Root Simple Visits Simparch’s Utah Compound

...es a set of solar panels, batteries, a solar shower, a refrigerator, and a composting toilet all housed in and around a repurposed WWII era Quonset hut. Water is biked in with specially adapted cargo bikes. Solar power pumps the water up to the tower where it is heated by the sun in a black drum. A solar panel array and batteries provide more than enough power, all day and all night, to run power tools and pump some tunes out on the powerful stere...

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Worm Compost Leachate, Good or Bad?

...lot of conflicting information. One of the most contentious issues in worm composting is what to do with the liquid that comes off the worm bin, called leachate. The controversy stems, in large part, from the debate over aerated compost tea (ACT) vs. non-aerated compost tea. Fans of ACT do not like the fact that worm bin leachate is anaerobic, which they believe encourages the growth of microorganisms unfavorable to plants. They like to point out...

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Permaculture Design Course at the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano

...ta, Tour of permaculture plant nursery, build plant lists MAY 10 / WASTE – Composting methods, nutrient cycle overview (nitrogen, carbon cycles), soil science overview, building biomass- focus in permaculture, keeping backyard chickens, composting methods workshop / build a worm bin MAY 11 / ENERGY + SHELTER – Passive solar design, walk through an energy audit, how to read a utility bill, ‘going solar,’ tour of energy-efficient home, design an alt...

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Saturday Linkages: Bow Drills and Cramped Apartments

...h Magazine Gardening The End of Molasses Malarkey: http://ow.ly/1TC4aU DIY Making Wooden Spoons http://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.com/2013/03/making-wooden-spoons.html#.UUPl2rFofzQ.twitter … Low-Tech Wonders Hand powered drilling tools and machines: http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2010/12/hand-powered-drilling-tools-and-machines.html … Endless Rope Drives: http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2013/03/the-mechanical-transmission-of-power-3-wire-ropes.html...

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Saturday Tweets: Urban Ag, Climate Change and Gifts from Birds

...lagers' secret weapon: Growing their own food http://t.co/HqPiGovoir — Homesteader Supply (@HomesteadSupply) July 9, 2015 Debate truly over. Only ONE #climate scientist (of over 9K) published in 2012 & 2013 didn't attribute it to human activity. #CRinCanada — Brendan Seale (@bseale) July 9, 2015 Bees are losing their habitat because of climate change http://t.co/KhWwD5rhaa via @TIME — Root Simple (@rootsimple) July 9, 2015 Episcopal Church...

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