Over the last decade, the concern for what’s in our produce has been steadily increasing. Higher numbers of people are beginning to question how their food had been farmed, under what conditions, and what kind of pesticides were used in the growing process. According to industry statistics, over 4 percent of all U.S. food sales are for organic products. Also, using data from Nutrition Business Journal, 2013, it is estimated that the organic food industry reached $28 billion in sales in 2015, and the trend continues to grow through 2020. The primary concern for consumers buying organic food is the effects on health and the environment. So much so that they are willing to pay significantly higher prices for them. Is it worth the extra cost? Is organic produce better for our health?
First, let me define what guidelines must be followed for produce to carry the organic label. When food is designated “Certified Organic” by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), it means that the fruit is grown and handled according to strict guidelines set forth by this federal agency and includes rules regarding soil treatment and pest and weed control. These standards allow for natural substances in organic farming and prohibit most synthetic (human-made) materials. The land the produce is grown on must not have any banned substances applied to it for at least three years before the harvest of an organic crop. Crop pests, weeds, and diseases are handled primarily through physical, mechanical, and biological controls. When these practices are not sufficient, a biological, botanical, or synthetic substance approved for use by the National Organic Standards Board may be used. The board comprises growers, handlers, retailers, scientists, environmentalists, and consumer advocates. Therefore, organic food is not pesticide-free. Farms must also use organic seeds.
The use of genetic engineering (GMO), ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge is prohibited as well. It is important to remember that just because a substance is “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safer than a synthetic substance.
In some cases, natural pesticides may be more harmful. There is a rule when dealing with chemicals that indicates “the dose makes the poison.” This means that all substances can be toxic if too much is eaten, drunk, or absorbed. Many times synthetic forms of natural pesticides (used in organic farming) are used in conventional agriculture, and both have the same chemical structure. Whether a substance is natural or synthetic, it is still a chemical.
In some cases, the more natural chemical pesticide has to be used to gain the desired effect and worsen the environment. In fact, according to this study at ScienceDaily.com "...some organic pesticides can have a higher environmental impact than conventional pesticides. Researchers investigated organic pesticides' effectiveness and environmental impact on those of conventional and novel reduced-risk synthetic products on soybean crops. The researchers found the organic pesticides required larger doses and were more harmful to pests that help protect the crop compared to the synthetic pesticides."
These regulatory factors do not prove that organic produce is more nutritious or any safer than its conventional counterparts. A group of scientists at Stanford University compared four decades of research that compared organic to traditional food. Their study concluded that, on average, organic produce was no more nutritious than conventional produce. Pesticide residue was slightly higher in conventional produce but still well below the allowed safety limits determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Those limits have been proven to be safe.
Also, according to this study in the Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences, Organic farming was significantly more profitable (22–35%) and had higher benefit/cost ratios (20–24%) than conventional agriculture. Even though 29-32% prices were increased at the store for organic produce, it was only needed to be a 5-7% increase to break even. In other words, there is a very high markup on anything labeled "organic."
Many of the misconceptions regarding organic vs. conventional produce are based on fear and misinformation. This unfounded fear doesn’t help the average consumers eat more fruits and vegetables, which can significantly improve health. As a Registered Dietitian, I speak with people who cannot afford the extra expense of eating all organic foods. It can be quite discouraging to those striving to feed their families fresh produce to hear that only organic will benefit them nutritionally, and conventional produce may be harmful. This is not true. The Alliance for Food and Farming has stated that they encourage traditional and organic produce for positive health benefits.
Across the broad spectrum of scientific research, all agree that consuming large amounts and varieties of fruits and vegetables is essential. Antioxidants, phytols, vitamins, minerals, and fiber are crucial components of these foods. Numerous studies have proved them to be one of the most critical factors in fighting disease. Both conventional and organic are safe and nutritionally sound options and should be consumed without worry. Always wash your produce before eating, no matter what the source, to help cut down on pesticide residue. Don’t listen to fearmongering but make sound decisions based on scientific facts. Include more produce in your diet and strive to live a healthy lifestyle!


Jarahfire Drilling is committed to maintaining a sustainable business by providing our clients with safe, efficient and cost effective production through experienced personnel and quality standards and procedures.
Management is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for all employees, contractors and visitors. Jarahfire Drilling aims to achieve an incident free organisation by providing and maintaining safe plant, machinery and systems of work, protective equipment as appropriate and quality supervision, information and training.
The company manages its operations in a manner which strives to achieve economically sustainable development whilst minimising our impact on the environment and safeguarding the health and safety of employees and the community.
In an environment which is constantly changing, we adopt an adaptable, co-operative attitude in our dealings with client, contractor and employee relationships to achieve our goals. Jarahfire Drilling has a strong community connection and supports local business through our purchasing policy.
Management and staff take pride in a high level of integrity in dealing honestly and openly with client, employees, contractors and suppliers.


Diesel Guard™ Supreme Antigel Deicer Quarts contain VT330A™ cold flow improvers, aproprietary Heavy Wax Modifier (HWM) and wax crystal modifier synergist. It is specially formulated to improve the overall winter operability of today's higher wax content, hard to treat fuels with or without mandated biodiesel blends. It significantly reduces the need to utilize kerosene blending.
"SMART" Deicer™" is a non-alcohol proprietary deicer designed to lower the freeze point of entrained water in saddle tanks and fuel lines. Our goal is to get the icing point of the entrained moisture in your fuel below the Cold Filter Plug Point (CFPP). This keeps ice crystals from plugging the fuel filter and helps keep the vehicle running at sub-zero temperatures. Diesel Guard™ delivers more deicer than the competition.Contains a new and unique detergent chemistry designed to remove and prevent the formation of Internal Diesel Injector Deposits (IDID) as well as external tip deposits. Fully formulated Diesel Guard™ Supreme Antigel Deicer Quarts contain additional cetane, VT101™ lubricity and other performance enhancing chemicals that help reduce down time, lower maintenance costs and provide better operation of equipment.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
- Helps prevent gelling and icing.
- Significantly reduces the pour point and cold filter plug point (CFPP) of today’s diesel fuels and blends.
- Contains a Heavy Wax Modifier (HWM) and anti wax-settling agent for better cold weather operability.
- Reduces the freeze point of entrained water to as low as -50º F. “SMART" Deicer™ technology
treats saddle tanks helping to prevent fuel filter icing.
- Reduces need for costly, BTU robbing No. 1 / Kerosene blending.
- Cleans up Internal Diesel Injector Deposits (IDID) and external tip deposits. Prevents sticky and fouled injectors and “asphaltene” deposits.
- Documented to improve / restore fuel economy up to 7.3% based on cleanup of injector and fuel system deposits.
- Restores fuel filter and particulate trap filter life. Helps extend particulate trap regeneration intervals.
Restores lost power and performance.
- VT101™ improves lubricity. Prevents premature wear of fuel injectors and pumps. Reduces downtime and lowers maintenance costs.
- Contains cetane. Provides easier starting, less smoke and reduced exhaust emissions.
- Helps prevent rust and corrosion. Stabilizes fuel to reduce sludge formation.
- Convenient and economical treat rate over competitive products. One quart treats 250 gallons.
Product should be added to the storage tank prior to adding fuel. Storage tank should havea 20% heel of fuel and be free of excess water and/or sludge.
Treat Rate Cold Temperature Operability
Maximum Dosage: Dosage for this product should not exceed 1 quart per 75 gallons of diesel fuel. Additive performance depends on the specific fuel being treated and should be determined by laboratory testing prior to use.


Asphalt is a sustainable material for constructing pavements. From production to placement, to rehabilitation through recycling, Ford Construction Company’s asphalt production and placement operations minimize the impact on the environment.
Ford Construction Company reclaims and recycles over 80,000 tons of asphalt pavement every year. The United States asphalt industry as a whole reclaims approximately 65 million tons of asphalt pavement every year and 99% of the reclaimed material is reused and recycled. This makes our industry the number one recycler in America!
Low consumption of energy for production and construction, low emission of greenhouse gases, and conservation of natural resources help to make our asphalt the pavement of choice. Emissions from our asphalt plants, including greenhouse gases, are very low and well-controlled.
Several types of asphalt pavement we produce provide relief from rainfall accumulation. The open-graded asphalt pavement produced by Ford Construction Company allows water to drain through the pavement surface, reducing the amount of splash and spray generated by vehicles on roadways. Similarly, porous asphalt pavement systems can replace impermeable surfaces for parking lots, roads, walking/bike paths, and other applications. Porous pavements can turn runoff into infiltration, restore or improve the hydrology of a site, and improve water quality through filtration.
We have managed to achieve sustainability throughout West Tennessee through recycling, helping keep our air cleaner, and providing effective water drainage, all while maximizing public safety.
Our Asphalt Pavements Help Maximize Public Safety
The asphalt pavements we produce have many safety advantages over other types of pavements. A few of these advantages include vehicle traction, storm water control, and noise reduction.
Smooth pavements give vehicle tires superior contact with the roadway surface, improving roadway safety.
Asphalt pavements can be designed to provide relief from rainfall accumulation. Our open-graded asphalt pavements allow water to drain through the pavement surface, reducing the amount of splash and spray generated by vehicles on roadways.
Asphalt pavements can help reduce traffic noise at the point where the wheel meets the road. According to a National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) report, quiet asphalt mix designs can reduce the need for expensive and unsightly sound barriers along roadways. Since low frequency noise, which can lead to driver fatigue, increases with roughness, smooth asphalt pavements benefit not only those who live near a road, but also those who drive on it.


