We bring nonindustrial subsistence technology to (over)developed societies. We exist at the nexus of ancient, ethnographic, and modern subsistence. We aim to 1) identify ancient and contemporary nonindustrial technologies appropriate for use in modern, small-scale, self-sustaining infrastructure; 2) create do-it-yourself, resource-light solutions to sustainability problems; 3) provide our findings to the public for free use; and 4) create platforms to share information related to sustainability, especially solutions derived from ancient or ethnographic sources. We prize simple solutions over complex ones and eschew needless complication.
Low Tech Podcast, No. 72 – 01 Dec 2023
Cooksville: A Model Community
Today we travel back to the future, and the past, to set Cooksville in context.
#sustainability #lowtech #transition #tartaria … More Low Tech Podcast, No. 72 — Cooksville: A Model Community
Low Tech Podcast, No. 69 – 07 Apr 2023
Tartarian Buildings?
The idea of the Tartarian Empire is a conspiracy theory, but it gives us something to say about building longevity.
#sustainability #lowtech #transition #tartaria … More Low Tech Podcast, No. 71 — Cooksville 2100
Our current building project is exploring how we can create a structure using local materials. We’re currently building the foundation and thinking a lot about how to create a firm, long-lasting platform on which we can build the rest of the structure while using as little time, effort, and materials as possible. Typical Foundation In … More Frost-Protected, Field-Stone Stub Foundation: Material Saving Hybrid
As part of our building project, we have designed a frost-protected stub foundation. This would be built conventionally out of concrete, but we have decided to make it out of fieldstone and mortar. Although we made this decision in order to source our materials from as close to the building site as possible (check out … More Stone Foundations are Emissions Friendly
We’ll start by visiting a “baby” prairie, established just this last year, across the commons from the institute. Then we’ll head just down the road to the Danky-Schelshorn Prairie. Until 2003, this land was under agricultural cultivation, but Jim and Christine decided to turn it back into a prairie habitat. The Danky-Schelshorn Prairie was established … More Upcoming Workshop — Gathering Prairie Seeds, Oct. 7, 1–3(ish) p.m., Free (Space is Limited)
A talk I gave at this spring’s PBS Garden Expo was recently broadcast on PBS Wisconsin. If you missed it, you can check it out here: If the video isn’t working, follow this link: https://pbswisconsin.org/watch/university-place/home-scale-grain-production-69pgn1/
I recently had an article published in Thatcher’s Standard, the UK’s thatching trade publication, which may be of interest to those following the institute’s work. Enjoy!
Low Tech Podcast, No. 69 – 07 Apr 2023
Tartarian Buildings?
The idea of the Tartarian Empire is a conspiracy theory, but it gives us something to say about building longevity.
#sustainability #lowtech #transition #tartaria … More Low Tech Podcast, No. 70 — More Low-Tech News
Low Tech Podcast, No. 69 – 07 Apr 2023
Tartarian Buildings?
The idea of the Tartarian Empire is a conspiracy theory, but it gives us something to say about building longevity.
#sustainability #lowtech #transition #tartaria … More Low Tech Podcast, No. 69 — Tartarian Buildings?
This year we’re building a timber-frame workshop and we’ll have classes almost every weekend, covering this build from start to finish. See our Events page for the complete schedule, which is being finalized at this time. Classes typically run $50 with a cap of $500 for ten or more. See also: Build a Mallet (Mar. … More Upcoming Workshop — Build (Timber-Framing) Sawhorses, Apr. 15, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., $50 ($40 for members)