RSI - Spring Projects

For about 16 years now I've been making a spring list & doing 10 or more things in addition to all the stuff already going on, mostly nobody knows about it, this is the first year it's going out, hopefully more help will make these ideas more successful. This is a brief outline.

Organic Milk in Returnable Bottles - this is to empower folks (while getting them to eat better) Returnable bottled organic milk, is alive & well you just need to know where to find it & how to persuade your store to carry it.

Drum roll please..... Yes.. just opened a few weeks now, & special thanks To North Coventry township manager Kevin Hennessey for pointing it out. John Stoltzfus of Lancaster County is selling Organic Milk in returnable glass bottles at The Pottstown Farmers Market, open Thursday, Friday & Saturday. There is a bottle deposit & you'll be happy with the selection of whole milk, low fat & skim milk, also some not homogenized , yes cream on top, if you remember that treat as a kid.

Also just today (4/23) Terry Brett owner of Kimberton Whole Foods has agreed to test sell Organic Raw Milk in Returnable bottles, he needs to hear from you & your interest. If you shop there, fill out the comment cards, if you go to the Douglassville Store, tell them also. It's a simple message, I'm tired of asking if I want a good product or good package " I want both." I also need to hear from you if you know of other places selling this in SE Pa. I'm locating bottling systems & glass bottles if you'd know of farms interested in getting into this.

Camphill Kimberton Hills has expressed interest in going to glass. If you know of farms or dairies that have bottling equipment or glass bottles they don't intend to use, please let me know as we can share the information.

Above: Rob Ihlein of Pottstown is getting some Organic Milk in Returnable Bottles at the Pottstown Farmers Market (High & Charlotte Sts} When he's not getting milk you can also spot him directing traffic at RSI or working at his Solar Water Heating Business.

Grid Interface Unit at Recycling Services, Inc. - This solar unit will display & provide most electric power to the recycling center. The unit will be built to be expandable & will sell electric to PECO. We're not going after grants but seeking sponsors. As of April 28, panels & inverter are ordered & expected to ship this week. So far over $2000 has been raised & we then have another 30 days after ship date to raise the balance. The frame is being painted. (5/8/08) Panels & grid interface inverter is ordered & should be in this week (actually should have shipped last week) painting of the rack has started & today we moved our sales tent to make room for the metal supports, hopefully in on Thursday, still about $1000 short on sponsor funds..

Left: Stan Uba works preparing the rack for the "solar electric grid interface unit" The frame will hold both solar electric panels & four evacuated tube water heating units to heat our office.

Left: Jim with some of the new solar panels

Meet Environmental Singles - This will be a new web page feature.

This has gotten a lot of laughs from folks that have read it. It's not funny to me, but honestly I think most recyclers here are married or in committed relationships. I was thinking of a way, that those with similar interests can meet. It's very hard to meet like minded people, the computer is a joke, I was recently matched up with a conservative smoking meat eater, (I'm none of those) & not being one who hangs around bars, add to that age, interests & extremes like running a recycling center, or working with renewable energy & electric vehicles, or being a writer or, well the list goes on, but the odds of meeting a compatible woman, for me seems like about a zillion to one. I'm open to ideas on this, perhaps those looking could do a listing with e-mail contact for first contact, then perhaps some activities, as a group. Please send thoughts. (5/8/08) As I suspected, there seems to be no interest in this, my only e-mail related to this was asking if we really want to do such a thing, because of problems like bad dates (sounds like a food issue) & predator problems (sounds like a film).

100 MPG project car - I've been collecting parts & lots of information, the base car is an 82 VW rabbit diesel, currently running on bio diesel & getting 50mpg. To fund the engine rebuild & improvements on the 82 Diesel Rabbit the 83 Diesel Rabbit will be sold, along with a 80 VW Dasher. Parts are being collected, the 83 should be ready for inspection this week, then sale, next the Dasher goes in for minor repairs, just one engine rebuild price so far of $1400. Synthetic oil & trans oil have been ordered & special low restriction air cleaner, along with an electric clutch for the alternator, as battery charging will be surface mount flex solar & regenerative braking. As of April 28 one rabbit is back from the shop & ready to be inspected the second a Dasher is going in for minor repairs & then sold to fund an engine rebuild. This has delayed this project but little things have been started, on the high mileage prototype. (5/8/08) The first rabbit is back & ready to sell, this is an 83 - 4cyl Diesel w-4 sp. The second an 80 VW Dasher is in the shop getting minor repairs & check for inspection. The funds raised by selling these will fund the engine rebuild of the project car, as of today I traded some tires for the parts needed for the electric clutch on the alternator, still waiting for estimates on the rebuild.

Where's my can? An innovative way to track recyclables, from cradle to cradle.

