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Sustainable Civilization: From the Grass Roots Up

Introduction - Sustainability Challenges

Our predominant industry, political, and personal


paradigms developed in an era of cheap maintaining community, and the benefits of an
abundant energy, expanding population, and educated technical and developing civilization,
what seemed to be unlimited resources. We have with an eye toward providing the best living
gone forth and multiplied (well beyond conditions per person and opportunities for
sustainable numbers) and subdued (perhaps continued advancement of civilization, while
fatally) the Earth. reducing our impact on such as remains1 of
nature.
The flow of stored energy needed to operate our
infrastructure is ending. Belief in or dedication to INTRODUCTION
a particular ideology may alter individual
perceptions, but not physical facts. We need to As we enter a new millennium, human
re-think our civilization from the grass roots up, civilization faces numerous challenges. Much of
not bumble blindly on. our present infrastructure and processes are not
sustainable. Much of what we do threatens not
Do you care about the damage humans continue only us, but all life on the planet.
to do to the global environment?
- Industry pollutes with enduring toxins that not
Do you care about plants and animals having a only kill but alter our DNA.
“natural” habitat free of human interference? - Fission reactors provide power for a few
decades, all the while “threatening” to release a
radioactive cloud, then require future generations
Do you care about the level of resource waste guard against the dismantled parts for perhaps a
committed by current human society? hundred thousand years.

Do you care about the overall quality of life for - We arguably divert one half of the renewable
each living person? resources of the planet to human uses.
- We use non-renewable resources in manners
We need to set aside the rigid mindset that that destroy them.
separates and sees our infrastructure as distinct - The apparent abundance from hybrid crops is
aspects of biological, structures and other dependent on non-renewable resources and
engineering, and information and intellect. It all energy exponentially higher than the energy
needs to work together with minimal loss of within the food.
energy in such transformations as are necessary.
- The farming and food infrastructure depletes
There are many treatises with theories on how the groundwater, mineral, and biological base
many people could live on the Earth based on essential for soil to grow healthy natural food.
some minimum life support per person. I1 - Easy to mine metals and mineral resources are
propose though we ask also, what is the already "on the table".
minimum for new healthy generations, - The economy of many nations is based not on
actual capability and production of the nation,
1
This treatise and the related appendices and but on borrowing and inflation of currency.
tabs represent the opinions and observations of
the author, with full credit to the work of all Close your eyes for a moment, and imagine you
others referenced. Thanks is given to all who are traveling on a multi-generation spacecraft,
provided input, and further factual critique is powered by energy radiated from a fusion
welcome. reactor.

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You have only the biological diversity and We can calculate the area required for solar
resources put on board by the builders. Awhile energy to grow industrial materials and fuel, and
back people found accumulations of long-stored the tradeoff in food area. We have calculated
complex molecular feedstock that work as that we are already diverting to human use one-
convenient fuel, and can help certain crops grow half of the productive life of the Earth. When
more abundant. The burning strains the air you have estimated some basic footprint area per
recycling system, but people love the extra food, person, multiplying by 6 billion provides a
products and services it allows. sobering comparison to the available renewable
resources of the Earth.
The dramatic but obviously temporarily increase
in the growth of food is met by expanded The concept of determining the "footprint", or
numbers until even these sources are strained, area of naturally recycled resources required to
and continue to increase the population even in provide for the uses of a person, city, nation, or
the face of facts that the food surplus cannot last the global population shows that in almost every
the natural lifespan of the present population. defined area whether political or physical, we are
beyond a sustainable population2. Eliminate all
It's where we are today. human resource use that is not "life-support" for
a fixed population, and you still find
For the moment, our farms still grow sufficient sustainability is at best questionable. The
food to feed everyone. But each new belly to present infrastructure is producing food beyond
fill, and each gallon of fertilizer and pesticide that which is calculable for the sustainable input.
used, moves us closer to “peak food”. From that In general, it would take several additional
point on, the food infrastructure becomes less planets to provide for humanities present
and less productive. Without reliable food, such resource use rate.
veneer of civilization as holds back the "Four
Horsemen of the Apocalypse" could easily How is this possible? How are we providing for
crumble. 6+ billion people? Our infrastructure is
dependent on the non-renewable withdrawal of
The world may appear large, but it is finite. We the energy valued stored in fossil fuels. The
can calculate the available land, water, and other timeframe when the first non-renewable yet
resources, and even our day to day allowance of essential input fails to meet demand is the
incoming solar energy. We know the minimum lifespan of our present civilized infrastructure.
calorie energy and nutrition required per person,
and can calculate the area to grow food based on Since the fossil fuel era really began, the global
plant selection and growing conditions. human population has increased six fold, now
standing at more than six billion. We have a
We are facing not any government created deadline and the clock is ticking. Business as
arbitrary currency or policy limit to human usual is suicide. But those who see the problem
achievement, but the factors of physical and speak of it are maligned. Nevertheless those
resources, and centrally available energy. With who can be awoken must be. To make the best
enough energy, resources can be reworked. decisions and implement the best courses of
Without it we may leave much of the Earth a action we need the best minds at work. It will
high-tech desert. take time and significant effort to implement
change.

2
For those who have suffered thru a review of
earlier versions of these written babblings, thank
you for the feedback. Everything remains a
"work in progress", and if anyone has an interest
in this "Sustainable Civilization" or any of the
appendices, just send an email request to:
unno_2002@yahoo.com

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U.S. ECONOMIC ILLUSION on the demographics of the population, resource
changes, technological development, etc.
The admitted U.S. government debt as of
September 2007 was $8.965 trillion, and rising. Even if there was unlimited and free fossil fuel
This number represents recognized debt, such as to provide the energy to operate the economy,
Treasury Bills, Savings Bonds, etc. Every year there is no apparent way that the U.S. could
the amount is growing. But this huge number is actually pay this debt in real value. The only
just the tip of the iceberg. apparent "out" for the government is inflation.
This creation of money out of thin air
In 2004 the trustees of Social Security and DESTROYS the value of existing money.
Medicare projected the current costs of promised
payments to be around $74 trillion. Every year, There are nations that actually spend less then
the promises continue to grow, as does the "on tax revenues. Of all the nations on the planet,
the books" debt. Starting in 2008, the beginnings the U.S. is THE WORST in deficit spending. We
of the post WWII "baby boom" become eligible annually go into debt more than every other
for their early Social Security payments. If/when nation on the face of the planet combined.
these people, (who are among the highest tax
paying workers) retire, federal tax income Denying the situation, and actively making it
slumps, even as the promised payments balloon. worse, seems insane, unless you realize our
politicians, and our news media, are fully aware
The federal government does not have the assets of the situation, and the fact there is no sane way
to make existing promised payments with out. Stop the overspending, and the economy
“money” of real value, and politicians have no crashes now. Announce the promises won't be
problem adding to the lies with further promised paid, and there is political fallout, and the
of money and benefits. economy crashes now. Keep churning out the
promises, and MAYBE your term4 will end
The government CANNOT provide guaranteed quietly, and someone else will have to account
financial security. The government does not for the disaster.
operate any for-profit business; it operates only
by taking money from those who actually create It's the same with the "peak oil"2 situation.
profits, or by appearing to create "money" by Those who run government and businesses
inflating the currency, essentially stealing from appear determined to run full speed for as long
anyone who holds the currency of the nation. as possible. They have been advised repeatedly
of the problems we face. The rational conclusion
Remember, unlike a barter currency denominated is they do not see any solution from the top
in gold, grain, jugs of wine, or kilowatt hour of down.
electricity, there is no inherent recognizable
trade-good value to the U.S. dollar. The dollar SUSTAINABILITY AS A CONCEPT
only has value for so long as people believe 3 it
has. Although the dollar is used in trade between A Sustainable Civilization is one where the
two willing parties, never forget that there is the needs of the present can be met without
third party of the government constantly compromising the ability of future generations to
manipulating the value of the dollar. meet their own needs. It is one where there are
feedback loops, physical and mental, personal,
The economy, ANY economy, goes thru natural family, and societal which keep in check
cycles of expansion and contraction, depending population growth and resource use. It is one
where resources, physical and energy are
3
The basis of confidence in the U.S. dollar is the “banked” as a safety net, and to allow
global influence of a robust economy of the concentrated large expenditures for improvement
United States, and the influence of our projects.
international policies, including military
4
interventions. Without these, global confidence For an expanded review of economics, and
in the dollar would wane, and its value could addressing it in your personal affairs, see the
disappear. Estate and Financial Planning appendix.

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Can you think of any problem in any
area of human endeavor, on any scale, "In our every deliberation, we must
from microscopic to global, whose long- consider the impact of our decisions on
term solution is in any demonstrable the next seven generations"
way aided, assistd, or advanced by
further increases in population, locally, - From the Great Law of the Iroquois
nationally, or globally? Nation
- Professor A.A. Bartlett
If we consider the range of child bearing years to
The time required for a society to make a be between the ages of 16 to 40, seven
planned transition to sustainability on its own generations is somewhere between 96 and 280
terms, so it can live within the carrying capacity years.
of its ecosystem, increases with increases in
What are the effects of your decisions and
i ) the size of its population actions on each of the next seven generations?
What argument do you document for history if
ii ) the rate of growth of its population your resources use is destructive and lessens the
options of a future generation?
iii ) the society's average per-capita rate of
consumption of new resources. How much of infrastructure of present-day
civilization has been in place for 200 or more
Unlike plagues of the dark ages or years, can be powered or provide for, or
contemporary diseases we do not otherwise be useful 200 years or more from
understand, the modern plague of now?
overpopulation is soluble by means we
have discovered and with resources we Fossils as old as half a million years show
posses. What is lacking is not sufficient essentially physically present day human
knowledge of the solution but universal remains. Will humans, and human civilization,
consciousness of the gravity of the still be here in another half million years?
problem and education of the billions
who are its victim. Despite stories of places such as Atlantis, the
-Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929-1968 archeological record appears to show that as of
the end of the last ice age human civilization was
still at the hunter-gatherer level, with perhaps a
total population of 37 million people. We have
Sustainable civilization is not about integrating
destroyed a great deal of the wilderness, and if
humanity into natural ecosystems. What we
we lose civilization and fall again to such a level,
need to do regarding such of the natural world as
we can expect the sustainable population of
remains, is to leave it alone.
humans to be significantly less than this.
Sustainable civilization is about the human In his work Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared
community as a distinct ecology. Diamond shows that it was their physical
environment, in particular crops and animals
The word sustainable implies the ability to readily domesticated, rather than a biological
continue for an indefinite period. We should be difference in peoples which lead to the
considering the period in which we hope humans significant differences in development.
will inhabit the Earth, at least several thousand
years or until we develop interstellar travel and For a brief period, withdrawal from the energy
can truly go elsewhere. account represented by oil has permitted humans
to live in places, numbers, and manners that are
To put sustainable into an easier to comprehend otherwise not possible. We now face the real
timeframe consider, as did earlier occupants of potential for collapse of civilization on a global
this country, seven generations.

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scale, with much of the natural ecology already destructive use of a non-renewable resource.
gone, and the remaining already overtaxed. (Our whole civilization suffers this insanity.)

If we lose civilization, there is no known bank of


energy to power rebuilding and continue to HIDDEN RESOURCE DEPENDENCE
provide for a large population. We must FOSSIL ENERGY EMBEDDED IN FOOD
understand the meaning and consequences of our
demand and use of the resources of the world, In peak oil discussions it is frequently presented
what we can, and cannot do. that food production using hybrid / green
revolution crops requires 10 calories3 of input (in
RESOURCE USE CONSIDERED the form of pesticides and fertilizers) for every
calorie of food produced. The Columbia
For all practical purposes, resources can be University "Vertical Farm" project raises this
considered as renewable, or finite. Our resource estimate to 20:1. (Transportation or cooking of
use can also been seen as destructive or reusable. the food NOT included in this estimate.) What
does this translate to in real world terms?
Renewable resources (i.e. air, water, food, solar
energy) cannot sustainably be used at a rate In general, a human needs 2000 calories of
greater than renewal. Renewable resources can energy per day. Although they are normally
arguably be used to some extent in a spelled the same, a food calorie is in fact 1,000
"destructive" manner, such as boiling away "heat" calories. Posit therefore that a gallon of
water, or burning wood, where natural processes, gasoline contains 144,000 BTU, which equals
or human technology such as a steam condenser around 36,000 food calories. If the peak oil
can bring the resource back to a useful form. commentators are right then to produce 2,000
calories of food requires5 the use of 20,000
Finite resources such as oil can "renewably" be calories of oil. (55% of a gallon)
used in non-destructive manners, such as
feedstock for plastics or lubricants. But when For a projected U.S. population of 300 million,
these are destructively (i.e. burned) used for all annually it is around 60 BILLION gallons, or
practical purposes the resource is gone. between 15% and 20% of U.S. annual fossil fuel
use as oil. At $2.92 per gallon almost $178
Groundwater is a prime renewable resource BILLION in oil just to produce our food.
example. Groundwater is in essence a big, leaky
rainbarrel. When it is pumped out faster than it is As an example, if you eat commercially
being refilled, the water table drops. Some produced food6, you daily meals represent a
groundwater is “fossil water”, in place since the dependency4 on oil equal to a 30 mpg vehicle
last, or previous ice-age melt. Once used, it is driving 16 miles.
gone forever, for all practical human purposes.
Absent this un-sustainable input, the food
We drawn down our “bank account” of fossil production miracle of the green revolution crops,
fuels to propel our vehicles, and turn our in use worldwide, and upon which the majority
generators. At some point, potentially much of the 6+ billion population depends, ends.
sooner than we like, any need for these trips, and
our electrical power, will have to be met by FRAMING THE PICTURE
another means:
5
Please note, all energy transformation
- A renewable fuel calculations presented in this treatise are
- A non fuel burning transport “rough”, and do not take into account energy loss
- Relocate daily needs within walking distance in the transformations. Your real world mileage
- Power from other sources, reduced or may vary.
eliminated demand 6
Please note, if you are manually gardening at
home, fertilizing with such as humanure, your
No aspect of civilization that must be sustained scraps, etc., your food should essentially be
indefinitely could rationally be based on the carbon-neutral.

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where the need is known to be long-term and far
The focus of this treatise is not intended to be on outlasting the finite resource.
fossil fuel use, but we must acknowledge our
present infrastructure is essentially dependent on The fossil energy embedded in food shows that
energy from consumption of cheap, abundant oil. the peak in oil availability is a concern not only
for those who drive a huge SUV, but everyone
When humanity started its 100+ year oil party dependent on green-revolution crops. This
most of the 1 billion or so individuals lived scientific miracle, feeding an expanding
primarily in small, essentially self-sufficient population, has been a spiraling short-sighted
communities. mistake. We do not need to reach the point
where we are “out” of oil, for significant
Like spendthrift heirs, we have squandered most problems to arise.
of the incredible resource oil represented not in
long term improvements, but on devices, uses, Whether you are picking garden plants, planning
and life support for an expanding population, for your healthcare, deciding on your vote for
which demands ever-faster destruction of the propositions or politicians, LOOK TO THE
remaining stored energy. LONG TERM, or if not acknowledge you don't
care about your children's future.
Nations such as the United States, with a per
person energy and resource use that is probably Essentially the entire global socio-economic-
greater than that of any other definable group on industrial system, all of the jobs, and the
the planet, rightfully deserve the "blame" of their government tax revenue dependent on such,
increased throughput. But there is more to the evolved and developed under a paradigm of
story. continued growth in population, expanding food
supply, and in particular expanding energy
To those who consider the concept of long term supplies. As fossil fuels are depleted, this all
sustainability, the challenges of the coming stops.
"peak oil", and the realization of how dependent
we are on the destruction of non-renewable All of the fossil fuel powered machines, stop.
resources…
All of the crops dependent on fossil fuel derived
You have the choice offered by Morpheus, in pesticides and fertilizers, stop.
"The Matrix":
The businesses, and tax revenues, stop.
Take the blue pill, wake up and believe whatever
you like, or: The government programs, stop.

Take the red pill, but "… you may not like how The federal government will have difficulty
deep the rabbit hole goes…" keeping national defense in operation, let alone
having any useful funding for anything else.
To achieve sustainability is going to present large Yes, the federal government can pay out any
challenges, and you may not like what is amount it likes:
necessary. But first and foremost, think.
It can print money.
"Sustainability" must become part of every
decision. It's not that driving a gas-guzzling It can go into debt:
vehicle is "wrong". It's a waste of a finite
resource, yes, but it's the personal decision of the For money that it eventually, somehow, repays
driver. (not likely), or;

The "problem" comes when the same destruction It can go into debt for money it never intends
of a finite resource is the sole means to provide to repay.
an essential aspect of life, society, or civilization,

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Expanding "money" in these manners7 is a Sometime before exhaustion, as wells dry up, oil
source of inflation. will no longer be cheap, or abundant, and the
present infrastructure will have to be
Expanding demand though, whether per person, progressively shut down.
or in the number of people, is a source of
"actual" price increases. There are those who advocate a position8 that
notwithstanding historical or present use of oil,
Do NOT believe that any federally funded that with technology we can eliminate our
program is "sustainable". dependence on oil, yet continue to operate our
highly fuel dependent economy and
The situation with the government of a state is infrastructure.
further limited. The state cannot print money, it
can only hold a gun to the head of the state And the information on remaining supplies is not
residents and demand a percentage of the value necessarily reliable. In early 2006, Kuwait
the residents have produced. It is the same the announced it had mis-represented its remaining
rest of the way down the government chain. supply of oil to be twice the true amount.

