When the BioMass Hits the Wind Turbine

#114 - Socially Responsible Investing

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 07:44:16 -0400

Every dollar you spend is a vote. Every dollar you invest or save is also a vote.

How can you make sure that the companies you support also support an agenda and a world vision that you agree with? And just what should you look for when trying to decide where to place your money?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they speak with Michelle Wilson, Financial Planner and owner of Athens Impact Socially Responsible Investments as they discuss the evils and advantages of money.

121 – Agrarian Land Trusts

Sun, 11 Feb 2024 05:26:08 -0400

The average age of an American farmer is 65. More and more farmland is transitioned to other purposes, such as condos, suburban homes, or commercial properties. Each year we loose about 400,000 acres to development. So how can we reverse this trend.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they speak with Ian McSweeney, organizational director of the Agrarian Trust, and organization that seeks to transform the ownership of land using the Agrarian Commons model – transitioning vast tracks of privately held land to a non-profit community status and encouraging new farmers into the field - bringing a sense of equity and purpose to those involved in agriculture.

118 – Preppers

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 13:34:54 -0400

The world is teetering on the edge of disaster. The Great Depression – the Cold War – 9-11 – Katrina – the 2008 Economic Meltdown – Covid...

Doesn't it make sense to build yourself a bunker, stock it with beans and ammunition, and wait out the Zombie Apocalypse? Is that what it means to be a “prepper.” Or is it just a common sense approach to have the skills and supplies on hand to deal with whatever emergency may come your way?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they discuss the realities of living a sustainable life.

146 – the Environmental Impact of Lawns

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 08:43:20 -0400

Ah, the suburban dream. A lush, freshly cut lawn stretching as far as the eye can see. But as far as the planet is concerned, that lawn is an ecological disaster, a toxic polluting wasteland devoid of biodiversity.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the resources consumed and the environmental problems unleashed when we pursue the perfect lawn. And what are some alternatives that are a bit gentler on Mother Earth?

#115 – Becoming a Flexitrian

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 07:59:00 -0400

The raising of livestock is one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas.

Our industrial meat production processes are cruel and inhumane to the animals as well as the people who work within the system.

The over-eating of meat is a major contributor to the decline in health of the planet's population.

So why not change things up a bit?

Flexitarian is the new buzzword for those who have decided to give up a bit of meat, use meat substitutes, and generally try for a bit of moderation in their diet.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the various challenges and complexities of living a sustainable life.

151 – Utility Scale Solar

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 08:08:22 -0400

Huge solar arrays are beginning to dot the landscape - sometimes 300 acres of them spreading out across farmland and next to highways. So what is happening? What are the dynamics that are changing the utility landscape, closing coal and natural gas power plants and replacing them with acres of solar? And is this all a good thing?

Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Jake Kuss, assistant director of the Utility Scale Solar Energy Coalition of Ohio for a discussion on utility-scale solar and how it will change the way we get energy for decades to come.

193 - Building a Sustainable Community

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 08:06:00 -0400

Social media, virtual reality and the advent of artificial intelligence will push us and our society more and more towards being alone – together. A sense of isolation has become a reality for a large portion of the population. We were not meant to live this way. We are social creatures.

Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of how each of us can work to build a sustainable community where we live.

108 – The Doula of Death

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 10:45:06 -0400

When we give birth, it is generally with the help of a midwife or a doctor who has been through the process before and knows what to do and what to say to ease us through what is, after all, a natural process. So why is it not the same with death?

In the not-so-long-ago past, death was a community affair. Friends and relatives would take charge of the process, assisting the dying, helping those that would be left behind – explaining the process, washing the body, arranging for the remains.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they speak with Donna Baker, founder of Columbus Community Deathcare. She is an INELDA-trained Death Doula, hoping to revive some of the ancient rituals and practices that made the process of death a much more normal part of life.

122 – Electrify Everything

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 11:48:56 -0400

How can we reach a world where energy generation is carbon free? One solution being proposed is to electrify everything.

First it must be understood that electricity currently only accounts for about 1/3 or all the energy we use - the rest is used in transportation (oil products) and industry (primarily natural gas).

So this two-step solution envisions an electrical grid composed of renewable generation - and all energy, for buildings, vehicles and industry - powered by this renewable grid.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of this vision - what are its goals and are those goal achievable?

045 – Creating a Non-Profit Homestead

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 07:29:00 -0400

Many of us dream of chucking it all and moving out into the country, living the idyllic life on a small homestead. But then there is that nasty reality of having to make a living.

Well, one option is to set up your business and property and create a non-profit homestead – opening it up as a learning center for others who have the same dream.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living, speaking today with Claire Orner, owner of Quiet Creek Herb Farm and School of Country Living – located in Brookville, PA

192 – Why being Kind may not be Nice

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 06:35:17 -0400

We have all witnessed a certain decline in civility within our society (some more than others). So why can't folks just be nice to each other? And just what does it mean to be nice? But shouldn't we strive to be kind rather than nice – and just what is the difference?

Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the nature of niceness versus kindness, how they are the same and how they are different. And can a society really be sustainable without a heaping helping of both.

191 – The End of Work

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 07:19:09 -0400

We are already dancing around the edges of universal basic income. Of the 267 million working-age adults in America, about 100 million have already opted out of the workforce. Artificial Intelligence soon may realistically eliminate 20 percent of all the jobs currently held by high-paying professionals. Is it time to consider that our relationship with work is about to change in very profound ways?

Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of how our society may soon change in ways not seen since the harnessing of fire or the invention of agriculture.

130 – Buying Land

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 05:57:04 -0400

It is a common dream. Buy some land out in the country, build your little cabin, raise some chickens and some tomatoes and maybe a goat or two – and watch the craziness of the world sail past.

But just how do you go about making this dream a reality? What should you look for and what should you avoid when seeking out that little patch of paradise?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of their experience moving towards a sustainable lifestyle and the lessons learned over 30 years of living in a house made of trash.

190 - Sustainable Trends in the News

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 08:11:00 -0400

Often the news can be a bit depressing and overwhelming. But there may be hidden gems that give an indication of just how sustainable this world we live in can be.

Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of a few stories in the news and their impact on our lives.

189 - Solar as a Pathway to Recovery

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 05:32:00 -0400

Increasingly agencies are turning to solar as a workforce re-entry pathway for those dealing with drug addiction or trying to find a career after leaving prison.

Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station speak with Jimi Braswell of Clean NRG Solar Recovery who, after leaving prison, founded a successful solar installation business and employs folks like himself who are trying to get their act together after struggling with addiction issues.

188 - Artificial Intelligence

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 07:38:00 -0400

We are just beginning to hear about artificial intelligence and the ways it will change our lives in the future. Is it a means to a prosperous and sustainable future – or the blueprint for the destruction of human existence?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke for a discussion of artificial intelligence and how it will change our lives in the near term – and perhaps well into the future (if we last that long).

187 - Sustainable News

Sun, 29 Oct 2023 07:48:41 -0300

Often the news can be a bit depressing and overwhelming. But there may be hidden gems that give an indication of just how sustainable this world we live in can be.

Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of a few stories in the news and their impact on our lives.

186 - Active Hope

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 06:32:36 -0300

For many, the world can seem a pretty hopeless place. We are constantly bombarded with negative messages. The problems we face, both personally and globally, can feel overwhelming and without solution. But there are tools and practices that can help you take control of your responses to these negative inputs and face each day with a hopeful attitude.

Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the four principles of “active hope” and how to put them into practice in your life.

185 - The ”No Solar on Prime Farmlands” Campaign

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 04:46:30 -0300

You may have noticed a large number of strikingly similar signs popping up on farms throughout the Midwest protesting “No Solar on Prime Farmland.” So what and who is behind this campaign? And why are farmers protesting against this new potential revenue source?

Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion on this Washington DC political maneuvering posing as a grassroots campaign.

#120 – Tiny Houses

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 08:07:51 -0300

How much is enough? Is the next generation less obsessed with a big home in the suburbs? Can comfortable shelter be achieved on a small footprint... with a small budget?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they speak with Destiny Dame, a student intern at Blue Rock Station who is currently working on the $5,000 tiny home project- and contemplating how to live a life and create a business around a smaller household footprint.

136 – Smart Homes

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 09:30:39 -0300

The electrical grid has not changed much since the days of Edison and Tesla. The electrical system in your home has largely remained the same since screw-in fuses were replaced by circuit breakers in the 1960s. But all that is about to change.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of how distributed energy (wind and solar) is changing how power is delivered to your home and how smart home devices are going to dramatically change how you consume that power.

152 – Seeking Social Justice

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 08:22:32 -0300

What is social justice and why is it not incorporated in all aspects of life, business and our culture? What can we personally do to help promote a culture of fairness and equity in our everyday activities.

Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Jarod Marsh, who recently graduated with a degree in human rights and sustainability from the University of Dayton - then packed off to India to experience whether not the world reflected the theory.

184 - Running a Produce Auction

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 08:02:00 -0300

In 2004 Rural Action started a produce auction in the heart of Appalachia. In the early days, a number of volunteers and a group of Amish farmers formed the core of this enterprise. Over the years it has grown to be an economic engine within the community of Chester Hill, Ohio – as well as an unlikely tourist destination.

Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion with Emily Elam of Rural Action on some of the history, projects, challenges and successes of the Chester Hill Produce Auction.

WBHWT Episode 183 - Latest Solar News

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 08:34:02 -0300

Things are always changing, often without us noticing. This is especially true in the world of solar energy.

Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of a few stories in a typical week in the world of solar and how these events will impact our world, our culture and our lives for decades to come.

139 – Urban Forest Gardens

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 10:28:48 -0300

Just as tiny houses require all the limited space to be used efficiently for shelter – urban forest gardens use every bit of available space (side-to-side as well as up-and-down) to grow a mix of local produce. But farming in an urban setting present a unique set of challenges – from codes and zoning that may shut it down, to theft and vandalism, to tip toeing around utilities and easements.

Chad Cully, graduate student in Cornell University's Natural Resources and the Environment program joins Annie and Jay Warmke from Blue Rock Station for a discussion design challenges in creating an urban forest garden.

136 – Smart Homes

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 06:48:57 -0300

100 - Working within the System to Change the System

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 09:17:29 -0300

Former congressman Zack Space (OH) joins Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for this milestone 100th episode of When the BioMass Hits the Wind Turbine.

Congressman Space's experience in working within the US Congress as well as president of Sunday Creek Horizons - a strategic communications, issue advocacy and business development consulting firm - provides a unique perspective on the possibilities and challenges of trying to change the system from the inside.

107 - Staying Sane in an Insane World

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 07:29:46 -0300

It's easy to get the impression that everything and everyone around you is either crazy or in the process of going crazy. This is largely because it's true. Mental health is the number one illness or complaint facing those living in our soul-sick society.

So how can you deal with and cope with the mental stresses of everyday life? What are some of the things you can do to try to stay sane in an insane world? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the ever changing landscape of living sustainably.

032 - From Whale Oil to Kerosene

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 08:06:00 -0300

The search for energy has largely been a search for light. We have evolved from huddling around campfires, to burning candles made of animal fat, to hunting whales on the oceans, to refining oil and ultimately the electric light.

This is a journey filled with adventure, fortunes, misfortunes - but mostly lies and lawyers.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of sustainable living - and the Dead White Scientists that made it all possible.

010 - Straw Bale Construction

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 08:04:00 -0300

How do you construct a home or cottage from straw bales?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of sustainable living and alternative housing options.

011 - Politics of Sustainability

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 08:03:00 -0300

You can't fix the system because it ain't broken. Sustainability is political.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke from Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainability in this culture we live within.

142 – What do we mean by Net Zero and can we achieve it?

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0300

More and more corporations are promoting their net-zero or carbon-neutral goals. Is this more corporate greenwashing, or is it a real thing? Can the profit-driven corporate structure really shift to embrace a long-term impact-neutral process? And what does net zero really mean?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke from Blue Rock Station for a discussion about the impact of a truly net zero society.

096 - Does the Gig Economy work for you?

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 07:58:00 -0300

Over one-third of American workers are employed in what has come to be called the Gig Economy. If you are between 18-35 years of age, more than half those working (53%) do not have a steady paycheck.

Gig workers get no sick leave, no medical, no paid vacations. Yet the vast majority claim they would not trade the freedom this work situation provides for 'traditional' employment.

Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station and their guest, gig worker and graphic artist Ryan Evans for a discussions of the pros and cons of being a contract worker.

001 - Living in an Earthship

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0300

What is it like to live in an Earthship (a home made of tires, bottles, mud and assorted garbage)? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the serious topic of sustainable living - without taking ourselves too seriously.

You can take a free virtual tour at www.bluerockstation.com

029 - The Man Who Invented Everything (William Murdoch)

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 06:52:07 -0300

Probably the most important scientist that you have never heard of.

It can be claimed (and we will claim it) that William Murdoch was involved in creating or perfecting most of the major inventions that brought us through the Industrial Revolution to the modern age. From the steam engine to the locomotive, to the automobile to the steam boat - he even invented the pneumatic tube (that thing that delivers checks at the bank) and a way to purify beer with fish.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of sustainable living - and the Dead White Scientists that made it all possible.

111 - Home Funerals, Sustainable Burials

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 21:38:58 -0300

We are all going to die someday. So how would you like to go?

Many people are opting to reject the industrialized death machine that has gradually emerged in our society - one that makes those who love you spectators rather than participants in what is, after all, a natural and inevitable end to being a part of this world.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they speak with Donna Baker, founder of Columbus Community Deathcare about the process of conducting a home funeral and burial options that are more natural and easier on this planet that we have come to know and love.

182 - The Problem with Lithium

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 07:58:00 -0300

Lithium and specifically lithium batteries promise to be the “oil” of the coming decades. But like oil, it comes at a price. There has already been a military coup of a democratically elected government (applauded by the US govt, sound familiar?) over control of this resource. Mining practices are wreaking havoc on some regions of the world – and the transition to lithium is just beginning.

But is the future of lithium all doom and gloom, or the dawn of a bright new age?

Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the positives and negatives the world faces as it transitions to a battery economy – and what new sources and technologies hold promise that history does not have to repeat itself.

