on that path

Spring has come to Skärva! Birds of prey are scanning over the fields for mice and voles who no longer have the snow cover to protect them. Crocuses with bright yellow stamens are popping up everywhere, and I'm waiting for that "carpet of blossoms" they say will come soon. The ticks can wait, though.

Thesis writing continues...we've got our "template for sustainable biofuels development" out for comment to various experts and stakeholders, and so far two have responded. Generally the responses are positive, however I'm detecting a feeling that sustainable development for biofuels is unrealistic, at least as we have defined it, but that we got them thinking about things they hadn't considered before. I'll wait until all the comments come in.

Right now I'm reading about biofuel certification; this is along the same lines as fair trade or organic certificaton for coffee and other products. This will be important for whether the industry will develop sustainably or not, or so some people believe. The environmental and humanitarian disasters that many say will happen in the developing world in meeting worldwide biofuel demand can be avoided, and an international market is expected to rise. It still isn't a guarantee though without putting high taxes on the unsustainably-produced biofuels, since without differential taxes, they could undercut prices of the more sustainably produced biofuels. Paying people fair wages and protecting the environment costs a little extra, right? So, tax the hell out of them!

Unfortunately even people who support sustainability will go for the cheaper, unsustainable products generally, as they're finding out in Germany.

This weekend the class is coming out to Skärva to paint easter eggs, dance, eat lots of food, and do a scavenger hunt on Sunday morning. Happy chocolate easter bunnies!