We are entering a new paradigm, which requires In late 2006 Mexico announced that its giant
essentially a steady-state population. Cantrell oil field which at its peak produced
around 730 million barrels per year has fallen to
Life support, clean air, safe water, and nutritious 650 million with progressive decline expected.
food, must again be local. This one field represents 2% of the world
capacity.
Resources and energy must be accumulated, and
used and invested wisely. CO2 & GLOBAL WARMING

The economy, at least whatever aspects you rely Whether you believe the global temperature is
on, must be local. rising, or that human activity is a cause, the CO2
level in the atmosphere is increasing. Glaciers9
If the excesses in production end, so do the and the polar ice caps are melting.
excessive tax revenue that funds growing
programs. Are we going to have a society of free For relevant background, one gallon of gasoline
individuals working together voluntarily, or a weighs about 6.25 pounds. When burned the
complete take over by governments controlling hydrocarbons combine with oxygen from the air.
every aspect of life? Virtually anything in- The result per gallon is exhaust with a CO2
between is an inherent conflict. aspect of 19.3 pounds and around 8 pounds (1
8
If you believe that business as usual can “Winning the Oil Endgame”, Armory B. Lovins
continue, whether for individuals, private sector makes the best presentation this author has
businesses, or the government, ask yourself found. He and his associates at the Rocky
how? Mountain Institute are, compared to this author,
quite optimistic.
9
PEAK OIL Collapse of Greenland Ice Shield –
Consequences, By Dr John James August,
"Peak Oil", which is the point where the wells 2006 - The Greenland glacier ice cover contains
simply cannot be pumped as fast as demand, enough water to raise sea level twenty feet. The
may soon be reached. Some say it already has. ice is melting, and the melted water is seeping to
the anchorage rock to loosen the mass. At some
7
In what has become traditional inflation, the point there is the risk that a mountain of ice will
supply and demand for goods and services flow into the sea. Twenty-one glacial masses are
remains fairly stable, while the money supply is moving seawards eight times faster than ten
increased. This leads to overall price and wage years ago. It would seem we are on the verge of
increases, but little to no net change in spending a major tipping point, if we have not already
decisions. reached it.

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gallon in liquid form) of water vapor, both relatively short period of time. The Greenland
greenhouse gases which would not naturally glaciers contain enough water to raise sea level
have been in the atmosphere. You also get carbon twenty feet, or seven meters.
monoxide and other nasty stuff.
This challenges coastal communities worldwide.
Every gallon of gasoline burned releases CO2 While the fastest slide would allow populations
equal to nine people breathing a full day. (Est. to walk away from the coast, constructed and
at 2.2 pounds of CO2 per person per day.) To food infrastructure would have to be rebuilt on
use plants to remove the CO2, for each gallon of higher ground. The changes on current flow in
gasoline burned you would need to use organic the Atlantic, and weather patterns, can only be
methods to grow around 1/2 acre of lush guessed at. Loss of the weight of the ice could
vegetation, gather it all, and seal it away cause the land mass of Greenland to be pushed
"forever" such that it is never eaten or rotted10. up, leading to seismic events and further
distortion of the land/sea area ratio. A US Navy
If the peak oil and fossil fuel depletion folks are survey suggests that Arctic polar ice will be gone
anywhere near right, within a decade rising by 2016. What are your thoughts and plans if this
demand (i.e. China at around 14% per year) and means the Greenland ice melts around the same
falling supply (i.e. the losses in the Cantrell field timeframe?
in Mexico) WILL, absent a scientific miracle,
prompt a return to "King Coal" and the Whether voluntarily now, or from exhaustion a
associated greater pollution, and the short term few more polluted decades from now, the central
benefit (long term danger) of fission reactors. theme is the end of the fossil fuel era, and all of
This allows a short-term continuation of the infrastructure and aspects of civilization that are
status quo, followed by collapse if we've not dependent on such.
used the time and resources to shift to a
sustainable infrastructure and balanced ARE YOU PREPARED11?
population.
CONSERVATION
If the global warming sentinels such as Vice
President Gore are correct5, if we continue fossil Minor conservation efforts such as driving a
fuel use, our "best case6" scenario could be the hybrid (the author drives a Prius) may reduce
global warming presented in his book and movie your personal costs and allow you to divert the
"An Inconvenient Truth", with the same need for savings for greater personal changes, but they
a sustainable infrastructure and balanced have virtually NO significance in the overall
population, but with an ecosphere more polluted picture.
and with lessened life-support capability.
The oil I don't burn is bought and used by
Making even morning television news in 2007 is someone else, perhaps as farm chemicals.
the melting of the Greenland7 ice cover. Virtually nothing we do today has any meaning
Observations are that as it melts it develops if your goal is our children living as adults in a
crevices, tunnels and faults through which the world still powered by oil.
melted water seeps to the buried surface, making
a slick between the glaciers and the rock holding
it up. This scenario potentially allows, when the
applicable “tipping point” is reached, for the 11
mountain of ice to slide toward the sea in a WHAT TO DO - Get in control of your own
life. Wake up and involve family and friends.
10
The author heard a presentation by a lawn-care Act as if the fertilizer has already hit the fan.
firm that growing a lush lawn was good for the Take steps to eliminate your dependency on un-
environment – removing CO2 – that was then sustainable factors. Gather knowledge and
good for creating compost. The presenter did not skills. Stop unnecessary spending, but invest in
get, or refused to admit, that as the grass goods to protect your family and their health,
composted, the CO2 was re-released to the food, water, safe living space, and defense.
atmosphere.

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In a manner of speaking, we are living in a destroys in a comparative blink of the eye.. In
theme park, what we experience as our life the manner we use much of it, we destroy other
support infrastructure is no more real for the aspects of the environment. Burning it for
long-term than the experiences of an amusement energy is silly, but at least when we are forced to
park visit. No fossil fuel use is sustainable. No stop, the impact is not directly life threatening.
function based on such is sustainable. No Perhaps our greatest insanity is our use of fossil
economy based on fossil fuels is sustainable. No fuels as fertilizer, pesticides, and powering
government program based on the economy of a machines to greatly expand food production, and
fossil fueled society is sustainable. the population that has grown far beyond levels
that can be sustained in an environmentally
Conservation does not remove the conundrum of favorable manner on renewable resources.
embedded fossil fuels in our food, without which
the industrial food infrastructure that feeds the POPULATION STABILITY
present population fails. CENTRAL SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

In the big picture, we need to end all dependence The problem with peak oil is not gas guzzling
on non-sustainable factors, STARTING with SUVs, diesels or two stroke engines spewing
fossil fuels. As an example, if this country gets fumes, or the energy embedded in our food.
cut-off from foreign oil, in a matter of weeks
virtually everything we see and experience as It's what we can do, what we have, and what can
modern society will shut down. Is your personal be sustained absent non-renewable resources. To
"life support" and "security" arrangements ready those newly arrived to the concept of peak oil,
for this? and the realization of how dependent we are on
the destruction of non-renewable resources…
No conservation measure for oil is going to make
anything "better" unless it is linked to a program There are8 roughly as many humans alive now as
to end our addiction in the time the conservation existed cumulatively throughout all of recorded
programs allows. Absent such a link, history prior to the industrial revolution. That
conservation that merely provides "more of the means that a large proportion of all the geniuses -
same" prompts a larger and more dependent and monsters - who have ever lived are alive
population, and portends a greater "hangover" to today. Most of the modern infrastructure has
our oil party. been constructed in a single lifetime, and was not
designed or engineered to last.
Unless you are, as Heinberg comments, "Waiting
for the magic elixir", your children need to In the big picture, the world is NOT going to
understand the scope of the situation and know sustain 6+ billion people absent the green
how to obtain the essentials of life in a revolution crops (dependent on fossil fuel
sustainable manner, and how to avoid the worst derived fertilizers and pesticides), the engines
of the collapse that he and other peak oil and machines that pump the groundwater
advocates present. (beyond renewal rate), plow the fields, process
the food, etc.
Even if global population was in decline,
draconian conservation methods may not allow No matter how bad we may think things could
for remaining fossil fuel use to continue long become, we must keep our heads, and teach our
enough for global population to lower to children to do the same. Hopefully, we will not
sustainable levels. The transition period to a reach a point where our government intrudes on
post-oil paradigm promises to be an unpleasant, family decisions. But short of affirmative limits
dangerous time, during which individual survival being imposed, we can at least "lobby" for
may be difficult, and with a significant risk that elimination of misguided incentive to expansion.
civilization itself may be lost.
Communities9 can slow their population
Fossil fuels represent an essentially growth by removing the many visible and
nonrenewable resource of untold millions of hidden public subsidies that support and
year’s accumulation of energy, which our use

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encourage growth. The Tragedy of the U.S. use), with 72% of such being in the form of
Commons (Hardin 1968) makes it clear jet fuel. The 2006 “Annual Energy Management
that there will always be large opposition Report” indicated the Pentagon used
to programs of making population growth 116,800,000 barrels of petroleum, which is 1.1%
pay for itself... Those who profit from of U.S. annual use.
growth will use their considerable
resources to convince the community that If we just had to keep our military machines in
the community should pay the costs of operation, our (2006) remaining internal supplies
growth. In our communities, making could meet current military fuel needs for well
growth pay for itself could be a major tool over 100 years, but the supplies CANNOT
to use in stopping the population growth... operate any significant portion of the economy,
including weapons construction, or even current
But if you have done the right thing and turned food.
your community into a permaculture paradise,
there is still the question of how to you prevent DOE indicates the U.S. only pumps 8% of our
your community from being overrun? own use. Emergency measures might increase
the pumping rate significantly, but it is doubtful
SCOPE OF THE OIL SITUATION it could even reach 50% of present use.
UNITED STATES EXAMPLED
U.S. TIMELINE - WORST CASE
For the moment the U.S. is the largest single
nation oil consumer, with the highest average per Posit that there is a 10 day supply of oil and fuels
person oil use. Let's look at the basic oil facts "in the pipeline" at any given time. Oil
for the United States to try and start to put the production (pumping rate) in the U.S. passed
situation in perspective. peak production in the early 1970’s, and has
been in decline since then. If the U.S. gets cut
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) off from foreign fuel supplies, in 10 days the
estimates that in 2004 the continental U.S. commercial supply drops to about 8% of
remaining traditional oil supply was somewhat expected demand. With a slow decline we might
less than 22 billion barrels (BBL). The widely have something like that for perhaps 20 years
debated (whether to drill or not) Alaskan final exhaustion.
wilderness fields represent probably another 10
BBL. DOE also estimates that U.S. 2004 use Food alone may represent 20%+ of the U.S.
was 7.5 BBL (elsewhere estimated at 10 annual use. In a United States cut off from
BBL/Year). Where do you imagine12 we could foreign oil, using present industrial farming, we
possibly get annual energy income from might be able to feed 40% of the current
renewable resources equal to the fuel equivalent population, which would preclude any internal
of 10 billion barrels of oil? use of oil to expand domestic production, or
rework infrastructure for a solar economy. The
The remaining domestic fossil fuel bank account U.S. is reported to have 4% of the remaining
represents less than 3 years of present demand, global supply. This puts the global supply at
but of course the remaining wells CANNOT be around 800 BBL.
pumped fast enough to meet that demand. U.S.
defense use is (2005) was estimated at around We need to act to eliminate this dependency
123 million barrels per year (1% to 2% of total before an emergency is upon us.
12
To example, an estimate of the best wood GLOBAL DEPLETION
yield is 2 cord per acre per year, or 40,960,000
BTU per acre per year. 10 billion barrels of oil is Recent (2004) global oil use approached 30
60,480 trillion BTU, essentially equal to the billion barrels (BBL) per year. 800/30 = 26
annual firewood growth of 2.3 million square years (2030). Using more optimistic estimates of
miles, or an area just over 1,500 miles on a side remaining useable supply, at recent consumption
clear-cut each year. rates global oil supplies still may be exhausted

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before 2040. Even if you completely eliminated would it be if it were already pumped out, and
the U.S., the time for global depletion is only divided equally among everyone on the planet?
delayed by around 30%.
Your personal "best case" share, upon which you
But of course, demand is not stable. In fact it are betting the future of your children,
rises every year. Perhaps the most significant grandchildren,, etc. would be around 7,600
factor is the expanding use in China. In 2004 gallons. Do you want your future dependent on
China burned around 2.4 BBL, or about 8% of the quantity of oil that fills an above ground
the annual global use. This was a 14% increase swimming pool 5' deep and 16' in diameter?
from 2003.
BIG PICTURE
If every other nation on the Earth held their use BEST CASE TIMELINE
to 2004 levels, and China increased yearly at
their recent rates, depletion would occur around The known available & remaining "fossil"
2024. But long before depletion, we encounter alternatives, if energy is not used at any rate
the challenge of demand exceeding pumping greater than 2005, put humanity in a timeframe
rate. that is essentially:
FOSSIL FUEL VALUE IN PERSPECTIVE 2030 - Pick you own year for effective
depletion of traditional oil.
When demand exceeds possible supply, expect +5 - Time gained from tar sands
prices to rise. A price / work comparison of oil +22 - Time gained from shale oil
in terms of human labor, perhaps pointless, but +20 - Time gained from coal to oil
nevertheless presented: A human can work at +30 - Time gained from easy uranium
around 75 watt per hour (256 BTU). In the U.S., 2107 - Most optimistic “fossil” options end
minimum wage is something like $5.25 per hour.
A gallon of fuel may be able to do 144,000 BTU The author believes the above timeline is far too
of work, or around 562 hours of human labor. optimistic, but it can at least be argued using
known data, and assuming no increase in
At the U.S. minimum wage each gallon is doing demand, no increase in population, and global
the "work" of over $3,000 worth of human labor. peace is enforced. At the end of course, the
Oil has annually provided in recent years energy population must somehow plummet.
to power civilization that is roughly equal to the
dedicated labor of 250 billion slaves, who do not 2006 - Global population around 6.6 Billion.
have to be feed, provided clothing, shelter,
medical care, days off, etc. It can be argued that a sustainable global
population can not exceed 1.2 billion, essentially
Conversely, one hour of human labor (75 what it was before the oil party started.
watthour) not enhanced by a need for a Population demographics10 are such that if a one
functioning mind, is worth the same as about child per couple guideline was rigorously
3/10 of one ounce of gasoline. At say $3.00 per followed, we might expect natural attrition to
gallon, one hour of such mindless human labor lower the population to 1.2 billion by 2087.
would be worth just over ½ cent. In electrical The real-world situation of course is that overall
terms at 8 cents per kwh a hour of mindless the population continues to grow. Despite the
human labor is “worth” 6/10 cent. "bad press" absent immigration and pro-
population growth government programs, the
There may be up to 1,200 billion barrels of oil population in the United States would be stable
left that can be usefully obtained. 1,200 billion or maybe in a slow decline, EXACTLY WHAT
barrels of oil is difficult to envision, but at this IS REQUIRED.
time it is what the infrastructure of present day
civilization is dependent upon. To put this "best In contract China requires a new city the size of
case" quantify of oil in perspective, how much Philadelphia EVERY 30 DAYS.

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ELIMINATE FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENCY numbers of each member of the system. Despite
our relative isolation in homes, and cities,
Whether to avoid global warming, or due to humans must nevertheless be seen as PART of an
effective depletion of fossil fuels, we will be ecosystem.
forced to stop burning such. Look at what
DOES NOT work without fossil fuels, or the We need to recycle biomaterials, grow a diverse
ongoing input of fossil fuel derived molecules mix of crops in a multitude of micro
(such as pesticides and fertilizers), and start your environments, with hand cultivation to minimize
own steps toward sustainability. The present soil disruption, with an aim to establishing a
global civilization evolved in a paradigm of stable ecosystem.
continued growth in population and energy use,
neither of which is logically sustainable. We Where are YOU going?
need to look at what is needed for a sustainable
civilization, starting our picture from the grass We can ignore depletion, and continue as we are,
roots up. have good times until the fossil fuel era ends,
and face whatever disaster is presented.
If you want to influence a country’s
intellectual trend, the first step is to bring We can personally conserve, but if we do not
order to your own ideas and integrate them build for the post oil paradigm, we miss out on
into a consistent case, to the best of your the good times until the fossil fuel era ends, and
knowledge and ability. Required is face whatever disaster is presented.
honesty, knowing what you do not know,
constantly expanding your knowledge, and We can personally conserve, and use "excess"
NEVER evading or failing to correct a resources to take advantage of the remaining
contradiction. This means development of time, cheap energy and materials, to step past the
an active mind as a permanent attribute. collapse, into the post-oil paradigm. For the
-Ayn Rand present, it is still possible to "click", or make a
phone call, and have services or supplies
PREPARATION delivered. After the crash becomes widely
apparent, it will probably be too late for
The more people who are aware and prepared in individuals to afford significant preparations.
any emergency situation, the better the
opportunity to reduce the overall impact and When do you need to act? Back in January
panic. Startled and frightened and/or angered 2004, Professor Kenneth S. Deffeyes, of
and vengeful individuals will not be thinking Princeton University, jokingly predicted we
clearly and acting rationally. would reach the half-way point for the remaining
oil supply on November 24, 2005 (Thanksgiving
The problem is not availability of information Day). Using best available data, after the fact he
but a refusal to see it. Not an overall lack of has corrected himself. He calculates that we
mental ability, but a refusal to think. passed the half-way point on December 16,
2005.
Each of us must shortly choose a new path, or
we will be forced into one. Do you want to We need to effectively and efficiently network
survive? Do you know what it takes to sustain and focus our distributed capabilities and
yourself in a limited resource environment? A resources to maximize all of our transition to a
little knowledge, and a lot of enthusiasm, can go sustainable paradigm.
a long way.
In the collapse of previous complex societies,
Photosynthesizers are the basic energy source for when they were geographically isolated,
any ecosystem, which is a complex web of living individuals survived by dispersing into the
and non-living factors. These webs are not wilderness, and foraging. There was however,
fixed, like parts of a machine, but the do always "civilization" elsewhere on the Earth.
eventually develop relative stable ranges of The collapse we face will essentially occur
simultaneously worldwide.

