Archive for January, 2008
Saturday, January 26th, 2008
Portal to Mystery
Look at that frost pattern on our door. The frost came from a combination of moisture and contrasting temperatures… but where did the diamond pattern come from? No shadows cross the door to create such marks. The only guess I have is that somehow the inside of the door is causing this pattern …
4 Comments » - Posted in Challenges by Brittany
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008
Are CEBs the best kept secret in building?
Yesterday, I came across Basin, which describes itself as follows:
‘The “building advisory service and information network”, basin, was set up in 1988 to provide information and advice on appropriate building technology and to create links with know-how resources in the world for …
1 Comment » - Posted in Compressed Earth Block Press by Brittany
Thursday, January 17th, 2008
Viability
The perfect time to think spring is when snow covers the ground and is held there by freezing temperatures. You can “do” spring when the ground cracks as the frost heaves and buds burst into greens, whites, and pinks. But now is the time to think.
So, two weeks ago, I pulled out my garden …
No Comments » - Posted in Open Source Agroecology (OSA) by Brittany
Thursday, January 17th, 2008
OSE Product Cycle
We are proposing this model for developing open source products, which includes voluntary funding from many stakeholders:
More notes are found here, and the more extensive proposal is here.
Today, Michel Bauwens of P2P Foundation commented that he’s struggling with the meaning of the intesection between open source information and physical production. So am I. I …
No Comments » - Posted in Open Source Economic Development by Marcin
Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
Resource Development
We had a nice adventure today to the local supermarket where we picked up 4 cardboard bales.
We originally wanted them as weed-barrier mulch-rings for our trees. But now our brains have exploded with possibilites and we want more. Potential uses include:
1. walls for a compost pile (they provide good insulation which helps keep the …
No Comments » - Posted in Abundance,Accomplishments,Open Source Agroecology (OSA) by Brittany
Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
P2P Economy and Permafacture
We need to take this P2P economy seriously.
A new financial system is waiting to emerge, with power at the bottom of the pyramid.
As international boundaries begin to crumble, local and bioregional economies take over. People learn from torrents, not mass media. People want to give more and more …
3 Comments » - Posted in Open Source Economic Development by Marcin
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008
Ecotech Infrastructure
We are planning some serious infrastructure building this year. Our technology goals for 2008 are:
We are optimizing our hydraulic Compressed Earth Block press prototype , and building a swing-blade sawmill . We need good equipment so we can begin building. Our planned additions include where the only existing part of the structure so …
4 Comments » - Posted in Global Village Construction Set,Infrastructure by Marcin
Friday, January 11th, 2008
Life with Stuff
We all have stuff hiding in closets, in the attic, and in the basement. Stuff fills the kitchen, the bedrooms, and the garage. Stuff lurks at work, in the car, and even in the backyard.
Where does it all come from and where will it end up?
The answer isn’t as simple as you might think. …
1 Comment » - Posted in Compressed Earth Block Press,Global Geopolitics,The Story of Stuff by Brittany
Wednesday, January 9th, 2008
Farewell
It was great. I learned a lot. Thanks for everything.
I hope we will see each other again.
1 Comment » - Posted in Diet by Ronny
Tuesday, January 8th, 2008
An Outsider’s Visit
Well it’s taken me a while to get around to this, but here it goes. On December 26th, I had the great opportunity to finally visit the Factor E Farm. I had heard great things from my friend Richard, and knew right away that it was something I wanted to see for myself. The …
