Happy California Cows Make Electricity

You would think with our limitless sunshine that builders out here would offer more solar power home packages. You can get them, but they aren't as prevalent as they should be.-charles

Jacqulyn,

I would think that the builders would atleast make that an option when building the home.

Charles, little by little that is happening but not fast enough.

On one episode of the show 'Dirty Jobs' he had a job scooping poop to process it for energy needs. I had never heard of that before the show. Then I saw your post and just thought it was very funny - and yes, a dirty job.

Angie, Glad you liked our CA cows in Elk Grove that are doing a great job...I don't know if you've ever had the opportunity to see any commercials with the CA cows or not but in my opinion they are some of the best on TV and I crack up every time I see them...whoever is behind those is extremely talented. Glad that I could make you laugh, too.

I think this is awesome.. it will help in anumber of areas for our communities.

Dan, I agree...anything that helps to reduce the emissions that we seem to mass produce as a society into the atmosphere, I am all for. California I think is ahead of the curve and is working very hard in a "GREEN" way.

WOW, I didn't know there was any such thing as "happy cows". Are the cows in California allowed to free range graze, or are they confined in warehouses?  Using cow manure to generate electricity is a great idea, but what of the run off from the confinement farms, into the streams, lakes, and rivers.  Is anyone doing anything to address that issue?  Until that is done, there will be no such thing as a "green" or "happy" cow.

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

You say "It takes two cows to supply one household with electricity for a year. With the plans in the pipework, 100,000 families will be obtaining their electricity from our "happy California GREEN cows." Isn't it the same cows who have blown a hole in our ozone? They need a planet of their own, I say. My goodness. I am floored. Can or have they come up with a food that makes them less gassy? MOO!

Terry & Sheron, First let me apologize for the link above no longer working (It was such a great story with pictures). It seems that after a bit, the Sacramento Bee no longer allows an article to be seen. However, here are two links (The Roanoke Times and Harvard Educational News )that I found that talked briefly about the CA cow but unfortunately does not have a photo with the article as did the first one.

I quite agree that there are cows that are well taken care of, meaning loads of room to graze and produce without contaminating and there are the slaughter houses. I've seen both. In this particular case, as far as I can see these cows are not the latter of the two.

I am not a beef eater but I must say that I love the CA cow commercials...they always make me smile. And there is nothing like looking into those big brown eyes! Moooooo

A kindred spirit Gena! Unfortunately the "happy cow" marketing blitz does not show the real side of animal husbandry, which is the biggest polluter of the environment of any other industry.  Those commercials don't make me feel warm and fuzzy because I know they're just PR.  Confinement farming is the norm these days.  When I visit Nebraska you dont see one animal out in a field, but you do see warehouses where they keep the animals on their feet 24/7 and are never allowed out.  Thats why I'm stickin by my comment "there's no such thing as a green or happy cow".  If we're all trying to be eco-friendly here we all need to know whats going on.

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

Terry, there are some responsible cow owners out there. Yes, I know what you are talking about with the slaughter places but my happy CA cow and the happy CA cow commercials do bring a smile to my face. I see the cows when I drive in the rural areas. In fact, I happened to get a photo just the other day when a new calf was eating from her mom. So, we do have happy cows, truly.

Here is a picture of the little guy

I guess there are cows outside of Berkeley CA.  Nothing like green cows! 

Joan, I think I missed your point. Elk Grove and Wilton (rural area next to Elk Grove) are no where near Berkeley, CA.

Hi again Gena.  The occassional cow we may see grazing here or there, or the calf suckling from its mother, does not make the entire industry environmentally friendly.  On the contrary, there are FEW farmers who raise their animals the old fashioned humane way.  And I'm not talking about slaughter houses, thats an entirely different subject.  I'm talking about millions upon millions upon millions of "unhappy" cows that are raised by corporate America to feed our ever bulging bellies!  A vegetarian lifestyle is much "happier" than a commercial featuring talking cows.  In fact those "happy" cows won't be so happy when they end up in your dog's food at the end of their milk producing years, which is about 2 if they're lucky.

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

Terry, I respect your views and understand them. I choose to think happier and more positive knowing that there are those nasty things in life that if I were to dwell on them would only bring me down. I tend to be positive in hopes to bring positive results. We each choose our causes and each choose to develop them as we think is best. My thought is to bring out the positive, reflect on the positive, establish the positive in the eyes of the beholder so that perhaps in the long run...the positive will win out. We all go about it in different ways...doesn't make one way better than the other...it's all in the eye of the beholder. Thank you for your sincere and heart-felt comment.

