Heard that the light bulb that won $10 million from the government will still cost you $50? Wonder if the UK’s watering ban will really make a difference in terms of water savings? Read on: we’ve got the facts on these questions and more in this week’s green tech finds.
As an educational tool, beekeeping has a lot to recommend it: students keeping hives get a direct education in the complex relationships of natural systems, and insight into food production. Added lessons may focus on bees’ creation of around $15 billion in added crop value, or the fact that “about one mouthful in three in the diet directly or indirectly benefits from honey bee pollination.” And, finally, they’ll pick up a skill with economic value as demand for local honey is very strong.
The Woodland Community Apiary in Western Philadelphia plans to teach all of these lessons and more as a part of its youth beekeeping project.
According to the USDA, half of all US farmers will likely retire in the next decade. You might expect recruitment of new farmers to occur with organizations like the Future Farmers of America, or the 4H Club (and it is)… but the military? Yep… numerous programs around the country are targeting veterans for training in sustainable agriculture.
Summer’s coming to an end, but ice cream and watermelon are still on the radar… as green tech finds.
Gardening online: Nope, it’s not a new Facebook app. Italian company Azienda Agricola Giacomo Ferraris has created a sort of CSA 2.0 — Italians can design a garden online, and the company plants the vegetables requested, and delivers the produce from the garden to the customer’s door. (via Springwise)
Online sustainability training: Looking to update your skill set for the green economy? Nevada’s Truckee Meadows Community College has a new online certificate program in green technology; the University of Wisconsin-Extension is offering a full online bachelor’s degree program in sustainable management.