Europeans seek shade as heatwave grips much of the continent
Despite at least 4,000 people being evacuated in Spain as firefighters struggled to contain wildfires tearing through La Palma, the president of the Canary Islands has warned that some residents are refusing to leave their homes.
President Fernando Clavijo said that at least 13 houses were destroyed as the fire advanced, having already ravaged at least 45 square kilometers of land, as he urged those showing “resistance” to leaving their homes to “be responsible”.
Earlier, some tourists were reportedly sent to the hospital in Athens, Greece as they arrived in droves at the Acropolis even as the authorities closed the monument’s gates between midday and early evening amid a severe heatwave.
Kim Adams, visiting from Scotland told Sky News: “It’s quite difficult today, really very hot”.
Temperatures in Italy are predicted to climb as high as 49C in Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily next week, as the heatwave gripping Southern Europe shows no sign of abating.
Red alerts for extreme heat have been issued in 16 cities across Italy as the Mediterranean country is gripped by blistering hot temperatures.
Israeli PM discharged from hospital after ‘not protecting himself’ during 40C heat
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been discharged after an overnight hospital stay for check-ups and monitoring following a dizzy spell doctors said was causing dehydration.
Mr Netanyahu’s office said he had spent the previous day at the Sea of Galilee, a popular holiday spot in northern Israel where temperatures climbed to about 40C amid a stifling country-wide heat wave.
After a series of tests, the initial assessment was that the veteran Israeli leader was dehydrated, and Mr. Netanyahu released a video on social media on Saturday night.
Smiling, he said that he had been out in the sun on Friday without wearing a hat and without water. “Not a good idea,” he said.
Doctors ordered him to remain in the hospital overnight for further observation, and his weekly cabinet meeting was delayed by a day and rescheduled for Monday, his office said.
Andy GregoryJuly 16, 2023 11:59
La Palma residents ‘refusing to leave homes’ as thousands evacuated
Some local residents are refusing to leave their homes in the face of wildfires which have seen at least 4,000 people evacuated, the president of the Canary Islands has said.
The out-of-control fire in La Palma started in the early hours of Saturday in El Pinar de Puntagorda, a wooded area in the north of the island in the Canaries. The blaze forced the evacuation of people from the villages of Puntagorda and neighboring Tijarafe.
Ten aerial units and 300 firefighters on the ground sought to bring the wildfire under control, and president Fernando Clavijo said that at least 13 houses were destroyed as the fire advanced.
“There has been some resistance by local people to leave their homes, but I appeal to people to be responsible,” Mr Clavijo told reporters in La Palma.
In Tenerife, another of the eight Canary Islands, a forest fire, which broke out on Saturday, forced the evacuation of 50 people and destroyed about 60 hectares, authorities said.
King Felipe VI of Spain telephoned Mr Clavijo on Saturday to express his support with the people of La Palma, the Spanish royal household said.
Andy Gregory16 July 2023 10:57
ICYMI: Land temperatures in Spain surpass 60C as deadly heatwave sweeps Europe
The temperature of the ground in some areas of Spain has hit more than 60C during the deadly heatwave sweeping Europe, satellite recordings have shown.
It was so hot that a heat map that highlights scorching temperatures in red turned even darker – to black.
Temperature records have been broken on most of the continent, including France, Switzerland, Germany and Italy, where highs of 40C were recorded again on Wednesday.
my colleagues Jane Dalton has more in this report:
Andy GregoryJuly 16, 2023 10:21
Venetian tourists use umbrellas to shelter from the sun
Tourists in Venice have been filmed using umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun, as some 16 red alerts for heat were issued in Italy, including in Rome, Florence and Bologna.
Andy GregoryJuly 16, 2023 10:01
One third of Americans subject to extreme heat warnings
Around a third of Americans were subject to warnings for extreme heat on Saturday, as the blistering weather was forecast to intensify this weekend in Nevada, Arizona and California.
Temperatures in some desert areas were predicted to soar past 48.8C during the day, and remain above 32.2C overnight.
Around 200 hydration stations distributing bottles of water and cooling centers where potentially thousands of people can rest in air-conditioned spaces opened on Saturday in public spaces such as libraries, churches and businesses around the Phoenix area.
David Hondula, chief heat officer for the City of Phoenix, said that because of the health risks some centers were extending their hours, warning: “This weekend there will be some of the most serious and hot conditions we’ve ever seen.”
Andy GregoryJuly 16, 2023 09:32
South Korean rains death toll rises to 35
In news of extreme weather elsewhere, the death toll from the heavy rain which has caused flooding and landslides in South Korea has hit 35 – as the bodies of eight more people trapped in a submerged tunnel were retrieved on Sunday.
The chief of the west Cheongju fire station said some 15 vehicles, including a bus, were estimated to have been submerged in the underpass in the city shortly after a levee of a nearby river was destroyed by the downpours on Saturday.
“We are focusing on the search operation as there’s likely more people there,” they told reporters. “We are doing our best to wrap it up today.”
The latest disaster is taking place despite South Korea’s vow to step up preparedness against torrential rains after Seoul was hit last year with floods caused by the heaviest downpours in 115 years. While the nation often experiences heavy rains in summer, it has witnessed a sharp increase in recent years.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said the central and southern parts of the country could receive as much as 300mm of additional rain by Tuesday.
Andy GregoryJuly 16, 2023 08:47
Thousands evacuated as firefighters struggle to contain wildfires in the Canary Islands
Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes as firefighters struggled to contain a wildfire tearing through the Spanish Canary Islands.
The fire began in La Palma early on Saturday and has already destroyed 4,500 hectares (11,100 acres) of land and at least a dozen homes.
Officials said around 400 troops from various agencies remained on the ground tackling the blaze.
Authorities said some 4,255 people had been evacuated but that others were declining to leave.
Matt MathersJuly 16, 2023 07:43
Should I keep my windows closed or open during a heatwave?
With the summer heat upon us, it means that our homes may become uncomfortably hot, especially at night.
As it gets hotter, it can be tempting to open your windows to let in some fresh air when the weather gets too warm – but should you keep them shut instead?
According to NHS advice, curtains should be kept shut to keep sun-facing rooms as shaded as possible.
Alisha Rahman Sarkar16 July 2023 07:30
Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe sweaters
A deadly heatwave sweeping across Europe with a temperature forecast to shatter records in the coming days stands in complete contrast to the weather faced by the United Kingdom that has had wet and windy conditions continuing this week.
As the UK gets prolonged showers – the Met Office predicts unsettled conditions to continue for the next few days – the Mediterranean region grapples with soaring heat that could touch a new European record as soon as this week.
Alisha Rahman SarkarJuly 16, 2023 07:00
Acropolis midday closure leaves many tourists in the lurch
Disgruntled tourists bemoaned the temporary closing of the Acropolis in Athens as Greek authorities proactively shut the world monument’s gates between midday and early evening.
Red Cross staff handed out bottled water to tourists wilting in long lines hoping to beat the closure and scale the steps up to the gleaming Parthenon temple as temperatures were expected to peak above 40C.
Some visitors were frustrated at being left in the lurch because they were unaware of the Greek authorities’ last-minute announcement of the Acropolis’ closure. One visitor said he was disappointed as his cruise ship would depart later in the day.
“I even bought a €50 ticket to skip the line to enter and I couldn’t enter the place,” Hector from Mexico told The Associated Press.
Alisha Rahman SarkarJuly 16, 2023 06:15


At Evergreen Community Charter School, we believe that providing a strong connection with the Natural World is essential to the development of heart, mind and body of our students. Because of our commitment to Environmental Education across the curriculum, we are able to provide opportunities for all of our students to demonstrate an understanding of ecology and environmental stewardship as well as develop a sense of respect, joy and wonder for the Natural World.
Our students participate in numerous outdoor activities, ranging from backpacking and camping to bird counts, river trips and stream clean-ups. Our entire school community participates in local conservation efforts both on and off campus. Through the vision and dedication of our staff and parents, we are developing a greenhouse, planting organic gardens and implementing water and fuel saving practices. Above all, we believe that offering our students examples and solutions to some of the complexities of our world will help create responsible citizens who will care deeply for the future of our global community.
Evergreen’s developmentally sound, place-based environmental education program engages our youngest learners in outdoor activities that foster awe and wonder and romote a love of nature. As children evolve in their thinking, the EE emphasis is on exploring and gaining an understanding of their local environment. Students in upper grades will focus on stewardship for the earth and thinking critically about issues in their community. Our students’ sense of place emerges through the grade levels, beginning with “my personal environment” and progressing to “the global environment.”
Students learn from local experts in many fields, including natural history and conservation, government, business, current events, education, and social studies. In addition to learning from these experts, students will have many opportunities to observe and explore the natural world directly—on campus, in the many natural areas of Western North Carolina, and beyond.
Through these positive experiences, students will become stewards of the land and their community, developing a sense of purposeful citizenship and identifying for themselves their role in nature and society. Students will become empowered to generate solutions and make positive changes, understanding they can make a difference—individually and collectively.


At Sanya Foreign Language School Kindergarten, our JK students started our inquiry into Sharing the Planet by creating a survey to inquire into what kinds of rubbish we could find in our very own kindergarten. Before our survey, we watched videos and looked at pictures of different kinds of rubbish such as plastic, paper and metal. Afterthis, we walked around school observing and documenting what we found. The students were so interested and they asked many different questions such as, “How did this rubbish get here?” and, “What can we do about it?”
Following this exploration, we started our inquiry based on our central idea: There are alternatives to discarding our rubbish. The students inquired into different kinds of waste such as plastic. They reflected on how they could reuse this waste, thus reducing it overall. The students decided to make a poster to be displayed at school in order to encourage other students and parents to recycle their waste. Along with this poster, the students made their own rubbish bins and placed them in the lobby of the kindergarten for everyone to use.
We inquired into alternative methods of reducing waste such as composting and we even had a soil scientist visit the kindergarten to talk with us. For Earth Day, we planted trees at school in the hope of encouraging and inspiring future classes and students.
We took action by going on field trips and we organized a beach clean-up day. We gathered all the rubbish and made a large piece of art to show everyone that we can make beauty out of waste.
Through all of this exploring and inquiring, the students gained a deeper understanding of our key concepts: responsibility, form and causation.
At the end of our inquiry theme we organized an auction to sell our artworks, all of which were made from reused materials that we collected. The money that we raised was given to a top charity to be used in the conservation of our beautiful island that we live on.
Throughout our transdisciplinary theme inquiry, the students were principled, risk-takers, inquirers and communicators. They also developed the communication skills, research skills and self-management skills. We hope that you have enjoyed our journey and exploration with us! We understand that a one time auction may not be enough for the whole Earth to recycle. However, the changes that we made, the attitude that we chose, and the awareness that we developed can make a big difference to the world.
We would like to give our sincere thanks to all of our parents and the community for their support of the children’s inquiry and public welfare.
The JK year level of Sanya Foreign Language School Kindergarten will donate all the money to 51Give Socially Responsible Development Center for the purpose of environmental protection. We will post an official publicity notice with the charity’s confirmation to ensure the donation has been issued correctly.