180 - Be the Change you Want to See

Sun, 28 May 2023 08:02:00 -0300

So you want to change the world. We know the political and social structures that helped make that possible in the past are deaf and/or broken. So how can you begin to create effective change from where you are... with the resources you have available?

Join Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion on how not to feel helpless and hopeless in a world that often feels overwhelming and dysfunctional.

181 - Ohio’s Potential Nuclear Disaster

Sun, 21 May 2023 07:54:00 -0300

After WWII the US Department of Defense decided it would be a good idea to refine Uranium for nuclear bombs in the small southern Ohio town of Piketon. Over the decades the released vast amounts of radioactive material into the region, elevating death rates to twice the national average, causing schools to be closed due to high radioactive measurements and resulting in more than $1 billion in worker's comp claims.

Yet few people have heard of this... and they are planning to reopen and expand operations.

Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Pat Marida of the Ohio Nuclear Free Network to discuss the history of this plant and an upcoming forum to be held in Piketon to address the past and future issues this plant is imposing upon the region.

179 - Fixing Appalachia’s Chronic Poverty

Sun, 14 May 2023 08:00:00 -0300

Appalachia is a region that seems perpetually stuck in recession, followed by depression, followed by recession. What are some of the causes of this chronic cycle of poverty and how can the region emerge economically.

Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Natalia Rudiak of Reimagine Appalachia and Ted Boettner of the Ohio River Valley Institute for a discussion of these and other issues that face the region.

153 – Save the Soil

Mon, 08 May 2023 06:02:50 -0300

According to a United Nation's study, the planet has only about 60 years of soil left. The nutrients in our soil have been so depleted that today you must eat 8 oranges to get the same vitamins that your grandparents got by eating just one. So what are the issues and what can we do about them?

Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Heather Kabler and Chitra Iyer of the Isha Foundation to discuss the Save Soil Movement and what is being done to raise awareness of this critical issue.

178 - Solar Cookers

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 08:02:00 -0300

Cooking with the sun. Not only is it a practical solution to deforestation in third-world nations, keeping smoke and ash out of poorly ventilated buildings and causing women to risk their health and safety by walking miles for fire wood – but is also a great alternative here at home as well.

Join perhaps the nation's leading expert on solar cookers, Luther Krueger, as he discusses the art and science behind solar cookers with Jay and Annie Warmke of Blue Rock Station.

177 - Changing the World

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 08:01:00 -0300

As the song goes... "we all want to change the world..."
but how to go about it?

The old tropes, call your congressman, write a letter, protest... it just seems that absolutely no one in power is listening. So how can we, each of us, change our little part of the world.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke from Blue Rock Station for a discussion on how to make "good trouble."

145 – High Tunnels

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 21:00:14 -0300

In case you hadn't noticed, the climate is changing and plants are dying. How can homesteaders cope with extreme weather events and a changing ecology. Well, one way is to create an environment for their garden that they can control to a certain extent. This is where high tunnels come in.

A high tunnel, or hoop house is a greenhouse like structure where plants can be cultivated and raised under more controlled conditions.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke from Blue Rock Station for a discussion on their experience with high tunnels, building it, the grant process with the government, and plans for how they intend to use it in the future.

118 – Preppers

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 07:58:00 -0300

The world is teetering on the edge of disaster. The Great Depression – the Cold War – 9-11 – Katrina – the 2008 Economic Meltdown – Covid...

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they discuss the realities of living a sustainable life.

176 - Community Benefit Agreements

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 08:01:00 -0300

Huge amounts of money have been allocated by the government under the Infrastructure Law as well as the Inflation Reduction Act. So how do local recipients ensure that the funds actually benefit the local community – and not just provide wages for out-of-town workers who swoop in to build a project and then move on to follow the money? Community Benefit Agreements are one tool to make sure these funds are equitably distributed.

Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Natalia Rudiak of ReImagine Appalachia in a discussion of how the region can “win the win” when these funds are allocated.

175 - The Right to Repair

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 08:02:00 -0300

s amazing as it might seem, there is a move by some corporations (and of course the government is enacting laws to support them) to prohibit customers from repairing the products they buy – forcing them to buy new things when the old may only need a bit of upkeep. And some groups are fighting back.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station in a discussion of the issues and implications of corporations trying to take away your right to repair.

174 - Money Available to Install Solar on your Home or Business

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 08:06:00 -0300

Solar is already the cheapest form of energy available – bar none. And the government, through a number of recent incentive programs, has just put it on sale. You almost cannot afford NOT to put solar on your home or business.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station in a discussion of the various tax credits and grants that are now available to make solar even more affordable and will lead to an amazing energy transition.

173 - Reimagining Appalachia

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 08:04:00 -0300

It seems that the Appalachian region is always in a state of recession. When times are good nationwide – nothing seems to change in Appalachia. When the nation is struggling, Appalachia feels it first and longest.

Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Natalia Rudiak, special projects director at Reimagine Appalachia in a discussion of the challenges facing the Appalachian region of the Ohio River Valley and what can be done to create a vibrant and sustainable economy.

172 - End of the Age of Fossil Fuels

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 07:20:00 -0400

We are living through transformative times. Not since the Industrial Revolution has the energy system that powers our society changed in such profound ways. But we are too close to it to see it clearly. Over the next three years, wind and solar will make up 90% of all new energy sources. Coal is dead. Nuclear is dead. Natural gas is dying.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station in a discussion of the enormous changes that are going on around us and how it is the end of the world as we know it... and thank God!

171 - Creatively Funding your Homestead

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 07:20:30 -0400

Many of us dream of carving out a little homestead in the country – living off the land. But actually making a living this way can be quite difficult. Fortunately there are a lot of funding sources out there designed to help small farmers and homesteaders. But how can you tap into these funds?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station in a discussion of what funds are out there and how best to successfully compete for this money.

129 – Transitioning Towards Living Sustainably

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 07:55:30 -0400

Nearly 30 years ago Annie and Jay Warmke quit their high-paying corporate jobs, sold their suburban home, and moved to the hills of Appalachia to build a home out of tires and mud. The goal was to live a carbon neutral – or even a negative carbon lifestyle.

Many of the over 35,000 people who have visited Blue Rock Station over the years have asked - “What made you do such a crazy thing? And how did you manage it?”

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of their experience moving towards a sustainable lifestyle and the lessons learned over 30 years of living in a house made of trash.

170 -The Future Farms are in our Forests

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 07:50:00 -0400

Agriculture is rediscovering the ancient practice of managing forests as a source of food and other revenue crops (other than just harvesting trees for lumber). But there are a dizzying number of terms thrown about that each mean something to someone – each a bit different in process and intent. Terms such as food forests, forest farming, agroforestry, alley cropping, and more.

Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Katherine Favor, a sustainable agriculture specialist, based in the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s Western Regional Office to try to make sense of it all.

169 – Are We Ready for Electric Vehicles?

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 07:50:00 -0400

Electric vehicles are changing the way we fuel our transportation system. They are cleaner, faster, more efficient and cheaper than the internal combustion engine. Every major car company (and many you have never heard of) are planning to convert their fleet of vehicles to all electric by 2040.

But there are a number of fundamental changes that will be required to how we wire our homes, how we manage the grid, and pricing policies used by utilities that must change if we are going to make this happen. Can your home handle the requirements of an EV... can your city... can your state? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of many of the challenges we face as we electrify the transportation industry.

085 – When Energy is Free

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 08:33:41 -0400

We are used to energy becoming more and more expensive over time. The cost of electricity has increased 7 fold since 1970. That same year a gallon of gasoline cost 36 cents.

But solar energy has changed that assumption. The cost of a solar panel has dropped from over $100 per watt in 1975 to only around 25 cents today. If these trends continue - energy will soon be free.

But that doesn't mean you won't pay for it. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station to discuss how energy will change over the coming decades and what that means to you and me.

081 – Becoming an Annoying Consumer

Sun, 22 Jan 2023 08:32:43 -0400

Every dollar you spend is a vote. And you should only vote for those companies that support a world vision that you support. But how can you know what their world vision might be? And when you vote - how can you tell those companies you did not buy from that you voted for someone else. In other words - how can you become an annoying consumer.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for an optimistic discussion of sustainable living and living your values.

092 - Thanks for Nothing

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 08:28:08 -0400

For the past decade or so, Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station have observed a three month period of non consumption - their Thanks for Nothing season. It is a break from our consumer society, where they do not buy anything - and even turn off the electricity.

Find out what motivated this bizarre behavior and what lessons are learned - and how it has enriched their lives.

168 - Urban Food Forests

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 07:51:00 -0400

The concept of a food forests, integrating marketable crops into a woodland environment, managing not just the turf for planting – but every vertical layer of space – is catching on in the world of agriculture innovations.

But can this concept be successful in an urban environment as we seek to provide local and sustainable food sources where we live? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion about the promise and perils of urban food forests.

167 - Reclaiming Downtowns

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 07:46:00 -0400

How do you create or recreate a vital and vibrant downtown district? As so many cities and small towns have seen their commercial districts fall into disuse and disrepair, there is a movement to recapture the days of locally-owned, walkable business districts.

Marietta, Ohio is a small town located at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers. They have actually been fairly successful in achieving this goal. Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Luke Sulfridge as he talks about his experience in renovating commercial properties in downtown Marietta.

