_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BIOFUELS  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 

Bioifuels: California has around 12 million acres of Foothill grassland mostly used for dry range cattle. Already comprised of mainly non-native vegetation, these once golden hills are now quickly being overgrown by noxious weeds like Star Thistle, Tar Weeds, Medusa Head, Puncture Vine and more.  Safflower has been demonstrated to fully mature un-watered in the hot dry summers.  Using just a small percentage of this land, Safflower could locally produce 100 million gallons of oil per year. 

Sustainable Safflower cultivation compliments the existing cattle ranging these areas.  No food supplies would be reduced, and likely the opposite, more food will be available after the production of BioDiesel.  In addition to BioDiesel, this would be an economic boost for poor rural counties and contribute to American energy independence.
 
 
         _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ WILDFIRE  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
Augmented Reality for Aerial Fire Fighters installs off-the-shelf technologies in the cockpit to provide aerial firefighters extremely valuable information not previously available.  Systems turn on with the plane, like other avionics, and are similarly easy to use, even for even single pilot helicopters.
 
Infrared is extremely low cost, heads-up & easy to install in any airplane, and is more effective than much more expensive systems using gimbals.  Airborne GIS brings a new level of situational awareness to the Aerial Firefighter who can now see GPS aligned geo-morphology in 3D, current fire lines and points (dip sites, evacuation pads, drop points, ground teams, etc.).  Several wildfires have been stopped sooner thanks to this technology, and aircraft can now routinely work in smoke and darkness that would have previously left them grounded. Interactive video and map transmission with ground teams is included, but optional because it does take some interaction.
 
Technical website: www.AerialFireTech.org
Aircraft operator using it: Courtney Aviation 
 
         _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Hillside Farm_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
Started in 1994 Hillside Farm produces vegetables, fruits, berries, cut flowers and bees for the Sierra Foothill region around Columbia, CA.  As a community farm, produce is organically grown locally and sold at local venues.  Currently there are four farmers who range from neighborhood sages to 1st timer transplants growing toward their own farm. With the multiple farmers are a variety of practices & techniques (permaculture, sheet-mulch beds, companion planting, rototilling) that foster diversity, a culture of learning and overall property improvement.
 
Our business plan is to make income equal to nearby home rentals (pay the mortgage), farm organically for the community and incubate new farmers.  This is intended to be a repeatable model for other landowners to generate additional income, contribute to their community and improve their home environment.  Starting with one sunny acre, water and deer protection, other property owners who have no farming/gardening expertise nor want to work hard, can also start growing in their community as a landlord or managing shared housing. Many organic tenant farmers exist who are willing to rent/lease reasonably priced land+bedroom, and make it happen.
 
Hillside Farm
11860 Yankee Hill Road
Columbia, CA  95310