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Even if I dialed 911, and an ambulance was
There is not sufficient "wilderness" left between dispatched immediately, the coyotes could be
complex centers in which the present population munching on my remains long before an
could disperse. Clive Ponting, in "A Green ambulance could travel the nearly 30 miles of
History of the World" writes that a human paved road, then 6 miles of winding dirt to my
population of around four million, achieved location.
about 10,000 years ago, may be the maximum
supportable by a hunter gatherer society, and that Survivalist bunkers13, or disbursing the
in the abundant wild of the time. population precludes the interaction among
people essential to maintain specialized technical
By around 1800, the limits of local, self- skills and knowledge.
sufficient agriculture and fertile land were
essentially reached, with a global population of Hiding may still be the best survival step, but in
less than 1 billion. Since that time, we have the bigger picture, it's a dead end14. We needed a
used, and abandoned many marginal farming different, and hopefully better "Plan A" than an
areas, and in our chemical applications and one- isolated bunker.
way nutrient flow denigrated what might have
otherwise been fertile fields. Even if there is some well hidden "Galt's Gulch"
retreat for the wealthy and powerful, there are
In that a hunter-forager lifestyle, or even a return limits as to what can be achieved in a small
to animal powered and manured agriculture community. Giver the highly interactive nature
requires a GREATER area per person, they of current civilization, the physical limits are not
appears to be a guaranteed method to a large however immediately self-evident.
population dieoff, and perhaps a death-knell for
the remaining wilderness. Even basic information on physical needs was
not readily available in a manner relevant to
EPIPHANY - SURVIVALISM building or reworking for sustainable
IS DEAD END THINKING community. Survival is an inherent aspect of
ongoing life, but this treatise is not "survivalist"
My initial reaction nearly a decade ago to in nature.
awakening to more detail of our oil dependency
was survivalist, with plans for a remote retreat. PRESERVE A STABLE FOUNDATION
We purchased a little over 40 acres of remote
desert land, and started putting in the necessary
support for a remote homestead, essentially a
13
survivalist retreat. It had been part of a cattle Survivalist bunkers may nevertheless become
ranch, and came with and old windmill, water necessary, as those who claim authority over
tanks, fencing, etc. as part of the old operation. your life and property instigate escalating
conflict. Such may be covered in potential
The area received more than 12" of rainfall per appendixes such as defense.
year, and had plenty of underground water not 14
For those who MUST have some survivalist
very deep. It also had plenty of mesquite trees, data, shield materials for gamma rays are
cactus, jackrabbits, coyote and snakes. From our expressed in terms of the thickness necessary to
highest hill, I could see the three plus miles to reduce the radiation intensity by one half the
the nearest paved surface. In effect, I has hoping initial value. For a rule of thumb, 10 halving
that I could run and hide, hoping that someone thicknesses should be planned for.
else would "do something" to take care of the
problem. Lead - 1 cm (0.4 inches)
Concrete - 6 cm (2 1/2 inches)
On a summer afternoon I was there alone Packed Dirt - 9 cm (3 1/2 inches)
investigating the property. Climbing one of our Steel - 2 cm
hills, at the top, my chest hurt. I reached for the Water - 12 cm
cell phone to call for help, and had my epiphany. Wood - 22 cm

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If you start immediately, while resources are still a smaller population, or we can individually look
abundant, you may be able to create security for to the battles of “last man standing”.
self, family, and community during the crash.
Hopefully you can initiate or associate with a Beyond reducing resource demands, we can
community structured to function in the new individually, and in expanding groups, re-work
paradigm. It will be upon those who survive, our own lives to eliminate our dependency on
with knowledge, skills, and abilities intact, who non-renewable resources.
are well fed, with excess resources, to create a
positive future for humanity, if there is to be one. COPING WITH AWAKENING

THE NEAR FUTURE We sincerely appear to be approaching a


crossroad, where we will have to choose between
Heinberg presents in his book Powerdown business as usual, leading to a collapse of
essentially four positions regarding peak oil. civilization, and voluntarily changing our
Last man standing, waiting for the magic elixir, infrastructure and lifestyle to one that provides
powerdown, and building lifeboats. for continued and sustainable development.

Governments by their nature tend toward the use Perhaps we should apply Dr. Kubler-Ross' 5
of force to take what is wanted. It is probable stages of grief, to humanities present global
that to AVOID a world at war, a collection of situation.
powers, probably “lead” by the U.S., must act as
global policemen to enforce a policy that nations The first stage is denial. "There's plenty of
will not fight over resources. It could mean oil"… or food… or water… or room on the
maintaining military forces in oil areas for the planet…
duration of mankind’s dependency on oil.

There are those who are confident that new Next comes anger or resentment. "Who did
technological developments will make oil this!" or "We've been set up!".
irrelevant, indeed, that oil companies have
suppressed such developments. The conspiracy The third stage is bargaining. "If I can just make
theorists may be right. We may indeed leapfrog it to retirement", or "…get the kids thru college",
the currently touted "hydrogen economy" into or "If we impose taxes… or rationing… we
"STAR TREK" technology. can…" delay the obvious outcome, and sooth
ourselves by not having to think about it now.
While I do not expect this leap in our immediate
future, I acknowledge there is potentially much The fourth stage is depression. A population
science for us yet to learn, IF we can maintain sustainable absent non-renewable input and the
functioning civilization, and act intelligently. A present infrastructure is MUCH smaller than
joke, which I've seen attributed to Iassic Asimov, alive today, no visible program of conservation
is that perhaps supernova stars are not natural allows supplies to be stretched to match any
events after all, but rather alien civilizations who "natural" population reduction, and extensive
have an "industrial accident" with a zero point conservation would cause economic collapse of
energy device. the infrastructure. There is no apparent "safe"
landing for most of the planet.
Even if there is no explosive potential, each such
device is a new source of surface heat. Imagine Finally comes acceptance. You can't save the
the effect of billions or trillions of them in world. In terms of current human society, it may
operation. But until these devices are clearly not be worth saving. You may not be among the
demonstrated, we must act within available small percent with the personal knowledge,
known technology, products and knowledge. skills, and ambition to save yourself and your
family. Any effort may be futile, but do you
We can voluntarily reduce our resource demands, elect to do nothing, or calmly analyze what is
both in per person demand, and working toward needed for the future after the crash, and where

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to invest your energy now for the best return in 1. Accept that oil, and other fossil fuels are a
your future living conditions? finite resource. Accept they are, and will
continue to be burned. Not only can't you stop it,
If you are looking for someone to be the pioneer our infrastructure is so dependent that stopping
for positive change, look in the mirror and the burning and other fossil fuel uses could
realize that some must be those who wake up. trigger the crash of civilization.
Envisioning a high tech, complex civilization
from the top down is an incredible challenge. So 2. Don't feel "guilty" about your personal use of
don't try to. fossil fuels, BUT take prompt steps to lessen and
"ASAP" eliminate your DEPENDENCE on
WHAT TO DO UNTIL THE LAST DROP such. (Including your dependence on the fossil
fueled infrastructure, including food and
In disaster preparedness planning, mitigation earnings to pay debts.)
efforts are those that reduce or eliminate some
aspect of the disaster15 addressed. With proper 3. Select your personal vision of what an oil
preparedness, you can mitigate much of the depletion (and depletion of our other finite
foreseeable personal consequences of resource resources) scenario looks like, and act
depletion (such as peak oil) and demand (per accordingly. If you expect World War III, head
person and standing population) exceeding for the hills, build and stockpile a bunker. If you
possible supply of renewable resources. expect the continued stress of products and
services being priced out of the marketplace due
While our challenges are global in scope, there is to rising cost of depleting resources, plan ahead
no readily apparent big-picture or top-down to live without them and look for alternatives.
solution. Everything from our pollution of the
air & water, unsustainable food systems, 4. Wherever you intend to call home, make it
dependence on “mining” of even fossil water, such that home can be livable without the need
emphasizes that the solutions need to be for constant input of fuel or outside energy. Take
implemented starting at the most basic levels in up the hobby of gardening now. Learn what you
order for the bigger picture to be one of can grow in your area, and get accustomed to a
comprehensive, effective, and lasting solutions, diet from your own crops.
such as are appropriate to the local conditions.
5. The job market, good and services, income
You can complain about the situation, and and therefore tax base are not going to resemble
demand someone else act, or you can take what we see today.
personal initiative and responsibility, get your
own house in order, and serve as an example and 6. What do you need to consider, and to, to
guide to others. You can seed a grass-roots effort create a personal home and local post crash
to redevelop and rebuild your community. community?

The post-Katrina events in New Orleans CIVILIZATION AS A CONCEPT


included expected riots, theft, and assaults. The
complex and expensive infrastructure and Civilization implies a greater range of
controls of the city, and larger governmental knowledge, opportunities, and types of
entities, failed. There were also though instances challenges then is applicable to a family or
of people banding together for protection and village scale association. There is physical
mutual support. You must get beyond coping, security. There is the opportunity to specialize.
and act. There is greater opportunity to express creativity.
There is the opportunity to preserve the
knowledge and creations of the past, and build
15
NOTE: In disaster preparedness, the focus is upon them. Civilization relies not only on the
normally not avoiding the fact of “disaster”, but physical presence of essential physical resources
establishing ways to either reduce the impact of and energy, but on the circular argument of
the disaster on you, or for you to be prepared to confidence in civilization.
deal with the consequences of the disaster.

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Civilizations tend to develop around a A Sustainable Civilization is one where the
centralizing philosophy16. For the long term we needs of the present are met without
need agreed upon law and discipline, an compromising the ability of future generations to
approach to interaction that encourages everyone meet their own needs using the same resources.
involved to plan and act along the lines of
stability and permanence. We need a philosophy It is one where there are feedback loops, physical
that encourages practical and useful physical and mental, personal, family, and societal which
construction well integrated and meant to last. keep in check population growth and encourage
But civilization can be fragile, fractured by building for the future.
irrational fear, loss of hope and vision for the
future, or even by boredom. MASLOW
Civilization tends to bring with it though seeds11
of its own destruction, such as layers of In his hierarchy of needs theory Maslow more
government and organized religion, self eloquently states the logic that gasping,
proclaimed elite, and it tends to decay into mob dehydrated, starving humans are not focused on
rule, or rule by physical force. We see forced esoteric aspects of civilization. Underlying
labor or taxation to fund projects or programs needs must be met first.
that aggrandize the leadership, but provide no
practical improvement. Can we achieve the 1. Physical
benefits of a complex civilization, attained by 2. Safety
mutual respect and voluntary agreement? What 3. Love/Belonging
about resisting those who initiate force? 4. Esteem
5. Actualization
The skill and will to fight, as well as the tools to
do so are essential for preservation17 of 1. Do you have under your control or ownership
civilization. Peaceful, non-technical civilizations the means to meet:
tend to be over-run by those who see it as their
right or duty to initiate force, and by those with - the need to breathe
the technology to overcome such resistance that - the need for water
can be presented. Realistically also, at the - the need to eat
individual level those who abdicate personal - the need to dispose of bodily wastes
responsibility, whether for the basics of life, - the need for sleep
responsibility for their actions, etc., are taking - the need to regulate body temperature
steps toward empowering an oppressive
hierarchy. 2. Safety concerns come to the forefront once
physical needs are met. These include:
16
Religion, politics, philosophy, technology, are
all information, useless unless the individual - Physical Security & Safety from Violence
thinking mind adopts the information as it’s own. - Security of Revenues and Resources
Global humanity starts with the needs of the - Moral and physiological security
individual, and the interaction of individuals. - Familial security
What does a philosophy that respects individual - Security of health
rights look like?
17
WHAT TO DO - You, your family, your 3. Love/Belonging needs. After physical and
safety needs are fulfilled, the social level
community can only really own what you can
involves human emotions and the need to be
hold by force and defend. The only real
accepted and to belong, generally at a level
deterrent to violence the threat of still greater
beyond that of the immediate family.
force, which governments too often seek to strip
from their citizens. Learn self defense skills.
4. Esteem needs. Humans have a need to be
Establish a neighborhood watch. Wake up your
respected, to self-respect and to respect others.
local officials to their status as your employees,
People need to engage themselves in order to
not your masters.
gain recognition and have an activity or activities

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that give the person a sense of contribution and other plants and creatures, each of which
self-value. contributes to the development of a micro
environment, each with natural feedback loops to
5. Self-actualization is the need of a person to monitor and check growth.
make the most of their unique abilities and to
strive to be the best they can be. Imagine the If non-thinking creatures can act in relative
potential of a city of a million self-actualized symbiosis to weave a multi layer, multi purpose,
individuals who: season adaptable physical environment, with
little energy or resources lost, resistant to outside
- Embrace the facts and realities of the world disturbance, can we learn to:
rather than denying or avoiding them.
- Are spontaneous in their ideas and actions. 1. Use waste as a resource.
- Are creative. 2. Diversify and cooperate to fully use the
- Are interested in solving problems. habitat.
- Solving these problems is often a key focus in 3. Gather and use energy efficiently
their lives. 4. Optimize rather than maximize
- Feel a closeness to other people, and generally 5. Use materials sparingly
appreciate life. 6. Don't foul their nests
- Have a system of morality that is fully 7. Don't draw down resources
internalized and independent of external 8. Remain in balance with the biosphere
authority. 9. Run on information
- Judge others without prejudice, in a way that 10. Shop locally
can be termed objective.
Y2K
No one person, or small group, is going to have
all of the skills, knowledge, and opinions we The late 1990's awoke many to potential
need to get to a sustainable community, or even a infrastructure vulnerabilities related to Y2K
definitive place to start. It all starts with an computer problems. We are now in the early
exchange of ideas, success and failure stores, and states of weaknesses showing in the energy
resources. Energy and resource surety at the infrastructure, upon which all other core
community level is essential, but at the present is infrastructures are dependent.
lacking.
Y2K became for the most part a "non-incident"
Our government and private sector institutions due to the pro-active cures put in place prior to
were created and developed in an era of cheap the date-certain "catastrophic" event. While an
energy and continued expansion. This either has, energy crash is not date certain, its existence is
or will shortly end. These institutions, and those certain.
individuals working for, or benefiting from such,
can be expected to balk at the functioning end of The objective reality is that the community must
their empire. become self-reliant at least in all of the essentials
of life for the relevant local population.
BIOMIMICRY
Our sustainability challenge may also have high
In Biomimicry, Janie M. Benyus presents 10 technology, and social components, but if
"Lessons" humans need to learn, not only as physical essential are not met we won't get to
individuals but as a civilization. Nature evolves these.
complex systems, with every niche filled with
life, that are "run" by multiple and overlapping GET A CUP OF COFFEE
feedback loops.
Feedback to earlier versions of this treatise
Consider a blade of grass. A single seed can, included that it does not provide clear guidance
even if surrounded by a hostile environment; self on how to build a particular type of home,
assemble from the bottom up. The blade of grass organize a neighborhood, etc. So, to clarify to
serves as a pioneer and life support system for new readers in advance, this is not a blueprint,

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nor is it a step-by-step set of instructions as to utility provided power, water, gas, phone, cable,
how to put together a homestead, or organize a etc.
community.
Envision the flow of, and benefits derived from
There are many self-help books, and free fossil fuels have ended, as they sometime must.
materials on the web (for now) such that any In the morning, your money will only be
detailed area you might need to investigate for numbers on scraps of paper.
self improvement or self reliance is readily
available. Most of these materials though are on Think creatively.
survivalist, or isolated primitive homesteads, not
addressing the larger picture of avoiding, or Are you safe for the night? Can you provide a
minimizing the collapse of civilization. meal for your family for the following day? For
a week? What about your sewage?
This treatise is intended to present a different
picture than survivalism, or a “back to the land” We need to have appropriate steps taken, and
approach. The author hopes to spark not only changes made, at every level. The human
self reliance in the essentials for personal and infrastructure IS our "natural" ecosystem, most
family safety, but also to inspire networks where of us just don't realize it. The problems we face
warranted, and contemplation of a philosophy of are global in scope. The important life support
“enlightened self interest”. solutions are however local in nature.

I have been asked if/when I might publish a We must be the change we want to see.
guide such as this. The earlier that people wake - Ghandi
up, and the better informed they are, the better
not only for them, but for everyone. The author If you will indulge a personal peeve, while
hopes the ten chapters of this treatise, and the you've got your television "disconnected" from
various appendices, provide all readers a “jump the babble of broadcast or cable, leave it
start” toward making sustainability changes in disconnected. Break the addition to the useless
their lives and communities. This treatise is drawl. Talk with your family and friends. Read
available free on the web. If you cannot find and research. Sit and think.
them, email the author and I will send you the
latest versions. This writing is an accumulation of notes and
thoughts by someone for whom the challenges of
This is intended to get people to think, and for long-term sustainability have been a long term
those new to facing the sobering reality of how concern. Check the facts presented, and my
far from sustainability we are, to present math, and make your own conclusions, and
information so you do not have to research how plans. With hard work, and some luck, we may
to “re-invent the wheel”. This is intended to avoid the worst.
prompt YOU to take your first steps, and wake
up others. If there has been no point to the script
for the rest of your life, hopefully you will find
one.

Tell me, I forget.


Show me, I remember.
Involve me, I understand.
- Ancient Chinese

A thought experiment: The evening before your


next day off, BEFORE the sun sets, make a
steaming thermos of your favorite hot beverage,
and set the thermos outside. Arrange it so you
will wake up with the sunrise. Turn off your

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The paradigm of cheap abundant oil is dying,
as will be the entire infrastructure dependent
on such. Before you encounter this gas
station, you must begin to think and act for the
long term, starting with the basics and working
toward a self-organizing long term sustainable
human ecosystem.

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Sustainable Civilization: From the Grass Roots Up
Chapter I - Your Homestead And Essential Life Support

What are the minimums you need to have a


secure means to put water in your glass, food on
your table, and shelter for your family which are
not dependent on having someone else provide it THINK LONG TERM
for you?
On realization of the scope of our overextended
Most of what is found in a modern home, and the situation, often-repeated early reactions are to
way we live, developed in an era of cheap stock up and hide, or run to the wilderness and
abundant energy and what seemed to be live off the land until things return to normal.
unlimited resources. All of this is ending.
There are many sources for emergency
preparedness planning, lists for “bug out” bag
INTRODUCTION contents, etc. readily available. While these have
application, such short-term planning is not the
It is often indicated that many families live concept of this treatise. In emergency planning
"paycheck to paycheck", meaning any financial the general is assume the worst will happen and
disruption could spell disaster. figure out what you’re going to do and what you
need to do it. The emergency preparedness focus
"They say that every society is only three is preparation for dealing with a situation that
meals away from revolution. Deprive a presents a relatively brief interruption in the
culture of food for three meals, and you'll overall normal paradigm.
have an anarchy."
The “emergency” you must plan for though is
- Rimmer, Red Dwarf making it thru the transition to a different
paradigm18. In investments, consider if you will,
While a quote from a British science fiction - would you sleep better at night being IN a falling
comedy is hardly a definitive argument, if you marketplace, and wishing you were out, or OUT
think about it, it does ring true. After only one of a rising market and wishing you were in?
full day of missed meals, most people are quite Think in terms of the infrastructure of
different than if safe and well-fed. civilization collapsing. Do you sleep better
knowing you and your family can continue on,
For your household, does a loss of income mean even if the infrastructure fails, or if you establish
foregone luxuries, or does it mean you don't eat? a safe self-reliant home, would you fear you
have missed some of the party?
Can you obtain from your home, or within
waling distance the essential "Life Support" for Stupid decisions by those in government can
you and your family? For how long, a day? A destroy ANY investment or “benefit” you may
week? A month? A year? How dependent are
you on what may quickly become a failing 18
A general emergency plan is to be prepared:
infrastructure? Stockpile essential items while the weather is
good, so you’re not stuck racing to the store for
If you must obtain essential life support from bottles of water, food, and batteries at the same
non-owned resources, how do you plan to moment every one else is making the same panic
compensate those you barter with? Are those run. I terms of a permanent sustainability shift in
outside sources realistically large enough to world paradigms, it means eliminating your
provide the same level of subsistence to “dependence” on non-sustainable factors NOW.
everyone else who is within walking distance?