Hi again Gena, I'd like to be able to think happy thoughts myself but its kinda hard to do when you know how much unhappiness abounds on this planet.  I'm just a realist.  Its real, its there, and I can only work hard at making it better.  Working toward that  is what keeps me from getting down.  We do what we have to do.

I was thinking today about using manure for fuel.  Interesting that the idea has come up as a new modern idea, when in fact pioneers on the plains used it because they had no trees available.  Everything old is new again eh?

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

Terry - We really do have happy cows in California! Check it out...and they're smart too.

Sheron, those are some pretty smart cows you found there!

Terry, you are absolutely right...everything that is old is new again. I see it all the time in so many different aspects of life.

One of my favorite articles I have ever read...one that might make me apply for the job of article moderator...just so that I could have the chance to give you a BIG STAR!! THANK YOU so much for  this gift of information, graphics, fun and energy to the community-here at AR!

Just plain really GREAT stuff to look at and read! I learned so much from reading this, and was entertained at the same time. THANKS..Keep writing! This is the kind of article that keeps me, all of us at Active Rain  coming back for more.

My Gena...aren't you a walking encylopedia....I never knew you were the expert on manure...LOL!  You need to do something dear.  Our area is still being bombarded by Californians and I personally have 5 more families moving here over the next 45 days.  They are coming from Sacramenton, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Jose and San Fransisco and I am only one Realtor!  Every Realtor I talk to in our area is workig with at least 1 or more Californians.   I hope all is well my friend.

What a wealth of information.  Thanks Gena.  If we just stop fighting the GREEN folks, we could move slowly but surely in that direction.  We don't have to have it all one way or the other. 

One of the problems I see is the hyperbole on both sides, if there are sides.  No matter what the argument, we always have to have two "sides".  I'm fighting "fair and balance".  I want to know the facts, just the facts, nothing but the facts. 

Not to worry.  We'll get it right.

I lived in San Diego for a couple of years and grew to love the happy cow commercials. When we moved to the east coast, it wasn't until 2 years later that I saw a happy cow commercial on the air. They are sooo funny. Remember the one about grandma and the snow, or how about the cow from Minnesota who asks them about snow. Now that I am living in Minnesota, these commercials are evern more funny. Thanks for the chuckle!

Gena, there were some builders that were offering it. A few years ago the news did a story on a guy who bought one.  It was the middle of summer, his house was 75 degrees inside and he got a rebate from the power company for $7. -Charles

JaneAnne, well it's such an honor to have your stamp of approval...this was the article that I wrote just before you had your competition that I helped judge. There were some fantastic articles in that competition and I had such fun reading all of them. Thanks again for the nod of approval.

You are too kind. I did fun writing this one. I wrote an article in my other blog that I will post here about rural, Wilton, CA. There was a little calf, the one up above that I watched with its mama and had such a delightful time in the wide open spaces with all the animals frolicking. It warms my heart and gives me a new vitality to see this little guys.

I'm very proud of Elk Grove being the 1st in the nation to have the E-Bus and West Sacramento continue to work on alternative cars...there is also other eco comings in the works for the the City of Sacramento. I see a change and it's those that have voiced their opinions loudly that finally have been heard...now is time for us to come together and make it all work.

George, my friend...you are too funny. Never thought of myself as an expert on manure. I thought the idea was fantastic since there is a supply, we might as well put it to good use.

George, stop taking my Californians. I know that this year, I probably had about 8 families move out of CA. That hurts something fierce. Alright, if you are taking 5 Californians then you will need to send me 5 from Idaho. Is that a deal?

Lenn, I think we have to appreciate those that fight the fight especially when there was a time and still are those that are not aware...but there comes a time when you finally have people's attention that you need to not fight quite as hard but try to bring the fold in. Middle is good. We should all strive to be in the middle.

Jennifer, oh my gosh...I love that one. I think if I remember correctly, the little ones said "don't ask grandma about snow."....like it's something that caused grandma cow great trepidation! I don't do those commercials justice at all...

I just adore those commercials. They are so clever and always bring a smile to my face. I really would like to meet the person who is behind those commercials...very talented. Glad I found you so that we can relate and talk about those commercials!!!

Charles,according to a few articles that I have read, the power company may even have to pay the consumer. I'm sure you know about our windmills on the vast windy hills...not sure they are producing as much as we of course are using.

Hi Gena - I LOVE your title, certainly caught my attention as I was skimming posts trying to get caught up.  Great post about your eco-friendly areas.  And I'm happy to see that this was not only a featured post, but featured on localism, too.  Nice!

I love those "Happy Cow" commercials - they make me chuckle each time I see one.

