Green resources in the news

My optimism as a gardener always starts at home, with the hard work and anticipation I feel in the flora in my garden.Have I fertilized wisely? Have I chosen the correct plants for each setting? Which bulbs and perennials will return next year.

And then there was my decision in early June to not water anything in the garden ... and still remain optimistic that in the fall and winter, Mother Nature would heal the devastation of the drought.

But my optimism was brought to a completely new level last evening while reading the current issue of WIRED Magazine. According to their cover story, Switch, sawgrass and its ability to convert to refined ethanol is the future of energy.

The basic premise of the story is that we have had the scientific knowledge to convert plant cellulose to fuel for a while, but the economics have been slow to catch on. Now, armed with buy-in and support from the government and private industry (aka: the $$), it looks like alternative fuel consumption from renewable resources might happen before my son graduates from high school.

Look at The Formula: From Grass to Gas, as illustrated by WIRED:

"Step 1: Thermochemical treatment The raw plant feedstock is treated with chemicals — often dilute sulfuric acid — to break down cell walls and make the cellulose accessible. Step 2: Enzymes A mix of cellulase enzymes is then added to convert the cellulose and hemicellulose molecules into the simple sugars glucose and xylose. Step 3: Fermentation Yeast or bacteria are added, converting the sugar into a mixture of ethanol and water, what refineries call "the beer." Step 4: Distillation The ethanol is refined and purified, producing a fuel that could one day end up in your gas tank."

I encourage you to read the whole article, and think about how we gardeners here in North Carolina can be just as innovative in our care and culture of Mother Nature. Just think, maybe if we sowed sawgrass, like they do out on the plains, we could help the cause.