Blair

joined 1 year ago
 

For those of you who are doing hydroponics, what do you think of this system? Is it a good system for a beginner on a budget? Or is there a better system?

 

Did you know that simply digging a slight ditch can completely change the health of a landscape?

In modern landscaping, any sort of hole or ditch is considered a “dangerous tripping hazard,” “unsightly,” or “a waste of space,” so everything is smoothed out. If you go to most cities and farms, the only non-flat places are designed to carry water away from cities, rather than hold onto it.

This thought process can not only increase overland flooding and wash away topsoil, but it also gives water no place to sit and be absorbed into the soil. Without any water capture gradually trickling into the soil and creating an underground reservoir, the landscape becomes less drought resistant and more susceptible to wildfires.

The permaculture techniques to correct this have many names and methods, including:

They might be different shapes and use slightly different methods, but they all do all work the same on a basic level. The idea is to dig or build a shape that will slowdown and/or catch some of the movement of water. This can make the soil more absorbent (dry and hardened soil does not absorb water as easily) which promotes healthy microbiome of the soil.

Even if the water dries out visibly during the dry season, underground, they could be making a huge difference.

It is not new science, but instead something many cultures around the world have a long history with, but many modern farming practices(mostly to make it farming machine friendly) and development flatten everything out. If people changed this point of view, it could change our landscapes.

In cities, they look like a slight ditch in front of a house, or a creek in a greenspace.

(Image Sources: Image 1 | Image 2)

For other landscapes, it could be just slight indents in un-farmable areas, or ditches dug around farm perimeters.

They do not have to be very deep, and often do not need any fancy equipment to dig(most just take a shovel), but they can do amazing things.

In the process of reversing landscape desertification, it is proving drastically helpful. As the underground water reserves build, so does the vegetation.

(Image Source: Just Dig It. An example of demi-lunes / half-moons)

More Info:

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Vertical Greenery (slrpnk.net)
submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by Blair@slrpnk.net to c/urbanism@slrpnk.net
 

Greenery on walls can reduce a buildings heat loss by 30%, improve air quality, help absorb sounds, and can even reduce a cities temperature, so it is no wonder so many places are considering them.

Here are two options I think are interesting:

Vertical Meadows:

There is a bit of a terminology game here. Verticals gardens are sometimes found in wealthy office buildings, but they do nothing for local eco-systems and are often non-local tropical varieties of plants. Even for those found outside, the plants are often picked for appearance alone, instead of what would help local biodiversity.

In comparison, vertical meadows have a different goal. Vertical meadows (started in London, England) are outdoor vertical greenery walls that uses locally-grown native and seasonal plants, ensuring year-round options for wildlife like pollinators and birds.

The main problem with these setups is that they tend to require watering systems, which (even if rainwater collection is installed) can be rather costly.

More Info:

Moss Walls:

Companies like Respyre use upcycled bioreceptive concrete and a moss coating encourage moss-growth on any vertical surface without risk of damaging the buildings. Other companies(such as Green City Solutions) grow panels of moss, which can then be installed like tiles.

Due to moss being so inexpensive to incorporate, it is becoming a popular option.

For added benefits, moss is drought tolerant to a point, and can absorb 6x more C02 than other plants. Moss is basically a living filter, and can even filter arsenic out of water.

More info:

However, moss can be hard to grow commercially(mostly due to the fact that they release spores instead of seeds), so many of the mosses people buy, especially those used for craft supplies, are illegally poached from the wild. If a little is left behind, moss typically can regenerate, but many harvesters simply roll up huge blankets of moss, leaving nothing behind. It is estimated that the mosses can take 10-20 years to grow back.

So, please research where the moss is sourced if you plan on buying any. If the company does not grow it themselves or does not mention where they source it, do not buy any.

 

Vergenoegd Winery(South Africa) is handling pests using a unique solution; ducks. These ducks enable the winery to be pesticide-free.

Video: https://youtu.be/H6Ehoxu9QY8

The reason for this is that ducks love to eat all sorts of garden pests: including slugs, snails, mosquitoes, ants, and more.