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have that is denominated in currency or as an example, although this book is written on a
dependent on the continued functioning of the computer, if the computer malfunctions, I must
current economy. Absent some physical seek qualified assistance, because I admit I do
government thief though, you energy not understand the electronics or the
independent home, water collection, garden, etc. programming.
kept “below the radar” avoid the need tor earn
and spend for such basic life support. If you There is a scientific minimum for the growing
cannot breathe, get a sip of fresh water, or eat, area for your food, depending on your climate
what does an investment portfolio matter? and crops.
An earth-sheltered home (thermal battery/mass
Civilization such as we perceive as normal heat storage & moderation of temperature
cannot continue. If you run for the hills, extremes) can protect your family from the
intending to be a hunter/gatherer, you will need a extremes of climate without external utility
greater area than if you have a home garden connections. A "green roof" avoids “wasting”
providing your needs, and you will probably the sunlight over your living space.
only have such possessions as you can carry.
Add water collection / storage / recycling, a bio-
You must not only be able to survive the crash, intensive garden, and appropriate technology,
but continue afterward. The future needs and you've set up an appropriate micro-
capable, educated, experienced people who environment, which should be able to continue
survive the crash healthy, well nourished, with indefinitely with modest maintenance, allowing
resources intact. Starving people do not build, or investment of future effort to go toward
rework infrastructure and civilization. Starving improvements.
people are not in a position to show others a
better way. Whether you intend to head for the hills, or re-
engineer a home in the city, what do you need to
Absent the energy and infrastructure which has consider in your planning?
allowed large scale movement (numbers and
distance), we can expect families to once again PHYSICAL PRIORITY I - AIR
remain in the same area, probably multi CRITICAL FOR SURVIVAL MUCH
generations living on the same homestead. BEYOND 3 MINUTES.
Depending on ages, moving to a different
location on marriage, childbearing age, etc. a Living away from likely sources or flows of
stable multi-generation family homestead may contamination would seem to be the simplest
be expected to house about 8 or 10 residents. option. In reality you CANNOT live away from
the pollution.
The purpose this “homestead" discussion is at
the level of the individual/family to examine "We're all breathing each other's air,"12 says
what is needed for basic life support needs Daniel J. Jacob, a Harvard professor of
without the necessity to constantly receive input atmospheric chemistry and one of the chief
from what may be a civilization in chaos. researchers in a recent multinational study
Whether you head for the hills, or remain in of transcontinental air pollution. He traced
town, you “life support” needs are essentially the a plume of dirty air from Asia to a point
same. over New England, where samples
revealed that chemicals in it had come
For now there is much that can be done at from China.
relatively low cost to not only prepare for an
economic crash, but to leapfrog past it to a If you want to take steps to eliminate the
post-oil paradigm. Once a crisis begins, it may pollution from China, then stop buying products
be too late. from there... if you can.

That said, there is also the warning about what Rationally an essential step is that YOU and your
you own, or intend to buy or install: Can you neighbors not pollute. In air pollution there are
repair or replace it on your own? I offer myself

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of course multiple factors, such as substance, Chrysalidocarpus, Lutescens, and Phoenix
volume, and quantity. To elaborate, envision the roebelenii.
Los Angeles valley on a clear calm Saturday
afternoon. If one family decides to have a Short of specific plant selection, the microbes in
backyard charcoal cookout the neighborhood soil perform a great deal of the "work"
gets some smoke, but the effect on the city is transforming waste materials into productive life.
insignificant. If every family does a cookout at The Biosphere II project used a “soil reactor” to
the same time the air could quickly become foul. clean the inside air, as does the author of the
book "Soliva". The basic concept is simply
It matters greatly what polluting substance is forcing air to the interior thru several feet of
being released, how much each source is healthy soil.
releasing, and how many sources there are. In
general, the greater the standing population, the With sufficient plants growing in a closed
worse you can expect any pollution problem. greenhouse, a breathable interior atmosphere can
be maintained with essentially no active air
There's not much you as an individual can do exchange with the outside. Note, if the plants
about “open-air” contamination, other than NOT are only producing oxygen during
produce it yourself. (Remember that “outside” is photosynthesis, there must be a large enough
a relative term; the Earth itself is for all practical volume of air and plants for 24+ hours of clean
purposes a CLOSED container.) You need to be air to be produced during the shortest available
in a sealed container...suit, home, building, etc., sunlight period, and some allowance for overcast
with an appropriate combination of air volume, days.
renewal (O2 / CO2), and purification
capabilities. STERILIZATION

Indoor air quality in a relatively well sealed Ultraviolet light readily penetrates air, and even
home can however be affected significantly, by clouds. It, and ozone (ionized oxygen) are part
relatively simple actions. of God's open-air germ control system. There
may be lenses and surfaces which allow just
First and foremost, avoid contamination in the ultraviolet light to be concentrated, and used for
first place. Many of the adhesives and artificial specific sterilization purposes. (TO BE
materials used in present contractor construction DEVELOPED) If you have technology and
of homes outgas dangerous substances, often power, readily available are u/v systems for
continuously, and especially when they burn. desktop, portable, or installation in building vent
systems, to keep levels of microorganisms down.
In that items such as particle board, plywood,
many household chemicals, etc. release CARBON DIOXIDE
hazardous gases, avoid these inside your home.
We as a living animal inhale, use some of the
Radon seepage from the ground may be a oxygen from air, and exhale increased CO2
significant indoor threat readily abated during levels. Starting from less than 1% in "fresh" air,
construction by proper sealing and venting. the upper "safe" CO2 level is around 3%. When
the concentration exceeds 3%, even though there
BIOREMEDIATION is still oxygen in the air, humans are adversely
affected. An average person produces around .67
Appropriate selection of indoor plants can cubic ft. (5 gallon volume) per hour of CO2.
significantly improve air quality. (See Dr. Bill Burning of course produces MUCH MORE
Wolverton's "How to Grow Fresh Air") CO2.
Examples include Boston Fern, Janet Craig
(fern), Rhododendron, as well as Dracaena In a sealed container, starting with good outside
marginata, English Ivy, Warneckel, Peace lily, air, a person can survive for about an hour for
Chrysanthemum, Gerber daisy, dwarf date palm, every 22.5 cubic feet of air (about 1 cubic yard,
bamboo palm, Warneckel, areca palm, around 168 gallon). A 1200 sq.ft home, with 7

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foot ceilings, should hold about 8400 cubic feet
of air, or enough for a family of four for 3+ days. PHYSICAL PRIORITY II - WATER
CRITICAL FOR SURVIVAL MUCH
Any steadily growing plant absorbs CO2. NASA BEYOND 3 DAYS
experiments show that around one cubic meter of
wheat, growing constantly under artificial light, In some areas water is simply not a concern.
can balance the CO2 for a single person. Other Where it is, your home should contain a cistern
experiments show that approximately 8 gallons capable of holding at a minimum the survival
of well aerated algae does the same job. (drinking, cooking, and minimal cleaning) water
for your family for a year. Using the low typical
Some plants such as cacti, aloe vera, etc. produce rainfall for your area, calculate the collection
oxygen in the dark, vs the light. Note though, area needed to fill your cistern from rainfall. All
regardless of the oxygen generating plant, once rainwater not directly collected for controlled
parts of the plant starts to die, you MUST storage should be routed to a collection area for
eliminate the dead portions from your sealed recharging the aquifer. If paving for walkways,
area, otherwise the decay organisms consuming patio's, etc. is not intended to be used to route
the dead plant matter will re-release the CO2. rainwater for collection, where practical the
surfaces should be porous to allow the water to
COMPENSATING FOR ATMOSPHERIC soak into the ground.
PRESSURE VARIATION
Rain (in many places) may be the safest
An airtight home must have a flexible lung (see "natural" water available, and the least subject to
Biosphere II) to allow internal and external air human interference. (Flowing water, wells,
pressure to remain equal, without actual pipelines, etc., are all of course subject to
exchange of air. It can be as simple as a large "blockages", or contamination, somewhere
trash bag on one end of a pipe that penetrates a "upstream".) Even if living in a relatively
wall. Typical atmospheric pressure changes do isolated area, all of the water sources could be
to weather may amount to 2% to 5% of the contaminated. In the case for example of
volume of the sealed container. If you have a groundwater, it may be decades after a "spill",
1200 ft. sq. home (above), the "lung" should be that took place quite in the distance, before the
between 168 and 420 cubic feet. (Don't panic, effluent starts to contaminate the water.
that's only a box 8 foot on each side max) The
device must account not only for the pressure Similarly, for upstream surface flowing water,
changes due to weather, but from heating and abandoned sites may start to leak in the future.
cooling of the air inside the sealed area.
Access to water, in many places, will be a
Unless you are absolutely certain of the sealing significant restriction as to how many people can
of your structure, you'll want a means of sustainably occupy a given area. Estimating 7
maintaining a slightly higher pressure in the gallons per cubic foot, every inch of rainfall on a
home than outside. You can consider a small square foot is about 1/2 gallon that could be
fan, or even an aquarium pump, to force some collected.
small flow of air thru a filter. Consider two
closed containers of water connected by a hose, The percent of any given rainfall that actually
where water running from the higher to lower reaches your cistern will vary depending on
container causes suction on a hose leading out of conditions present. A light sprinkle might soak
the top of the top container, to the filter. into a built up tar roof, tile, etc. Even a metal
roof will have some water adhere to it. If your
If your area is subject to continued air quality roof is hot, you will lose water to evaporation.
problems, you may want a larger area then mere For ballpark loss estimates, use 5% for metal,
living space, such as including your shop, and 10% for built up tar, and 20% for gravel roof
greenhouse area. surfaces.

Assuming annual rainfall of 12 inches, and


assuming personal direct one-time thru water use

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of around 20 gallons per day, a collection area of foot of soaker hose would release 5 gallons per
about 1042 sq. ft. (say a square 33 ft. per side) minute.
could provide for one person.
Add in one-time thru water use in a biointensive
yet open-air garden, and you need to plan on a
collection area of around 6500 sq.ft. (an area 80
ft. on a side) to provide around 45,000 gallons
per year, which should meet the needs of an
individual with comparably liberal water use.
While collectors can be artificial surfaces, they
can also be part of the landscape (i.e. rock
hillsides). A family of four would need a
collection area 160 ft. on a side. A
multigeneration homestead of 8 to 10 people
would need a collection area of 52,000 to 65,000
sq.ft, or an area from 228 to 254 feet on a side.

I use the term "one-time thru" to prompt thinking The area shown above had been cement-hard
of multiple / reuse of water. Consider for an compacted desert soil when we arrived. With
"extreme" example the Biosphere II facility, appropriate mulching, even in the hot summers
where the same water has essentially been in of Yuma, Arizona, (plants exposed to direct
enclosed re-use for several years. The Earth is, sunlight) our garden survived with two 12
after all, just a big yet closed system. minute soaks per day. A subsistence garden
should get by with 120 gallons per day (15 or so
See the Appropriate Technology Appendix for of which could be washing "gray water").
expanded discussion on obtaining and managing
water, including atmospheric condensers, and More precise watering (drip irrigation) of
application of other simple concepts useful to individual plants, or a buried reservoir with an
sustain a higher standard of living in the absence airspace between the water and the soil above
of our present high energy globally connected (semi-hydroponic - see the "Earthbox", or
infrastructure. controlled microenvironments) may lead to
further reductions in crop water use.
EXAMPLES OF WATER USE
LIGHT INTENSITY & WATER USE
20 gallon/day human cooking/consumption,
bathing (5 min low flow shower) Most plants can only make use of 1/4 to 1/2 of
(x365= 7300) the "candlepower" that impacts their leaves in
+105 gallon/day garden (adjusted for the summer, much above this level actually
cleaning/bathing graywater use) slows growth and results in heat, which the plant
125 must shed by evaporating "extra" water. In one
x365 test pad, where plants were put under 60% shade
45,625 Average annual water per person cloth near the end of the summer, THOSE plants
Basis of personal 20 gallon water estimate. Five suddenly grew much larger than plants in direct
minute low-flow shower (2.5 gpm=12.5 gallon), sun. This might lead to a lowered estimate of
up to several gallons per day drinking/cooking, the water consumption, or greater production.
and several gallons in misc. washing. (see Israeli experiments as touched on in the
MESS appendix)
Basis of garden water estimate. Every linear
foot of "soaker hose" waters plants in the two WATER PURIFICATION
square feet along its sides.
Plan on the need to clean your water supply.
To water a 1,000 ft. sq. area of crops requires
500 linear feet of soaker hose. Soaker hose Probably the oldest water treatment method is
releases water at 1 gallon/minute/100 foot. 500 filtering through 3 to 5 feet of sand, which will

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remove many microorganisms, most debris, and (Creating and collecting "dew") Have you ever
most radioactive fallout. (Consider what nature taken a predawn walk thru a grassy field, and
does in the soil, as water seeps downward toward gotten your feet soaked, even though it did not
your well.) As this filter ages, a gelatinous layer rain during the night? The grass radiates heat to
forms near the top. While this contains a clear sky, cooling, while still surrounded by
numerous good bacteria, the top of your filter moisture, or with moisture containing air
needs to be cleaned off and replaced regularly. blowing over it, which condenses on the cooler
(see further details on soil and slow sand filter in grass.
the Appropriate Technology appendix)
There are what appear to be the remains of large
Using standard plumbing parts, glass, etc., it ancient condensers, such as a pile of rocks, on
should be possible to assemble a solar still that insulation, with catch basins and pipes leading
would provide pure, distilled water. out at the base. (See Appropriate Technology
appendix.) Even the cooling system referred to
As touched on above in air sterilization, as "earth tubes" contemplates moisture removed
ultraviolet can be used to kill microorganisms in from the cooled air.
water.
PHYSICAL PRIORITY III - FOOD
SILVER IONS CRITICAL FOR SURVIVAL MUCH
BEYOND 3 WEEKS
Ancient wisdom, supported by microbiological
studies, is that silver ions kill microorganisms. If the grocery store shelves are empty, you can’t
Simply storing silver in water helps. Running a get there, or you can’t afford to make a purchase,
small DC current (i.e. from a cheap solar battery what’s in your garden? Do you think that you
charger) through two silver electrodes can afford NOT to have one?
submerged in the water distributes the ions and is
said to make the water a disinfectant. Industrial farming, overgrazing, etc. has stripped
the soil of many essential nutrients and killed off
WATER STORAGE the soil life which in “healthy” soil perform a
great deal of the "work" transforming waste
The size of the cistern you should have is materials, and even inert rock dust, into a form
dependent on the patterns of your water use, and which can be used by your crops.
rainfall collection. Too small, and your tank will
overflow during a "good" rainfall. Too big, and Live as though there is no tomorrow,
you've wasted space and money. For example, if but farm as though you will live forever.
you rainfall and water needs are essentially the
same month to moth, the largest tank you
North African Bedouin proverb
probably need is enough to hold 1/12 of the
annual rainfall. If your rain all comes in one
monsoon month, you need to be able to store the The obvious goal in gardening is to create the
entire years supply. ideal condition for each plant, of light, heat,
moisture, air (roots and leaves), and nutrients.
If you cannot obtain or construct a true That which is taken from the soil14, must be
watertight tank, note that sand will store water returned. Can we undo our damage, yet "tilt"
about 50% of its bulk. In sand, it is possible to micro-ecosystems toward producing crops that
store water13 without it evaporating. You can for meet our needs? (Not necessarily our WANTS.)
example dig a hole, line it with plastic, and fill it
up with sand. The water in between the sand A detailed discussion of optimal growing
grains is is less likely to evaporate than in an conditions and crop planning is in the appendix
open air pond. "Micro Environment Sustainability System"
(MESS).
ATMOSPHERIC CONDENSERS
SEEDS

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One of the most valuable projects you might carefully monitored and controlled. (See MESS
undertake could be collection and preservation of appendix)
seeds. Hybrid crops will not do well without the
chemical fertilizers and pesticide protection, and You need to investigate crops that are
they generally WILL NOT breed true, that is you appropriate for your specific area, needs, and
cannot keep seeds from your hybrid crops and tastes, with a general goal is to grow the largest
expect the plants next season to be the same. (I amount of calories and nutrition in the smallest
read it takes six generations of back breeding for area / smallest use of resources.
a new trait to stabilize.
AQUAPONICS
Find the sources for open pollinated crops that fit
your needs, and get the seeds now. If you're not This is a combination of a fish tank/pond and a
growing now (why not) rotate your storage garden. The tank water is circulated through the
seeds. Keep the seeds dry, cool, and of course garden, which fertilizes the garden, and cleans
secure from pests. the water for collection and pumping back to the
fish. (See reports from the "New Alchemy
CUBA AND POST OIL SUSTAINABILITY Institute" from back in the 1970's.)

