Imagine my amusement when I see my old company "PA Consulting" at the bottom of the amazingly complicated slide.
Friday, April 30, 2010
OSLOOM Open Source Manufacture of a Jacquard Loom
Looking forward to some projects like this for food processing systems, but this is a great example of what's going to be common in ten years. Dream then build.
Cellphone Payments Offer Alternative to Cash - NYTimes.com
Cellphone Payments Offer Alternative to Cash - NYTimes.com
Good overview of mobile payment systems; would be great for Farmers Markets. I believe, though, that the Federal "food stamp" program requires a hard wired terminal or a token system.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Monday, April 05, 2010
cias.wisc.edu on Distribution Models of Local Food and Maps
Once again, Wisconsin's Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems rocks! I can't believe I missed this the first time around.
Lovely open source map of food distribution systems, and model descriptions. And supporting reports at
View National Distribution Models in a larger map
Additional reports at "CIAS and the UW-Extension Ag Innovation Center have written a report featuring case studies of some of these distribution models: “Scaling Up: Meeting the Demand for Local Food.”
Lovely open source map of food distribution systems, and model descriptions. And supporting reports at
Distribution Models for Local Food
View National Distribution Models in a larger map
Additional reports at "CIAS and the UW-Extension Ag Innovation Center have written a report featuring case studies of some of these distribution models: “Scaling Up: Meeting the Demand for Local Food.”
On Job Creation—Local Fruits and Vegetables vs. Corn and Soybeans | CommonDreams.org
Informative writing on regional economics (upper midwest) and the driving potential of local production.
From CommonDreams.org's blog:
Some key findings on the economic impacts on the region as a whole:The full study new study by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University.
- Increased fruit and vegetable production in the six states could mean $882 million in sales at the farm level, and more than 9,300 jobs. Corn and soybean production on that same acreage would support only 2,578 jobs.
- If half of the increased production was sold in farmer-owned stores, it would require 1,405 such stores staffed by 9,652 people.
This is consistent with findings in numerous local food studies: economic, profitable, sustainable, and not requiring extensive subsidy beyond instantiation of infrastructures (say, processing facilities).
See also Grower To Grower from cais.wisc.edu for some of the dynamics of smaller scale farms. Big bucks from small acres. University of Illinois Extension circa 2002 found a lot of "takers" for small scale farming; some of it purpose-driven, funding college, a new boat, or to pay down a mortgage, etc. I don't have a link at hand for that one.
Photograph: Mike Glodo, Small Jonathan and Stayman Apples from Southern Illinois
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Once Upon a Honeymoon
Color Telephones! Better than deploying rural broadband... Awesome!
Found this while doing real research. Likely more invested here by incumbent telcos than on real rural infrastructure.
Friday, April 02, 2010
Official Google Blog: Model Your Town Competition: Cast your vote!
Official Google Blog: Model Your Town Competition: Cast your vote!
Tools for thought. More mashup potential.
Tools for thought. More mashup potential.
"Local and Regional Foods in Community and Economic Development" from Cornell et.al.
Well crafted presentation. Concise tutorial.
Kudos to the authors, Rod Howe, Katherine Lang, Bernadette Logozar, Heidi Mouillesseaux-Kunzman, and Duncan Hilchey
My friend Dayna Conner at Food Works here in deep Southern Illinois pointed me to an upcoming webinar on Local and Regional Food Systems by Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (NERCRD) that led me to that presentation. Her organization's blog is here.
Kudos to the authors, Rod Howe, Katherine Lang, Bernadette Logozar, Heidi Mouillesseaux-Kunzman, and Duncan Hilchey
My friend Dayna Conner at Food Works here in deep Southern Illinois pointed me to an upcoming webinar on Local and Regional Food Systems by Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (NERCRD) that led me to that presentation. Her organization's blog is here.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Discussion and Reception w/ Paul Polak on Poverty | NYU Stern School of Business
A Discussion and Reception w/ Paul Polak on Poverty | NYU Stern School of Business
Thoughtful, pragmatic, effective views on successful design for the world. Market driven = sustainable.
Thoughtful, pragmatic, effective views on successful design for the world. Market driven = sustainable.
More about Paul Polak's work at http://www.paulpolak.com/
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