"You may also be wondering: Why ducks and not chickens? While it’s true that chickens can help to keep bugs at a low in your garden, they also have a habit of being a little less delicate around garden plants than ducks do. Chickens love fresh greenery and will be more than happy to eat your homegrown lettuce, whereas ducks will focus less on your hard work and more on the bugs in your yard." | The Spruce

Similarly to the winery, ducks are also often employed to help with rice paddies. The ducks not only help with pests and fertilization, but their paddling helps both aerate the water and kick up mud(the increased oxygen and decreased light can cut down on algae or weed growth).

As an added benefit, the eggs and/or meat can be eaten. I know that will upset many of you but the added financial benefit of that is further incentivizing farmers to switch from herbicides and pesticides, to ducks.

"Another study done by Practical Action2 concluded that the duck-rice farming technology led to several socio-economic and environmental benefits. The ducks were introduced into the rice fields 10-20 days after rice was planted until the flowering stages. The study also found out that this form of farming was better in rice production than others as it led to decreased production costs, high yields achievement, had benefits for the environment and led to increased income. Further, it’s stated that 20% higher yields can be achieved with the use of this system, 50% increase in income can be achieved as well as enhanced food security through the consumption of duck meat." | Permaculture Research Institute

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0ISdo-b7Lk

(Image Source)

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submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by Blair@slrpnk.net to c/urbanism@slrpnk.net
 

I grabbed some quotes for those short on time. More details on everything are in the article.

In São Paulo’s favelas, low-income communities are building their own green roofs. These affordable vinyl sheet roofs were created by Teto Verde Favela, a nonprofit founded by local Luis Cassiano.

In place of traditional air-conditioning, Seville has turned to a 3,000-year-old solution. With the help of two scientists, the city in southern Spain is reviving a Middle Eastern technology: qanats, underground channels that transport water from higher to lower altitudes and drive the coolness upwards.

A simple approach to heat is helping Singapore address its urban heat challenges: painting buildings and other surfaces with reflective paint.

Munich’s climate-friendly cooling system utilizes natural energy from underground water streams. According to the city utility of Munich, Stadtwerke Muenchen (SWM), the use of these natural cold water streams has resulted in energy savings in the city of 70 percent compared to traditional cooling technology like air conditioning. Thanks to the city’s cooling system, more than 80,000 residents in Munich receive ecological energy.

https://reasonstobecheerful.world/cities-cool-down-creatively/

 

It’s long been thought that soil is the only effective terrestrial methane sink, as certain microorganisms use methane as a food source, but similar creatures live under a tree’s layer of bark, meaning that not only do our woody cousins withdraw CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in their roots, but also remove methane as well, about as effectively or perhaps more so than soil.

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

They go off of who volunteers. For example, if a person who specializes in fixing stand mixers volunteers, that will be one of the tables people can visit. That repair person brings the parts (for example, there are a few parts in stand mixers that tend to break, so the repair person would know to bring fixes for those). I have also heard of repair cafe's elsewhere even bringing in 3D printers to help with part replacement.

Here is the text from a recent one in my town:

Items that are accepted at Repair Café events:

  • Electronics such as gaming consoles, CD player, DVD player, camera, adaptor cord, etc.
  • Small appliances such as toasters, coffee makers, lamps, waffle makers...you get the idea!
  • Smaller pieces of furniture such as small wooden furniture pieces, a clock, or a plastic item that needs some crazy glue.
  • Toys! Whether it needs glue or some wire soldering, we can try to repair it!
  • Clothing or housewares (clean please!) that need mending. Full alterations will not be done.

Items not allowed:

  • Microwaves
 

RIGHT TO REPAIR

A big fight is happening world-wide to push governments to ensure people can repair the products they own.

“The right to repair refers to proposed government legislation to forbid manufacturers from imposing barriers that deny consumers the ability to repair and modify their own consumer products.” | Wikipedia

This is happening because of:

  • Planned Obsolescence: companies are purposely building their products to break faster, so you have to pay to replace them sooner.
  • Unfixable Products: some products will have their components soldered, glued, or riveted, to stop people from being able to repair.
  • Brand-Specific Parts: These parts may cost more than buying a new product. As well as that, some companies refuse to let independent repair technicians purchase their parts to try and force costumers to only use the product company for repairs.
  • Restrictive Programing. For these, the programs refuse to let you fix your own products (a large example of this happens to farm equipment, where farmers have to hack their own equipment if they want to repair on their own).

More Info:

REPAIR CAFES

Repair cafes are typically community-run events where volunteers gather to fix the broken items of strangers for free. My town started doing it a long time ago, and it was so popular that it now happens several times a year.