The "success" in sustainable farming reported for Growing tilapia in a tank of about 640 cubic feet
semitropical Cuba is about 1/4 to 1/3 of an acre (4166 gallon), which weighs around 33.332
per person. My personal experience is that pounds (don't put it on the roof with a LOT of
"traditional" backyard gardening would take the reinforcement) should be capable of providing a
same, around 10,000 sq.ft. (1/4 acre) per person. protein aspect for a homestead of 10 people.
China sustains what we in the U. S. would (See further details in the neighborhood chapter,
consider a starvation level diet on .2 acre (about and the MESS appendix.)
8,700 ft. sq.). Most of the world does not have
even this area of productive cropland. You need ALGAE
to do better.
With ideal growing conditions, the mass of live
BIOINTENSIVE GARDENING algae in a tank can double every 24 hours. I’ve
read accounts of spirulina or tredici being grown
An excellent intensive gardening resource is in clear tubes, with relatively fast flowing water,
John Jeavons, and Ecology Action. Their alternating in sun exposure and a cooling bath.
presentation of the "biointensive" bed system (Yes, I've found I can grow spirulina in the
projecting feeding a person out of 1,000 sq.ft., is alkaline water I get by flushing "fresh" water
among the best commercially available. (The thru our local sand... It is supposedly healthy,
Biosphere II project officially had about 1300 but I've yet to acquire the taste...) That said, the
ft.sq. of garden per each of the 8 scientists, but rapid growth of algae provides the opportunity
they also had the entire 3+ acre dome.) for production of animal feed/supplement or
"biological waste" for composting to enrich the
For the full benefit, the entire Ecology Action soil.
"system" must be used. While the biointensive
beds create among the most efficient natural AEROPONICS
growth mediums, the necessary time (years for
the miniature ecology to mature) and energy NASA funded research (i.e. aeroponics - roots
investment (i.e. for the double digging) means suspended in a mist of nutrients), has
you should initiate work on this valuable long- implications of feeding a person from 22.5 sq.
term asset immediately. Meters (about 16' on a side or 256 ft. sq.) Their
research though has focused on special crops
Note, in a 2002 personal discussion with a tailored for a narrow range of closely controlled
member of Running on Empty living conditions.
(www.runningonempty.org), Mr. Jeavons
commented that a larger area may be needed, Their high-tech approach makes reliance in a
perhaps up to 4,000 sq.ft. if conditions are not crisis situation questionable, but provides insight

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into what is possible. If adapted to readily
repairable & reproducible appropriate FORAGING
technology and used with hardier crops it would
be a very valuable art. (Consider if you replaced If you don’t (yet) have a garden, perhaps you are
the roof area of a "typical" home with such a tempted to go grazing. Be certain of what you're
garden, which could feed a family of four living doing, as a small bite of certain plants is enough
below.) to kill an adult. Also though, consider this as
potential protection for your food crop. If it
CONTAINER GARDENING doesn't look like a garden, and doesn't look like
normal vegetables, perhaps anyone encountering
The commercial product "Earthbox" (registered it, will leave it alone. Hunter/forager societies
tradename) claims significant improvement over are estimated to have required a square mile to
random soil or mere containers, perhaps offering support each individual.
production between biointensive, and the NASA
approach.

Their patented container appears to be nearly


identical to non-circulating methods shown in LEAF AND GRASS CONCENTRATE
various technical and non-technical19
hydroponics and aeroponics books, which is to There is a safer way of grazing, with many
provide the plant roots with unlimited access to edible leaves, (grasses, vines, bushes, and trees)
water, nutrients, and air, without drowning or and more that can be used to produce an edible
suffocating them. product when the excess fiber is removed. You
can even use dried leaves, making this a valuable
The earlier textbooks show 1" to 3" of soil held survival art.
on a grid, over a 1/2" to 3" air space, over water
maintained in steady depth of 1" to 3". Dried Leaves. When leaves are brittle, remove
coarse stems and grind to a fine powder. Dried
The water depth must be carefully maintained. leaves can be easily ground in a variety of ways.
While plant roots CAN grow into water, if left Make sure leaves are very dry or they will clog
exposed to the air, these roots not only dry out, the grinders. About 20% of the flour in most
but in 1 to 3 days, change, irreversibly, from recipes can be replaced with leaf powder.
water absorbing to air breathing roots. After the
change, if re-submerged, the root drowns, and Experiments with how much leaf powder you
kills the plant. can add to recipes without an unacceptable effect
on flavor or texture. About one tablespoon or
There are various approaches which appear to more of leaf powder can be taken directly daily.
offer benefits similar to still water hydroponics20 Keep the leaf powder in a well sealed container,
on a larger scale. Consider a waterproof layer, away from light and in a cool place.
covered with a wicking material, then 3" to 6" of
compost (not soil, for lighter weight, and better Fresh Grass / Leaves. Making Leaf Concentrate
nutrition). A method such as an upside down jar at Home15. Wash and cut leaves into pieces 2 -
of water is used to keep the wick wet. These 3" long, use only fresh green leaves known to be
beds could be put on a flat roof, or layer of edible, such as alfalfa, Swiss chard,
concrete. lambsquarters, blackeye peas, wheat, mustard,
kale, or collards. Grind the leaves to a pulp to
19
Incredible Vegetables from Self-Watering rupture the cell walls of the leaves liberating
Containers, Edward Smith. Mr. Smith shows protein and other nutrients.
converting almost any container to self-watering.
Press as much juice as possible from the pulped
20
"Amaranth to Zai Holes: Ideas for growing leaves, and pour the pulped leaves into a sheer
food under difficult conditions", for sale in hard nylon or polyester cloth of the type used for
copy, or online electronically free from
http://www.echonet.org/.

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curtains. Squeeze out as much juice as possible. What remains in the cloth is leaf concentrate. 10
You should not be able to squeeze any juice out lbs. of leaves should give you roughly 1/2 lb.
of a handful of this pulp when you are done. leaf concentrate; 4 1/2 lbs. of fiber for mulch,
compost, rabbit or goat feed; and 5 lbs. of
Heat the juice rapidly to the boiling point, stir "whey" for watering plants. If not used right
very gently to prevent burning and remove from away, leaf concentrate can be dried at about 120
heat as soon as the leaf juice boils. A green curd F, ground to a fine powder, and stored for later
should float to the top. Separate the curd that use in airtight plastic bags away from any light.
forms in the heated juice in a closely woven
cloth. When this wet curd has cooled, squeeze FOOD STORAGE
the "whey" out of the curd. It should be dry
enough to crumble. The present, relative abundance of food, and
secure supplies, is a hollow shell, which will
You may want to make a press to apply more collapse when oil ceases to support it. When you
pressure than you can with just your hands. This are once again dependent on your own garden, or
can be used for pressing the juice from the local farms, crop failure can literally mean
pulped leaves as well. starvation if you can not daily pick the 2,000
calories needed.

A example from the web of a homegrown food storage to provide around 730,000 calories per person is:

325 lb. Grain (i.e. whole wheat, pasta, oats, rice, barley, several years)
80 lb. Legumes (various beans, peas, lentils, seeds, etc., 5 to 10 years)
50 lb. Milk/dairy/eggs (dried, 5 years)
20 lb. Meats (dried, 18 months)
10 to 30 lb. Fruit/vegetables (dried, 2 to 3 years)
60 lb. Sweeteners (sugar, honey, syrups, etc., indefinite)
40 lb. Fats/oils (butter, nut butters, natural cooking oils, etc. Note:
Hydrogenated processed oils are Not nutritive, 2 to 3 years)
20 lb. Sprout seeds (alfalfa, all whole grains, beans, lentils, cabbage, radish,
broccoli, etc., 2 to 3 years)
1 lb. Leavenings (yeast, culture samples can be kept reproducing indefinitely)
5 lb. Salt (despite its OVERUSE in present society, it becomes critical in the
absence of processed foods, indefinite)

Residents of "First World" nations have become for each person you're looking at 92 boxes, a
accustomed to minimal physical work, and high stack 16" deep, 5 foot high, 16 foot wide. If you
calorie intake. While both of these are ending, it put your stack against an outer wall, it will
may not necessarily be all bad-news. Studies provide additional insulation, which, if you will
have shown that low calorie diets, IF the food is permit an opinion from someone who has eaten
otherwise high in vitamin/nutrient content, can MRE's, (and not cared for them) insulation may
result in a longer and healthier lifespan. be their best use. To store enough for a multi
generation family home, you need a room 14' x
If you have the money, high-tech (high cost) 16'.
freeze dried foods are available, with shelf lives
of 20 years or so. Good backup for a crash If you prefer working up a food storage program
induced emergency, and there are distinct short around food your family normally eats, look up
term advantages for concealment by avoiding the in nutrition (diet) guides the calories per pound,
need to garden, but when they are gone, they are and volume per pound for your selected food
gone.If you are considering the MRE (Meal items, and run you own calculations on how
Ready to Eat) option, they come in boxes of 12 much you need to store. Some examples of
meals, (H,W,D) 9 1/4" x 11 x 16 1/2. For a year

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calories of "common" food items are in the will grow an emergency crop. (Add your daily
"FACTOID" appendix. humanure if you're inclined and have determined
the safety.)
Most foods can be safely and adequately stored
using sun powered drying. If you have air-tight SPROUTING
containers (even clay) an additional layer of
protection is afforded by vacuum packaging. This natural process decreases the carbohydrate
content, and greatly increases the vitamin and
"Old time" food storage was in root cellars, or protein content, as well as increasing the volume
covered pits, in which food remained fresh for and mass of many food seed, i.e. the bag of dried
months, if not years. When without all else, dig beans in your storage program. (Tomato or
a hole, line it with dry grass, twigs, leaves, etc., potato sprouts are poisonous, as all seeds treated
and stack you food inside such that air can with fungicides, etc.)
circulate around it. Then seal the top.
PROTEIN NEEDS
When your power fails, you may have in the
form of your old fridge or freezer a pre-made The human diet needs 53 to 58 grams of protein
container to bury, cover with insulation material, per day (.47 gram per kilogram, or .213 gram per
and instant "root cellar". lb., of body weight) consisting of 22 essential
amino acids. 8 of these cannot be manufactured
If you are doing fermentation, such as for by the human body, and must be present in the
alcohol, consider bubbling the CO2 into the food right16 proportions.
storage container.
A diet incomplete in protein leads to various
LOW TECHNOLOGY EVAPORATIVE physical infirmities (think of the photos of third
REFRIGERATION world children, skin and bone, but with gas
bloated abdomens). Regardless of a surplus of
Set up a large container, such as a clay pot, or any given amino, the ability of the body to utilize
other porous material, with a small water tight the proteins is limited by the absence of any of
container inside, and the space between filled the 8 that is not present in sufficient quantity.
with sand or perlite, kept moist. The evaporative The excess are utilized by the body as mere
cooling keeps the inner container well below the carbohydrates.
ambient temperature.
Eggs are essentially complete. Most meats are
CHEMICAL FERTILIZER GARDENING complete, and animals such as chickens, cows,
goats21, etc. can feed on forage, turning
I include this under "food storage" because I unused/compost material into essential protein.
consider it just as temporary and unsustainable (Ruminants, such as cows, don't need the protein
of a measure as storing from the abundance of and grains in their diets that they are fed in
chemically grown food. feedlots. They do however need nitrogen
materials, which they convert to protein.)
Readily available and cheap (at the moment) are
the typical plastic "kitchen" garbage bags, I think PROTEIN COMPLEMENTATION
they're something like 14 gallon bags. I suggest Appropriate combinations of plant materials can
2,000 bags and enough fertilizer for 2,000 plants result in a meal that has a complete protein
for one season. "Miracle Grow" (tradename) and matrix.
other chemical fertilizers are also cheap for the
moment.

Put bluntly, dig a hole, line it with the trash bag,


backfill with local soil, bio waste, etc., and
21
fertilize per instructions on the container. You're It is the fat and bone of goat meat that give the
NOT creating a sustainable food bed, but you meat a strong taste. Separated meat only will
have a much milder taste.

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Product Serving Protein Calorie
Carbohydrates
Mung 1 cup dry 49 gram 718 130
Soybean 1 cup dry 68 gram 774 56
Peanut raw 1 cup dry 38 gram 828 24
Sunflower 1 cup dry 33 gram 821 27

Soybean and Mung, and some peanuts and promenades. These passageways contain
approximate meat in completeness. (Please note planters and a wide variety of plants.
the other nutritional factors for these)
Working alone he carved out columns, arches
Sunflower seeds contain greater growth and domes from the local hardpan sedimentary
promotion nutrition than does meat. stone. Some ceilings have skylights, normally
open but easily covered with glass.
Rice is missing Isoleucine & Lysine, but if
served in combination with cheese, or most He had a wide variety of trees, some growing as
beans, becomes a complete protein. deep as 22 feet below ground level. There is a
fish pond in the garden court off the kitchen and
PIT OR UNDERGROUND GREENHOUSE bedrooms.

Earth sheltering provides a more stable climate His work of nearly forty years, without
for human habitation and for your garden. You blueprints or plans, stands as a monument to
may even go as far as an underground what one determined person can achieve.
greenhouse, which provides you greatly
enhanced ability to control the growing ENGINEERING INSPIRATION
conditions.
The Zhaoxian bridge in China spans a 115 foot
Relatively recent developments in natural arch over a river. This bridge is built of formed
lighting provide an opportunity to bring natural and interlinked stone and has been standing and
light into spaces not practical before. Examine in essentially constant use since the year 610.
"Solartubes" (mentioned later also), which can
route sunlight thru a relatively small opening. 21,000 BC - boomerang use case painting in
Some versions have flexible tubing for the light, Poland
lending it to bends / curves for routing thru even 18,000 BC - flint arrowheads, Spain
thick shielding materials. It should be possible, 15,000 BC - drawing of bridled horse
for example, to route the tubes from the roof of a 8,000 BC - domesticated peas/lentils
single story home, down to the basement. 7,000 BC - domesticated sheep/goats
4,000 BC - irrigation canals, S. Russia
Short of a high-tech greenhouse buried in the 2,500 BC - 300' wide x 37' high dam
basement, a simple pit, covered with an 2,000 BC - glass
appropriate clear or translucent material, can 700 BC - banking with mortgages
serve to provide area for growing food well into 600 BC - silver plated copper coin
freezing weather. 100 AD - hand powered double acting fire
pump

UNDERGROUND INSPIRATION URBAN INSPIRATION

The Forestiere Underground Gardens in north The Dervaes family has, instead of waiting for
Fresno, CA is a complex of underground rooms politicians, or big-business to present a solution,
and garden courts that was the home of have made the decision, and put forth the effort
Baldasare Forestiere. The sections are to make their urban home in Pasadena,
inter-connected by underground passageways California a micro homestead. (Who says you
have to head for the hills). They present their

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story as the “Path to Freedom”, with ongoing have no experience with it. The hemp products
updates at their website17. I've seen in stores did not appear to have any
special properties, and new hemp hats were
GREENHOUSE COVERINGS coming apart on the shelves.

Glass, plastic, mirrors, etc. can be selective What is practical and effective for your local
surfaces, passing only the frequency and climate?
intensity of light needed for optimum growth.
There are some indications that small cells of What can be made and maintained with
"dead air", even without an air tight membrane, appropriate technology?
can serve as a greenhouse to increase
temperatures for plant growth. Think of shiny EARTH SHELTERING
shade cloth.
The temperature of the earth at a depth of
CROP SELECTION approximately 20 feet is essentially stable at the
annual average surface temperature. A home at
Perennial crops offer no-till (do you like that depth would probably not need any
digging?) growth of food. Do your research now mechanical HVAC, as it only needs to remove
as to "native" or other crops appropriate for your the body heat of the human occupants and that
climate for edible landscaping, and for your generated by the activities, but it would not have
garden, containers, greenhouse, or more, much of a view. It can though be well lighted.
depending on your resources.
The technical aspects of correct earth sheltering
Despite farming's focus on a limited number of are explained well by John Hait in his book
crops, there are thousands of edible plants. See "Passive Annual Heat Storage". The techniques
www.echonet.org as a good resource for plant will improve the feel of even a traditional home,
listings. See also The Land Institute, but works best in homes specifically built to take
http://www.landinstitute.org/, which is doing maximum advantage of the buffering.
significant work on perennial food crops,
eliminating tilling. The greatest source of energy on earth is the sun,
which appears to travel a fixed pattern in the sky
PHYSICAL PRIORITY IV – SHELTER that is readily estimated. To maximize the
benefits of shade, or of solar collection, the suns
A naked exposed human is a physically ill- pattern of movement must be taken into account.
equipped animal. We need the technological
achievements our minds have provided. If your roof is exposed, consider from R 70 to R
100 in your ceiling.

To artificially "lower" your home, insulate the


ground for 20 feet out around your home with
three layers, separated by heavy plastic sheets for
CLOTHING waterproofing, of "Dow Blue Styrofoam", white
styrofoam board, or other appropriate insulation,
Your personal portable shelter from the then carefully cover the insulation with dirt,
environment. Forget fashion, which is an sand, gravel, etc to protect it from weathering.
affectation of the consumer economy.
Low-tech/natural insulation layers, such as grass,
What raw material is readily available in your leaves, etc., with some waterproofing means or
area, or can you readily grow? even layered with a high clay soil will help, but
eventually need to be replaced. Berming earth
What is the most durable material available (that up the sides of the home provides additional
you're willing to use)? I keep reading that hemp protection from the large temperature changes of
makes the most durable cloth available, but I open air. Even the roof can if you chose have a
layer of earth on top of the insulation. The soil

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need only be thick enough for the plants grown DAYLIGHTING
there.
Conventional skylights admit too much heat in
An obvious heat storage medium is water, which the summer, and require a large opening in the
pound for pound will hold more than dirt or structure of your home, that siphons your winter
concrete. Jars, tanks, in or above ground pools, heat. More diffused and useful light is admitted,
etc. Whether you simply carry the jars in/out with less heat, by "lighttubes", essentially
each day/night, or have moveable covers on your mirrored pipe with a lens cover on each end.
pool, or a pipe and pump system, it's just a Venting can be separately done with insulated
matter of setting up a means where the water is pipe with removable caps.
heated by the sun, or exposed to the night sky for
cooling by radiation. The combined opening in the structure is much
smaller, the risk of weather damage is less, and
EARTH TUBES maintenance is less. A firm in Europe is
producing panels to channel light in via fiber
A low energy method (after they are buried) to optic cables, allowing greatly enhanced
tap the stable ground temperature for a surface flexibility in placement of the "collector" and the
home are buried pipes. The typical approach is inside light emitter. Solar tubes, fiber optics, etc.
horizontal trenching, with pipes of a size to also offer a means for nighttime interior lighting
allow reasonable air flow. of separate/private rooms by one central light
source.
Consider though a pipe leading straight down
into the ground (as in a shallow, perhaps driven The are other options which have potential for
well) 20 to 30 feet. This avoids the need to development not only as lighting, but heating,
disturb large surface areas, and the dig & backfill cooling, and power, and crops in a controlled
of horizontal trenches. Any appropriate method environment. An appropriately designed light
of routing water down and back up in a sealed scoop, facing the equator, should admit light in
system (i.e. a small pipe inside a larger pipe) can the winter, yet block the summer heat.
allow a transfer of temperature to/from the depth.
FIREPLACE
Each pipe can be expected to heat/cool the
ground in a 3 to 4 foot diameter circle, therefore An interior fireplace must have an external air
space the "wells" 3 feet apart. When the surface source. Since the fireplace is probably only used
is significantly cooler than the bottom, a natural when it is cool outside, arrange the air source
thermosyphon should occur. With appropriate such that it draws from the pantry, which would
manifolds and valves, warmed or chilled water then be vented to the outside, cooling the pantry.
can be pumped from/to collectors/radiators or Consider a fireplace in a "sunken" family room.
circulated in a hydronic system of pipe Water filled pipes around the fireplace, and in the
embedded in a concrete floor/wall. higher floor of the rest of the house could
provide auxiliary heat by thermosyphon.
GOOD OLE GLASS
Note, a fireplace assumes you've got a
Equator-facing windows, vertical or angled to be sustainable source of something to burn. How
90 degrees to the noon sun in the winter, or large of a forest do you own? Is a fireplace
skylights can provide significant passive solar sustainably practical? Wood has on an average
heating in the winter while minimizing glass around 5,000 BTU per pound.
exposed to summer sun. (In the summer, the sun
rises and sets NORTH of the East/West glass Note, every square yard perpendicular to the sun
alignment, and the glass can be shaded on the receives every hour 3,412 BTU. Therefore one
outside.) Summer solar gain can further be pound of wood equates to a pane of glass 44
avoided by almost any approach that provides a inches on a side exposed to the sun for one hour.
well-ventilated shade area about a foot from the Assume an average wood with a specific density
main structure. of .5, or a weight of about 32 pounds per cubic
foot.