It is easy for most people to see that areas that receive more sunlight also put people at higher risk for skin cancer. Sunny beaches and scorching deserts quickly come to mind, and it is rare that someone would plan an island vacation without packing the highest SPF sunscreen money can buy.
However, classic tropical locales are not the only place where a person can be at higher risk of damage to their skin from UV rays. Dermatologist Jean Liu Urquhart warns that Colorado’s altitude can have a huge impact on UV exposure. The Rocky Mountains push Colorado’s elevation higher than anywhere else in the U.S. and this has a variety of impacts on the skin.
For starters, the higher elevation means that there is less atmosphere between the sun’s rays and the earth. The atmosphere is also much cleaner and allows light to pass through more clearly. As a result, the UV index is much higher in comparison to sea level. This can increase the risk of sunburn, and over time, increases the risk of skin cancer.
Another issue is the weather. The alpine climate stays dry. The cool summers and beautiful mountains make the region an absolute must for outdoor enthusiasts and hikers. However, dry winds can burn, dehydrate, and chap skin. This, coupled with increased UV rays, can permanently damage and prematurely wear the skin out alongside increased risk of skin cancer.
Esthetician Michelle Connolly, owner of In Your Face Skin Fitness Studio and Dogma Athletic in Edwards, Colorado, recommends a full regimen of corrective facials and the regular use of products that help with antioxidant levels to maintain moist and healthy skin. Maintaining this throughout the dry winter months is also important for strengthening the skin and preventing further dehydration.


Growing biodynamic cannabis, an organic and somewhat spiritual approach, is a difficult, but worthy pursuit. Given the risks associated with inorganic fungicides, pesticides, and fertilizers used in growing cannabis, it’s more important now than ever for dispensaries and end users to source their marijuana from organic growers. Given the competitive landscape in the marijuana industry, it has become difficult to acquire cannabis that balances the demand for a high-yield, high-THC product with a true cannabis user’s desire to ingest something wholesome. It’s quite common to load up a grow with nutrients, pesticides, and fungicides in the pursuit of massive, pest and mold-free buds. In order to meet large-scale demands and expectations, it’s almost impossible not to engage in such practices.
Professional growers need to have their grow procedure down to a science. While most medicine dispensed at pharmacies these days are the result of a cold and calculated chemical synthesis process, the process that gives rise to medical marijuana is much more intimately tied to the tides of mother nature. The fickleness of nature’s seasons, weather, and temperature can often result in unpredictable grow yields, plant diseases, and variable cannabinoid and terpene expressions.
A great deal of growers tend to resort to growing indoor to avoid these hassles; by growing indoor, you can dynamically modulate light cycles and water/nutrient distribution. This allows for a “rinse and repeat” type of standard operating procedure that can easily be transferred across multiple growers within the same facility. Indoor growing is certainly an efficient way to meet the demands of an industry whose growth is showing no signs of slowing down. However, the grows are often not sustainable; the use of inorganic chemicals and lack of earth can cause soil to turn over more quickly and harmful ingredients to make their way into the end consumer. This all goes without mentioning the enormous amount of electricity used by indoor grows. Fortunately, organic options are readily making themselves available.
However, if one were able to capture the balance that nature has already found and sustained through evolution, then the resulting product would be more in line with its natural order– creating an organic, safer, and more sustainable product. It’s a common sentiment to consider “outdoor grown” cannabis to be inferior to “indoor grown” these days. We aim to dispel that notion and make a case for the power and efficacy of outdoor growing, especially when a grower can harness the intrinsic power of nature. We have no intent of remarking poorly on the process of indoor growing nor those who partake in it. We merely aim to showcase the benefits of outdoor growing and defend its place in the budding legal marijuana industry.
I first met Marty Clein, better known as “Martyjuana”, at The 2016 Emerald Cup in Santa Rosa, CA. He came up to our WoahStork booth and casually introduced himself as a local grower. Marty’s 14 years of experience, which stemmed originally from a need to grow medical marijuana for his wife, Laura, became readily apparent.
From his backpack, he took out a few jars of well manicured, dense nugs. It was love at first smell. The terpene profile that emerged from the jar was magical, rich, and sincerely unparalleled. As an active member of the cannabis community, I’ve smelled a great deal of marijuana. This was some of the best. Hands down. I was immediately enthralled and had to learn about how such beauty came to be.
Marty shared that he hond his growing process based on insights he acquired from working for over a decade in the Sonoma Valley wine industry. Marty’s mentor and friend gave him 16 plants (15 females; 1 male for breeding) when he first moved to his current hometown of Mendocino County. The plants were from seeds, imported from Canada, sold through Marc Emery and named Supreme. Supreme is a potent Indica dominant hybrid of two old school strains: Super Skunk #1 and Northern Lights #4. Fast forward 13 years and Marty has cross-bread a series of strains under his brand “Martyjuana” that are faithful to his form. He’s definitely come a long and prosperous way; Martyjuana was the 2012 Sonoma County cannabis cup winner for solvent-free concentrate (hash), and was featured in SONOMA magazine in Fall 2013.
Everything Marty said and did during our first encounter was natural and meticulous. As I watched him suck the air out of his Bell Jars before tightening the lids on his prized creation, I knew he was a man who took great care and pride in his craft. Dying to know how he was able to create such beautiful, dense, and pungent marijuana, I quickly arranged for a phone conversation with Marty several weeks later.
Biodynamic cannabis agriculture
It was then that Marty introduced me to the concept of biodynamic agriculture and subsequently biodynamic cannabis. A quick glance at Wikipedia will tell you that biodynamic agriculture is very similar to organic growing, but with an “esoteric” spin. Biodynamic agriculture emphasizes that which is “unseen”. While many growers may focus on what they can see(e.g. light, water, soil, and pests), growers that practice biodynamics concern themselves with more cosmic forces. Essentially, biodynamic agriculture represents a philosophy where the scope of a grow is larger than that of plants in the ground; the lunar cycle, insects, soil, and nearby ecosystem all play a role. The philosophies that Marty employs are fascinating and quite representative of the biodynamic agriculture school of thought.
“I love the sun and I follow the moon.”
Perhaps the most important lesson in biodynamic agriculture is that of growing in sync with the moon’s cycle. Marty reports that the best of his Martyjuana crop starts during the new moon in either early May or early June when he plants seeds directly in soil that sits in a 2-4 gallon pot that has already been watered for 2 days in advance to make it heavily saturated. He then uses a hose to mist the soil so as to not disturb the roots for their first few weeks of growth. Timed perfectly, the plant will be ready for harvest in September and October, repsectively, during the full moon. In just 4.5 months from seeding time, Marty is able to harvest 2-3lbs of terpene-rich nugs per plant.
Biodynamic agriculture truly stresses a certain symbiosis with the environment. Much of this can be accomplished by utilizing harmless insects for the pursuit of removing harmful ones. For example, Marty will release lady bugs and praying manti into his grow. The lady bugs will eat aphids (plant lice) and the preying manti will eat caterpillars, butterflies, flies, bees, wasps, and moths that would normally destroy a grow.
Encouraging the presence of insects in your garden is one part of creating a symbiotic ecosystem. The other is introducing non-cannabis plants to be grown in the same area — a practice that has been employed by vineyards for quite some time. For instance, garlic, tomatoes, spinach and green beans will attract pests to them, keeping them away from your crop. An additional practice is to grow mustard and cloves in the ground in the off-season as a “cover crop”. This provides a natural nitrogen source and encourages root growth during the next grow.
A drone video of Martyjuana Farms
This next component of biodynamic agriculture might be most familiar to readers. Compost piles allows for the natural decomposition of food to creater richer, more nutrient dense soil. While many growers, Marty included, will have their own pile of egg shells, coffee rinds, and banana peels, there are also pre-made blends. Marty suggests the biodynamic blend Malibu Compost. They are the only Demeter-certified organic compost company. All of their soil is turned on site at organic dairies in the central valley. They also do all of their own additives at the exact time and temperture levels for a perfect blend. Marty says the soil is best used inside above ground bags, buring only 6-10 inches below the earth, so that the roots can breathe easier.
Marty doesn’t forego the philosophy of biodynamic agriculture after harvest. He makes sure to compost his stalks and juice the sun leaves of his cannabis plant. Where most growers are exhausted by their harvest and leave everything to die and decay (which causes mold, mildew, and pollens in and around your grow), Marty brings everything full circle in preparation for the following season. Marty makes sure to dump the soil from the bags back into the earth and grow in bags on top of that soil next season such that the roots can extend into the previous year’s soil base. That way, the plant is still able to draw nutrients and Nitrogen through the bag.
Biodynamic agriculture hinges on the notion that if you understand your product and environment, you can naturally tweak it so as to create an incredible product that is free of inorganic fungicides, pesticides, fertilizers, etc.
Biodynamic cannabis concentrates
Even when it comes to crafting concentrates from his biodynamic cannabis, Marty is sure to create hash the old fashioned way: with ice, water and elbow grease. Marty makes the case that it’s “not biodynamic to take something and pulverize and/or run it through an extraction machine”. He goes on to say that “some people would call [extraction machines] organic, but I take it a step beyond.”
Martyjuana strains of biodynamic cannabis
All of Martyjuana’s strains stem from Supreme — a cross between Super Skunk and Northern Lights #4. Thus, all Martyjuana biodynamic cannabis strains come from landraces with mature genes, making these crosses quite potent.
We asked Marty to categorize his strains in accordance with the WoahStork Activity Group tagging system. Here’s what he came up with:
- Supreme 90 Cheese – Sleep.
- Supreme Church – Chill
- Supreme Den City – Sleep
- Supreme Sensi Star – Create
- Supreme White Sour – Energize
- Supreme White – Elevate
Martyjuana also conducts testing through SC Labs. The Supreme White certainly takes the cake for highest THC (24.72%) during this the end of 2016’s testing.
Based on their genetics and other strains in our database, we’d say this strain tagging is dead on! Getting your hands on these strains is a privilege. Martyjuana strains are available in dispensaries all over California. You can search WoahStork to find Martyjuana at dispensaries in your area! The number of dispensaries carrying Martyjuana should increase as CA Weed Co. has just been selected to assist Marty with distribution. However, the best way to get introduced to Martyjuana is through a “Marty Party”.
The Marty Party experience
WoahStork had the pleasure of hosting a “Marty Party” where Marty MCed a private tasting. He shared everything from his methods to his thoughts on the future of the industry.
If you’d like to be invited to future Marty parties in Los Angeles, please be sure to join our mailing list at WoahStork.
Martyjuana is a true caregiver. If a patient is particularly fond of one of Marty’s products that he showcases at a Marty Party, he will reserve a whole plant for them. Trim and all.
As we ended our interview, Marty made it a point to proclaim that outdoor growing will always have its place and that done correctly, it can be a magical experience. Marty insists that anyone can grow, anywhere in the world, and within a short time frame so long as they follow the sun and moon cycle.
Marty’s passion for growing biodynamic cannabis comes from the right place. He was tired of western medicine not cutting it for his wife’s ailments. He decided to take matters into his own hands by growing his own cannabis. So inspired by what he learned, he opted to raise the community’s consciousness on cannabis instead of raising a family.
The Martyjuana outdoor, all natural growing system for biodynamic cannabis is unique from start to finish. It uses less water, less fertilizers, and no electricity — allowing the plants to maximize their natural potential. According to Marty, the feeling is that “less is more”.
Marty is in a camp of non-traditional farmers that grow outdoor cannabis, bucking the trends by using the above-described biodynamic methods. These strategies allow biodynamic farmers start later and finish earlier, if desired. Martyjuana is proven to be a high-grade quality product with lab tested moisture levels, absence of molds /mildews, presence of terpenes, and top scoring potency results.
We can’t emphasize enough the respect we have for growers who are in tune with the natural harmony that the cannabis plant has with its environment and eventual end user. While a majority of it cannot be seen with one’s eyes, the methods employed by biodynamic growers do have noticeable effects on the end product.
As The Beatles said, “The love you take is equal to the love you make”. The love, care, and dedication Martyjuana puts into his biodynamic cannabis products makes it an enamoring experience to partake in smoking them. While no formal scientific studies have explicitly denoted the benefits of biodynamic cannabis, the proof is in the pudding; there is something special about the subjective effects of smoking some Martyjuana. The love that Marty puts into his grow certainly comes out. Marty’s practice is one well worth pursuing and one that we hope does not go by the wayside with the explosion of commercial cannabis.
Follows the principles of Permaculture.Understands and works with nature, not just a “product”
Check out the father of Permaculture!
Wonderful attitude for growing nature’s bounty. I hope more growers can learn from martyjuana’s methods
I have had the opportunity to try several of the Martyjuana strains including all but 1 of the 2016 Emerald Cup winners pictured. Actually just finished vaping some Supreme White as I read the article. Martyjuana’s medicinal qualities are very evident in their efficient and reliable relief of a broad variety of symptoms. There are several strains so you should find something that will provide relief and their potency has been impressive and consistent. The hard work and biodynamic agriculture and the care given these outdoor grown beauties is evident when you see a bud and have the opportunity to medicate with Martyjuana strains. peace
You are a lucky man! We are huge fans. Thanks for reading and reaching out.


