These are a few stories we found this week that may be of interest to institute regulars. If you have a news tip, please send it to lowtechinstitute@gmail.com.
Low Tech News
Aquaponic nitrogen consumption – Walden Effect
Homemade Potting Soil – Natural Building Blog
Farming for Future Generations with Fred Kirschenmann – Permaculture Podcast
The evolution of a backyard food forest – the first three years – TreeHugger
Mobile solar-plus-storage device could be an entry-level gateway to clean energy – TreeHugger
Check Out the Homemade Planetarium Built By A Very Committed Dude in Wisconsin – Vice: Motherboard
Can you build an “energy positive” office building north of sixty? – TreeHugger
“We are an indoor species” – TreeHugger
Defining ‘pre-industrial’ – Climate Lab Book
Book Review – Jackie French’s Guide to Companion Planting – Deep Green Permaculture
Environmental News
What the heck were thousands of red Skittles doing strewn across a frozen Wisconsin road? – Grist
Climate change starts disappearing from government websites – Grist
All References to Climate Change Have Been Deleted from the White House Website – Vice
Trump moved to push through the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, but it’s not a done deal – Grist
“An Inconvenient Sequel”: Al Gore on New Film, Trump, Climate Change & His Opposition to DAPL – Democracy Now!
Environmental Activist Struck and Killed by SUV While Marching Barefoot Across America – Earth First!
Wellbeing Gardening – Gardening for the Body, Mind and Spirit – Deep Green Permaculture
A year ago, James Hamblin quit showering. What’s he doing now? – TreeHugger
Alex Wilson creates a more resilient homestead – TreeHugger
As Trump Team Moves In, Climate Scientists Watch And Worry – NPR
‘It’s A Big One’: Iowa Pipeline Leaks Nearly 140,000 Gallons Of Diesel – NPR
“A Plastic Tide” film depicts shocking plastic pollution worldwide – TreeHugger
If These Trees Don’t Get Time To Chill, Farmers Will Be Out On A Limb – NPR
Wyoming Moves to Ban Wind and Solar Power for Use by Electric Utilities – Earth First!
Research News
Interactive: How much does El Niño affect global temperature? – Carbon Brief
Climate Change Means Fewer Days of Perfect Weather – Mother Jones
60% of primate species now threatened with extinction – TreeHugger
The World Is ‘Grossly Unprepared’ for the Next Big Virus Outbreak, Study Finds – Vice
This Boat Will Run for Six Years on Nothing But Wind, Water and Hydrogen – Vice: Motherboard
Expanding Tar Sands Will Kill Paris Targets and Climate Stability, Report Finds – Resilience
Animals are smarter than most people think – TreeHugger
Energy From Waste, or Waste From Energy? A look at our local incinerator – An Outside Chance
1.5 degrees C may be closer than we thought – Grist
EPA Scientists’ Work May Be Subject To Review By Trump Team – NPR
Op-Ed¹
Tossing environmental rules won’t raise wages, no matter what the White House says – Grist
Three Pillars – The Great Change
It is time to hunker in the bunker? Or to think about resilience and sustainability? – TreeHugger
Elon Musk’s tunnel under Los Angeles won’t save him time – TreeHugger
Disclaimer: The news stories and posts linked above are not meant as an endorsement of the information presented. They are provided as they may be of interest to our readers and further our aims of solutions for a post-fossil-fuel world. We strive to provide fact-based information. If you feel that political views are being presented in a partisan fashion, we are happy to provide equal time to opposing view points as long as they are derived from verifiable data and facts.
¹Opinion pieces represent the independent thought of their authors and may or may not represent the position of the Low Technology Institute.