166 - Nukes in Ohio

Sun, 25 Dec 2022 07:46:00 -0400

Ohio is dealing with legacy fallout from a nuclear waste facility that has resulted in widespread contamination and soaring cancer rates. Two nuclear facilities are literally crumbling in Lake Erie and are at the center of a scandal involving bribery and the Speaker of the House and other state officials facing prison time. And power from nuclear energy simply cannot compete with wind and solar without massive infusions of public funds.

So of course the Ohio legislature has decided that now is the time to create an oversight process that is not subject to public scrutiny – designed to manage and promote nuclear energy in the state behind closed doors. Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Pat Marida, anti-nuclear activist for a discussion on just what is going on with nukes in Ohio.

165 - Food Forests

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 07:48:00 -0400

Even big agriculture is beginning to look at this ancient process of using our forests as a food production model and venue for crop planting and harvesting.

So what is this concept, how does it work, and what does it mean for the health and vitality of our planet?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of food forests, not only regarding their economic benefits to marginalized populations, but as a restorative practice for our planet.

057 - Raising Naturally Healthy Pets

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 08:03:33 -0400

Like humans, many of the illnesses suffered by your pets are the result of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. Yet the medical model - which extends to the world of veterinary medicine - seems fairly clueless in how to use natural remedies to keep your pet healthy and help it regain health when things are out of balance.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

097 - Resilient Community Development

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 06:47:55 -0400

In the 1950s city planners pretty much all thought that bigger was better. More growth, more business... all good.

Then sometime in the 1970s folks started worrying about the boom bust cycle of development. Planners began asking how development could be more sustainable. Growing with the future in mind.

Now growth must be resilient, able to adapt and weather the certain storms of climate change, changing technologies, energy interruptions.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station and their guest, Myra Moss of the OSU Extension Office to discuss resilient and sustainable development within our communities.

053 - Battle of the Currents

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 15:07:21 -0400

The history surrounding the early days of electricity involved backstabbing, double dealing, huge egos battling it out in public – the electrocution of horses, dogs, people, and even elephants.

Dubbed “the battle of the currents”, this dis-information campaign pitted Thomas Edison against Tesla (and his boss, Westinghouse).

Another in our Dead White Scientists series – find out what happened just over 100 years ago that led us to the electrical system (largely unchanged since then) that we use today.

041 - Opting Out (Everything they ever told you is Wrong)

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 05:33:33 -0400

Society tells us to aspire to certain ideals. We should own a big house, drive a nice car, go for that next promotion... eat this, drink that.

What happens when you reject these as goals? How do you form your own path in a world that judges you against fairly rigid guidelines?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

033 - Living a Net Zero Lifestyle

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 06:57:18 -0400

We have heard of net zero energy. Net zero construction. But the heart of sustainability is seeking to live a net zero life. How do you get through this life with as little adverse impact on the generations that follow.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

112 - Adapting Your Property to a Changing Climate

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 05:13:13 -0400

If you have been paying attention, you will notice that the climate is changing. Plants and trees that used to thrive are dying off. Pollinators are disappearing. The seasons seem to arrive early - or late. It is too wet, then too dry.

Climate change is real and it is here now. So how can we adapt our property, gardens and forests to deal with this new reality?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the various challenges and complexities of living a sustainable life.

164 - Thriving

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 08:01:00 -0300

In a world where it is often a struggle just to get through the day, how is it that some people seem to thrive. What does this involve and how do you get into that state of mind.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion on how not to just get by, but to thrive.

163 - Finding Your Path

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 08:01:00 -0300

Many of us feel that there must be something wrong with us in that we enter college not know what we want to do in life, leave college equally uncertain, enter a job, question that decision, and then seemingly wander through life along an aimless and crooked path. But such a course is likely the norm rather than an exception.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a conversation with Alex Nash about her journey from intern to college to job to Peace Corp to college to job to whatever comes next.

162 – Why is the Cost of Electricity Rising so Dramatically?

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 08:01:00 -0300

A recent report shows the average cost of electricity rose more than 15% from 2021 to 2022. Yet the cost of producing electricity has fallen just as dramatically over recent years. Why is this happening and what will happen in the future?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion the impact of fear, greed and the weather in the world of electric utilities.

161 – Solar and Fire

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 08:00:00 -0300

In 2021 Amazon shut down all their solar electric systems on their buildings because an incredible 12% of them caught fire since being installed. So does solar PV present a significant risk or was this just a case of shoddy installation?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of rooftop solar and the risk it presents for fires.

040 – Learning to Thrive

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 07:33:47 -0300

Most of us are just getting through the day. But there are a few among us who seem to thrive – embracing each new dawn as a joyous opportunity. How do they do it?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

160 - Is Cultural Appropriation Inappropriate?

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 07:50:00 -0300

What is cultural appropriation and how does it differ from cultural appreciation? Is it a real thing, or just a Twitter excuse to be offended by just about everything?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for an inappropriate discussion about cultural appropriation.

