I started work on the farm right when I got back from Guatemala, but I was probably getting paid too much (more than other workers who performed the same tasks) and I was not meeting all of the farmer’s expectations, so I was let go. I delivered newspapers in Little Falls, MN for awhile, but the hours (2 am – 7:30 am) were not good for my health. I sold windows on commission for awhile, then added a part-time job delivering pizzas in Little Falls. I stopped the window job pretty much completely because I was running out of doors to knock on and even with the tax credit I made very few appointments for the salesman. Now what?
I can see myself ideally working for a small business – either existing or a start-up – in the field of sustainable agriculture/energy. I’ve read about people harvesting prairie grasses and processing them into pellets for fuel. I want to do something along these lines. Perhaps with the variation of producing methane gas or grass-based biofuels. How do I get there? Many ideas. I could go to grad-school, but I’m not sure what I’d study, and I’m not sure if I have the funds for that now, and definitely would want to be careful on this sort of investment. I could talk to small businesses already in this field and ask them what sort of training is necessary to work in such a business. I could take a few classes that I find as hobbies but also pertain to this sort of business. I have always wanted to take a welding class – that would definitely help cut the cost down on construction and installation of a methane digester. I could take a GIS course and hopefully get a job working for a green business of some sort, and with earnings from that I could invest in land or capital that would help me get started on the biofuel business. More thoughts to come…
3 hours later: stumbled upon the following website:
http://www.mascoma.com/pages/sub_join.php
At Mascoma Corporation, we are committed to hiring individuals with top notch expertise and skills that will effectively contribute to our success.
We are seeking candidates with experience in bioprocessing, engineering and operations, ethanol production and related power and fuel refining markets.
If you possess a passion for science and are eager to work as an integral part of our dedicated team, we encourage you to apply! We offer a collaborative, innovative work environment as well as a competitive salary and benefits package.
If you are interested in applying to Mascoma, please send a cover letter and resume to the email address listed in the posting.
*************************************************
So, I could see myself being a scientist and making my contribution to sustainable fuels by cultivating yeasts and bacteria that break down cellulose into ethanol, methane, etc. That is my long-term goal. However, in the short term I am struggling a bit. I don’t know if it would be better to go into considerable debt and just get the degree for becoming a scientist for biofuels, or to get some other training in the short-term that could directly or indirectly contribute to this goal, such as GIS, welding, computer programming, etc. I just got off the phone with Nick Grewe, and he mentioned there are several professors studying biofuels at the University of Minnesota at the moment who may be good to study under – even one researching the processes of mushrooms that break down cellulose and how that could be used to make biofuels that are even more economical and ecological and cellulosic ethanol.
