Alderwood
is Eco-Friendly!!
Every day, we experience firsthand the breathtaking beauty of the
unspoiled wilderness on Kodiak Island. We want to preserve
this treasure by doing everything within our power to minimize our
impact on this amazing place, so we have taken some steps to ensure
that our lodge is as "green" as possible.
Our
micro hydro-electric system
Several years ago, we installed a micro hydropower plant that has been
supplying 100% of our electricity, 24/7!! This form of alternative
energy is reputed to be one of the most efficient, and the least
expensive to establish. We are very fortunate to have a
spring-fed creek gushing out of the side of Kupreanoff Mountain, the
2445-foot granite behemoth which stands guard over camp. A
fraction of the volume of this crystal-clear water is funneled down a
12-foot aluminum chute into a 40-gallon aluminum "catch tank," both of
which we salvaged from a scrap yard and re-purposed. (One of
my favorite ways to recycle is to scavenge other people's discards and
turn them into something useful!) A panel of steel mesh is
essential for keeping leaves & other debri from clogging up the
pipes & turbine.
The water exits the tank from a 4" hole located several inches from the
bottom, so as to avoid suctioning much of the silt that settles there.
Periodically, especially after heavy rains, we make the trek
to the top of the water line in order to clean the screen and to vacuum
out whatever has accumulated in the tank. The water then
drops 150 vertical feet over the course of 1800 linear feet of
relatively inexpensive ABS pipe. The diameter of the pipe is
reduced to 2" just before reaching the power shed, thereby increasing
the pressure exponentially!! Thereupon the pipe is connected
to a Harris Hydro Turbine, which we purchased from our good friends at
Backwoods
Solar.
This unit then splits into four hoses, each of which
is attached to a nozzle with a
1/4"
brass nozzle. Can you imagine the force that's built up by
this point?! These four jets blast the brass cups on the
turbine, causing it to spin at an incredible rate. Mounted
above the turbine is an alternator that harnesses that power, sending
it to a bank of batteries. We then use an inverter to change
the energy to 110V before it's sent off through the wiring to our
various buildings. The water is then returned to the creek to
continue its journey to the ocean.
This system has more than paid for itself already by freeing us from
dependence on fossil fuels, it's simplified life because we no longer
have to go through the hassle of hauling all those 55-gallon drums out
to the lodge, AND our power is generated almost
silently!!
Now, rather than the rumble of a generator, we can hear the
birds singing in harmony with the creek
as it meanders through camp towards the gentle surf breaking on our
private beach. Truly, this
is the epitome of serenity!
Our organic garden
One of the most rewarding things a person can do, in my humble opinion,
is to plant a seed, water and nurture it, then watch as it becomes a
mature plant that brings its caretaker pleasure through its appearance
or consumption, or both! At Alderwood Retreat, all kitchen
waste is taken to our compost pile, mixed with seaweed & other
nutrients till it has biodegraded enough to be spread upon our 100%
organic garden. Although the growing season in Alaska is
relatively short, the daylight in Kodiak in the summer does allow an
accelerated growth, permitting us to grow all manner of delicious
edibles that we use at the dining table. Some of the things we enjoy
cultivating (and eating!) are:
cabbage,
kale, spinach,
mustard, chard, lettuces
carrots,
turnips,
radishes, potatoes, beets, beans, peas
rhubarb, currants,
raspberries, blueberries
mint, dill,
parsley, cilantro, chives
By utilizing a greenhouse we also sometimes grow:
tomatoes,
zucchini,
oregano, rosemary, & more!
Additionally,
Ginger particularly enjoys leading our guests on hikes along the
beaches or through the woods, teaching you about all the wonderful
Wild
Edibles along the way!
Our recycling
program
At Alderwood, we do not hide our refuse; rather, by placing it
conspicuously in the center of camp we make it apparent to our guests
that recycling is an automatic part of our routine, and we encourage
them to participate as well. Garbage Centrale has five bins
clearly labeled for dividing waste into categories that will go
back to town for proper disposal or be deposited at the local recycling
facility.
Non-toxic
cleaning products
Many
people seem to be unaware of how harmful to the environment common
household cleaning products may be. When these
substances are rinsed down the drain, they eventually make their way
into streams, rivers, & oceans, which then not only kill off
beneficial bacteria, but also contaminate food sources for aquatic
life forms, some of whom make their way back to our dinner
tables!
We believe the responsible and simple solution is to
only
use products that are non-toxic & bio-degradable, such as those
available at
Melaleuca.com.
In many cases, these products not only help save the planet,
they'll save you money, too!! Being concentrated
(sometimes by 6X!!) reduces shipping costs & the related carbon
footprint and minimize wasteful packaging.
We also provide all-natural bath & body care products for our
visitors to use when showering or taking a banya.
Minimizing
our impact
We
are currently in the process of establishing a carbon offsetting
program so that the carbon footprint incurred on your journey to our
fair isle is compensated for. Addition- ally, beginning this
spring, we will offer our guests the opportunity to contribute to local
conservation projects so that they can leave the Emerald Isle an even
better place than they found it! Check back
periodically for updates on our continuing journey towards being just a
bit greener than we were the day before!!
“The
greatest revolution of life is the discovery that individuals can
change the
outer aspects of their lives by changing the inner attitudes of their
minds." William
James