159 - Women and Non-Binary People in Agriculture

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 07:47:00 -0300

It's hard enough to make a living in agriculture. But for women and those who identify as non-binary, it can be an incredible challenge. What are the unique challenges they face and how can they overcome them?

Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Stephanie Enloe, Director of Programming at WFAN (Women Food & Agriculture Network) for a discussion on programs available specifically for women and non-binary people in agriculture.

158 - The Death of God and Community

Sun, 11 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0300

Two things are happening at the same time. America is becoming much less religious, and our sense of community is crumbling. Are these related? Does one cause the other? And as religion wains, what will take its place?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion on the intersection of organized religion and a sense of community.

157 - How the Inflation Reduction Act will change renewables for decades to come

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0300

Congress recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act which, among other things, will dramatically change the world of renewable energy in ways so profound that we will probably be discussing it for generations.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion on what is contained in this landmark legislation and how it will affect your life as well as the renewable energy industry as a whole.

075 - Where have all the Birds Gone?

Sun, 28 Aug 2022 06:05:46 -0300

Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station are joined by Dawn Hewett, editor of Bird Watcher's Digest, in a discussion of the impacts of global warming and our non-sustainable lifestyle is having on the bird population.

Since 1970 more than 3 billion birds have disappeared from our modern day version of nature. What is happening, what does it mean, and how can we minimize the impact on our planet?

156 – End of the World as We Know It - part 2

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 07:56:00 -0300

Different generations have very different perspectives on how the world looks and feels. A global climate crisis, dysfunctional government and media, too many choices, changing perspectives on race, religion and sexuality.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion with post millennials Anna Haught and Dalia Fabb-Soto for a discussion of what they feel they and we can do to address these issues.

155 – End of the World as We Know It - part 1

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 07:48:00 -0300

Different generations have very different perspectives on how the world looks and feels. Is it the end of the world as we know it, or has it always been thus?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion with post millennials Anna Haught and Dalia Fabb-Soto for a discussion of where they feel the world has been and issues that will affect their generation.

050 - Eating Seasonally

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 09:16:04 -0300

Globalization and genetically modified food has led to a world where nearly every plant can be harvested and shipped nearly every week of the year. While this is convenient - it is not natural. And can lead to some serious problems.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

099 – Die Like Your Life Depended on it

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 08:10:35 -0300

Hate to break it to you, but we are all going to die. Yet the way we dispose of those final remains has become more and more unsustainable.

Cemeteries are full or filling up, cremation fills the skies with toxins and greenhouse gases, hundreds of thousands of cancer-causing fluids are pumped into dead bodies to make them look a bit more lifelike.

So alternatives are increasingly the norm - from reusing graves to dissolving bodies in lye to paper coffins to home burials.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the problems associated with getting rid of our corpse and some possible solutions.

104 -Ten Recent Innovations in Solar

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 09:05:29 -0300

Solar energy is one of the most disruptive technologies in the history of mankind. It is about to displace the fossil fuel industry and change the world in ways we can barely imagine. So what are some of the changes and technologies that are underway - often below the radar of most people's experience.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the 10 new innovations and changes in solar energy that will change the world.

074 – Innovations in Battery Technology

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 14:43:30 -0300

Battery technology is the next great technical frontier. As we transition to renewable energy, we face the reality that the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow. So how do we store energy when it is abundant and use it when we need it. We are in the very beginnings of an industrial revolution that will transform our society in ways we can only barely imagine.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke as they discuss the next big things in battery technology and how these innovations will soon change your life.

093 - the Internet of Things

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 08:00:00 -0300

For the past 30 years or so, the Internet has changed our lives in ways we could not have imagined. It connected 7.5 billion people together regardless of time or distance. But we ain't seen nothing yet.

The Internet of Things has already connected nearly 30 billion "things" together, and that number is poised to grow exponentially. Is this amount of data bombarding us constantly sustainable? Can our brains cope? And have we become so technologically dependent that we are hopelessly disconnected to the world that we live in?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of how the Internet of Things will change our lives and our society - for better and worse.

085 - When Energy is Free

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 08:00:00 -0300

We are used to energy becoming more and more expensive over time. The cost of electricity has increased 7 fold since 1970. That same year a gallon of gasoline cost 36 cents.

But solar energy has changed that assumption. The cost of a solar panel has dropped from over $100 per watt in 1975 to only around 25 cents today. If these trends continue - energy will soon be free.

But that doesn't mean you won't pay for it. Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station to discuss how energy will change over the coming decades and what that means to you and me.

082 - Fuel Cells

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 08:01:00 -0300

Fuel cells are a technology that has been around since the early 1800's. Every decade or so, the scientific press gets all excited about them and declare that their emergence as the next big thing is "just around the corner." Yet that corner always seems to recede into the distance.

So why does this technology never seem to catch on? Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the myths and realities of fuel cell technology and why it is the technology of the future... and always will be.

