Saturday, February 21, 2009

Re: Open Source Ecology

Scott- I was just going to comment- but I wanted to summarize and elaborate and talk and talk and talk... so:

For everyone who isn't on their computers 24/7 like scott and I, he posted a link to an incredible project. Factor e Farm (not factory farm) is a replicable open source farm which they say aims to become self sufficient:

"We are looking for people who are interested in building the world's first replicable open source self-sufficient decentralized high-appropriate-tech permaculture ecovillage - to transcend survival and evolve to freedom."

It's a very exciting project. Why? Besides the obvious matters of getting off-grid and providing for their own needs, they're also on their way to becoming an access model- meaning that they (are already) and will become a major source of information/ teaching. We should probably get in contact with these hot sexy people right away. Hippie road trip anyone?

5 comments:

  1. They are here, and you can WWOOF there.
    Located in Maysville, MO:
    http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Maysville,+MO&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&gl=ca&ei=SkmgSZTpC5WksAPl3rDDCQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title

    (WWOOFing is World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms- generally there's a setup where you go to a farm and work there, learning about the process. They cover your room and board.)

    http://www.wwoofusa.org/farms/1307
    "OSE is in the humble beginnings of our experiments, so be ready with initiative and an open mind. We are located in Maysville MO. Our greater mission is right livelihood and economic transformation via open source economic development. Food: *Fruit tree nursery *Year-round hydroponic greenhouse *Market garden *Collaboration with an organic bakery *Animal husbandry *Forestry Energy: *Vegetable oil-powered electricity generation *Combined heat and electrical power with wood and oil heat *Solar concentrator heat Transportation: *Biodiesel production *Fuel alcohol production from onsite crops *OSCar collaboration (theoscarproject.org) Housing:*Compressed Earth Block Press (3-5 bricks/minute) *Portable sawmill *Yurt and earthbag construction Tools/Technology: *Appropriate farm equipment *Open source product development *Open source computing Living conditions are almost impossible to describe as they are always improving from the bare-bone basics of the beginning to the more convient and comfortable accommodations. Although still considered a rustic lifestyle by modern standards, we do have high-speed wireless internet and off-grid electricity. We are located one hour north of Kansas City, and we are one mile from a town of 1000. We have a vegetable-oil powered Suburban. We are currently developing products and connections with area markets and we invite participants to help. You may earn what you produce from your initiative. Accomadations and home grown food will be supplied as part of a working exchange. We want participants to spend most of their time in experimenting with what really works, economically speaking, to create a new society based on land stewardship and open source economic development. "

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  2. I'd go.
    Especially if we can work with them and have room and board.

    Also, it's equidistant from Montreal. So potentially we could meet up with others :)

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  3. This is a pleasing plan.

    We may need to look into US work permits. Do you or parental friends have knowledge? Thoughts?

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  4. mmm interesting question. don't know off the top of my head. we can look into it. though I wouldn't be too sure that these people would be too concerned about such. especially if we aren't working for money.

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  5. oh, right:) government officials aren't going to look at my work permit.

    rad.
    also, looking at swap, or some other student exchange program may be prudent.

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