Login

Recent searches

No recent searches

Search options

Only available when logged in.
lepoulsdumonde.com is one of the many independent Mastodon servers you can use to participate in the fediverse.
Small french Mastodon instance for friends, family and useful bots

Administered by:

Server stats:

52
active users

lepoulsdumonde.com: AboutProfiles directoryPrivacy policy

Mastodon: AboutGet the appKeyboard shortcutsView source codev4.4.0-alpha.4

#solarpunksunday

3 posts2 participants0 posts today
Public
DoomsdaysCW

So, whenever possible, I stick to household solutions to remove rust -- lemon juice, baking soda, vinegar -- and a lot of elbow grease. As for rust-proofing the objects afterwards? That can be a bit problematic, since it seems most rust-preventing paints for metal contain PFAS (I'm looking into alternatives. Linseed oil paint might be good for metal). Mineral spirits and paraffin wax are another way to rust-proof metal, but both are petroleum products. Limonene and beeswax might be a petroleum-free way to rust-proof metal, but I haven't tried it yet (though I have both on hand). Feel free to chime in with suggestions!

How to Remove Rust From Metal Surfaces—From Garden Tools to
Vintage Finds

Seven proven ways to remove rust corrosion in just a couple of hours

getpocket.com/explore/item/how
#DIY #SolarPunkSunday #FixIt #RustProofing #RustRemoval #ReduceReuseRepair #ReuseRepair

PocketHow to Remove Rust From Metal Surfaces—From Garden Tools to Vintage FindsSeven proven ways to remove rust corrosion in just a couple of hours.
Public *
DoomsdaysCW

#Degrowth can work — here’s how science can help

Wealthy countries can create prosperity while using less materials and energy if they abandon #EconomicGrowth as an objective.

By Jason Hickel, Giorgos Kallis, Tim Jackson, Daniel W. O’Neill, Juliet B. Schor, Julia K. Steinberger, Peter A. Victor & Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, 12 December 2022

Excerpt: "The global economy is structured around growth — the idea that firms, industries and nations must increase production every year, regardless of whether it is needed. This dynamic is driving climate change and ecological breakdown. High-income economies, and the corporations and wealthy classes that dominate them, are mainly responsible for this problem and consume energy and materials at unsustainable rates.

"Yet many industrialized countries are now struggling to grow their economies, given economic convulsions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, resource scarcities and stagnating productivity improvements. Governments face a difficult situation. Their attempts to stimulate growth clash with objectives to improve human well-being and reduce environmental damage.

"GDP is getting a makeover — what it means for economies, health and the planet

"Researchers in ecological economics call for a different approach — degrowth. Wealthy economies should abandon growth of gross domestic product (#GDP) as a goal, scale down destructive and unnecessary forms of #production to reduce energy and material use, and focus economic activity around securing human needs and well-being. This approach, which has gained traction in recent years, can enable rapid #decarbonization and stop ecological breakdown while improving social outcomes. It frees up energy and materials for low- and middle-income countries in which growth might still be needed for development. Degrowth is a purposeful strategy to stabilize economies and achieve social and ecological goals, unlike recession, which is chaotic and socially destabilizing and occurs when growth-dependent economies fail to grow.

"Reports this year by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (#IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on #Biodiversity and #Ecosystem Services (#IPBES) suggest that degrowth policies should be considered in the fight against #ClimateBreakdown and #biodiversity loss, respectively. Policies to support such a strategy include the following.

"Reduce less-necessary production. This means scaling down destructive sectors such as #FossilFuels, mass-produced meat and dairy, #FastFashion, #advertising, #cars and aviation, including #PrivateJets. At the same time, there is a need to end the #PlannedObsolescence of products, lengthen their lifespans and reduce the purchasing power of the #rich.

"Improve #PublicServices. It is necessary to ensure universal access to high-quality #HealthCare, #Education, #Housing, transportation, Internet, #RenewableEnergy and nutritious food. #UniversalPublicServices can deliver strong social outcomes without high levels of resource use.

"Introduce a green jobs guarantee. This would train and mobilize labour around urgent social and ecological objectives, such as installing renewables, insulating buildings, regenerating #ecosystems and improving social care. A programme of this type would end unemployment and ensure a just transition out of jobs for workers in declining industries or 'sunset sectors', such as those contingent on fossil fuels. It could be paired with a #UniversalIncome policy.

"Reduce working time. This could be achieved by lowering the retirement age, encouraging part-time working or adopting a four-day working week [and hybrid or remote work]. These measures would lower #CarbonEmissions and free people to engage in care and other welfare-improving activities. They would also stabilize employment as less-necessary production declines.