065 - Is Commercial Food Killing Your Pets?

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 06:37:19 -0300

Many of the illnesses suffered by your pets are the result of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle. So what are some of the healthy, natural, and sustainable ways you can feed and care for your pets without breaking the bank or incurring massive vet bills.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the realities of sustainable living.

WBHWT#046 - Big Agriculture

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 07:06:05 -0300

Out picture of the family farm, Aunt Bea and Uncle Joe pushing the plow, raising a few cows, tending the vegetable patch – hate to break it to you – but it's a myth. Maybe it has always been so, but farming is a large corporate affair, riddled with insurance fraud, corporate welfare, crushing debt – and a relentless push toward mono culture food-like substances.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke for a discussion about sustainability and how it affects our lives.

154 - Women in Agriculture

Sun, 29 May 2022 07:59:00 -0300

Since the dawn of time women have dominated the field of agriculture. But it has only been recently that the US government even acknowledged that women farmers exist.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the unique issues and challenges women face when they decide to dedicate themselves to agriculture - and what programs are available that are designed to help.

153 – Save the Soil

Sun, 22 May 2022 07:41:17 -0300

64 - Early Homes of America (the Pioneers didn’t all live in log cabins)

Sun, 15 May 2022 07:06:49 -0300

Early settlers of America found the most comfortable homes were often similar to those inhabited by the Native Americans who had survived in this climate for thousands of years.

Early residents of Philadelphia built cave homes along the Delaware River - but where forced to abandon them when William Penn decided they were not "British" enough.

Homes made of sod, grass, mud, and yes - even log cabins dotted the landscape. So what did the early pioneers build and why? And why did it all change?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of dead white scientists and their continuing impact on the realities of sustainable living.

152 – Seeking Social Justice

Sun, 08 May 2022 07:46:00 -0300

151 – Utility Scale Solar

Sun, 01 May 2022 07:39:00 -0300

Huge solar arrays are beginning to dot the landscape - sometimes 300 acres or more... spreading out across farmland and next to highways. So what is happening? What are the dynamics that are changing the utility landscape, closing coal and natural gas power plants and replacing them with acres of solar? And is this all a good thing?

150 – Finding the Life/Work Balance

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 07:35:00 -0300

We have all had periods in our lives when there there are pressures that seem determined to suck the joy out of life and lead us down a path of constant toil. For some this is a terminal condition. We all have to work to live... but do we need to live to work?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion on how to find the right balance between work and living your life.

149 – Food Foraging and Medicinal Plants

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 07:32:11 -0300

The world is your buffet if you only know what to look for and where to look. Not only is every walk in the woods full of plants that are nutritious and delicious - but there is also a free medicine cabinet out there packed with remedies for what ails you.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station as they are joined by Laurel Hobden for a discussion what naturally healthy plants are waiting for you in your back garden or along your favorite woodland trail.

088 - Solar Pollution

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 06:43:46 -0300

Solar energy is one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. It currently produces about 3% of the US electricity - but is anticipated to generate as much as 30% within a decade. And as is true with any large industry - it will create its share of problems.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of the environmental problems the growth of solar energy will generate for our planet - from mineral extraction, to pollution during manufacturing, to how to deal with the waste stream when the systems grow old and fail.

078 - Fake Meat

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 07:55:08 -0300

The industrialized food industry has discovered that a growing number of people are hungry for meat alternatives. Everyone from fast food restaurants to mega grocery stores are rolling out their meat alternatives.

But are these fake meat products healthy (as claimed)? Just what is in this stuff? Join Annie and Jay Warmke as they discuss the evolving world of fake meat - coming to a grocery store near you.

148 - What Solar Really Costs in 2022

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 07:50:00 -0300

As solar goes more mainstream, we are beginning to see solar “aluminum siding salesmen” knocking on doors and trying to sell homeowners systems that are overpriced and may or may not meet the needs of the household. We are seeing misleading advertisements claiming there are “new incentive programs for your zip code” that the utility companies “don't want you to know about.”

So how do you separate the truth from the BS?

Every six months, the solar consulting company Energy Sage publishes a comprehensive study, asking solar installers around the nation questions about how the business has changed and what things really cost in the market today.

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of this report's findings and what you should expect to pay should you decide to put solar on your roof.

147 - Emotional Resiliency

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 08:00:00 -0300

Increasingly there is a growing awareness that the world is in crisis. Four years of Trump, two years of Covid, the outbreak of war in Europe... people are reaching an emotional breaking point.

Well clearly the sad reality is that difficult and troubling things happen in each of our lives. But how do some seem to deal with this stress better than others?

Join Annie and Jay Warmke of Blue Rock Station for a discussion of how to create emotional resiliency in your life.

146 - Environmental Impact of Lawns

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 07:56:00 -0300