Our home is a ‘pack and take your lunch to work’ household. Our packed lunches earlier this year plagued me. There was so much waste involved. Dozens and dozens of Ziploc baggies a week, which cannot be sent to the recycle bin and have to be thrown away (or washed and reused). The brown bags we were using are recyclable, but that was still creating waste. I set on a quest to find a zero waste lunch.
Here is my solution:
With some investment on the front end, these sealable ‘bento’ style boxes are fantastic. The box is leak proof with a rubber seal. The inner plastic boxes have lids. I wrap sandwiches or wraps in foil, which can be recycled (ok, almost zero waste). The rest comes home and gets washed!
Because it’s airtight, not everything needs to be wrapped. The sandwich could even go unwrapped, some sometimes mustard makes a break for it and gets on the rest of the items, so wrapping it works out best. In the end it saves money, because I no longer by boxes of Ziploc at the grocery, and we create nearly zero waste from our mid-day meal.


About Beach Pea Design
Beach Pea Design is a communication design business based in Nova Scotia, Canada. We specialize in developing modern mobile-friendly websites for businesses, non-profit organizations and private clients in Nova Scotia and beyond on open source platforms.
Our services include:
- Website development
- Shared website hosting
- Domain registration and administration
- Website upgrades and maintenance
- Print graphic design
- Written content creation
- Photography and photo editing services
- Video and audio editing
Why Beach Pea?
At Beach Pea Design, we believe a creative environment leads to creative problem solving. We have chosen to work from Cape Breton Island where the beauty of the Atlantic coast inspires and challenges us to find innovative ways of sustaining ourselves and supporting our community. In this way, we felt the description of this lovely little plant fitting to our endeavors:
“Beach-pea grows in ocean-side sand dunes from NewFoundland south to New Jersey and along the shores of Lake Champlain and the Great Lakes. The species is quite tenacious, flourishing in the dynamic, arid, and saline environment typical along the Atlantic coast. Beach-pea develops a deep, expansive root system that provides stabilization to the ever-shifting sands of the dune ecosystem.”
We also love to have our toes in the sand and balance out hard work with enjoyment of island life…often at a local beach!