"Enable #sustainable development. This requires cancelling unfair and unpayable debts of low- and middle-income countries, curbing unequal exchange in international trade and creating conditions for productive capacity to be reoriented towards achieving social objectives.

"Some countries, regions and cities have already introduced elements of these policies. Many European nations guarantee free health care and education; Vienna and Singapore are renowned for high-quality public housing; and nearly 100 cities worldwide offer free public transport. Job guarantee schemes have been used by many nations in the past, and experiments with basic incomes and shorter working hours are under way in Finland, Sweden and New Zealand.

"But implementing a more comprehensive strategy of degrowth — in a safe and just way — faces five key research challenges, as we outline here."

Read more:
nature.com/articles/d41586-022

Archived version:
archive.ph/AtJ87
#FourDayWorkweek #RemoteWork #HybridWork #CircularEconomy #CapitalismKills #RightToRepair #ProtectMotherEarth #CorporateColonialism #BuyLess #BuyNothing #LibraryOfThings #SolarPunkSunday

www.nature.comDegrowth can work — here’s how science can helpWealthy countries can create prosperity while using less materials and energy if they abandon economic growth as an objective.
Public
DoomsdaysCW

#California: Need Help Fixing Your Broken Stuff? Volunteers at the #HumboldtCounty #RepairCafé in #ArcataCA Will (Most Likely) Fix It for Free!

by Isabella Vanderheiden / Wednesday, March 26

"You know that broken lamp that’s been sitting in the corner of your garage for the last decade? You know, the one with the busted pull chain and persnickety cord your college roommate gave you? Yeah, that one. Do you think it might be time to get that thing fixed?

"What if I told you there is a place you can go to have your lamps rewired, your vintage denim mended, your bicycle tires patched, your weed wackers restrung and your great-grandmother’s heirloom necklace soldered — all for free?

"Sounds too good to be true, right? Not so! On Sunday, April 6, volunteers and staff with Arcata’s Recreation Division will host the first Humboldt Repair Café, a free event at the Arcata Community Center where people can take their broken stuff (electronics, clothing, jewelry, furniture, crockery, small appliances, etc.) to be repaired by local fixers. If you can carry it, chances are, they can fix it.

"'The rule is it has to be small enough that you can carry it in by yourself,' volunteer coordinator Wendy Ring told the Outpost. 'We won’t be able to take in refrigerators and things like that. We’ll have a retired electrician to work with smaller electrical appliances. We also have some IT specialists to help people with their computers. We have experts at putting fancy patches on clothes and another person for bicycle repairs. This is our first Repair Café, but we have quite a variety of people!'

"The upcoming event is part of an international movement, which originated in Amsterdam in 2009, to combat '#ThrowawayCulture,' promote #sustainability and teach people practical repair skills. 'We just bring our skills and fix stuff together,' Ring said.

"'The Repair Café movement is trying to change consumer culture and say, ‘No, we can’t just throw things away because they don’t just disappear,’ she continued. 'This is a way of making the things that we have last longer and teaching people how to fix things by watching our volunteers as they’re doing repairs. It’s also community building, which is something that we really need right now.'

"While the event is free, volunteers may request a donation if they need extra materials for repair. In some cases, it may take volunteers a little longer to diagnose the issue and get the parts needed for the fix.

"'If we don’t have the part on hand, we may ask you to come back next month,' Ring said, adding that she hopes to host the event once a month. 'Sometimes, it’s going to be a multi-step repair. We do have some people who have 3D printers who will be able to make parts for people. … We’ll also have little handbells around, and when a repair is made, we’ll ring the bell and have a mini celebration.'

"Asked what she would be taking to the Repair Café, Ring said she has a Kindle that needs fixing, some clothes her dog has chewed on and a jacket with a broken zipper. 'I put a collection of beautiful beach pebbles in my jacket pocket, and I’ve never been able to unzip it,' she said. 'That was a year ago. I can sew a little bit, but I can’t do zippers!'

"Cullen Groom, recreation supervisor for the City of Arcata’s environmental services department, is helping to support the program on behalf of the city, which is allowing the Repair Café to use the community center’s senior room free of charge."

FMI: lostcoastoutpost.com/2025/mar/
#RepairCafesCalifornia #SolarPunkSunday #RepairCafes #RepairReuseRecycle #BuildingCommunity

Lost Coast Outpost · Need Help Fixing Your Broken Stuff? Volunteers at the Humboldt Repair Café Will (Most Likely) Fix It for Free!By Isabella Vanderheiden
Public
DoomsdaysCW

#Tennessee: #NashvillePublicLibrary, Green Hills Branch

Vegetable #ContainerGardening
When: Thursday, April 3, 2025 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Where: Green Hills

Description: "Learn how growing plants in containers can expand your gardening options! Discover you can easily and successfully grow a variety of vegetables, flowers, and fruits in containers as varied as pots, tires and satellite dishes."