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SKY HEAT EXCHANGERS
A cord of wood is 128 cubic feet (4' x 4' x 8').
The above averages therefore puts the weight of Roof / external mounted tube collectors, flat or
a cord at around 4,096 pounds, containing with reflector concentrators, can heat water
20,480,000 BTU. during the day, or cool water during the night.
Cooling can be enhanced by misting or water
A cord of wood is potentially a sustainable evaporation. Used for cooling, the circulating
harvest from 1/2 to 1 acre, grown over a period water might "thermo siphon". The same
of a year. principle that helps make the elsewhere
mentioned atmospheric condensers work,
At the best yield of 2 cord per acre per year, it's cooling by sky radiation, also provides a means
40,960,000 BTU per acre per year. of cooling a large mass, to store “coolness” for
warm weather daytime use.
If we assume an average of 6 hours per day, 360
days per year, the BTU stored by the best cord Even during the day, when the sky is clear, the
wood yield from an acre of trees represents the right combination of shading from direct sun,
daily sunlight heat potential of around 5 1/2 insulation from side heat sources, and in
square yards, or a square area of glass just over 7 particular orientation of the radiator to the
foot on a side. “coolest” area of the sky, can lower temperatures
of such radiator to below the ambient air
Assume use of flat panel collectors to raise water temperature. Experiments report the ability to
temperature from 70 degrees F to 100 degrees F. radiate 100 to 200 BTU per hour per square foot.
Each BTU represents a one degree temperature The radiation frequency is 8 to 13 um, so you're
increase in one pound (1 pint) of water. The looking for a glazing material transparent in that
above collection area receives 112,596 BTU range. (Try polyethylene)
during the day, and would need an insulated tank
of at least 470 gallons. This is a volume of say STRUCTURE BASICS
060 cubic feet - Think of a cube 4 foot on a side.
Direct solar collection, if you have a system to In the end, ANY system that provides you a
use and store it, is arguably over 800 times as waterproof living space that is heavily insulated,
"efficient" a method of collecting and storing has extensive thermal mass or other thermal
solar heat as growing firewood. storage, and a practical means to get heat into
and out of the storage can provide a comfortable
Grow wood for building material. Grow wood home.
as a fuel to use in creating a long-term useful
item, such as glass. If essential, grow wood as STRUCTURE UTILITIES - ENERGY
an emergency fuel, but PLEASE, don't plan on
wood heat as your primary home heat source. Frankly, to survive as more than a "dirt farming
peasant", you need a power source beyond
SOLAR WELL human or animal muscle, which does NOT rely
on fuel, or power delivered from some unseen
Along a similar line of thought to putting the and uncertain source. See Appropriate
fireplace in a pit, consider wells or pits facing the Technology in the appendices. Unless we
south winter sun. Glass covered, reflector lined, suddenly leap to "STAR TREK" technology, the
essentially Winston cones. At the bottom, a solar future energy picture will be one of greatly
collector, a coil of pipe, or a large tank. We now reduced personal energy use. Run wiring
have, during the day, on the bottom, an intensely capable of handling separate a/c and d/c loads.
hot tank of water. Pipes run "up" to the floor of What do you REALLY need to operate?
the house, in a thermo siphon, capable of
keeping the floor warm, without a powered
pump. A simple valve would be the only
required moving mechanical part, to shut the ELECTRICAL NEEDS
system down when desired.

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Electricity is the superlative form of energy in what is essentially a smokestack) Such natural
use in modern civilization, without which power is intermittent, but a viable addition. A
aspects such as long distance communications, 2007 planned “Steel Farm” project is to build 15
computers, other electronics, etc. would be windmills near Kingman, Arizona at a cost of
inoperative. When you’re planning your $1.5 million each. Each generates 1 megawatt,
finances, you look at what you can do for so construction cost is $1.50 per watt, or $1,500
yourself, and what you need to pay others to do per kilowatt. If each kilowatt is sold at $.15,
or provide. When you can no longer simply plug ignoring interest the construction cost is
into a seemingly limitless electrical grid, you recovered in 10,000 hours of productive
will look closely at what NEEDS electricity. operation. (say 420 days of operation)

Why would anyone NEED to generate Turning generators with moving water, caused
electricity, to spin and heat an electric dryer, by the sun (natural, and artificially induced
when hanging wet clothes in a sunlit space means to move water to a higher location, or
would also dry the clothes, and perhaps the drips from a pressurized container.) Power can be
water the plants? constant and regulated. Most naturally occurring
cases of water in a high gravity location have
Even refrigeration can be driven directly from a already been exploited.
windmill or waterwheel. Ice can be made using
a solar concentrator or by applying a hand- Where tanks can be positioned at significant
pumped vacuum to a container of water. Low differences in altitude (i.e. 100'+) water pumped
levels of locally produced electricity CAN by windmill to the higher tank can bank the
provide the power to maintain a technological, energy (serve as a battery) for later expenditure
learning and developing society. A "typical" by turning a generator when dropped again thru a
American household has access to 22 kilowatt turbine. Think outside the box… Can you
(110 v with 200 amp service) 24/7. modify a turbocharger from a car to serve as the
driving turbine in a micro-hydro generator?
Check your own bill, and see what your real time
use has been. Can you reliably generate that Factors:
much power? Then you must be prepared to buy
the power (hoping someone else manages to 1kw = 1.3 hp
generate it), or reduce your power usage to what Water flow in cubic feet/second x height
you can generate. difference in feet divided by 8.8 = hp
1 cubic foot = 7.48 gallon
POWER OPTIONS Assume two 10,000 gallon tank, one 100' higher
than the other. To generate 1kw of power
The prime energy source on earth is the sun. It 1kw = 1.3hp = flow/second x 100 / 8.8
powers the photosynthesis process in plants, 1.3 x 8.8 = flow x 100
creating the energy supply for all animal life. It 11.44 = flow x 100
is readily concentrated into a limited area with 11.44 / 100 = flow
simple mirrors or other reflective/convective .1144 cubic feet = flow
surfaces. .1144 cubic feet = .856 gallon/second
10,000 gallon tank / .856 = 11,682 seconds / 60 /
If you can generate electricity beyond your 60 = 3.24 kilowatthours for this "battery".
needs, your spare kwh could be valuable barter
currency to exchange with neighbors without Each of the above tanks is only about the size of
power. a modest “above ground” swimming pool.
Consider a well where the water level is more
With technology we understand, and can produce than 100 feet below the surface. A small
today, we can produce electricity from the sun windmill could easily during the day fill the
by: pool, providing the evenings power for light and
electronics.
Turning generators with moving wind, caused by
the sun (natural, and artificially induced wind up

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Turning generators with "steam" engines (water (insulated from the water some way?) then using
and other medium, open and closed cycle) Power the water to spin a micro-hydro system.
can be relatively constant and regulated by using
the sun to heat a storage medium, such as water Solar photo-voltaic. Direct conversion of light to
in an insulated tank, which then provides power electricity. The present silicon crystal panels
at night. remain a "high tech" item to produce, are fragile,
and essentially impossible to repair in a low-tech
In example, since closed cycle heat engines are environment. Power is ONLY supplied when
driven by a difference in temperature, as the light shines directly on the panel. Light
outdoors cools at night, and the contents of an concentration is likely to overheat the panel, and
insulated tank remain warm, the power available cause it to "burn out". Estimating a 1/4 acre
may actually increase. Light concentration can homestead of around 10,000 sq. ft., at around 1
DRAMATICALLY increase available power. kw per sq. yd, while in full sun the entire lot
The "steam" can also be heated by growing, receives just over 1,000 kw of power. If covered
collecting, and burning bio-fuels. with 10% efficient solar panels, you'd have 100
kw available during sun hours. (But, no space to
Open cycle. The working fluid, which is heated grow plants.) Set aside 8,000 sq. ft. for your
to the boiling point, is channeled to expand and garden, and using 2,000 sq. ft. for power, with
push a contained piston or turbine, then vented to the 10% panels you have available the same 22
the atmosphere. The typical working fluid is kw you do now, but only during sunny days.
water, which may in some locations be too
scarce a resource to "waste" as steam. This
engine design also "wastes" the energy used to
heat the water up to the steam point.

Closed cycle. The working fluid, which is


heated to the boiling point, is channeled to
expand and push a contained piston or turbine,
then routed to a condenser for cooling below the
boiling point, and then pumped back into the
heating chamber. In theory (Carnot) the
efficiency of a heat engine is limited to nc =
T1(hot gas temp)-T2(cool gas temp) / T1.

Historically, low temperature solar engines are


operated using freon or butane, in with For a small scale example, the above photo is an
temperatures of 80 C. In a low technology electric mower, 50 watt solar panel, and 150 watt
situation though, it may be necessary to use only inverter set up as a push about power supply.
"natural" mediums. (Perhaps water in a closed
system that operates partially in a vacuum, so Remember the sun's changing path, combined
that water boils at a lower temperature.) with the panel putting out the greatest power
when perpendicular to the sunlight, means you
Food for thought. As shown by the closed cycle will probably want a "tracking" mount.
engine, the useable work is done by the change
of state from liquid to gas, not the rise in Solar collecter spacing. An east / west swing
temperature to the boiling state. Open cycle from sunrise to sunset of only 120 degrees
engines (think of the old steam engines) lose appears to require side to side spacing between
ALL of this initial heating energy. Closed cycle each device, at each extreme of arm swing, of at
engines retain a significant portion, but must still least the width of the collector surface. To track,
clearly cool the medium before re-injection to the device pivot has got to compensate for the
the vaporization chamber. Rather than directly latitude of the site, then the tracker must be
using steam to turn a generator, I've wondered adjustable on the pivot to compensate for the
about using steam to pressurize a tank of water slow change of the seasons...

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If each device was just fixed re seasons, say at There are ongoing experiments on theories
30 degrees, there is still a minimum of 1/2 of the whereby at least heat, if not electrical energy
collector panel width between each device on the itself, can be obtained from "sub atomic"
north/south axis to avoid shading. So to be able activity, that may or may not be "radioactive" in
to optimize panel exposure, each 1 square yard nature.
panel needs a ground footprint of 9' x 9' or 81
square feet. For your homestead, the good news There are numerous "conspiracy theories"
would be that your plants can grow around the floating around that there are already successful
tracking mount. devices in operation. A particular example is
retired Colonel Beardon, who has been issued a
Keep in mind though the cost of 222 panels, at patent for an electrical generator, that has no
100 watt each, necessary to generate this much outside input, or internal moving parts. Lacking
daytime power. At this writing, p/v panels cost evidence, or the ability to buy a device, or
in general $5.00 for each watt generated. "guaranteed" construction plans, this remains
Therefore, you're looking at a cost of somewhat entertaining reading, but not a proposal on which
over $100,000.00 Do you think you might settle to bet your life.
for say 2 kilowatt of electricity, at a little over
$10,000.00? MUSCLE POWER

INTERNAL COMBUSTION While human powered generators are a poor


choice for other than short term use, human
Bio-fuels can be burned in internal combustion muscle, the legs in particular, can meet many
engines, for propulsion or generation. This is not needs. The book, Pedal Power in Work and
however an efficient means of providing a Leisure, James C. McCullagh, relates many
conversion from sunlight to motion or electricity. human powered devices, including a pedal
Bio fuels can also be burned to produce heat. powered winch used to pull a plow. A
But remember that to produce around 60 gallons reasonably healthy person should be able to
of biodiesel, you need to shift an acre of pedal and generate 75 watt for an extended
cropland from producing food to fuel. period, perhaps 200 watt for a short period, and
750 watt for a few seconds.
Biodigester. Animal excreta, food and crop
scraps, etc. are placed in a sealed tank (can be as BIOFUELS
simple as one drum upside down inside another
slightly larger drum) for controlled environment Fossil fuels are merely stored ancient solar
rotting. Most of the gas produced, primarily power. We can manufacture fuels (biofuels) that
methane accumulates in the upper upside down would allow modern engines to operate, but not
drum, where it can be lead off in hoses for use as at a rate anywhere near the present annual usage.
a fuel. Using human excreta only the Per the CIA factbook, the world has in land:
"minimum" for a practical useable produce 148.94 million sq km, of which humans have
would be input from 15 people. For a practical planted in permanent crops: 4.71%, or 7,015,074
"village built" system the upper limit appears to million sq. km. This is an area 2,648 km on a
be 300 people. side, or 1,645 miles on a side, or 2,707,299 sq.
mile.
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Expect best biofuel yield per year to be 50 gallon
Should you find yourself with large quantities of per acre. Expect each person needs 1/4 acre for
refined metals, guidance for creating large food. Expect each person needs 10 acre for
expedient batteries is found in "How to Recycle wood and other long-term durable materials.
Scrap Metal into Electricity", by John Hait.
Recent U.S. use of just oil was 10 billion barrels
AETHER / ZERO POINT RADIATION / per year (420 billion gallons), divided by say a
SCIENCE FICTION population of 270 million, we get 1,555 gallons
per year per person. In biofuels this requires 31

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acre per person. Add the rest in, and each person LIGHT STORAGE
in a U.S. lifestyle needs 45 acres.
Certain natural and man-made materials have the
A square mile is 640 acres, divided by 45 = 14 property of absorbing light and releasing it in the
people provided resources per square mile. form of a moderate, essentially heat-free glow
visible in darkened conditions. (Try the trade-
If there is currently 2,707,299 sq. mile planted in name "Alien Skin") At the present, none
crops, to NOT further dig up nature, a current commercially available provide what would be
U.S. lifestyle using biofuels could allow a considered as sufficient work-light, but a large
GLOBAL population of 37,902,186. panel can light a room sufficiently as to permit
occupancy, moving about, and work on tasks
which do not require visual details. My theory
6,600,000,000 - 37,902,186 = 6.5 billion or so (untested) is that a glowing panel at the large end
must die in the time remaining for fossil fuels, of a Winston cone should produce a small area of
AND in the same time we must re-work a global work/reading light at the apex of the cone.
infrastructure into one that can be operated with
less than 40 million people. HOME CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS

As of 2007, a large portion of the global Any appropriate means to produce sufficiently
population is 20 or younger. At current strong walls and roof could be considered a
consumption globally of 30 billion barrels per success. In many places, the construction
year, and the largest daydream of 1,200 billion material can be the earth itself. Even if you are
barrels of oil, we have 40 years until depletion... not yet building on site, you may want a secure,
MUCH LESS until demand permanently exceeds concealed on site location. Consider a "septic
possible supply, and anyone not self-sufficient tank", or "fresh water tank" as your first
crashes. construction. Neither should raise suspicion, and
either can provide water tight, underground
It's not that biofuels do not have a place, it's that storage space. It will probably cost more to have
they cannot power an infrastructure like the "first a tank installed, than to buy either in a heavy
world" of today. gauge plastic.

HYDROGEN Soil doesn't stack well, a significant


consideration when mounding or berming you
Present technology to electrolyze hydrogen from structure, and ESPECIALLY if you're digging.
water "loses" more than half of the electricity. For safety, set your slopes such that the slope
retreats horizontally at least 1 1/2 foot for every
The INEFFICIENCY of hydrogen as a battery 1 foot of vertical rise. I will try to use a 2 foot
was borne out in the 2005 Department of Energy per 1 foot rise in the appendices to this treatise
"Solar Decathlon" competition, where the New where such concerns are applicable in
York Institute of Technology found their calculations.
hydrogen fuel cell power storage approach didn't
reach the 25% efficiency they hoped, vs 80% for Engineer in four dimensions, height, width,
lead-acid batteries. depth, and time. Plan so that dividers,
furnishings, utilities, etc. can be adjusted to
There are however experiments with high change the primary use of a space. Your actual
temperature catalysts (see Fuel from Water, structure depends on your personal resources and
Michael A. Peavey) which may prove design preferences.
concentrated sunlight for heat can replace a
significant portion of the electrical current. As I It can be a hut. It can be a detached house, or an
show later in this treatise though, no known apartment building. It can be a mansion. It can
technology can provide a “hydrogen economy” be one room, or provide separate space for
using fuel at our recent rates. everyone. It can be underground, or super
insulated with an active thermal exchange. It
does not matter.What matters is your ability to

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provide for the ongoing (present and future) life- takes a lot of heat, or cold, to make a large mass
support needs of your family. of earth change temperature.

Assume a multi generational, stable population While Mr. Reynolds emphasizes use of tires,
family homestead of 8 people. If your food cans, etc. in his structures, the functional aspects
production is at the "best" biointensive level, are relevant regardless of the construction
than 8,000 sq. ft. (approximately 1/4 acre) would material. In his third earthship book, Mr.
be the minimum area for a homsestead, based on Reynolds has valuable suggestions on a "retrofit"
the food limit. If you home is underground, or for a typical suburban home. See John Hait's
has a roof garden, the only loss for the structure book "Passive Annual Heat Storage" for
is skylights. scientific details of the thermal buffering system.

