notecards are
all black-and-white snow scenes of Appalachian mountains, forests, fencerows,
barns and outbuildings, and are equally stunning.

Light Bulbs – Our compact fluorescent bulbs (CFs) have been such big hit
that we had to bring in more to fill our orders. We now have 20 and 23 watt CFs
(75 and 90 watt equivalents), and 11 and 15 watt mini-CFs (40 and 60 watt
equivalents), which fit anywhere a standard light bulb fits. Unlike older and
cheaper CFs, these give off a warm soft light with an instant-on feature and no
perceptible flicker. We like them so much that we have replaced all of our 40
watt tube fluorescents with 23 watt CFs here at the office. Operating six hours
a day, the 23 watt CFs will last five years, saving $40 on electricity and about
640 lbs of coal compared with standard 90 watt bulbs.
======================================================

ASPI FLEA MARKET ORDER FORM

Name ___________________________ Mail To
Address __________________________ ASPI
________________________________ 50 Lair Street
________________________________ Mt Vernon, KY 40456

Notecards
$4.00 per set for 1 to 4 sets           = ___ sets x $4.00 = _______
or $3.00 per set for 5 or more sets    = ___ sets x $3.00 = _______
Light Bulbs $9.50 each
___ 11w+ ___ 15w+ ___ 20w+ ___ 23w bulbs x $9.50 = _______
                                                           Subtotal = _______

                                    KY residents add 6% sales tax = _______

Shipping
Notecards - Shipping is $3.50 for 1 to               Shipping = _______
9 sets and Free for 10 or more sets

Light Bulbs - Shipping is $5 for 1 to 4 bulbs      Shipping = _______
orders of 5 or more are shipped free

My tax-deductible donation to help support ASPI
education, research, & advocacy programs                   = _______

                                                         Grand Total = _______

======================================================

WISH LIST: Library materials (books, reports, periodicals, reference books), fire-box
or fire-proof safe, sign making system and/or materials, Multi-line phone
system, 2 - 32" screen doors, and office chairs with good lumbar support.

HELP SUPPORT ASPI and take
advantage of NEW LOWER RATES
on Discounted Long Distance
Service for Business or Residence

Lower Interstate rates - 4.9¢ on
outgoing or incoming calls

Lower Intrastate rates - 4.9¢ KY, 3.6¢ OH, 2.8¢ IL, 2.8¢ IN, 4.9¢ WV, 3.6¢ TN
(call for other states).
No monthly service fees, no minimum billing required.
Low cost calling cards.
Mention this ad & designate
3% of your bill (at no cost to you) to
Appalachia-Science in the Public Interest.

For more information or to order contact:
Ian Rudick, Come From the Heart
888-622-0957

APPALACHIA-SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST
(Office; ASPI Publications; AGF Conferences)
50 Lair Street, Mount Vernon, KY 40456-9806
Phone: (606) 256-0077 Fax: (606) 256-2779
ASPI Web Site: http://www.a-spi.org
E- mail: aspi@a-spi.org

Updated May 23, 2003