Optical radiation, especially in the ultraviolet region, is potentially hazardous to skin and eyes. Gigahertz-Optik GmbH produces optical radiation measuring devices to determine the UV radiation (skin and eye), blue light (eye) and infrared (skin) hazards in accordance with international standards. Some typical application examples of Gigahertz-Optik GmbH products are listed in this chapter.
The potential effects of the blue light content within display devices and lighting has been a subject of particular interest and concern, particularly since the widespread introduction of solid-state lighting. ‘Blue light hazard’ refers to a specific photobiological hazard concerned with the possibility of photochemical-induced damage to the retina within the eye (photoretinitis). It is not concerned with the possible disruption to circadian rhythms, for example (see Human Centric Lighting application).
Only radiation that passes through the cornea of the eye and is imaged on the retina is relevant for blue light hazard assessment. Understanding the appropriate standards and the necessary measurement techniques can appear somewhat daunting at first.
ICNIRP guidelines  form the basis of non-coherent optical radiation exposure limits in most standards and regulations. The blue light hazard function is actually defined over the 300nm - 700nm wavelength range, but with a strong responsivity peak in the blue region. Hence, high power phosphor conversion LEDs with their relatively intense blue emission peak compared to other lighting technologies, have been a particular concern.
The size of the pupil defines the solid angle over which the eye projects an image onto the retina.
Therefore, the brightness (luminance) of the source is the important criteria for determining the irradiance level on the retina. Standards specify limits for blue light exposure in terms of radiance (Wm-2sr-1) within defined field of views and weighted by the blue light hazard function. Due to the natural rapid movement of the eye (saccades), the retinal irradiance decreases with time, a fact that is incorporated within the relevant standards.
Lighting products manufactured within and imported into Europe must conform to the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU in order to be CE marked. For luminaires this requires compliance with EN 60598-1 ,the general requirements standard for luminaires, which includes photobiological safety testing. Since 2006 photobiological safety testing of lamps and lighting products has been addressed by the horizontal standard IEC 62471 which includes six hazard functions over the 200-3000nm wavelength range. However, for most general lighting products such comprehensive testing is unnecessarily onerous and hence IEC TR 62778  is referenced in vertical product standards for the assessment of retinal blue light hazard. Within IEC TR 62778 an assessment is made whether a luminaire exceeds the limits of IEC 62471 risk group 1 (RG1) at a distance of 200mm. Sources with luminance of <10000 cd/m2 are RG0 and require no further testing. Blue light weighted radiance needs to be measured in an 11mrad FOV for sources of size >=2.2mm whereas smaller sources only require irradiance measurement. The X1-3 Optometer in conjunction with the XD-45-HB blue light hazard detector facilitates these measurement requirements of IEC TR 62778.
For products not covered under the LVD, the prevention of blue light hazard remains a legal requirement under the General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) 2001/95/EC.
Blue light hazard assessment is also a requirement within health and safety at work legislation. The EU artificial optical radiation directive (AORD) , imposes limits on worker exposure to non-laser sources of optical radiation. The AORD exposure limits are consistent with those of EN 62471 .
 EN 60598-1:2015 Luminaires – Part 1: General requirements and tests
 IEC 62471:2006 Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems
 TR 62778:2014 Application of IEC 62471 for the assessment of blue light hazard to light sources and luminaires
 EN 62471:2008 Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systemsRead less
The European Directive 2006/25/EC  lays down minimum requirements for the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to artificial optical radiation. It is implemented in law by all member states and covers exposure of skin and eyes to ultraviolet, visible and infrared (to 3000nm) radiation, both from coherent (laser) and non-coherent (non-laser) light sources. The exposure limit values in the directive are based on the work of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) .
The methodology for determining exposure levels to laser radiation follows the well-established IEC 60825  standard whereas for non-laser radiation the CIE/CEN standards in the form of EN 62471:2008  is applicable.
Hazards relating to skin and the front surface of the eye require the measurement of irradiance whereas hazards to the eye itself require the measurement of radiance. EN 62471:2008 considers the following six hazards with respect to exposure over a period of up to eight hours:
|Actinic UV||200 – 400nm (*)||
Cornea – photokeratitis
Lens – cataractogenisis
Conjunctiva – conjunctivitis
|Near UV||315 – 400nm||Lens – cataractogenisis|
|Blue light||300 – 700nm (*)||Retina – photoretinitis|
|Retinal thermal||380 – 1400nm (*)||Retina – retinal burn|
|IR radiation eye||780 – 3000nm||Cornea – cornea burn|
|Thermal skin||380 – 3000nm||Skin burn|
|(*) Action spectra weighting applied|
Photobiological hazards considered in IEC EN 62471 and EU Directive 2006/25/EC
It should be noted that there are some minor differences between EN 62471:2008 and the limits in IEC 62471:2006  with respect to blue light small source and retinal thermal weak stimulus limits that result from revisions in ICNIRP guidelines.
The X1-3 Optometer facilitates the measurement of all UV and blue light hazards within the scope of EN 62471. The XD-45-HUV hazard detector measures actinic UV and near UV irradiances and the XD-45-HB blue light hazard detector measures blue light weighted radiance within the required fields of view.
 IEC 60825-1:2014 Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements
 EN 62471:2008 Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems
 IEC 62471:2006 Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems
 EN 14255 Parts 1 and 2: Measurement and assessment of personal exposures to incoherent optical radiationRead less
Concerns over the safety of both commercial and home use sun tanning lamps led to the EU’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP)  recommending a limit of 0.3W/m2 erythema effective irradiance for all cosmetic use sun tanning lamps. This level is implemented within legally binding European regulations for both manufacturers and operators. Erythema is the reddening of the skin which is an inflammatory response caused by, for example, the actinic effect of exposure to UV radiation. Erythemal effective irradiance (CIE S 007-1998)  is measured over the wavelength range 250nm to 400nm.
Within Europe, sun tanning products must conform to the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU in order to be CE marked which requires type-testing against EN 60335-2-27- 2010 . A high quality UV spectroradiometer such as the BTS2048-UV is required to measure the spectral irradiance of appliances, from which erythema effective irradiance is determined over UV-A and UV-B wavelength regions 250-320nm (UV-B) and 320-400nm (UV-A). Note that these UV ranges differ from standard CIE UV-A (315-400nm) and UV-B (280-315nm) wavelength ranges. The total UV-A plus UV-B effective irradiance must not be in excess of 0.3 W.m-2. Additionally, the un-weighted irradiance 250-280nm must not exceed 0.003 W.m-2. Excellent scattered light rejection is required of the spectroradiometer otherwise products may unnecessarily fail this criterion. The appliance type is then determined using the following table:
|UV Appliance Type||
250 < λ <320nmery-eff irradiance W/m2
320nm < λ <400 nmery-eff irradiance W/m2
|1||< 0,0005||> 0,15||Professional use under supervision of appropriately trained persons.|
|2||0,0005 to 0,15||> 0,15||Professional use under supervision of appropriately trained persons.|
|3||< 0,15||< 0,15||Suitable for household use without training.|
|4||> 0,15||< 0,15||Intended to be used following medical advice.|
Routine inspection and compliance checking by either the sun tanning studio operator or by local authority inspectors is more conveniently performed with a suitable UV radiometer such as the X1-4 meter. The XD-45-ERYC multi-detector based sensor supplied with the X1-4 meter also incorporates a UV-C irradiance detector for maximum safety compliance testing.
 CIE S 007-1998 Erythema Reference Action Spectrum and Standard Erythema Dose
 EN 60335-2-27:2013 Household and similar electrical appliances. Safety. Particular requirements for appliances for skin exposure to ultraviolet and infrared radiationRead less
Shortwave UV-C radiation is highly bactericidal because it is absorbed by the DNA of microorganisms which destroys its structure. Referred to as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), UV-C wavelengths around 260-270nm are most effective in combating airborne bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms such as mildews and yeasts. Disinfecting the air can prevent the transmission of a variety of airborne infections such as tuberculosis and pandemic influenza. It can also prevent contamination of raw materials and food. Therefore, UV-C air disinfection systems are being increasingly used within healthcare environments, public places, industry, and research facilities.
Manufacturers need to optimise the efficacy of the UV germicidal action of air purification systems whilst ensuring no hazard is presented to occupants.
The specialist UV-C detector UV-3725 is designed to withstand the high-energy UV radiation present within air disinfection systems whilst offering the dynamic range to enable low level hazard measurements. To measure the irradiance of such extended sources, radiometers must be designed with a cosine field of view function. The required cosine-correction optics and photodetector components must also be pre-aged because of the high-energy UV radiation. Occupant safety  must be ensured for rooms fitted with ceiling-mounted air disinfection systems. The monitoring of exposure to UV-C  of long term occupants (e.g. healthcare workers ) within rooms fitted with air purification can be achieved with the use of personal dosimeters such as the X2000.
The assessment of erythema-effective radiation exposure is usually based on data recorded by stationary measuring devices, but this does not replicate the actual exposure experienced in most real situations. The measurement of UV irradiation experienced by outdoor workers, for example, requires personal dosimeters – see references –. Outdoor sports players may also be subjected to relatively high doses of UV .
Because of the different activities of the selected target groups, the solar irradiance levels experienced are changing continually throughout the day. Therefore, suitable dosimeters must provide data logging with high measurement rates and large data storage capacity. With the X2012 as the successor to the X2000 data logger, Gigahertz-Optik GmbH demonstrates its expertise as a project partner for custom research projects in optical radiation measurement technology.
The use of personal protection equipment (PPE) is essential during welding processes due to the high levels of UV radiation produced. Evaluating the hazard associated with UV exposure during welding processes, requires the spectral irradiance to be measured and weighted in terms of biological effectiveness. The measurement of the dynamic optical processes within welding arcs requires specialist equipment as well as expertise in its use and evaluation of the measurement results. The IFA, Sankt Augustin and the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Dortmund have produced comprehensive research reportson the measurement and evaluation of UV radiation exposure during welding processes , including consideration of the dynamic aspects  . The reports employ a wide range of specialist measurement equipment from Gigahertz-Optik GmbH, including UV spectroradiometers , UV radiometers  and personal dosimeters .
 X2012-11 Data logger Dosimeter for ICNIRP actinic UV irradianceRead less


