Envisioning the Future
Future Forward: Sustainable Agriculture
Sometimes we’re told change will take decades, even generations. Then world-shaking events like the COVID-19 pandemic show us it really can happen in a hurry. Such is the case with climate change — too often, we’ve been told that altering...
Solar Meets Sheep (and Bees, and More)
The second word in “solar farm” can sound like a misnomer. Often solar panels sit on former agricultural land, but aren’t what we’d otherwise think of as a farm. Agrivoltaics aims to change that by hosting PV panels and agriculture...
Future Forward: Housing + Transportation
Sometimes we’re told change will take decades, even generations. Then world-shaking events like the COVID-19 pandemic show us it really can happen in a hurry. Such is the case with climate change — too often, we’ve been told that altering...
Three Cool Earth-Bermed Homes in the Hudson Valley
Sobering fact: the energy needed to heat, cool and power all U.S. homes accounts for 20% of national emissions. While we keep nominally improving our boxy domiciles, some have abandoned the modern home model in favor of living within the...
Getting Back to Hudson Valley-Milled Grain
Earlier this year, research published in The Journal of Food Science revealed that “whole grain” foods marketed across the United States contain as little as 9 percent actual whole grain. The discrepancy results from there being no certification guaranteeing whole...
The Valley’s Fall Birdwatching Forecast
by Jacqueline Dooley If you stand outside at about 9:30 p.m. and listen quietly, you might hear the distinctive “wheet” calls of the Swainson’s Thrush as they migrate south from as far north as Quebec, through New York State, and...
“Ashen Cabins” Could Be a New Use for Beetle-Destroyed Trees
A high-design Cornell project shows how quirky but desirable ash wood can be reclaimed for construction.
Recycling’s Robotic Frontier
To understand the challenges at the root of municipal recycling programs, check out a video clip from the TV satire “Portlandia.” In a segment called “Which bin does it go in?” a character played by Fred Armesin says, “Now there...