Contact: Green Hills (615) 862-5863

events.library.nashville.org/c
#SolarPunkSunday #LibrariesRule #VegetableGardening #FoodSecurity #BuildingCommunity #Gardening

Bedework EventsVegetable Container GardeningLearn how growing plants in containers can expand your gardening options! Discover you can easily and successfully grow a variety of vegetables, flowers, and fruits in containers as varied as pots, tires and satellite dishes.
Public
DoomsdaysCW

#Tennessee: #NashvillePublicLibrary #SeedExchange

"The Seed Exchange offers access to local librarians who will support, coach, and cheer you on as you grow your own home, school, church, or community garden. The best part about our Seed Exchange: it’s free! All you need is a library card."

Borrow Seeds

"Use your library card to borrow vegetable, herb, and flower seeds at Main Library and select branches. Find a Seed Exchange location near you. Borrowing seeds is free. All you need is a Nashville Public Library card."

Grow Plants

"NPL’s Seed Exchange offers access to local librarians who will support, coach and cheer you on as you grow your own home, school, church or community garden. We’re also working with local farmers, gardeners and community agencies to offer free gardening workshops throughout the year."

Return Seeds

"Once the season is over, harvest seeds from your garden and return them to the library. We ask that you follow certain protocol when harvesting seeds to share with the Seed Exchange. We want people who take seed to get what was on the label and we want to protect from passing on disease.

"Additionally, we are always looking for #OpenPollinated, #HeirloomSeeds from anyone in the community who is willing to share, a little or a lot.

"Our Seed Protocol [linked below] includes guidelines for properly saving and preparing seeds to share."

library.nashville.org/events/s

Seed protocol:
library.nashville.org/about/po
#SolarPunkSunday #LibrariesRule #SeedLibrary #SeedSharing #BuildingCommunity #Gardening

Nashville Public LibrarySeed Exchange
Public
DoomsdaysCW

Consider planting an extra row for the hungry in your garden this spring

If you’re going to plant fruits, vegetables or herbs this spring, why not grow some extra for your local soup kitchen or pantry?

By JESSICA DAMIANO, March 18, 2025

"If you’re gearing up to plant fruits, vegetables or herbs this spring, why not grow some extra to donate to your local #SoupKitchen or #FoodPantry?

"The national #PlantARowForTheHungry campaign, launched in 1995, has been encouraging home and community gardeners to do just that every year to help feed neighbors in need of fresh food.

"The program was spearheaded in 1995 by Anchorage Daily News garden columnist Jeff Lowenfels, who wrote a column encouraging his readers to plant extra crops and donate their harvests.

"After seeing the impact that his column had on local food donations, Lowenfels partnered with GardenComm International, then known as Garden Writers of America, to enlist garden columnists all over the country to promote the cause in their own communities. Since then, more than 20 million pounds of produce, providing more than 80 million meals, have been donated through the campaign by home gardeners.

"'All of this has been achieved without government subsidy or bureaucratic red tape — just people helping people,' according to organizers on the campaign’s website. And there’s no big advertising campaign, either — just garden columnists and their readers spreading the word."

Read more:
eastbaytimes.com/2025/03/18/ga
#BuildingCommunity #FoodInsecurity #FoodSecurity #SolarPunkSunday #CommunityGardens

a Plant a Row for the Hungry, Port Washington garden
East Bay Times · Consider planting an extra row for the hungry in your garden this springBy Associated Press
Public
DoomsdaysCW

#NewburyportMA: They can fix it: Annual spring #RepairCafe returning soon

By Jim Sullivan | Mar 20, 2025

NEWBURYPORT — "Folks hoping to get their bicycles fixed, their garden tools sharpened or even their house lamps mended should visit the Newburyport Senior/Community Center on Saturday, April 5, for the Time Trade Network of Greater Newburyport’s annual spring Repair Café.

"Taking place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the free event features over 30 local volunteers adept at tinkering with small appliances, textiles, jewelry, bikes, small wooden items and even mechanical clocks.

"Knife sharpening, as well as garden hand tool sharpening along with some expert advice on chair caning will also be offered.

"'We want to encourage people to have their items repaired instead of putting them into the waste stream,' event organizer Elizabeth Marcus said. 'They can also get to see just how easy and fun it can sometimes be.'

