The 2012 US Biochar Conference is designed to advance public understanding of the economic, science and policy issues related to biochar as an amendment for soils and an agent to sequester carbon. The conference is focused on practical results, especially regarding biochar use in agriculture.

Northern California is an ideal setting to showcase new innovative technologies like biochar with significant agriculture infrastructure, progressive environmental policy, and venture capital resource.

Learn more about the conference at http://2012.biochar.us.com.

We haven’t seen winter yet in Northern California, but it’s been an amazing fall for the past 5 months. I hope you’ve been able to enjoy the beauty of nature. We’ve seen some State Parks close, however the people at Parks Alliance are working to get state parks open. www.parksalliance.com

Annie Leonard lays it our clear and concise – we need to change the way our tax dollars are spent.

http://bit.ly/storyofbroke

The United States isn’t broke; we’re the richest country on the planet and a country in which the richest among us are doing exceptionally well. But the truth is, our economy is broken, producing more pollution, greenhouse gasses and garbage than any other country. In these and so many other ways, it just isn’t working. But rather than invest in something better, we continue to keep this ‘dinosaur economy’ on life support with hundreds of billions of dollars of our tax money. The Story of Broke calls for a shift in government spending toward investments in clean, green solutions—renewable energy, safer chemicals and materials, zero waste and more—that can deliver jobs AND a healthier environment. It’s time to rebuild the American Dream; but this time, let’s build it better.

Short positive video that explain how buying more leads to feeling less.

Psychologist Tim Kasser discusses how America’s culture of consumerism undermines our well-being. When people buy into the ever-present marketing messages that “the good life” is “the goods life,” they not only use up Earth’s limited resources, but they are less happy and less inclined toward helping others. The animation both lays out the problems of excess materialism and points toward solutions that promise a healthier, more just, and more sustainable life.

These “drawing” videos are popular with the sustainability media leaders.

Helena Norberg-Hodge is the founder and director of the International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC) and its predecessor, the Ladakh Project. She is the author of Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh and co-author of Bringing the Food Economy Home. Her articles have appeared in numerous journals such as The Ecologist, Resurgence, and YES! magazine. Norberg- Hodge’s ground-breaking work in the Himalayan region of Ladakh is internationally recognized, and earned her the Right Livelihood Award.

A particular focus of Norberg-Hodge’s is the impact of the global economy on culture and agriculture and in particular the root causes of our social and environmental crises.

Now the leaves start the long journey back up the tree. I wonder if someone is studying the time it takes for the first nutrients to emerge as a leaf again.

Oh how I love Iron Horse Vineyards – the wines, the place, the people. It all works for me. This 2008 Estate went well with some Alter Eco milk chocolate and winter fig from our neighbors tree.