People bring in stand mixers, vacuums, computers, items that need sewing repairs, and more. Often, the person is very willing to explain the repairs as they do them.

In other places, repair cafes have become more permanent. For example, in Austria, the government started paying those who repair.

Repair cafes not only save people money, but they also can greatly reduce the amount of waste produced by saving those repaired items from the landfill.

More Info on Repair Cafes:

 

(Image Source)

For food forests, you do what you can to use edible plant life to mimic the ecosystems of a wild forest.

“A food forest, also called a forest garden, is a diverse planting of edible plants that attempts to mimic the ecosystems and patterns found in nature.” | Project Food Forest

If done right, this system will…

  • Promote a healthy soil microbiome
  • Increase carbon-capture (no-till)
  • Prevent erosion
  • Retain water

And more.

Personally, I suggest using as many perennials to your area as you can so you don't have to replant everything every year.

Here are some perennial examples that are for my specific area:

(⚠ means you may want to container garden them to prevent spread)

  • 🥬Lovage (celery alternative)
  • 🥗 Bloody Dock (chard alternative)
  • 🥗 Good King Henry (spinach alternative)
  • 🥔 Jerusalem Artichoke (root vegetable)
  • 🥗 Sea Kale
  • 🧅 Chives ⚠
  • 🥝Hardi-Kiwi
  • 🍓Wild strawberries
  • Raspberries ⚠
  • Wild blueberries
  • Red or Black Currants
  • Haskap/Honeyberries
  • 🍇Valiant or Bluebell Grapes
  • Rhubarb
  • Saskatoons
  • Pembina Plums
  • 🍒Evans (sour) cherries
  • Manchurian Apricots
  • 🍎 Hardi-Mac Apples

More Info on Food Forests:

 

Years ago, I took an online course on mountains, and one fact that stuck with me from it was about how people in the USA accidentally polluted the water in New York City by cutting down trees.

It was the 1800s, and the trees in the Catskill Mountains were cut down to accommodate growing populations, and as a result, the water quality for New Yorkers deteriorated rapidly. Yes, the agriculture pollution and sewage did play a part, but the trees were decided to be such a big problem, that they decided something had to be done.

So, they purchased land, and planted 18000 trees to restore the natural ecosystem.

How does this water-cleaning work? With watersheds.

“Watershed: an area of high ground from which water flows down to a river” | Cambridge Dictionary

Imagine it is raining in a forest. Droplets hit the ground, and —thanks to the vegetation which slows runoff — it is absorbed into the soil like a sponge. As the water moves through the soil, microbes are actively removing harmful pollutants, silt is filtered, and plants removing fertilizers.

Some of the water will end up in our lakes and streams, but will be much cleaner than when it started.

"The ability of forests to aid in the filtration of water doesn’t only provide benefits to our health and the health of an ecosystem, but also to our pocketbooks. Forest cover has been directly linked to drinking water treatment costs, so the more forest in a source water watershed, the lower the cost to treat that water. Forests provide these benefits by filtering sediments and other pollutants from the water in the soil before it reaches a water source, such as a stream, lake or river." | American Forests

Since this intake and outtake of water is gradual, removal of these forests can even to lead to a higher chance of both droughts and floods.

More Info:

 

Have you ever wondered why so many large chain stores have two sets of doors? No, it is not just to store shopping carts.

Where I live, any home that is around 100 years old (that hasn't seen any renovations) will very likely have two front doors. Putting it simply, you open one door, step into a small space, and there will be another door in front of you.

(Image Sources: Image 1 | Image 2)

The space goes by many names, including: arctic entry, mud room, breeze room, vestibule, airlock, foyer, and more. For sake of simplicity, I am going to call them "entry vestibules."

Entry vestibules create a buffer between the outside and the inside of the building, preventing drafts. This can help greatly with temperature regulation in both the winter cold and summer heat. I can't find number details on energy saving, but the fact that large chains still build them may hint of their importance for money-saving.

In homes, this space also typically serves as the mud room ( a place for shoes and jackets).

In the name of "first impressions," and open concept designs, vestibules are often the first thing to go during renovations, and I think that's a real shame.

 

Have you heard of the beautiful living root bridges in Meghalaya, India? Their construction is a lesson in patience as the roots are gradually encouraged to grow in the supportive shape. They need regular care, but grow stronger with age.