Per the Tucson MEC - Thermal Mass. Designs Surface coated stacked concrete block is
utilizing thermal mass should have suggested advocated by architect Bruce Beer at his website
heat capacity between 18 to 30 Btu/cu.ft. Walls www.thenaturalhome.com. Blocks are stacked
without external insulation need 12 inches without mortar, then filled and coated with
minimum thickness or 8 hours time lag. External cement.
insulation can be used (R-9 to R-11) to reduce
thickness of thermal mass to no less than 4". Mike Oehler, in "The $50 & Up Underground
Surface area of uncovered thermal mass (in the House Book" presents his PSP system
direct sun zone) should be minimum 9 times the (post/shoring/Polyethylene), basically an
area of south glass, with 1ft2 of additional south underground pole building. Regarding wood in
glass for every 40 ft2 of mass located outside the contact with the soil, in most soils, the area of
direct sun zone (a simplified method of decay is just below ground level, where soil
calculating thermal mass and south glass areas). microbiological activity is greatest. Often a post
can be almost completely rotted out at this level,
Summer Ventilation. Thermal-mass buildings while the wood several feet deeper in the ground
shall be provided with a means of venting to the is still solid. So it's possible that a post, buried
outside at night during the months of May two feet or more into the ground, in an
through October to avoid overheating. Operable excavation already as much as six feet or more in
windows totaling at least 20 percent of the total the ground, will last a very long time. In
glazing area, located for effective cross- addition, Oehler points out the old-time
ventilation or ceiling fans or a whole-house fan observation that charred wood doesn't rot. He
sized to provide 10 air changes per hour may be chars the bottom two feet or so, by roasting them
used. over a campfire, propane torch, etc. For
additional insurance, wrap the post bottom in
Glazing. All glazing facing between 20 - 165 several plastic garbage bags secured with duct
degrees or 195 - 340 degrees shall have a tape.
minimum summer shading coefficient of 0.39.
All glazing facing between 165-195 degrees Conventional thinking involves digging a hole
shall have a minimum summer shading into a hillside and plopping a structure there with
coefficient of 0.5 or less. This may be a bank of windows facing downhill. This makes
accomplished by the use of overhangs, covered the uphill side a solid blank wall, with the roof
porches, tinted glazing, or other approved probably pitched back into the hill, so drainage
methods. from the roof runs into drainage from the
hillside. Leaks are almost inevitable. Mike
EARTH SHELTER TECHNIQUES suggests an uphill patio, basically a terraced
garden area, with its bottom at any desired height
One approach is well presented in the from the floor of the house, and its top blending
"Earthship" series of books by Michael into the adjacent ground level. It not only solves
Reynolds, ranging from single room pods to problems of drainage and lateral thrust (the
luxury homes. It's not that earth is a good pressure of the earth on buried walls), but it can
insulator, rather the advantage comes from that function as an emergency exit or a second
fact that earth is NOT a good insulator, and it entrance. It can also serve as a built-in

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greenhouse. Naturally, it admits light and air, charcoal etc. and air pressure. Too much heat
even from the uphill side of the house which and the glass becomes too fluid and the shape
would otherwise be a dark blank wall. becomes brittle. Once heated the ceramics must
be slow cooled because they will crack if cooled
The Monolithic Concrete Dome is a single large too quickly.
dome, presented as energy efficient due to the
reduced outside surface area relative to the inside DESIGN FACTORS
volume. But it is difficult to build, and bury if
you're incorporating earth berming. An Assets, time, and limited labor may not at least
extremely thin dome gets its strength from the initially permit large new structures, but small
curve shape. The larger the dome, the closer any does not have to mean primitive and
given area of the dome approaches flat, losing uncomfortable. Consider motor homes and
strength. boats, where individuals and families live
comfortably in facilities the size of the living
CLUSTERED DOMES room in a typical American home. I suggest you
tour travel trailers, motor homes, power or sail
A dome on the scale of a room is a much less boats, etc., for ideas. Aspects to plan for in your
daunting project than a home sized or larger home include:
monolithic dome. A home can be built one room
at a time, as labor, materials, and need are DAYLIGHTING
presented. Greater curvature per area gives
greater strength. Glass block along the top of all walls that are
exposed to the outside air provides daylighting,
I lean toward a clustering of room sized domes, as do other higher tech approaches (solartube,
or a torus (donut) shape. In late 2005 I noted the and fiber optics). Beyond daylighting, similar
Monolithic Dome commercial web page had physical methods would permit one light source
torus designs. There is POTENTIAL that in a home to provide controllable “nightlight” for
multiple thin shells, with soil sealed between the entire structure. (Note, external reaching
have a greater strength to thickness that a single systems such as the solartubes easily provide
shell of the same total concrete thickness. light to maneuver inside to approximately the
same extent you could outside (i.e. in a full
In addition, concrete "beams" in a catenary curve moon, you can move about easily).
can be produced by suspending a chain from
appropriately selected points such that it attains STRAW BALES
the desired curve. Progressively coat the chain
with concrete and allow to cure. If properly Where there is sufficient growth, stacked bales,
done and turned over, you have a load-bearing stucco covered, make viable, high insulation
curved beam constructed of concrete. walls (with the added benefit of stopping most
pistol, and low power rifle bullets), or additional
THE DIRT ITSELF insulation to an existing structure.

Soil can though be formed into bricks, and baked RAISED BULWARKS
(even in the sun). It can also be "rammed" into
wall molds to form monolithic walls. Neither is Your home can be surrounded by artificial
waterproof though absent a stabilization mounds, to provide visual and audio separation,
materials, such as added concrete. while not excessively impeding airflow, foot
traffic (all species...) as well as defining and
Clay can be "fired" to make it waterproof. Clays controlling where private property rainfall flows.
vary considerably in chemistry but most require
about 1800 - 2000 F to develop a glassy ceramic RETROFIT
bond. The glassy bond is developed by melting
the silica in the clay and allowing the resulting Do you have the time and assets to custom
glass to freeze the remaining grains in place. build? Most will have to retrofit. If your intent
2000F can be achieved using natural gas, coal, is to join or remain in an existing community, it's

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probably your only option. It may even be the discussions on genetic matches in a minimum
best option. population, multiple parent-partners creates half-
related children, complicating the genetic mix in
For example, I'd love to take on a project such as following generations.
turning a parking building into a city homestead.
Who wants to park on the roof anyway? Cover it For an animal, once physical prowess has
with your solar panels and garden. Your passed, with no mind or knowledge to remain of
homestead needs to have sufficient solar value to the community, or a community that
exposure for your power, heat, skylights, and recalls and rewards earlier contributions, the
garden. What are you going to put under yours? creature is typically left on it's own to die.
Something similar is frequently seen in nomadic
If you find an appropriate location, but the human societies or human society where the
residents are not yet ready to accept and act on population is beyond sustainability, as the old are
peak oil & long term sustainability, start anyway. pushed-out when they can no longer physically
contribute to the community.
Years ago, as the mine shut down, and the
primary source of income disappeared, the town A stable stationary society allows the
of Bisbee was dying. As the story goes, development and ongoing possession of tools
essentially "hippies" moved in for the low cost, and knowledge, passed on and used generation to
and put out art for sale hoping for some income. generation, with knowledge and experience
Word got around, the the location has become a transforming a weak toothless grandma/grandpa
tourist destination and art centered community. into a venerable sage. Make your life count, and
pass it on.
Get involved. Contact community leaders in all
areas. Contact the media. Join groups that may Depending on the average age of childbirth, and
have part of the picture (i.e. global warming, lifespan, we could then see families of 3 to
biking, gardening, solar power) and starting from perhaps 5 generations, for a population at each
appropriate common ground guide others to the homestead of 6 to 10 people.
greater awareness you see.
Some arrangements may need to be made to
WHAT ROOMS DO YOU NEED adjust financial equity for marriages, where one
of the two siblings moves to the homestead of
How many rooms and their extent and outfitting, the new spouse, vs bringing the new spouse to
is based on your needs and resources. How home.
many people live at the home? Absent easy
energy to move and travel, expect to see a return Remember, in a situation where we have already
to most families remaining in the same place reached the maximum sustainable population,
generation after generation. After all, where are whether it is the number of homes in a remote
you going to go? Once you realize we are living secure valley, within city limits, or the world,
on a "spacestation", with no "away" to move to, there is no new space to build a new home and
a stable population is essential. expand out.

DEMOGRAPHICS PANTRY

At the individual homestead level, this means A "root cellar" room inside the home along the
each adult can only parent their personal north wall. Ice / freezing capabilities increases
eventual replacement, whether their biological the food storage options greatly. Solar powered
child, or adoptive. Given the bisexual nature of absorbent / refrigerant (no compressor) was
the human species, at the family level this means accomplished in the 1800's, and once made, can
on the average no more than 2 children per operate for decades. Proven combinations are:
couple as the biological replacement for the
parents. While the same individual (male or Lithium bromide / water (LiBr/H2O)
female) can parent 2 children with 2 different Water / Ammonia (H2O/NH3)
individuals of the opposing sex, it shows in later Sodium thicyanate/ammonia

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(NaSCN/NH3)
Lithium nitrate/ammonia (LiNO3/NH3) Sanitation. Human urine and manure contains
Calcium chloride/ammonia (CaCl2/NH3) valuable nutrients needed by the soil. Prior to
Strontium chloride/ammonia (SrCl2/NH3) re-use, the pathogens present must be eliminated.

Evaporative cooling (where water is a readily Compost toilet. Low or no water systems where
available resource) can make a large difference. the human discharges are retained at
A simple approach, perhaps to hold food, is a temperatures and with airflow for bacteria to
covered fired clay pot, recessed in sand filling a process the discharges into safe fertilizer. Urine
much larger, unfired clay pot, keeping the sand must either be diverted and processed separately,
moist, and the device shaded. For a higher tech or most of it is lost to evaporation.
consider and air tight container, and a vacuum
pump. Fill the container part way with water, Expedient: Collect human feces and urine in a
and pull a vacuum. As the pressure lowers, the container (e.g, a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat
water boils at lower temperatures. While some on it) and after each use, cover the wastes with
of the water boils off, some will freeze. an organic cover material such as sawdust (or
peat moss, dried leaves, or even dirt if it is dry
KITCHEN enough to be absorbent). When the container is
full, transfer of the contents to a compost bin.
As potentially your greatest need for solar heat, The cover material serves a dual function of
the kitchen needs to have the most unrestricted suppressing odors and providing the carbon
solar access. Consider keeping the heat, needed by decomposer organisms to balance the
humidity and smells of the kitchen totally nitrogen present in urine. Each time the
isolated from the air of the rest of the home. waste/sawdust mixture is transferred to the
compost bin, it is covered with a sufficient
Winston non-imaging concentrators could amount of coarse organic material such as straw,
provide a constant hotspot for an oven. hay, leaves or weeds. Kitchen garbage and yard
waste may be put in the same compost bin.
Mirror or lens concentration on coils of Once the last addition is made, the contents of
circulating oil could provide a means to route the bin are allowed to compost for a year.
concentrated heat to a "burner" coil arrangement
for a stove cooking surface. Establish a compost pile of about a meter cube.
Effective composting requires:
Once you have something hot, use insulation. Sufficient moisture (50-75%)
An example, bring a pot of stew, cooking meat, Dry browns - dry leaves and grass, which are
etc. up to a rapid boil, and put the covered pot in high in carbon
an insulated box. Wet greens - green grass and leaves which are
high in nitrogen
BATH Air throughout the pile
Soil organisms.
If you're using compost toilets, perhaps you want
the bath well vented, separate from the primary It is desirable to have a ratio of 25-30 carbon to 1
home system. Provided you are not using soaps nitrogen or much more of the dry browns to the
or putting chemicals down the drain toxic to wet greens. The exact ratio is not too critical, but
plants, your bath and wash water is a valuable if your pile is not working very well try to get
gray water resource. closer to the ratio and/or add some rich soil. If
While we're in the bathroom, consider toilet nitrogen is low some urine can be added. The
paper. Absent some type of on-going specialist pile needs to be turned so that all materials reach
society, are you going to be able to make your the desired temperature at some time during the
own toilet paper? The options are more or less process.
leaves, dirt, the bare flesh of your hand, or some
leather/cloth that gets washed. Daily additions of peelings, stems and stalks
from vegetables and fruits keep the pile loose
HUMAN EFFLUENT RECYCLING and temperature up. Piles which are tight have

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lower temperatures, possibly due to lack of air viruses can cause diarrhea, infectious hepatitis
which, in turn, prevents the various organisms and poliomyelitis; bacteria can cause typhoid
from working. Piles receiving very moist air will fever, paratyphoid fever, food poisoning,
remain moist and tight due to lack of evaporation dysentery, cholera, and diarrhea; protozoa can
of moisture produced by composting and that cause diarrhea dysentery, colonic ulceration, and
being deposited on the pile by the users. The liver abscess. Some of the worm parasites that
composting process will be slowed or inhibited can be present are hookworm, various flukes,
by excess moisture concentrations. pinworm, various tapeworms, roundworm, and
threadworm. These pathogens are of concern in
Heat pasteurization. 30 minutes in a solar oven human refuse.
at 250+ degrees should kill all pathogens.
However, a significant portion of the carbon & If human refuse is applied directly to crops, the
nitrogen is lost. Lower temperatures must be length of time that the pathogens survive
150F (65C) for an hour, 120F (50C) for 24 hours depends upon soil moisture, pH, type of soil,
or 115F (46C) for a week. temperature, sunlight, and organic matter.
Bacteria and viruses cannot penetrate
Solarization. Place a 7.5 centimeter (3 in) layer undamaged vegetable skins, but they can survive
of compost from the toilet on the ground and on the surfaces of vegetables, especially root
cover it with a clear plastic sheet (1 or 4 mil vegetables. Sunshine and dry air can help kill the
thickness) when the outdoor temperature is over pathogens. If there is any concern about
27C (80F). The compost needs to be quite pathogens, compost should be applied to
smooth and free of any plants or lumps so that long-season crops at the time of planting so that
the plastic film will have intimate contact with sufficient time passes for the pathogens to die.
the soil and compost. The edges should be sealed
so that moisture is not lost. The temperature To have greater confidence in your compost for
should reach at least 55 to 60C (131 to 140F) for your garden, you can permit just your family to
about two weeks. The compost should be very use your compost toilet18. Then you know what
moist (50-75%) but not soggy, such that water has been deposited in it. Another option is to just
can be squeezed out of it. If you need, and can spread the compost from the toilet only on tree
generate the temperatures, quick pathogen and bush crops. In addition, the more air that
treatment can be done, allowing less "careful" can be trapped in the pile, the better the pile will
disposal. heat up and inactivate the pathogens that might
be present.
Pathogens, such as the Hepatitis A virus, which
is the most heat resistant intestinal pathogen, are Average pounds produced per person per year.
rendered inert by a temperature of 70 C (158 F) Source: Future Fertility19
in ten minutes, 75C (167 F) in one minute, and
80 C (176 F) in five seconds (2)(Harp, 1996 Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium
Calcium
Effect of Pasteurization, Environmental Urine 7.5 1.6 1.6
Biology). These temperatures are easily 2.3
obtained by simple solar collectors. Manure 2.8 1.9 0.8
2.0
Total 10.3 3.5 2.4
Direct soil distribution. The book, "Future 4.3
Fertility, Transforming Human Waste into
Human Wealth", John Beeby describes a rotation Range required per 100 ft. sq. of garden
system using perennial crops.
Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Calcium
0.1 - 0.5 0.2 - 0.6 0.15 - 0.50 0.2 - 0.8
HUMANURE WARNING
Range one human's effluent can fertilize each
Human refuse can have viruses, bacteria, year in ft. sq.
protozoa, and worms (helminths). There are a
number of each type that are possible. In urine, Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Calcium
bacteria can cause typhoid or paratyphoid fever
Urine
and worms can cause schistosomiasis. In feces,

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1500 - 7500 266 - 800 320 - 1067 287 - 1150 filter and filtered water drains out of the exit
pipe. Please ensure liquid does not rise to the
Manure
560 - 2800 316 - 950 160 - 533 250 - 1000 compost level.

Total ENGINEERING SPACE


2060 - 10300 582 - 1750 480 - 1600 537 - 2150

Workshop, machines, batteries, inverters,


Expect each person to produce around 1 gallon chemical storage, etc., keeping these clearly
of manure per month, which should be applied to separated from the living space. Aim for no air
no less than 50 ft. sq. monthly, otherwise you're exchange with the living space.
adding too much nitrogen to the growing
medium. Layer manure, then 2" soil, seeds, and GREENHOUSE
sprinkle soil. Move on to next 50 ft. sq., cycle
back annually for 3 years, then shift to another If capable of being completely separated from
set of beds. the living space, yet circulate air if desired,
plants can be kept warm even if there is no need
Urine must be diluted with water from 5 to 10 to for the heat in the home. Consider some plant
1. mass in every room though, i.e. growing under
the skylight.
WETLAND WASTEWATER TREATMENT
BEDROOMS
Mishandled sewage creates one of the
developing world's worst underlying problems. It What do you expect will be the makeup of your
leads to death and disease, contamination of land household? Think of the future. Plan a home to
and water, and chronically unsanitary conditions last hundreds of years. How many generations
for millions. may need to live in the same place? Do you
expect multiple occupancy of bedrooms, are
However, there an unsophisticated sewage bedrooms to be a private "home", or is it merely
treatment approach may fit the needs of the a private secure, quiet place to rest. I've seen
Third World, and a First World in crisis. This very "tiny" cabins (rooms) on yachts that were
simple and inexpensive approach employs luxurious.
various aquatic plants grown in artificial
wetlands20. Wastewaters merely trickle through A small space takes much less energy to heat or
man-made watery gardens in which living plants cool. Canopy beds were not merely for
clarify the waste stream to the point where it is appearances. In cold times, draped insulation
safe for people, animals, and the environment at allowed body heat to warm the sleeping space.
large. In principle, this low-tech process should In warm periods open mesh allowed cooling
be ideal for the world's poor countries. Plants breezes while minimizing the bugs. Envision
grow extremely well in the heat of tropics. In how small of an a/c unit would suffice to chill
fact, because there are no winter seasons, the for the evening just the inside of a canopy bed.
wetland systems should work better there than
here. Yet it is unknown. How about modest personal rooms, with the
possibility of linking them for space for couples,
PUMICE WICK those who need to monitor infants, etc., or the
ability to easily move walls? Say you've got a
A variation of wetland and direct distribution is five generation homestead, two children per
the Aerobic Pumice Wick presented by TOM generation, where one sibling each generation
WATSON. All liquid wastes drain into a filter left to reside in a similar multi-generation home
tank to hold solids for aerobic composting, of their spouse. There are probably 10 people at
allowing the liquid to drain to a bed/tank. Set up the homestead. Set the bedroom wing at 1,000
an 18" bed of pumice in a waterproof base, with square feet. The effect of an "extra" child in a
a cover of around 6" of soil. Plant roots access generation, children to younger couples, or
the bed use the nutrients and transpire the water. increase in lifespan become immediately
In the case of too much liquid, the wick acts as a

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apparent to the family as they shift the bedroom There are many products and services that are
walls. readily, and cheaply available today, which may
quickly become expensive or unavailable.
OUTDOOR ROOMS Beyond merely equipping yourself for the
projected work, a storage program may provide
Walled and screened (bugs do seem to be valuable trade goods (for that vital widget you
everywhere) outside spaces can provide forgot about), or the means for a new start.
seasonal, (depending on your climate) if not
year round extra living / storage / working space. Fertilizers, not only phosphorus, potassium &
nitrogen, but also micronutrients. Should you
EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS find yourself forced to relocate away from your
developed planting beds (or ignored making
Dead cars will be valuable sources of un-natural them) you've got a fallback position from which
resources, auto windows, conveniently made of to start.
shatter resistant glass, not to mention sheet steel,
wire, tubing, generators, pumps, and electronic Empty plastic soda bottles
parts. The same goes for "useless" appliances. Canning Jars & Lids with extra inserts
Where early mankind had to mine and refine Solar dehydrator
metals and minerals, for some time, we're likely items for meat smoking,
to find them merely lying about. Salt
Black pepper
SURVIVALIST WARNING Molasses
Salting barrels
Do not fall into the trap of survivalists or 55 gallon barrels
emergency preparedness where you believe you 5 gallon buckets
can store sufficient supplies to "tide you thru" a Magnifying glass
period of crises, and wait for things to return to Flint
normal. If you survive better than others Knives
because of your preparations, YOU may be the Tools
one who needs to provide a rescue, or rebuild Wire
civilization. Rope
Cord
"ATTIC SPACE" Fiberglass
Screen
Have you shared this scenario: You encounter Screws/Nails/Bolts
under the sofa, behind the desk, etc., some Foil
possession or item of figurative scrap, which Mylar/Plastic
you've not seen in a long time. Realizing you are
"never" going to need it again, you donate it, or SAFETY PRIORITY I
throw it away... Then the next week you PHYSICAL SECURITY & SAFETY
desperately need it.
During a widespread period of socio-economic
Contrary to those who advocate eliminating disturbances (the crash), or war, the scenarios are
"clutter", or personal possessions in general, probably NOT limited by your imagination.
your homestead needs some significant secure Wherever you are, or will be, become familiar
storage area. If I recall correctly, the same "high with the applicable laws. In particular for U.S.
chair" that endured my baby drool, was not only residents, examine the state statutes, county and
previously occupied by my older sister, but by municipal codes for the emergency powers of
our mother, uncle, older cousins, etc., being your officials. Before you buy, build, plan, plant,
passed around as needed, and returned to the etc., know what is prohibited, and allowed ways
grandparents home for safe keeping. to achieve your goals.