Solar Panels : 400 watt Solar Panels
Information on the 400-watt solar panel, the devices it can power, and the number of batteries required to store power.
Causes of a 400-watt solar panel to produce so low amps, the number of amps it produces, and the number of panels needed.
- Are 400-watt solar panels the best choice for your solar energy system?
- What are the Dimensions(size) of a 400-watt solar panel?
- What can 400-Watt Solar Panels power?
- Where can you put 400w solar panels to good use?
- What is the output of a solar panel with a 400-watt capacity?
- For 400-watt solar panels, what type of charge controller should I use?
- What is causing my 400-watt solar panel to produce so low amps?
- To run a 400-watt solar panel, how many batteries would I need?
- How many amps does a 400-watt solar panel produce?
- How many 400-watt solar panels would you need?
- Is it possible for a solar panel to function without a battery?
- For a 400-watt solar panel, what size inverter do you need?
- Are 400W solar panels expensive?
- 400 watt Solar Panel Conclusion
The output capacity of Solar Panels is used to determine the size of solar panels.
The term "400-watt solar panel" refers to a Solar Panel that is capable of generating 400 watts of direct current electricity in an instant under perfect Standard Test Conditions (STC).
When evaluating Solar Panel alternatives, the power rating of a panel, also known as its wattage, is an important factor to consider.
400-watt Solar Panels are beyond the average wattage of the available solar panels, and they can be used as a reliable panel option for a wide range of solar projects.
In today's market, the vast majority of Solar Panels installed on houses or businesses have power output between 250 - 365 watts per panel, with Solar Panels with power outputs above and lower that range also available.
Knowing what alternatives are available and how much energy 400W Solar Panels produce will help you choose if the 400W Solar Panels are the correct choice for you.
Are 400-watt solar panels the best choice for your solar energy system?
400W Solar Panels are higher in wattage than the normal wattage of panels used for most solar systems, yet they are still within the realm of possibility for some property owners.
While 400w panels are more expensive per panel than the lower wattage options, the additional space they save on your roof and the lesser number of panels you will have to purchase to meet your electricity needs more than makeup for the higher cost per panel.
What are the Dimensions(size) of a 400-watt solar panel?
The number of solar cells utilized in constructing the 400-watt Solar Panel determines the exact size of the Solar Panel in question.
The surface area is usually 2050mm x 1050mm, and the thickness differs from maker to maker.
The thickness of the solar cells is almost the same across the board.
However, the thickness of the additional layers of the EVA plastic, Solar Panel backing, and glass cover varies, but not significantly.
The majority of panels are between 40mm to 55mm thick, and they can weigh anything from 20kg to 25kg.
What can 400-Watt Solar Panels power?
This Solar Panel system's output is dependent on the charge controller people have, the climate, your living environment, and the gadgets you are using.
A Solar Panel with a 400-watt MPPT charge controller can power a tiny fridge, an inverter for watching television; some LED lights, a fan, and an RV roof vent when connected to an MPPT charge controller.
If you are power efficient, you may also be able to keep a few watts in reserve.
Everything is dependent on how these panels are utilized.
Most average-sized RVs can get by with 400W of power, which is plenty for a couple or even a family of three people.
Unless you have many high-powered appliances running, it is usually too much for one person to handle.
For RV'ers and camping, a 400-watt solar array is more than sufficient.
This is also sufficient electricity for a camping excursion in the spring or early autumn.
You may use this system to power the complete electrical system of the RV, but you must be careful not to consume too much power at the same time.
A 400-watt Solar Panel will not be enough to power a whole off-grid residence, but it will be sufficient to power several appliances.
It has enough space for a television, a laptop, a console, lights, fans, a Blu-ray player, and a printer.
Toasters, microwaves, washing machines, hairdryers, and other major devices, on the other hand, are not permitted.
Where can you put 400w solar panels to good use?
RVs, trailers, boats, cabins, sheds, and electric livestock fences are just a few of the off-grid applications that the 400-watt Solar Panel can power.
The starting kit has the potential to provide years of quiet power generation and independence from the power grid.
A 400w system provides you with a couple of days of reserve power, based on your usage and the fact that you do not have access to any other sources of recharging.
Even if you can renew the batteries on a daily basis, consider keeping something on hand as an emergency reserve to avoid cycling batteries more than is absolutely required.
What is the output of a solar panel with a 400-watt capacity?
Each Solar Panel generates 400 watts of electricity on a 400-watt system, which can be utilized for both residential and commercial solar energy projects in the same system.
400-watt Solar Panels will generate between 1.2 - 3 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per day, based on their exposure to sunshine and other criteria such as geographic location and tilt, among others.
For 400-watt solar panels, what type of charge controller should I use?
It is possible to utilize the 40A PWM charge controller with 400w solar panels, as long as the voltage is 12 volts.
Solar systems generating more than 400 watts of power and operating at 24V should be controlled by an MPPT charge controller.
To get the size of the charge controller necessary, divide the number of watts by the number of volts and multiply the result by 20%.
400 watts divided by 12 volts equals 33.3 amps + 20% equals 39.9 amps
As a result, a 40A charge controller can power a 400w solar panel.
Charge controllers are classified or sized according to their amp ratings, such as 10A, 20A, 30A, and so on.
The majority of PWM charge controllers possess a maximum current capacity of 60A.
There are numerous factors why the MPPT controller is preferable to a PWM controller, but the most essential is its ability to manage a wide range of voltages.
The solar panel, as well as battery voltages, must be in sync if you intend to utilize a PWM charge controller.
If a battery is 12V, it follows that the Solar Panels must also be 12V.
The use of an MPPT controller relieves you of the need to worry about voltage matching.
According to the voltage of PV modules and batteries, the controller will adjust the current to achieve the best possible outcomes.
It will optimize both your Solar Panels and your batteries to ensure that your system functions properly at all times.
PWM charge controllers are ideally suited for solar arrays with a capacity of less than 4000 watts.
If you require more power, it is preferable to use a device that is more energy-efficient.
In addition, PWM charge controllers necessitate the use of longer, thicker wires that can be prohibitively expensive.
However, the PWM controller would be sufficient if you intend to keep your power consumption around 400 watts.
What is causing my 400-watt solar panel to produce so low amps?
As a result of your calculations, this Solar Panel can produce up to 26 amps per hour.
On the other hand, when you look at the statistics, you find that the amps are much lower in the low 20s.
What exactly is the problem? Here are a few possible explanations for why the Solar Panel isn't generating sufficient amps:
Cloudy skies: Even though there is no rain, passing clouds that obscure the sun's rays will have an impact on the solar panels.
Even if it is only for a brief period, you will notice a decrease in the charge rate.
Shading: The solar cells are extremely sensitive to any form of shade they may be exposed to.
Even a small amount of foliage, dirt or other debris might have an impact on the production.
Solar panels must be cleaned regularly to prevent dirt from accumulating.
Charge controller with pulse width modulation (PWM): As previously stated, a PWM controller is restricted to 14.4V, while an MPPT controller can operate a 400W Solar Panel at full capacity.
Low Solar Panel efficiency is a problem: For the solar system of this scale, an efficiency rate of below 20% is insufficient to meet the requirements.
The higher the efficiency of the solar panel, the greater the amount of electricity the system can generate.
There is nothing problematic with your Solar Panels at this time.
The output of 26.6 amps is just the most that is attainable with this configuration.
In ideal weather conditions with a minimum of 5 hours of sunlight each day, you can anticipate drawing up to 128 amps per day.
However, if the weather goes south, the sky becomes cloudy or starts to drizzle, the Solar Panel productivity will drop significantly.
The current may drop to the low 20s from 26.6 amps.
Eventually, if the rain transforms into a downpour, the solar panel's output will completely stop or slow to a crawl.
You may expect a 400-watt Solar Panel to produce 24 to 26 amps per hour during the summer.
During the spring, fall, and winter, however, the amps can be lower.
As the wattage decreases, the amps decrease as well.
The point is that solar energy production will fluctuate.
It will be at its highest point during the summer and lowest throughout the other seasons.
If you are using a grid-tied system, this should not be a concern because you will have access to the main grid.
If you live off-grid, you can store the excess energy in the battery bank to utilize when needed.
To run a 400-watt solar panel, how many batteries would I need?
It is dependent on how much electricity you will require once the sun has set.
If you live off-grid or in a mobile home, the backup power supply must be sufficient to compensate for the loss of solar power during overcast or rainy days, assuming you have one.
A 12V battery with a capacity of 100 Ah produces 1200 watts.
It is still 600 watts even if the battery in question is lead-acid and has a depth drain of 50%.
In the event of a gloomy day, a completely charged 100ah battery can provide backup power for a 400w solar system.
In an ideal situation, you should allow the Solar Panels to charge the battery throughout the day.
Use the battery to power your appliances, and because the battery is constantly recharged, it will not go out of power.
Even after the sun has set, you still have a fully charged battery that may be used.
If the 400-watt Solar Panel setup is sufficient for your needs during the day, it will also be sufficient for your needs during the night.
As a result, a 100ah battery ought to be sufficient for a standard RV.
How many amps does a 400-watt solar panel produce?
The maximum currents of the 400-watt Solar Panel are referred to as Imp (Maximum Power Current), and the maximum currents are specified on the specification sheet provided by the manufacturer.
For the 400-watt Solar Panel with a voltage of 49 volts, the average DC current is 9.5 amps.
The comparable current required to run AC appliances is around 3.3 amps.
The amps listed on the specification sheet of a 300-watt Solar Panel are by far the most accurate way of determining the maximum amps the panel can generate.
When converting from direct current to Alternating current, inverter losses of a minimum of 10% should be subtracted.
For example, if Vmp is 42 volts, we would decrease the DC current value by a factor equal to the ratio between the DC and AC voltage.
The following is an example of a straightforward:
AC current equals DC current multiplied by 42/120 = 9.5 x o.35 Equals 3.325 amps AC current
Inverters are not particularly efficient if they are not fully loaded, and their efficiency diminishes dramatically as the load reduces.
Let us assume that the battery is 95% charged when fully loaded.
This is dependent on the size of the inverter, and because the load will not remain constant in practice, the effectiveness will change dynamically.
Final alternating current load current =3.325 - (3.325*5/100) = 3.16 amps alternating current.
How many 400-watt solar panels would you need?
The number of Solar Panels you will install will be determined by the amount of power you wish to create as well as the amount of space available for the Solar Panels on your property.
When there is a lack of available roof space, many people opt for the 400w solar panel.
This is because 400W Solar Panels produce energy more effectively than many lower-wattage solar panels, considering the area they take up.
In some circumstances, the amount of 400w panels is rounded up to the nearest panel to maintain accuracy.
When five 400-watt Solar Panels are combined, they will generate approximately 3,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power, which is much less than the amount of electricity used by a typical single-family home.
Installing 15 Solar Panels for a system with a capacity of approximately 6 kW will generate enough electricity to reduce or completely eliminate your electric bill drastically.
Is it possible for a solar panel to function without a battery?
It is possible to utilize a Solar Panel without using a battery, and this is exactly how a grid-connected home solar power system operates.
When a solar energy system generates more electricity than a home requires, it can be fed into the utility electrical grid.
It is possible to run appliances without using a battery, but doing so is not recommended in most cases.
If clouds pass over the solar panels, the power production drops significantly, and your device is likely to be rendered inoperable.
Some household appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners, do not draw the same amount of current all of the time but instead cycle on and off.
When the engine starts, a refrigerator can draw up to three times the amount of current it would draw if it were operating continuously.
This additional electricity may be too great for the Solar Panel to handle.
To provide the surge current required by compressor motors that cycle on and off, power storage in the kind of deep-cycle lead-acid or even lithium phosphate batteries are required to be installed.
For a 400-watt solar panel, what size inverter do you need?
It's possible that your first impression is that it's 400 watts, but a good rule of thumb is to overestimate the inverter's power output.
A fridge or even a freezer with an operating wattage of 40 to 100 watts may be able to operate in direct sunlight.
However, the amount of electricity consumed by this sort of equipment is not consistent.
The surge current of a motor can be three times more than the running current, and the power requirement of a fridge compressor will fluctuate when it stops and begins during regular operation.
Solar panels are capable of supplying this load.
Still, they may not do so if the panel is not running at its maximum capacity - Solar Panels may not operate at their maximum capacity for a significant portion of the time.
Power output is reduced due to a variety of circumstances, including the time of day, seasonal fluctuations, cloud coverage, temperature, and dirt accumulation.
A battery is required to provide backup power if the solar panel's output is insufficient.
Reasons for installing 400-watt solar panels
It is preferable to choose 400-watt Solar Panels over the more typical 280 - 350 watt Solar Panels for two main reasons: when you have a tiny roof and ensure that your Solar Panel has fewer points of failure.
Make the most of a limited amount of space
The most common reason for installing a 400 W (or larger) Solar Panel is a shortage of available roof space.
The most powerful Solar Panels - those with a capacity of 400 watts or more - are constructed utilizing the most energy-efficient solar cell technology available.
The greater the efficiency of a solar panel, the less space it requires to generate a particular amount of energy.
For example, if you want to squeeze the most solar power possible out of a particular location, go for 400-watt Solar Panels which possess a module efficiency of 20% or greater.
There are fewer points of failure.
In general, using 400-watt Solar Panels reduces the likelihood of having difficulties with the system throughout the panels' lifetime.
Why? Because adopting 400-watt Solar Panels reduces the number of modules that must be installed.
For example, instead of twenty (20) 300-watt solar panels, fifteen (15) 400-watt solar panels can be used to build a 6-kW solar system.
Unlikely as it may seem, solar panels alone will not fail; nonetheless, the odds of failure with related equipment are higher.
For example, module-level power electronics (MLPE) - power optimizers and microinverters - are frequently utilized in conjunction with each panel to comply with code specifications.
As a result of employing fewer panels, you lessen the requirement for MLPE.
As a result, there is a far lesser likelihood of experiencing problems both during and after your warranty period.
Are 400W solar panels expensive?
Solar panels with 400 watts are more expensive than panels with lower sizes.
But 400-watt panels are not more expensive simply since they generate more power; rather, they are more costly in relative terms, i.e., they are more expensive per watt produced.
Solar panel producers require more advanced manufacturing procedures to make a Solar Panel that generates more power without increasing in size as a result of the increased power.
Aside from that, 400-watt panels are newer, higher-end versions and Solar Panel manufacturers tend to include a larger profit margin in manufacturing these goods.
If you choose to design your solar energy system with 400w solar modules rather than modules in the more common 300-350 W range, you could expect to incur a premium of approximately 5-10% per watt.
400 watt Solar Panel Conclusion
A 400-watt Solar Panel can be able to power and operate a vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, electric blanket, computer monitor, and CPU for a few hours to many hours a day, depending on how often it is used.
A 500-watt Solar Panel is larger than a 400-watt solar panel.
For example, a Solar Panel system with 500 watts of power will normally have an inverter with 400 watts or more of power so that you may charge basic appliances as well as devices such as laptops, lights, and a small refrigerator.