Cordless Electric Ironing Board Racer - The idea here is to build something fun, low budget & mind stimulating. I was looking around the collection area & saw an ironing board & thought perfect! Just need to add some wheels & an electric drive, make the battery pack chargeable from solar panels & there you have it, perhaps the first ever (ok not perhaps) cordless electric solar charged ironing board..

Organic Cotton Shirts - with embroidered lettering, for RSI. Design has been delivered to the sewing shop & shirts can be delivered in two days, still waiting on organic cotton thread order. The shirts will be union made & union sewn locally. (5/7/08) After a long wait I finally have the spool, so I know the size to order for organic grown to color thread for lettering and picture on our new shirts, still waiting for design specs to see how much thread is needed. Warren at Ink & Essence in Pottstown has gotten in the sample shirt & is waiting for the thread I've ordered.

Publish editorial cartoon - "what will ideas of the future look like" - the publisher of The Mercury stopped in for a visit, so I haven't given up on them yet, but I did get the contact for the Philadelphia Inquirer & since I have about 10 more now, there are enough to go around. Does anyone have a contact at the New York or LA Times?

Children of The Great Oak - Two years ago we did significant work on caring for this ancient local tree, we still haven't recouped money spent, and there is more to do to promote care of old growth. To help fund this we'll be selling seedlings from the Great Oak & holding a Native Plant Sale. (5/5/2008) Nathan & I went over to first dig out little trees & then mow & clear vines, the job went well, we now have 20 more "children" to sell at $25. each to help cover funds spent for past care of the great tree. I also got to meet a neighbor who has done a watercolor of the tree & may have interest in helping do a limited edition print as a fundraiser. My idea here is to set up a fund, possibly managed by Green Valleys as a fund for care of ancient trees. I got a message back from Al at Yellow Springs Nursery that he is so busy that a native plant sale won't be practical to do until fall.

Solar Casting - The large solar lens is nearly ready, this beast hits F 3000 in full sun, the object is to cast glass items from recycled materials. (5/7/08) What I want to do this spring with the casting was to get the lens set up & tested, the best temperatures will come this summer. The frame is finished & test crucible ready, the first melting will be of some gold I'm casting. At this point I think the easiest prism pattern to make from recycled glass will be a flat pressed unit, I left a message for Joel, (Glasslight) but no call back yet on making the pattern.

Look for more details soon. Happy Spring. Jim .