"The #TimeTradeNetwork of Greater Newburyport is a group of local volunteers willing and eager to share their knowledge as well as talents with one another.

At the Repair Café, people can bring up to three small, clean items then watch while each is repaired on the spot."

Read more:
newburyportnews.com/news/local

Archived version:
archive.ph/aSRM8#
#SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #RightToRepair #ReuseRepairRecycle #MassachusettsRepairCafes #TimeDollarNetwork #TimeDollars #TimeBanks #RepairCafeNewburyport

Public
DoomsdaysCW

6 Ways to Protect #Bats and #Birds From #WindTurbines

By Russell McLendon
Published October 22, 2019

"Wind turbines are an important source of clean, #renewable energy. They're one of the fastest-growing power sources in the U.S., outpacing even natural gas. Unfortunately, they also sometimes kill birds and bats.

"That may sound like an environmental Catch-22, but it doesn't need to be. From new designs and smarter locations to high-tech tracking systems and ultrasonic 'boom boxes,' many American #WindFarms are experimenting with various ways to make their turbines safer for flying #wildlife. "

Read more:
treehugger.com/ways-to-protect
#SolarPunkSunday #RenewablesNow #ProtectWildlife #FlyingWildlife

Treehugger6 Ways to Protect Bats and Birds From Wind TurbinesWind turbines can kill birds and bats, but they don't have to. Here are a few ways to help them coexist.
Public
DoomsdaysCW

Global #GolfCourses take up more land than #solar, wind plants

Researchers say the 10 countries with the most golf courses could install up to 842 GW of utility-scale solar or 659 GW of wind capacity on land equivalent in size to that used for the sport.

by Patrick Jowett, February 24, 2025

"There is more land taken up by golf courses across the world than by solar or wind energy plants, according to the findings of a new study.

"The research paper, 'Countries across the world use more land for golf courses than wind or solar energy,' was recently published in Environmental Research Communications. The researchers used the OpenStreetMap database to locate 38,400 golf courses in the world, of which 80% are located in the 10 countries with the most courses.

"The United States tops the list, with more than 16,000 golf courses, followed by the United Kingdom (around 3,100) and Japan (around 2,700). Canada, Australia, Germany, South Korea, France, China and Sweden round out the top 10 countries.

"The research team calculated that the renewable energy potential of the land taken up by golf courses and found that these 10 countries could install between 281 GW and 842 GW of utility-scale solar on 25% to 75% of the golf courses’ land area.

"The research paper said the 75% figure exceeds the 646 GW of cumulative solar capacity currently installed in these 10 countries. In comparison, the 10 countries could install between 174 GW and 659 GW of onshore wind across the golf course areas, depending on spacing.

"The researchers said that golf courses typically require large amounts of water and chemical treatments, while renewable energy installations offer a sustainable land use option. They said utility-scale solar farms require approximately 0.01 square km of land per megawatt, while wind farms require around 0.12 square km of land per megawatt.

"The researchers said their findings 'underscore the untapped potential of rethinking land use priorities to accelerate the transition to renewable energy.'

"The lead author of the study, Jann Weinand of German research institute Forschungszentrum Jülich, emphasized that the study is not advocating for the direct conversion of golf courses, but rather aims to highlight the vast renewables potential of similarly large and underutilized areas.

"'In light of the ongoing debates about land use for renewables, it is crucial to consider how we allocate land overall – especially when significant space is dedicated to activities that benefit only a limited segment of the population,' added Weinand."

Source:
pv-magazine.com/2025/02/24/glo
#Windfarms #Solarfarms #GolfCourses #SolarPunkSunday

pv magazine InternationalGlobal golf courses take up more land than solar, wind plantsResearchers say the 10 countries with the most golf courses could install up to 842 GW of utility-scale solar or 659 GW of wind capacity on land equivalent in size to that used for the sport.
Public
DoomsdaysCW

#CheshireUK - #Frodsham #rewilding: What happens when a #GolfCourse returns to #nature?

"A former golf course where top footballers once teed off is now home to badgers and foxes after being left to return to nature as part of a rewilding project.

"Frodsham Golf Course in Cheshire closed a few years ago and is now managed by the #WoodlandTrust, who hope to plant about 40,000 #NativeTrees.

"Site manager Neil Oxley says the area will become 'somewhere for people to see nature close to where they live'.

Watch:
bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-mer
#RewildingUK #SolarPunkSunday

Bunker filled with grass
www.bbc.comFrodsham rewilding: What happens when a golf course returns to nature?A former course is home to badgers and foxes after returning to nature as part of a rewilding scheme.
ExploreLive feeds
About