Geezer's Lounge (Rev 1) - Volume 5

[KentuckySouthern]

A different sort of landscape photo this morning, this is a drone view of thousands of solar panels  covering hundreds of once highly productive farm land just a couple miles North of where I grew up in Southern Michigan.

[Jerry]

A different sort of landscape photo this morning, this is a drone view of thousands of solar panels  covering hundreds of once highly productive farm land just a couple miles North of where I grew up in Southern Michigan.

What a shame!!!!!

Jerry

[deemery]

Karl, what was planted in those fields before solar panels?

dave

[TomO/Tloc]

I am in the pro solar farm camp! But the actual use of the land is ridiculously stupid a word I don't use often. They could have easily put those panels on 10' or 12' high frames allowing tractors to pass under.

When we built the 3 off grid solar and wind powered houses I had the frames set at 10' instead of the 6' the contractor was going to do. Terry put one of her garden plots under them. She subjectively said the veggies grew better.

We have quite a few Dane County solar panel farms that they graze Cows and sheep on. Just a few feet higher and they could have run tractors

TomO

[Rick]

I don't know why all new homes don't already come with solar panel roofs.
I know houses are already expensive but this won't add too much to the price and you'll recoup your money in a few years.

[Larry C]

Better yet instead of wasting our precious farm land put them on top of parking lots in cities and villages.
Otherwise if things keep up this way we'll ALL be scrounging for food!!!!!!!!!!!!
And NO I AM NOT pro solar.

[deemery]

TomO, it's hard for me to see from Karl's photos how high off the ground those panels are.  But I'd agree with you, grazing or similar use underneath would certainly make sense.

dave

[PRR Modeler]

I've been fighting the flu since Wednesday. Today is the first time I have felt up to doing anything besides sleeping. I still am dealing with fatigue and lower GI issues. I had an negative Covid test. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

[Larry C]

Curt hope you feel better soon.

[Rick]

I won't have internet tomorrow morning so I can't check in then.
Doing a hike in the morning.
I'm in Boulder, CO.

Feel better soon Curt.

[KentuckySouthern]

Karl, what was planted in those fields before solar panels?

dave

The usual rotation in Michigan is Corn, Soybeans, Winter wheat Lots of corn, there is one of them modern Moonshine stills about 5 miles from this.

[deemery]

Rick, there's a good German restaurant & brewpub in downtown Boulder: https://www.bohemianbiergarten.com

dave

[jbvb]

In early 1994, my first sine-wave inverter arrived from Australia and shortly after my house was off the grid. Today I'm on my 3rd deep-cycle lead/acid battery bank, a larger replacement PV array and an inverter that could go on the internet if I wanted it to.  My system's Rimshot Moment was when my 2nd wife was in labor and a neighbor called to ask "how are you doing since the thunderstorm knocked out the power?" and I replied "Joe, my power doesn't go out".

There's a good case for "agri-voltaic" solar arrays, but it suffers from resistance and inertia.  In the modern world, jobs that require two trades to show up at the same time can be really difficult to manage. Also, the investors that want the earnings from the PV array are often "From away" and not a good match for the farmer's "hay looks good, rain is forecast Sunday" decision-making.

As I've been typing this afternoon's 3rd thunderstorm cell approached and it's now pouring.  No nearby lightning yet, unlike the 2nd.  My rain gauge is out for this one, 1/2" was reported for the 2nd from the other side of town.

[Larry C]

Good Morning,

The coffee, hot water, assorted cold sodas, and fresh squeezed OJ are this morning's offerings, Breakfast is homemade baking powder biscuits, country gravy, and sides of hash browns; enjoy.

What's your plans for the day?

It's a sunny 64 with a high of 80. Next week we'll be up in the 90's and humid.....hello Summer. Some bench time this am then probably lawn mowing & trimming this afternoon. Other than that not much else going on here.

Have a great day!! Be well and stay safe.

[jbvb]

Good morning, Larry and later risers.  Sun's shining on the lower Merrimack Valley, my chickens are out and I've got mulberries now. High of 79, blueberries and black raspberries all forecast in the near term.  Today's big event is taking the kid to the airport but first I'm expecting one or two last minute packing crises.  There's much to do outside, but I may get some modeling done.