A Culticycle is a pedal powered tractor for cultivation and seeding, built from lawn tractor, ATV, and bicycle parts. With a speed of 3 - 4 mph, depending on choice of gearing and pedaling speed, it keeps the operator fit, minimises soil compaction, uses no fuel, is far cheaper than a tractor and is easily adaptable to specific needs. As a low tech machine it can be built and maintained using basic resources and skills. … Read more
How to Eat Local Ideas for fostering an 'all-local' diet and supporting local economy
'Organic' is just a label Some fruit & veggies can be labeled 'organic', yet still grown in conventional, monocultural methods with certain amounts of spraying. Some processed foods can be labeled 'organic' yet still contain lots of sugar, margarine or other harmful ingredients. In this article we stress the importance of eating local and becoming aware of where food comes from. So Why local? * More sustainable - eating local reduces our carbon footprint - less energy is wasted on … Read more
Warka Water Tower Harvesting Water from Rain, Fog and Dew
Arturo Vittori and his team at Architecture and Vision have created an iconic bamboo tower structure that can harvest water from rain, fog and dew. People have been using the principal for centuries building high-stone structures, air wells that gather moisture from the air and funnel it into a basin for collection. The WarkaWater functions in much the same way, using mesh netting to capture moisture and direct it into hygienic holding tank accessed via a spout. However, the new design is of … Read more
Hempcrete Hemp Fibre Mixed with Lime Forms Eco Structures
The stalks of hemp plants combined with lime have been used to create an ecological efficient wall structure that locks up carbon and provides good insulation and moisture control. A growing band of pioneers have built their homes with this promising and innovative construction that is now being seriously considered as a viable option by main stream housing providers. … Read more
Geodesic Domes A simple, affordable and aesthetic housing solution
Geodesic Domes are simple to build, relatively cheap, beautiful to be in, and can be used as a little house, studio, greenhouse or gathering space of any kind. The geodesic shape was developed by Buckmister Fuller, and is made up of triangles. It can be built as a whole ball or a half ball (a dome) There are different kinds of geodesic domes, depending on the length of their poles. The dome has many advantages: 1. Easy to build yourself 2. Very strong structure - in fact, the … Read more
Rocket Mass Heater An efficient solution for heating
Rocket Mass Heaters (RMH) are energy-efficient burners used for heating, and are usually assembled from recycled and/or natural materials. RMH's use about 80% less wood than 'regular' wood burners/fireplaces Advantages of RMH: * Relatively easy to build, you don't need to have high engineering skills * Energy-efficiency - uses significantly less wood * Eco-freindly - less pollution, can be made of recycled and natural materials * Beautiful & aesthetic! Read more about how RMH works and how … Read more
Minimalist Shoes Make Your Own Running Sandals
In his book 'Born to Run', Christopher McDougall discovers that unlike the common myth that humans are physically inferior to other land animals, humans are actually the species that is capable of running the longest distances on the planet! He also came to the conclusion that we humans don't actually need shoes to keep up from harm - we can run barefoot. He spent time researching indigenous tribes in the hills of mexico, and found that not only could they run unbelievable distances barefoot … Read more
Energy Efficiency at Home Simple ways to save energy and money in your own home
There are simple ways to be energy-efficient and save on domestic energy consumption. Here are some of them... (Note: The tips below have been written in reference to a house in Israel - in other parts of the world you might need to make adjustments according to your local climate conditions) 1. Closing the house in winter, except opening windows to air the house out during the warmer hours of the day. The windows that are facing south remain closed, and their shutters are opened during the … Read more
Sustainable Approach to the Feminine Moon Cycle or: use your menstrual blood as a fertilizer!
Many women have been taught to feel shame, disgust or exasperation in regards to their menstrual bleeding. The menstrual industry sells us disposable pads and tampons that are toxic and harm our bodies and the environment immensely. However, other options are available to us: 1. Re-usable moon products: Cotton pads, moon cups, etc - do it yourself or buy (preferably from a local). 2. Emptying your menstrual blood: You can re-learn the ancient tradition of emptying the blood into the … Read more
Grow Onions on your Window Sill Turn a Plastic Bottle into a Growing Container
Wouldn’t it be convenient to always have fresh onions on hand for cooking and salads? Sometimes the last thing you want to do is make a run to the local market. Besides, you can never tell how old the onions at the grocery store are. Now you can grow onions indoors easily with this clever vertical growing method. Just cut off what you need for a meal and the onion will grow back with more. For complete instructions on how to grow onions vertically visit the link … Read more