Ann

Ann, thanks for the visit and glad that the commercials make you laugh as well.

Here's a LETTER to The Editor that willbe printed soon. 

HAPPY CALIFORNIA COWS?

Last week, I stopped my car next to a dairy fence near Oakdale, CA to watch a cow and her two NEW babies. The calves looked only minutes old. Mommy cleaned her babies, as one struggled to his feet, while the other lazed in the sun. Then came a farmer driving a little tractor pulling a small trailer with high wooden sides. He hopped off, strolled over and snatched the standing newborn and carried it back to the trailer. He then tosses the baby into the trailer. So carelessly, its head got hung up on the wooden side. Mr. Could-Care-Less flicked the baby's head over the trailer sides and it fell to the bottom. Mr. CCL then jerked up the other newborn and, again, THREW it over the trailer's side. I was HORRIFIED.

Not understanding the process of milking cows, when I got home I looked up on the computer "dairy cows." I learned babies are taken from their mothers ASAP after birth. If this is the case, does a farmer or caretaker of these animals HAVE to do it so inhumanely ??? It was sickening. Are these the HAPPY CALIFORNIA COWS we see in commericals? I think not. I would love to hear from others who have dairies and have them tell me they do not treat their money-makers in this way. Please!

I can now understood why my daughter-in-law is a vegan.

Kat - that is heart breaking. Why DO people become insensitive? I don't see a woman doing that. Male bashing? YES. Forget the letter...pay a visit to that farmer. Your experience makes me mad. GRRRRRR

I AGREE with you, Sheron.  I told my Mom the same thing--a woman would not have done that. Made me so sick... I am edging my way toward the Vegan thing.   The Oakdale farmer/dairy will see my letter and name for sure. 

Hi Gena:

I liked the summary of the all the green initiatives going on in CA, but the one that caught my eye was the work on the hydrogen fuel car. I have been following that for a while and am glad to see CA is pushing it.

Gena- The cows are great.. but Kat's story was not good... of course we see cute little calves and they see a business..  I didn't realize all the green stuff was going on in your area..

Kat, that story was horrid. I'm hoping that is not the norm. Thank heavens while doing my article on Wilton, CA and taking photos of the area along with the calf and all the cows, I certainly did not come upon anything like that. In fact, just the opposite...I spoke to the Dairy Farmer and he was proud as peach of his little calf and enjoyed me taking photos.

People such as the one that you witnessed obviously have no heart or soul...there's obviously a huge market and money to be made and that's all they see. Not sure your letter can reach someone of such character, but I applaud your tenacity in trying.

Sheron, not sure that Kat will be able to reach someone of such character...sounds awful.

Bill, yes my car will be an Eco car. We have a lot of eco minded things happening here and our Governor is pushing for more...we all need to do our part. Glad you are following all this and hopefully others are, too.

Kaye, oh yes...it's now "Hip to Be GREEN."  The Governor is doing a great job helping to bring this to the forefront here and each of the Counties are participating with goals toward being green.

Kaye--I wan't trying to win a Pulitzer for my story--and it wasn't a "story" it was a FACT. I saw this happen with my own eyes. And I doubt that it was an isolated incident.   The COWS are pitiful!

I forgot to ad, had my brought my digital along (one occasion I didn't) I would have included photos--although this incident happened so quickly and unexpectedly still don't know if I could have gotten pic's.   Be certain, though, next time I head down to that area--which is once a month, I'll have it charged and ready to snap.

Kat, where in the world did you see this? In Sonoma County...where??????

I saw the injustice in Oakdale, CA--some 20 miles east of Modesto.  I live in the Sierra Foothills, in Sonora, CA

Kat.. when I said not good I meant sad.. not poorly written..I posted late last night.. re-reading this morning it reads differently then my intent..

Kat, never have been there and after reading what you saw, not too sure I want to come. Hope you are able to change things around there and get people to be more humane.

Kaye--thank you for explaing. I am still very upset about this matter. It was a week today and it has been on my mind all the time. Do you know the umbilical cord was still attached to the babies? And the mother still had the afterbirth hanging--that is how NEW these calves were. I have contacted Peta and will do what I can. When someone sees something this horrific and they sit on their behind and do nothing then it is worst than the creep that did the dirty deed. Right?

I love the Happy Cows commercials, especially the one where they enjoy earthquakes. And California is definitely leading the way for the country.

But if we want to be really green we need to delve a little deeper usually than what the companies are selling us. Some of it is pure green washing. For example Hybrid cars a good first step but not the final step. Car manufactures can do much, much better. Another example ; organic veggies are a great idea, but if they are delivered by diesel truck we still have a problem.  So whether we are taking about transportation, or housing or grocery's we need to check the carbon foot print.