			Spring Projects! By Jim Crater For about 16 years now I've been making a spring list & doing 10 or more things in addition to all the stuff already going on, mostly nobody knows about it, this is the first year it's going out, hopefully more help will make these ideas more successful. This is a brief outline. Organic Milk in Returnable Bottles - this is to empower folks (while getting them to eat better) Returnable bottled organic milk, is alive & well you just need to know where to find it & how to persuade your store to carry it. Drum roll please..... Yes.. just opened a few weeks now, & special thanks To North Coventry township manager Kevin Hennessey for pointing it out. John Stoltzfus of Lancaster County is selling Organic Milk in returnable glass bottles at The Pottstown Farmers Market, open Thursday, Friday & Saturday. There is a bottle deposit & you'll be happy with the selection of whole milk, low fat & skim milk, also some not homogenized , yes cream on top, if you remember that treat as a kid. Also just today (4/23) Terry Brett owner of Kimberton Whole Foods has agreed to test sell Organic Raw Milk in Returnable bottles, he needs to hear from you & your interest. If you shop there, fill out the comment cards, if you go to the Douglassville Store, tell them also. It's a simple message, I'm tired of asking if I want a good product or good package " I want both." I also need to hear from you if you know of other places selling this in SE Pa. I'm locating bottling systems & glass bottles if you'd know of farms interested in getting into this. Camphill Kimberton Hills has expressed interest in going to glass. If you know of farms or dairies that have bottling equipment or glass bottles they don't intend to use, please let me know as we can share the information. Above: Rob Ihlein of Pottstown is getting some Organic Milk in Returnable Bottles at the Pottstown Farmers Market (High & Charlotte Sts} When he's not getting milk you can also spot him directing traffic at RSI or working at his Solar Water Heating Business. Grid Interface Unit at Recycling Services, Inc. - This solar unit will display & provide most electric power to the recycling center. The unit will be built to be expandable & will sell electric to PECO. We're not going after grants but seeking sponsors. As of April 28, panels & inverter are ordered & expected to ship this week. So far over $2000 has been raised & we then have another 30 days after ship date to raise the balance. The frame is being painted. (5/8/08) Panels & grid interface inverter is ordered & should be in this week (actually should have shipped last week) painting of the rack has started & today we moved our sales tent to make room for the metal supports, hopefully in on Thursday, still about $1000 short on sponsor funds.. Left: Stan Uba works preparing the rack for the "solar electric grid interface unit" The frame will hold both solar electric panels & four evacuated tube water heating units to heat our office. Left: Jim with some of the new solar panels Meet Environmental Singles - This will be a new web page feature. This has gotten a lot of laughs from folks that have read it. It's not funny to me, but honestly I think most recyclers here are married or in committed relationships. I was thinking of a way, that those with similar interests can meet. It's very hard to meet like minded people, the computer is a joke, I was recently matched up with a conservative smoking meat eater, (I'm none of those) & not being one who hangs around bars, add to that age, interests & extremes like running a recycling center, or working with renewable energy & electric vehicles, or being a writer or, well the list goes on, but the odds of meeting a compatible woman, for me seems like about a zillion to one. I'm open to ideas on this, perhaps those looking could do a listing with e-mail contact for first contact, then perhaps some activities, as a group. Please send thoughts. (5/8/08) As I suspected, there seems to be no interest in this, my only e-mail related to this was asking if we really want to do such a thing, because of problems like bad dates (sounds like a food issue) & predator problems (sounds like a film). 100 MPG project car - I've been collecting parts & lots of information, the base car is an 82 VW rabbit diesel, currently running on bio diesel & getting 50mpg. To fund the engine rebuild & improvements on the 82 Diesel Rabbit the 83 Diesel Rabbit will be sold, along with a 80 VW Dasher. Parts are being collected, the 83 should be ready for inspection this week, then sale, next the Dasher goes in for minor repairs, just one engine rebuild price so far of $1400. Synthetic oil & trans oil have been ordered & special low restriction air cleaner, along with an electric clutch for the alternator, as battery charging will be surface mount flex solar & regenerative braking. As of April 28 one rabbit is back from the shop & ready to be inspected the second a Dasher is going in for minor repairs & then sold to fund an engine rebuild. This has delayed this project but little things have been started, on the high mileage prototype. (5/8/08) The first rabbit is back & ready to sell, this is an 83 - 4cyl Diesel w-4 sp. The second an 80 VW Dasher is in the shop getting minor repairs & check for inspection. The funds raised by selling these will fund the engine rebuild of the project car, as of today I traded some tires for the parts needed for the electric clutch on the alternator, still waiting for estimates on the rebuild. Where's my can? An innovative way to track recyclables, from cradle to cradle. Cordless Electric Ironing Board Racer - The idea here is to build something fun, low budget & mind stimulating. I was looking around the collection area & saw an ironing board & thought perfect! Just need to add some wheels & an electric drive, make the battery pack chargeable from solar panels & there you have it, perhaps the first ever (ok not perhaps) cordless electric solar charged ironing board.. Organic Cotton Shirts - with embroidered lettering, for RSI. Design has been delivered to the sewing shop & shirts can be delivered in two days, still waiting on organic cotton thread order. The shirts will be union made & union sewn locally. (5/7/08) After a long wait I finally have the spool, so I know the size to order for organic grown to color thread for lettering and picture on our new shirts, still waiting for design specs to see how much thread is needed. Warren at Ink & Essence in Pottstown has gotten in the sample shirt & is waiting for the thread I've ordered. Publish editorial cartoon - "what will ideas of the future look like" - the publisher of The Mercury stopped in for a visit, so I haven't given up on them yet, but I did get the contact for the Philadelphia Inquirer & since I have about 10 more now, there are enough to go around. Does anyone have a contact at the New York or LA Times? Children of The Great Oak - Two years ago we did significant work on caring for this ancient local tree, we still haven't recouped money spent, and there is more to do to promote care of old growth. To help fund this we'll be selling seedlings from the Great Oak & holding a Native Plant Sale. (5/5/2008) Nathan & I went over to first dig out little trees & then mow & clear vines, the job went well, we now have 20 more "children" to sell at $25. each to help cover funds spent for past care of the great tree. I also got to meet a neighbor who has done a watercolor of the tree & may have interest in helping do a limited edition print as a fundraiser. My idea here is to set up a fund, possibly managed by Green Valleys as a fund for care of ancient trees. I got a message back from Al at Yellow Springs Nursery that he is so busy that a native plant sale won't be practical to do until fall. Solar Casting - The large solar lens is nearly ready, this beast hits F 3000 in full sun, the object is to cast glass items from recycled materials. (5/7/08) What I want to do this spring with the casting was to get the lens set up & tested, the best temperatures will come this summer. The frame is finished & test crucible ready, the first melting will be of some gold I'm casting. At this point I think the easiest prism pattern to make from recycled glass will be a flat pressed unit, I left a message for Joel, (Glasslight) but no call back yet on making the pattern. Look for more details soon. Happy Spring. Jim .