Lynn Canal Conservation is a grassroots conservation organization based in Haines, Alaska. The communities of the Chilkat Valley depend on a healthy environment to provide jobs, subsistence foods, recreation, and quality of life. LCC has a long-term commitment to the health of fish and wildlife populations and to regulations that promote clean water and stream protections for watersheds important to commercial, sport and subsistence salmon fisheries.
Action Alert: University of Alaska Timber Sale
PUBLIC COMMENT DUE ON MAY 7TH
On March 21st the University of Alaska released an alarmingly vague Public Notice that states the following:
The University of Alaska received a notification of interest from a bona fide purchaser and will be entering into a 10 - year negotiated sale to harvest timber on the University’s Haines Parcels. The Haines Parcels total approximately 13, 426 acres and are located within the Haines Borough.
Parties interested in commenting on this development and disposal plan must submit written comments to the University of Alaska through its Facilities and Land Management department by email at email@example.com
There are no details on the buyer or the actual scale of the sale. All that we know is that all of the University's holdings within the Haines Borough are being considered. LCC is actively trying to find more information on the sale and will keep our members updated.
Welcome LCC's first ever Executive Director!
Elsa Sebastian originally hails from a small fishing village on Prince of Wales Island, and has been drawn to Haines to help protect our wild salmon runs from multiple threats, including mine development, industrial scale clearcutting and ill-conceived highway projects in the Chilkat watershed. She’s a believer in the power of grassroots organizing and local ecological knowledge. Learn more about Elsa on our Staff & Board page.


We are excited to announce that we have named our first LNG dual-fuelled aframax vessels, Eagle Brasilia and Eagle Bintulu, built by Samsung Heavy Industry Co Ltd’s (SHI) at the company’s shipyard in Geoje, South Korea. Both vessels have been taken on long-term charter by Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (Shell), primarily for operations in the Atlantic Basin, and will commence commercial operations in early January.
Eagle Brasilia and Eagle Bintulu are designed to operate with optimum efficiency, the highest standards of safety and compliance while delivering significant environmental benefits. Using LNG as a fuel eliminates sulphur (SOx) emissions by nearly 100 percent, nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions by 85 percent and particulate matter (PM) emissions by 98 percent. This far exceeds the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) MARPOL VI 0.5% SOx regulations due into force in 2020.
The vessels are equipped with conventional single screw propulsion with two-stroke main engine, three auxiliary engines and two auxiliary boilers, all equipped for LNG dual fuel capability. LNG fuel will be supplied through two type-C tanks of 850 cubic metres each arranged on the main deck aft port and starboard. Each LNG tank is equipped with two LNG feed pumps which provide full redundancy for operation. The vessels are designed to receive LNG fuel from LNG bunkering vessels (via ship-to-ship transfer) and can trade with LNG fuel for approximately 6,000 nautical miles.
Our new eco-pioneering Eagle Brasilia and Eagle Bintulu mark a major step for AET in building a growing fleet of LNG dual-fuelled vessels in the coming years as part of our Group’s Green Sustainability Agenda. While LNG dual fuelling solutions will not be rolled out for our entire fleet, we expect to equip up to 50% of our newbuild petroleum shipping fleet with this technology.
Under the careful management of our shipmanagement division, Eaglestar, we hope that our efforts in pioneering LNG dual-fuelled technologies will also benefit the wider industry. By showcasing the tangible operational advantages of this fuelling solution while reducing our impact on the natural environment, we hope to demonstrate that shipowners can do more to protect the environment without impeding commercial operations.


All-in-one LED solar flood lights outdoor stadium,billborad flood CE & IP65 approved solar light
|Product Name:||Solar LED Flood Light/Parking Lot Lightig/Solar Sign Lighting|
|Solar panel||7W Poly/Mono crystalline|
|Battery||2*6V/4.5AH, Maintenance free|
|Charging time: 4-8hrs|
|Working time: 10-12hrs/day|
|LED Light Source||84PCS /108PCS high power LED|
|Actual Output Power:3W|
|Luminous Flux: 500-800LM|
|Working temperature||-25– + 60 degree|
|CRI||More Than 80|
|Bracket||Can be adjustable|
|Color||White, Black, Blue etc|
|Warranty time||3 years|
|Lifetime||≥ 5 Years|
|Size for Carton||77*40*29cm (5pcs/Ctn)|
|NW/GW||25/27KG per Carton; 5KG per piece|
100% solar powered, No wiring, Easy installation, save money, energy and human resources, maintenance free, long lifespan, easily moved to another desired location.
Path road lighting, rural area lighting, billboard lighting, road indication light, etc.
- Payment: T/T, 30% deposits before production, 70% balance before delivery.
- Production lead time for 100~500PCS: 5-10days, 500~1000PCS: 7-15days
- Sample can be delivered in 3days
- Shipping freight are quoted under your requests
- Shipping port: Shenzhen, any port of China; Door to door shipping is available.
- Discounts are offered based on order quantities.
- Your inquiry related to our products or prices will be replied in 24hrs.
- Well-trained and experienced staffs to answer all your enquires in fluent English
- OEM, any your customized lightings we can help you to design and put into product.
- Distributor are offered for your unique design and some our current models
- Protection of your sales area, ideas of design and all your private information
Switch off the electricity before replacing the bulb.
If any doubt about the installation or use of this product, consult a competent electrician.


Colorado Greenback Cutthroat Trout: A Fisherman's Guide
Quantity in Basket:None
Shipping Weight:0.75 pounds
Authors: Richard Fritz & Jim Rubingh
Once thought to be extinct, Colorado’s famed greenback cutthroat trout is in the process of making a remarkable comeback. There are now over 50 waters along the Colorado Front Range where fishermen can experience the thrill of catching this beautiful fish. Colorado Greenback Cutthroat Trout: A Fisherman’s Guide will tell you about the biology, history, and the amazing recovery of the greenback, along with information on where and how to catch this unique and colorful fish.
The survival of the greenback cutthroat now hinges on the combined efforts of state and federal agencies, wildlife organizations, and the volunteer work of numerous fishermen and citizens. This book is dedicated to those individuals and organizations, and to the premise that wild native trout such as the greenback are more than worth all of our conservation efforts.
6 x 9 Inches, 132 Pages, All-Color, Index
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Richard Fritz has been fly fishing throughout the United States for over 35 years. While growing up in northern Ohio, his father introduced him to small farm bass ponds as well as to the expansive trout and northern pike lakes in southern Ontario and Quebec, Canada. His fly fishing career began to fully develop during his years living in Bozeman, Montana. The big rivers in Montana and Wyoming provided a good training ground for his fishing adventures for steelhead and sea-run cutthroat during his years in Portland, Oregon. He has also had the opportunity to fish the limestone streams in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. His favorite fishing location, however, is Colorado. The state offers a wide-range of fishing challenges, good water is open year round, and the high mountain lakes are spectacular--both in scenery and for hungry trout. Mr. Fritz lives in Denver with his wife and two children.
Jim Rubingh grew up fishing the trout streams and creeks of southwestern Michigan. He began fly fishing when he moved west to Colorado in 1973 to pursue graduate degrees in biology and natural resource management and has been fly fishing the state's streams and lakes ever since. Beginning in the late 1980's he has been actively pursuing the greenback cutthroat along Colorado's Front Range. Jim served on Colorado's Fish Health and Aquaculture board for many years and has been a member of Trout Unlimited for some 25 years. He and his wife have grown children and live west of Denver.
For more information about the author go to Jim Rubingh on "Ask About Fly Fishing.com Internet Radio." Don't forget to click on the interview recording!


