23w ago
110
In Australia, bushfire season approaches , so there are things to watch out for and consider :
What is the present state of fuel loads on the roadside grass verges ?
Would it be prudent to collect and bury the clippings , leaf litter and twigs that are picked up by the mower ?
What machines are available for keeping the grass verges short ?
Do these machines have powered material collection bins and 8 wheel drive ?
Are they fitted with winches that will haul them up slopes ?
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Comments (5)
Can a useful commercial fuel feedstock be mechanically harvested from the grass verges of future privately owned Aussie Interstate Toll highways ?
Can this be achieved while simultaneously reducing the bushfire fuel load ?
You can’t have livestock running loose near highways .
That’s just ridiculous, when people are driving 50 to $ 100,000 vehicles .
Insurance companies would prefer that the livestock were fenced .
Ok , let’s move the fences 30 to 100metre from the highway .
It’s Australia, that’s the kind of distance you want between you and a bushfire .
And the farmer doesn’t lose out ; the freshly harvested material could easily be deposited inside the fence, for the livestock to munch on .
Or buried under a future orchard or hedgerow , or potato field ?
And for drivers visibility, you need the road side verges cut .
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could produce a commercial product from the grass trimmings , leaf litter and twigs .
Well , eucalyptus leaf litter and twigs have an high oil content .
Grass clippings produce heat .
Combine the 2 and you have a fuel feedstock .
Can this feedstock fuel a machine?
Yes , there are biogas generators .
It’s half way to a viable business.
At the very least , bushfire risk has been reduced .
And collision with livestock risk has been reduced .
Here’s a picture of a roadside harvester , in Lincolnshire.
A story has been published In Farmers Weekly , on the internet , about the idea of harvesting the sides of the roads for feedstock :
“ Bespoke verge harvester collects AD feedstock from roadsides
Nick Fone13 December 2018 “
Imagine this tractor , with a much longer boom and material collection pipe , driving on a wide Aussie road verge , about 30 to 60 metres from the hard shoulder of the actual highway .
( you would use a much smaller , lower profile R/ C mower to mow the verge section that is closest to the highway . )
( see previous posts )
A reasonable achievement after much highway construction and maintenance:
The Illinois Tollway Oasis .
Note the multi lane dual carriageways with well kept grass verges lawns .
Slide off the highway here , and there will be minimal damage to your vehicle .
Note that highway drivers can clearly see other drivers who are approaching from the highway entrance ramps because the lawns are short .
Note also that approaching wildlife or escaped livestock would be easily spotted because the lawns are short .
Note also the open cleared land , mowed lawn , and parking areas , where many fire fighting vehicles can be stored, refuelled, and maintained.
Note that there is also enough space to park Airstream travel trailers and Winnebagoes , so that weary fire fighters can get a good nights sleep.
The work has been done , and this little bit of civilisation is well designed, maintained,
and indeed, prepared for bushfire season.
Australia needs more rural , regional and outback infrastructure investment as pictured :
The latest tracked incline mower from R/C Mowers USA.
Spider R/C incline mower , will winch Itself up and mow a 55 degree incline .
Ventrac 4 wheel duallies drive .
Effectively, 8 wheel drive .