“Once a bamboo structure has been stretched across the river, the roots of the tree, usually the rubber tree (Ficus elastica), are teased and manipulated to become entwined with the bamboo until it becomes a strong mesh. The roots are allowed to grow gradually and strengthen over time. In the initial stages, only about 15-20 people can cross the bridge in a day. Much later, it can be as many as 50 or more, although it can take up to two decades for a living roots bridge to be finished.” | The Guardian

Once done, the bridges can have a lifespan of several hundred years; far outliving the original creators of them.

It is unknown when this tradition started, but they were written about in 1844, so it would be far earlier than that.

I just thought people on here might find this tradition as fascinating as I do.

More Info:

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 1 points 11 months ago

Thank you! That looks like a great system

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 2 points 11 months ago

Typically, with hydroponics or aquaponics, you won’t have a problem. For example, fungus gnats(a common attacker of house plants) are born in soil and feed on decaying plant matter. So, if you remove the soil, you can’t have fungus gnats.

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 1 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Haha could I have more info on NFTs? When I try searching it up, I only get the non-fudgable token kind of NFTS 😆

Just guessing, though, think of this as a low-income starter kit. Assuming you can scavenge the bottles and substrate, this whole set up might cost around $40CAD (though keep in mind that’s a rough estimate from someone with dyscalculia hahaha)

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

That quote was for the shoes. Sorry for not being clear about that. I’ll edit my post to add dividers in case that helps

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 5 points 11 months ago

I didn’t mean it as a advert (I even pointed out that more work needs to be done on efficiency), I just wanted to share an energy generation possibility that most people don’t know is a thing. I apologize that my wording came off as so bias

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 2 points 11 months ago

I tried looking it up, and most sources still say that cold-weather heat pumps only work until -30c, which still isn't cold enough when parts of my province reached -50c. I am not saying I don't believe you, just that I would like to know more haha. According to this, Norway is pretty comparable climate wise to the Canadian averages, but Canada does get colder, so I hope it's not just that.

Heat pumps are gaining in popularity here, just not on their own yet.

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 2 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I agree that solar and heat pumps are better! However, heat pumps and electric vehicles lose effectiveness as the temperature drops. So, when it reaches -40c here, the people who own heat pumps still need their furnace as a backup. Most the time heat pumps are fine, but right now backup heat is still needed for those cold snaps or they risk the cold and their pipes freezing and bursting.

So the idea is to use a renewable source of methane as that fuel until it’s no longer needed(and stopping waste pollution while doing it).

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 7 points 11 months ago

The main difference is that it would be moving from non-renewable sources to renewables. As well as that, the methane is already there being released, it’s just right now we don’t use it and instead a large portion of the world just dumps it into the ocean or rivers untreated. So it would be turning human waste pollution into fuel and fertilizer instead of contaminating water sources and releasing the methane.

In cold climates, heat pumps don’t work when it’s gets to -40c, so people who own them have gas furnaces as a backup. The same happens with electric vehicles; their range drops with the temperature, and some stopped working a few days last winter.

SO that’s why human waste is considered a “transition fuel.” It’s an option to supplement other energy sources until we have what we need to transition away for good.

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 year ago
[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

There's actually several problems with most hydro dams that sadly is often completely ignored due to it being "green energy." For example:

  • Disrupting Fish Migrations. The dams can act like walls, stopping annual fish migrations. Though this is sometimes minimized using fish-ladders, often many other aquatic species that can't use the ladders are ignored.
  • Displacing people and wildlife. For example, Lake Minnewanka in Alberta, Canada, has an underwater town that was flooded for a hydro-dam. The spot was also of importance to the indigenous people of the area, as it was seen to be connected to the spirit world.
  • Polluting the Water. By causing higher levels of sediment and algae in the reservoirs. This is called “eutrophication.”
  • Hurting or Killing Wildlife. The released water is often cold and low in oxygen, which can shock and even kill wildlife downstream.
  • Water-Depletion. Reservoirs can cause water-depletion for an area, since still water evaporates faster than the water in a moving river, and the plants consume water to work.

That's why I don't always classify hydro as actually being green energy. There's hope in small-scale turbines making a comeback in a fish-friendly style https://youtu.be/KEsrAmM07fs , as well as updated takes on tidal energy, such as the wave swing. https://youtu.be/mxesgXdw0Zw

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