HP Forest Recruitment 2016: Himachal Pradesh Forest Department released an application notification for 465 Forest Guards Vacancies on contractual basis. The Minimum educational qualification required for HP Forest Posts is 10+2 Pass from a
recognized University/ Institute. And Last date for Applicants to submit the application is on or before 14.07.2016. The Forests of Himachal Pradesh known for their grandeur and majesty are like a green pearl in the Himalayan crown. This life supporting systems are presently under great stress due to impact of modern civilization, economic development and growth in human and cattle population.
|Organization/Company Name||Himachal Pradesh Forest Department|
|Post/Vacancy Name||Forest Guards|
|No of Vacancies||465 Posts.|
|Job Category||Govt Jobs|
|Salary||As Per HP Forest Dept|
|Job Location||Himachal Pradesh|
Education Eligibility for HP Forest Jobs :
Candidates must possess 10+2 Examination pass from recognized Board.
Age limit for HP Forest recruitment as follows : As per Himachal Pradesh Forest Department Rules.
Important Dates to Remember to apply:
Last Date For Submission of Application : 14.07.2016.
Selection Procedure will be as follows:
Based on written Exam & Interview.
How to Apply For HP Forest Recruitment 2016:
Interested Candidates may apply in prescribed application form along with relevant documents send to related Circles as per Official Notification – hpforest.nic.in on or before 14.07.2016.


Who we are
We are an international trading company specialized in the field of Air Treatment , Water Treatment and Energy Solutions.
Our main products:
- Fans and Air Coolers
- LED and Solar Lights
- Grilles & Diffusers and Ducts
- Water Filters and Softeners
- Energy Package Solutions
We are the ONE STOP SHOP for all products relevant to: SOLAR - WATER - AIR - ENERGY!!!
- Quality Products!
- Excellent Prices!
- On line and Off line support from more than 12 experienced engineers!
- Experience and knowledge (more than 26 years!!!)
- European and US Certificates
- European Design
- We accept orders with almost any quantities!
Where are the ARIKLIMA products made in: Our products are made from our factories in several countries like Italy, Ukraine, China, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, Czech, USA.


Winds are generally most favorable the first hours after sunrise and the last hours before sunset. The sun’s uneven heating of the earth’s surface causes strong, variable winds. In the morning, it takes a few hours to heat the earth’s surface enough to generate the thermal activity that creates wind. In the evening, the sun’s intensity has sometimes diminished enough to reduce winds to acceptable flight levels. Ideal winds are 3-6 mph. Our experience shows that afternoon balloon flights in this area are risky. We do not want to jeopardize passenger safety, therefore we do not fly in the afternoon.


Removing raccoons from Southeast Michigan attics is one of our most requested services. Every year we remove hundreds of raccoons from attics in Troy, Oxford, Waterford, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham and other cities in Oakland County. We use humane methods to trap and relocate raccoons from your property to unpopulated areas where they can live safely without encountering humans.
Raccoons in your attic is common in Michigan where wildlife seek shelter. Occasionally they will voluntarily leave but it’s important to trap and relocate them to prevent having them return to your attic next time they want shelter.
Raccoons are thought to be clean animals because they use a latrine to urinate and defecate rather than leaving waste in their living area which is common with rodents. But raccoons could make a latrine in a separate part of your attic which will then be very expensive to remove and replace the affected insulation.
One of the most common questions A&M Animal Control is asked to help with is getting rid of mice in the home. Mice in Oakland County are considered pests because they live in houses, get into our food and gnaw on wood and wires. The most common complaints about mice include:
- Mice moving around in the attic
- Mice scratching in walls
- Mice getting into food in the kitchen
In Oakland County we have residential areas that normally have large trees with fields or woods in our neighborhoods. This is ideal for house mice because they can blend in to the brown color of fallen leaves and dried grass. The mice common in Oakland County are called field mice (also called house mice) and are brown with a length of about 5″ to 8″ included their tail. Getting rid of mice from your home usually involves treating with poison and preventing them from entering the house again.
Groundhogs are a common nuisance in Oakland County Michigan and they can cause a lot of damage when living under or near your house. They will eat your plants and will destroy your fruit and vegetable gardens. The best solution is always to trap and remove the animal.
At A&M Animal Contol, we only use live trap cages to trap groundhogs. Our live traps are set in the groundhog’s path, usually between the burrow and a source of food. We bait the live traps with berries or vegetables and when we catch the groundhog, we relocate it several miles away.
In Oakland County, groundhogs have many options for garden vegetables or fruit to eat. We’ve found them to be fans of raspberries, strawberries, sunflower seeds, and even leaves of geraniums or other flowering plants. They tend to live in shaded areas like under a deck or in an area of dense ground covering. When they burrow under your deck, it is particularly important to catch the groundhog and block access to prevent another animal from using the same burrow.
Squirrels in the attic is a big problem in Oakland County Michigan. Like other animals, squirrels will get into your attic to find shelter. They will find a piece of rotten wood siding or a hole near a roof vent and use that to access your attic. All a squirrel needs to get into the attic is a hole about 1 inch in diameter; just enough to get their head through.
Sometimes the entry point is very difficult to recognize if it is fairly new. But over time the entry point will get larger as the squirrel goes in and out of the attic, making it easier to spot.
At A&M Animal Control, we usually find the most effective way to catch the target squirrel is to set a live trap on the roof, near the entry points. Traps set in the attic are usually not effective in catching squirrels. Some traps can also be set on the hole itself, forcing the target squirrels into the trap. Another type of trap will allow the squirrel to leave the attic and not enter through the same hole. Depending on the situation, we will select the best trap to catch the squirrel and make your home peaceful again.


Free Trees? Sounds good to me!
Join the Arbor Day Foundation for only $10, and they will give you 10 free trees. You can choose between 10 free Live Oak trees, Bald Cypresses or 5 flowering Crepe-myrtle trees.
Your $10 membership, which lasts for 6 months, includes a 33% discount on more than 100 ornamentals, fruit, evergreens, shade and flowering trees and shrubs. It also includes a free subscription to their colorful bimonthly newsletter. Arbor Day is a gardener’s handbook and tree information guide in one.
The free 6- to 12-inch-tall trees will be shipped between February 1 and April 30 along with planting instructions. The Arbor Day foundation guarantees they’ll grow or they will be replaced.
This offer ends on January 31st, so head on over to ArborDay.org to join.


Microscopic Chamber #1, 2013
Variable dimensions, mixed media (laser, water, mirror, aquarium, pipettes, bee wax, etc.
Millions of other living entities surround us all the time and are vital to our well being and also for life in the natural environment. However they exist in such a mode of being that not only many of their behaviour escape human perception, but their presence all together.
Using optics techniques, a droplet of water becomes a lens magnifying this amazing biodiversity of microorganisms presented inside this water droplet when beamed by a laser pointer, creating a microscope-live-cinema installation for the audience.
This work is a step further in a research about the huge biodiversity of microorganisms which lives in water as phytoplankton, copepods, diatoms, algae, etc, which will be used to develop the next work titled Symbiotic Machine.


Efficient, sustainable energy is great for business.
AGL | Perth Energy can tailor commercial solar and energy efficiency solutions to help you reduce costs, control overheads and show you’re serious about sustainability. Use our expertise, equipment and end-to-end service to help improve your bottom line.
Smart energy solutions
We give you ways to support a sustainable energy future and gain long-term savings for your business, such as blending solar and electricity solutions. Speak with us about innovative supply solutions, as well as carbon neutral options, and know you’re doing the right thing by the environment.
Whether it’s packaged into your grid electricity; or you want to own and install your own solar panels, or if you prefer to lease solar technology – we’ve got a solution for you.
Thanks to rapid advances in technology, energy storage could be financially feasible for your business. We’ll crunch the numbers for you to find out if it is right for you.
Remote power solutions
If your business has complex energy needs, a remote power system, based on solar and battery technology, may provide substantial benefits like improved energy reliability and a cleaner source of electricity.
Our Commercial Solar and Power Factor Correction (PFC) products can help you lower your business’s energy costs by reducing the amount of energy you draw from the grid, which means you’ll also be reducing grid-electricity related carbon emissions.
Deciding to go solar with AGL | Perth Energy means end-to-end support from our team, including working through grid connection, statutory approvals and applications for available incentives, as well as access to a solar monitoring solution.
Power Factor Correction
Networks charge large businesses for the demand they place on the electricity grid. So if you’re being charged a network demand charge, it could pay to understand your power factor.
This could lead to a reduction in the amount you pay in network demand charges by improving your power factor and correcting supply inefficiencies. Our team can advise on the best equipment for your business.
More great reasons to choose AGL | Perth Energy
Whether you’re paying less, or getting more from the energy you’re supplied, you can see the results in your bottom line.
Flexible payment options
Every business is different, so we have options designed to work for you and your industry.
Our expertise and relationships mean that we supply you with the latest technology, and the best in advice and installation.
We can provide advice and monitoring, as well as competitive energy plans to help your business save.
Tailored to you
We take pride in designing a solution based on your energy use, budget, location and sustainability goals.
Our team has experience working with wineries, retail, manufacturing, councils, health care, aged care, schools and hospitality.
We can tailor a commercial solar system solution to match your business needs. We use quality components for your system build, backed up by relevant manufacturer warranties.
Solar monitoring system
With our commercial solar system, you’ll get access to system monitoring so you can see how much energy your solar system is producing, and trends to help you maximise your solar benefit.
Need a hand deciding?


Eastern Waste Management Authority’s (East Waste) primary purpose is to provide effective waste collection services for its Member Councils, which include: Adelaide Hills Council, City of Burnside, Campbelltown City Council, City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, City of Mitcham, the Corporation of the Town of Walkerville and the City of Prospect. The exact nature of the waste collection services are determined independently by each Council to meet the needs of their respective communities.
NRG was commissioned to develop a campaign to promote heightened engagement by the community to better sort household waste into general waste, recycling or green organics.
By educating the public and enlisting the community’s support less waste goes to landfill and more into recycling or compost resulting in better efficiencies, lower costs and greater utilisation of resources thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint.
NRG created and developed the ‘Which Bin’ campaign and rolled it out across multiple platforms including a comprehensive website with a sophisticated search function, point-of-sale style collateral throughout the Council areas and schools, roadside signage and a bus shelter campaign within the respective catchments.
The colourful graphics of the ‘Which Bin’ campaign also feature on the East Waste fleet of trucks which penetrate each and every street of the seven member councils.