Great post Gena!

http://www.unhappycows.com/photos.asp PLEASE check this site out and review your thoughts on the Happy California Cows.   You'll be shocked.  I am JUST learning this... never knew--OR maybe I didn't want to know.

Dena, absolutely right we have a long way to go but I am so thankful that we are starting and everyone and everything has to start at the beginning so although we have a long way to go I have faith that we will get there and take one baby step at a time.

Kat, yes, I know that there are bad things and there are bad people. I also realize that we need to change things and bringing these things out into the open brings awareness to the general public which needs to occur. At the same time, we need people to buy in and if we bombard them with negativity we get no where. It needs to be done, in my opinion in a positive manner so that people are not turned off and do nothing. We've had enough of that for years...let's try to think of positive ways to get others to buy in and accomplish the same goal.

Hi Gena: I just got back from a trip down the hill and through several towns--passed approx. 10 dairies. I would say, in  all honesty. that about 50% are "crappy" places--literally--to raise cows. Those 50% are full of dirty, wet, nasty manure in which the cows stand, walk, eat and lie.  Those are not good percentages. I am sorry, but I am not a HAPPY CAL GAL at this time.  Until we ALL make these people aware that we are uphappy about just matters, very little will be done. AS with the Green movement.

Kat - you witnessed what is the norm in the world of animal husbandry.  Those little babies are headed toward the veal farm and in a few weeks will be chops on someone's dinner table.  The farmer Gena talked to is the small little guy, who cares for his animals because if he doesnt he makes no money.  And then there are a few small farmers who do care and raise the animals more as pets than anything else.  If that caring dairy farmer had a newborn male calf on his hands, that too would end up at the veal farm.  And don't think for one minute women wouldn't treat animals like that.  A dollar is a dollar regardless of what gender is trying to earn it. I've said it before and I'll say it again, there is no such thing as a happy cow in this world of greed.

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

Vegan for 23 years

Terry - if I had to kill to eat, I would be a vegan too. Believe me. How did you start?

Terry--THANK YOU SO MUCH for your input.  I believe you 100%! AND, I am on the road to Veganism. I have joined PETA, ordered  recipe books and will continue to educate myself. I KNOW my beautiful daughter-in-law will help also.  I am afraid I upset Gena, but that wasn't my intent. I just think we can't turn a blind eye to injustices--be it against people or animals. Being from the big city (SO CAL) I will use that as my ignorant excuse. I have none now.   Thanks again, Terry.

Since we started talking about being vegan, vegetarianism is also an option as well. But there are those folks that say that even plants can feel emotional distress when they are killed. Alot of people believe it is the manner which an animal or plant is killed that makes the difference. Expressing some gratitude toward the food we eat is another way of putting things right, especially if you are aware of how it got to your plate! That is why many people are switching to organic food, because the plants/animals have not been exposed to pesticides/hormones/antibiotics. This means we will not be ingesting those substances into our body but it also means that the plants/animals were not also not stressed out by being exposed to these substances as well. I stopped eating veal along time ago, could not get the images out of my head of how the food got to me.

Hi Bill:  I also saw, today, two farms with ORGANIC on their signs...and since I always read labels, I'll dig deeper into this subject as well.  Anyone with names of good books on these topics will be greatly appreciated.       For those of you who do not know where Oakdale, CA is (the dairies I have been speaking about), it is near Modesto, CA and not all that far from Sacramento (70 miles as a crow flies).

Gena - did you think your post would end up discussing vegetarian diets?

Sheron: I thought about that as I was writing that last blog. Its funny how posts can take on a life of their own!

Sheron - I became vegan after witnessing the horrible, cruel, and inhumane conditions in which our "meat" animals are raised.  Its not a hard thing to do, there are so many "fake" meat products available, even in grocery stores these days, you can eat the same way you always have and not feel the least bit deprived.  For more information check out the PETA website.  There's a whole nother world out there that  would shock most people if they knew about it.

Kat - Congratualtions on your spiritual awakening!  You will never regret traveling on the path you are about to embark!

Bill - I express gratitude everyday for the food I eat.  I'm blessed with the ablility to purchase food, and what I eat has not had to live a bleak and cruel life, just to satisfy my hunger.

So many to answer...I've been busy with offers and clients...it looks like my article has been hijacked. It's amazing what can happen when you are gone for such a short time.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Earth Day and found some new ways of personally helping to take personal responsibility for what you do to contribute to the environment. Our examples help others to make changes.