Hello all,
Algae/feedstock researcher guru Michael Briggs, of the University of
New Hampshire Biodiesel Project, who also moderates Biodieselnow.com,
is doing a biodiesel workshop with me this coming Sunday July 18th, in
Durham New Hampshire. Michael Briggs does algae biodiesel feedstock (ie source of oil for making biodiesel)
and mustard oilcrop research and is working to involve local farmers in production of mustard oil for biodiesel (good yields) and mustard meal (could be marketed for it's natural pesticide properties.)
Some of this work of his is at the UNH biodiesel project website:
http://www.unh.edu/p2/biodiesel/
At the workshop we will also cover biodiesel homebrewing and demonstrate equipment and
the homebrewing process, as well as discuss some of the local
biodiesel coop activities in the area.
Some topics would include biodiesel processor design, cold weather
issues, and discussion of feedstocks (including both feedstocks
generally available for homebrewing, and their characteristics, as
well as some discussion of "feedstocks of the future" - essentially
where the biodiesel industry is headed (hopefully, but depending on
how much cooperation there is between researchers and the industry)).
The workshop fee is by donation, no one turned away for lack of funds,
please pay what you wish (down to $0 if desired)
Below are somewhat convoluted directions cut and pasted from the
biodieselnow.com thread on this seminar (
http://forums.biodieselnow.
com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3031 ).
RSVP: Both Michael and I have been too busy to properly organize this
ahead of time, and therefore it is somewhat informal- but if you can,
please click on the biodieselnow.com thread and rsvp so that he knows
roughly how many people to expect. I"m sorry I can't answer many
emails about the class while I'm driving up there (from DC) in the next few days. Ask questions at the biodieselnow.com thread as I can't answer them via email immediately.
Directions (written by Mike, I have never been there and can't answer the details, ask at the BIodieselnow.com link I listed above) :
It's at the "Mill Pond Center for the Arts" (side note - this is a
non-profit center that does various artsy programs and is getting into
environmental education programs. Additionally, they will HOPEFULLY be
soon having a retail B100 pump set up there - there have just been
some hold ups getting everything set up - so, people coming to this
should also be finding where a new B100 retail outlet will be,
assuming we can get this one set up)
This is the place on yahoo's maps thingy:
http://travel.yahoo.
com/p-travelguide-2993683-mill_pond_center_for_the_arts_durham-i
The website for the center is
http://www.millpondcenter.org/
Personalized directions - if you're coming from somewhere in
Massachusetts, you want to head up I-95 towards Portsmouth (I'm
assuming people know how to find I-95 ). As you are getting to
Portsmouth, there are a few exits, and you want to stay in the LEFT
LANE, since the exit you take (a two-lane exit) is on the left. I'm
not sure what the number is, but it's the only exit on the left side
of the highway. An exit on the right is at almost the same exact spot,
this being the exit for the Portsmouth traffic circle (which I *think*
is exit 4).
This left exit puts you on the Spaulding Turnpike, aka Route 16.
If you're coming from Maine, you want to come down I-95, and take the
exit for the Spaulding Turnpike just after you cross over into New
Hampshire.
Now, with both ways, you are on the Spaulding Turnpike (Route 16).
You'll continue on this until you go over a bridge over water (where
two rivers meet). While driving over the bridge, notice how pretty the
scenery is, and go "ooooooohhhhhh".
Right after crossing the bridge, there is an exit for a park (Hilton
Park). Do not take that exit.
The next exit is 6N (if I remember correctly), which takes you to
Dover. Don't take that one either. Take the NEXT exit, which is 6W,
just after 6N (this is a cloverleaf type exit, 6W is just after an
overpass, and you loop around and go over the overpass). So - you are
taking the SECOND exit 6, which I am almost positive is 6W. The sign
should say that it's for Durham, where UNH is (it may not mention UNH,
can't remember). The road this puts you on is Route 4 (Route 4 west,
to be specific).
Okay, you loop around and go over the overpass (over the highway you
just got off of), and come to a traffic light. Go straight through the
traffic light. You'll go over another bridge over water, much closer
to the water this time. Again go "ooooohhhhh".
You are driving on Route 4 West now. You'll go through another traffic
light, and then continue for several miles (without any traffic
lights). You'll eventually come to an exit off of Route 4, and you
will take the very first one (uhhh... I think, I'll check to make sure
I'm not forgetting any. Also can't remember the number of this one).
This is the first exit for Durham and UNH (although another one is
closer to UNH, so this exit may not be labelled as being for UNH). You
go down an offramp, and come to a stop sign where you meet Route 108.
Turn left on Route 108, which will take you towards DUrham.
You'll come to a traffic light, at which you will turn left (Route 108
also turns left, so you are technically staying on the same road, but
turning at this traffic light). This direction starts you heading
towards Newmarket, but you're not going to go very far.
The road goes down a hill, then back up and starts curving to the
right. There is a fork in the road that goes off to the left, but do
not take it - stay on Route 108. About two driveways after the fork
(which you don't take) is the driveway for the Mill Pond Center. There
is a sign, but you won't be able to see the center since there are a
bunch of trees blocking it. Turn down that driveway.
After turning down the driveway, you'll veer off to the left (at a
fork) to go to the parking lot for the Mill Pond Center. Park there.
Get out and stretch.
If you're coming from the Manchester area (west from here), you can
come down Route 4 east, and take the last exit for Durham - the one
for Route 108 (I can find out the number if necessary.... hmmmm...
does it even have a number?). Turn right onto 108, and proceed as
above (from after getting on 108).
Linear Mode
