On Mon, 31 Dec, Harry Pollard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>Just the Malthusians steadfastly count up the water, and oil, and grain,
>and weep over our inevitable doom.
>
>But, we had better hurry. Even as we speak trees are falling and cow
>patties are being used for fuel instead of fertilizer.
>
Somewhat of an aside, but there is now a way for cow patties to be
used for both fuel and fertilizer, and it is a system which is simple
enough to use in very primitive third world conditions, while greatly
improving quality of life, but it is also intelligent and efficient enough
it is beginning to be employed equally in modern dairies in developed
countries: the cow dung is collected, and placed in large fermentation
vats (these can be set in the ground and gravity fed from sluices).
The vats are kept sealed to develop pressure. The gas generated from
fermentation is then piped off and used to fuel cooking, heating,
and/or electrical generation. The spent dung is removed, and is then
a higher quality fertilizer than if fresh. The savings realized from
a large commercial operation can be quite significant.
-Pete Vincent
