Since Veggie’s Shop goes beyond vegetarianism to include environmental issues, I’m writing about a book I’ve read recently called “Alcohol Can Be a Gas” by permaculturist David Blume.

My initial interest in the book was for alternative fuel car conversions, but at six hundred pages, the text covers much more than just that. It begins with the history of alcohol in general and as an automotive fuel, the involvement of oil companies in displacing alcohol as fuel in the United States (Prohibition), and moves on to Brazil’s modern alcohol fuel market.

The text also covers feedstocks for alcohol production, sustainable ways of farming those feedstocks, building an alcohol distillery, and finally converting your own vehicle to run on either blends of alcohol and gasoline, including E85 from the pump (85% alcohol, 15% gasoline), or vaporized E100 alcohol. There is also a short section on biodiesel, both as a fuel and a lubricant.

One of the most important aspects of the book, however, is the dispelling of the countless myths about both the suitability and sustainability of alcohol as a motor fuel and the food versus fuel debate. As it turns out, ethyl alcohol is just about the perfect fuel for use in spark ignition internal combustion engines, and as for food or fuel, there is no debate. A wide variety of both food and non-food crops can be grown sustainably for ethanol production in areas not considered traditional farmland.

So put away your carbon dioxide scrubbers, pick up a copy of this book, and start growing!

I’ve just stumbled upon Whose Dollar? by Natalie Jost and my heart is all aflutter. Not only are the illustrations and text marvelous, but the moral of the story is simple and touching – perfect for this time of year.

Anyone looking for a quality book to give a young child this holiday season needn’t look any further.