STORAGE PROGRAM Be cautious of what you advertise. Whether


"legitimate" or not, the "democratic" process

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(aka mob rule, there's more of us than of you, and lights, and smoke will not aid your
and we want what you got) may endanger your concealment. The nutrients of your vegetables
careful preparations. are better when fresh than cooked anyway. If
you MUST hear your favorite tunes at
WILDERNESS LOCATION ear-shattering levels, use headsets. For
non-critical night light, take a cue from the navy,
If you're planning a survivalist, isolated and use red lights, shielded so that direct light
home-site, you're looking for an area that IS from the bulb does not escape the immediate
NOT one that will be on the first choice list for area. You can see to work and move about, but
those who suddenly decide to head for the hills, there's no "beacon" in the sky or in the distance.
as providing your own security may become a For night reading or detailed work, be prepared
24/7 job, precluding all else. You also would to blackout a room. Smoke at night may provide
not want to be the likely route of a passing casual a nosey human a clue someone else is around,
(hungry, angry) observer who is headed for but unless they're close, have a dog, or have
greener pastures. Ensure your home is not gotten really good at it, they probably won't be
readily discernable from the surroundings, or able to easily trace the smell back to you.
does not appear lucrative, then even if
inadvertently encountered, it may be ignored. PERIMETER SECURITY,
CONCEALMENT AND CAMOUFLAGE
Rolling terrain, hills, etc. interfere with long
distance viewing and provide multiple Your aquaculture tanks, neat orderly biointensive
concealment locations. An underground, or even beds, greenhouse, solar panels, etc. will probably
earth bermed home may remain unobserved until provide indications to travelers that there may be
someone is almost "on top" of it. food available. When you simply must have a
lot of square feet exposed to the sun,
If you select isolation, consider just how concealment is not simple.
sustainable or ecological you can actually be.
How much damage does your new remote Rolling, uninviting terrain may be among the
homestead do to remaining wilderness? best defenses for those who select isolation. If
Kids in a pup tent in the back yard naively look you have the right climate, a lot of space, and the
at it as a "roughing it" adventure. How much ability, dispersing your food crops can lessen the
different is an attempt to create an ecological & odds of discovery, but it makes your gardening
sustainable human environment by destroying more difficult. Plant along the south slope, near
yet more of nature? the bottom of the slope, imitating the natural
distribution of plants. Knowledge of "wild"
RETROFIT LOCATION foods, or dispersed planting of crops that are not
generally recognized as food provides additional
There are those who can't (financial, medical, protection. Beyond mere concealment, perhaps
technical, etc.) initiate a new self-reliant look for ways to deliberately mislead potential
homestead in the wilderness, or couldn't remain visitors around your home, such as establishing
at such even if handed to them free. I will argue what appears to be a well-used, easy to travel
that any further such impact on remaining path that misses your home, while making the
wilderness is contrary to any contemplation of actual approach path at least in appearance far
ecological sustainability. We need to use our more difficult.
knowledge, intelligence and skills to repair what
we've destroyed, and retrofit for long term For urban camouflage the goal is the same,
sustainability, with reduced demands for new avoiding attracting attention of undesirables.
resources and recycle rather than discard. This Install barriers that block sight and access, and
includes homes, neighborhoods, and entire cities. that don't look out of place. Consider
photovoltaic panels that are integrated into roof
EMISSION CONTROL tiles, rather than the "sore thumb" versions
advertising their presence. Enclose your garden
If the surrounding territory is without food, space (which is touched on in the MESS
power, and fuel, cooking odors, blaring music appendix).

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not a pet type of person, but a couple of dogs
Whether wilderness or urban, your perimeter could easily be worth their food.
needs to be as secure as your resources and sense
of security allow/demand. In a minimal Expedient low tech. Things that make noise
homestead, where you have virtually a year- when disturbed, or make the intruder make
round growing season, and secure access to noise, or deter an intruder from a particular path,
water, you need to maintain security of an area at some of which may be frowned upon by
least 100' by 100'. You need 400' of appropriate pre-crash local authorities.
fence, or secure wall.
Landscaping. Thorns are a ready deterrent for an
Unfortunately, as touched on later in property tax unprepared human. Rocks can make approaches
and eminent domain discussions, it may be much more difficult to transverse quickly and
necessary to stay "under the radar" of corrupt quietly than smooth soil.
government officials. In this perspective,
perhaps "Secret Societies" of the past are not the Non-electric sensors. Bells or other
villains such are often portrayed, they may have noisemakers. Pull strings, rods, or hydraulics
just wanted to live and be left alone. (sealed containers with a hose between them)
that ring a bell.
DETERRENTS
Parabolic dish "microphones" are available,
In a crash scenario, where laws and courtrooms which use a stethoscope type headset. Large
have failed, interplantings of selected inedible lens, low power binoculars can assist your
crops may provide protection from human low-light vision.
predators, much as there are plants to protect
crops from insects and animals. (Be cautious Maintaining a full time human lookout for a
though of what you, and your household touch, single family homestead would be my last
and eat!) Approaches to your site can be planted choice, due to fatigue and the waste of labor.
with discouragement plants, such as those with Consider, the military generally sets security
thorns, "poison ivy", etc. Think "Halloween" watch-standing in four hour shifts.
and brainstorm for ideas that will tend to send
intruders in a different direction. As there are The person on duty need not be capable of
ultrasonics that frighten animals and bugs, are defending the home, but rather just an alert set of
there ultrasonic or subsonic frequencies that eyes and ears, to sound the alarm in the event of
effect humans? an intruder. (80 year old grandma can push an
alarm button.) Even so, your multi-generation
INTRUDER DETECTION homestead may have, at best, 6 people capable of
standing watch.
What you don't know about, can sneak up and
kill you. Limit official watch-standing to the 16 or so
hours when the homestead is not busy with
If you can maintain modern powered sensors and chores being done, and everyone is required to
alarms, a modest investment should provide stand a 4 hour guard watch at some point
warning of approaching "company". Complete virtually every night. You must trust your
systems, or individual components are available electro/mechanical security system, your
from various suppliers, such as at watchdog, or seek something better and less
http://www.iautomate.com/glossary.htm. The taxing to your individual family time and
"X-10" modules provide a means to select just resources.
the aspects that meet your needs. Also helpful
might be microphones distributed at your COMMUNICATIONS
perimeter, and "night vision".
Although it is arguable that some 20th century
You can also turn to a mobile, voice activated, humans have become communications "junkies",
self-propelled, auto refueling and self replicating access to news, and the exchange of information
detection system, often referred to as a dog. I'm

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with others is a vital aspect for security and drain, 2 or 3 AA batteries and can be in service
continued development. In the event of a high for months. $30 to $50 each.
altitude nuclear “EMP” burst, all bets are off
regarding the survival or use of any electronic Family Radio Service - (FRS). Frequencies
device, including obviously communications. around 462MHz and ½ watt power limits the
Devices stored in “shielding” may or may not range. 14 channels for use. Some units feature
work. Short of an EMP, many other situations 38 ”codes” which let your unit respond only to
can effect local and distant telecommunications. other units transmitting a designated tone. Don’t
expect more than a mile. $50 each for basic FRS
If broadcasters are still on the air, reception only models, $90-$190 for higher-end models with
devices can provide critical information. The additional features.
NOAA weather radio system has an “alert”
system where some radio’s self-activate. After General Mobile Radio Service - (GMRS) like
an initial alert though, you may find you want to the FRS operates in the 460MHz region. GMRS
have the radio on 24/7. A small radio with “D” requires an FCC license with a fee and users
batteries wired in may last for some significant must be 18 years or older. Power is 1 to 5 watts,
period of time, but still using up your batteries, for a range of 5 to 25 miles, depending on
even if solar recharged. (see “toys” later) Your terrain and antenna position. There are 23
news needs CAN though be met, perhaps for GMRS channels split up for base, mobile relay
DECADES, without power by a “crystal” radio. and fixed station or mobile station use. Each
license is assigned one or two of eight possible
Two way communications takes more work. channels or pairs as requested by the license
applicants. In order to avoid interference or
Cell Phones – Cell towers may have limited conflicts in use, the FCC recommends
battery backup, and may be overwhelmed by call monitoring existing frequencies in your area
volume. Don’t try voice, send a text message. It before making your application and requesting
takes a tiny bit of your phone power, and only an your channels. GMRS radios are bigger, higher
instant of tower processing time, potentially able power means more batteries (as many as 6 AAs)
to “sneak thru” a small gap. Don’t be too and a higher price. Expect to pay $200 for
optimistic though. handheld 2 watt units and considerably more for
5 watt base station transceiver.
CB Radio – Little development of the radios has
happened since the 70’s, so while the prices Amateur Radio - “Ham Radio” is the most
aren’t bad, the equipment is primitive. Useful regulated, perhaps the most expensive, but may
antennas tend to be large (4′ to 8′ on vehicles and be the useful. All hams and their stations must
larger for “base” or home stations). With smaller be licensed by the FCC.. To receive a license,
antennas the effective range is drastically you must pass a written exam. Any license above
reduced. Transmissions tend to “leak” into all the entry level also requires a proficiency in
kinds of other electronic devices, in your home Morse Code. There’s no fee for the license
and neighbors you will often be heard on TV (which is good for ten years), no age requirement
speakers, corded telephones, electronic keyboard and operators are allowed to use any frequency
speakers, etc. Sometimes, during favorable for which their license qualifies them. There is a
atmospheric propagation, range can be as great nationwide system of repeaters on the 144MHz
as several thousand miles. Get units with Single and 440MHz bands built, installed and
Side Band (SSB) capabilities and the Weather maintained by active and well-populated local
receiver. amateur radio clubs. Traditional amateur
frequencies in the shortwave bands provide
49MHz Personal Communicators - Limited excellent coverage for local, regional, national,
very short range use (1/4 mile max). Very small, and even international, communications.
usually single channel but up to five. Early Unfortunately, there’s not one radio for all of
cordless phones, baby monitors and a few other these capabilities which is why hams typically
devices share this band. Extremely low power have three or four separate radios and antennas.
The starting level is the “Technician” class

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license which requires a written test based on a threatening or using deadly force, is in protecting
text available through many sources. This class yourself or someone else from a clear danger of
allows the user to operate(among others) in the 2 immediate serious bodily harm or death.
meter band (144MHz). Small handi-talkies for 2
meters are relatively cheap and give a range of WEAPONS
20-50 miles depending on terrain, power and
whether or not you’re using a repeater. Many Pre-crash, selection of weapons is of course
repeaters provide access to 911 services through subject to locally applicable law, which may
the handi-talkie. $200-$500 for 2 meter have strict, or unusual requirements.
transceivers. Each radio carrying person needs a
Technician license. Self-defense law varies by jurisdiction, and in
the United States can be quite different state to
Long-range communications without a ground state. Many jurisdictions require that you, the
infrastructure grid seems to be limited to victim of a violent crime, retreat, or attempt to
ham-radio22. *I would appreciate input on a run-away, and that you must be trapped before
"sustainable" approach to radio. you are allowed to defend yourself. This is not
(2006) the case in Arizona.
Toys – Wind up flashlights, radios, etc., have
very limited long-term use. Consider, plastic In Arizona, USA, private ownership of even
cranks and gears, springs that fatigue, etc., and fully automatic weapons is not prohibited, and
the cost to replace such (IF they can be replaced) obtaining a "concealed carry" weapons permit is
vs if you are home, a far better option to devices relatively simple. But for some reason, the only
that wind up, have solar panels, etc., is a big box weapon PROHIBITED in Arizona is nun chucks.
of batteries, and independent dedicated battery
chargers. On the flip side, IF the cute toy would Firearms. Many people mistakenly claim
help your sense of security and takes up less weapons are the source of crime rather than a
space and weight than extra batteries, go for it. reaction to it. This is rather like blaming your flat
Just don’t have you life dependent on it. tire on the spare you carry in the trunk.

EVERYONE FIGHTS It's not that a weapon becomes a necessity when


a society starts to break down… it is weapons
If your child, spouse, best friend, etc. is attacked, that allow society to be maintained. Defense of
would you ignore the situation, or help them? self and others is just one of the areas where
we’ve abdicated our personal responsibility, in
If any member of my household is assaulted, or the case of defense to the military and the police.
an intruder detected, I would hope that everyone How effective could the military and the police
would respond in some appropriate manner be, if they were unarmed?
based on their skills, physical capability, and the
situation presented. Our complacency may be coming back to haunt
us, consider without the military, and the police,
When you are attacked, you have to how long would an unarmed population remain
deck your opponent. free? History, and, recent news show what
happens when armed force is absent. In the
- Hillary Clinton (Presidential
simplest terms, it's a question of who is able to
Candidate)
exert or threaten force, and who is not.
A general legal guideline in “sane” jurisdictions In a likely coming scenario of expensive or non-
for personal23 use of physical force, or existent energy, supplies, products, and probably
22
In 1879 a "Morse Code" portable 2-way force, AND check the laws in your jurisdiction
wireless was operated in London. The device is as to the scenarios as to where the government is
in a museum. “justified” in use of such force against you. For
23
Check the laws in your jurisdiction for your example, what happens if you refuse to pay you
legal ability to threaten or use physical or deadly taxes, and decline to volunteer to go to jail?

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food, a greatly scaled down economy, and with it anti-firearm extremists. A firearm is a tool. It
scaled down tax revenues, and therefore can be a work of creative art. It can be the
government tax revenue, we are going to have to means by which a diminutive, frail individual
be much more self-reliant. can refuse and prevent injury or worse from
others far stronger, and numerous. It is, as
We are about to enter a potentially very dark Samuel Colt commented, a great equalizer.
period, and fear is immobilizing. Those who
will not stand and defend another, or even Examine the motives of those who oppose
themselves, rely either on the good-nature of firearm possession by other than those whom
those around them, or the acts of heroic others to they would anoint with special power and
act in their stead. privilege, and ask why.

There are evil people out there. There are many Sustainable. The first weapon that comes to
today who have no reservations about taking mind as "sustainable" is bow and arrow, which
whatever they want, and I would conjecture that literally grows on trees. Other tree based
the numbers of such will increase in the coming weapons would include include the spear and it's
years. Consider the news stories about those who atlatls throwing holder which significantly
quietly submitted to an assailant, hoping to increases the range and power of a spear throw.
minimize the confrontation, only to be tortured With an investment of more time and effort a
to death. Consider these evil people being sling arm, trebuchet, or catapult can toss
emboldened by an effective lack of police. crushing projectiles long distances.
The online encyclopedia "Wikipedia" indicates
Selection of appropriate modern weapons often the pneumatic reservoir (pump up a storage tank
spurs strongly opinioned debate, which I leave to of air) guns have been in use since around the
you and your friends. While I do not encourage 1500's, and may be considered rugged and
anyone to adopt any particular weapon, I simply sustainable in low technology conditions.
report that my preferred sidearm is a .45 ACP
pistol, and a 45-7024 lever action rifle. Whatever In light of articles on potato or tennis ball
your selection, examine it from a sustainability "guns", powered by an exploding mixture of
position, if we do indeed experience a deep alcohol, gasoline, butane, etc., I continue to
crash, and a "dark age" period, can you maintain wonder if a functional rifle could be made
the operability of the weapon, and provide a powered by an exploding alcohol/air mixture.
continuing supply of ammunition?
"Clouds" of fine flammable dust can explode, as
Regardless of the weapon selected, follow the has been demonstrated by explosions in grain
basic rules: “Treat every gun as if it is loaded. silos.
Never point a gun at anything you are not willing
to destroy. Finger off the trigger until the sights Also, a powered centrifuge might be able to
are on the target. Be sure of your target and what serve as a repeating high-velocity "sling". Might
is behind it.” sounds over a PA system distract attackers?
(Pre-positioned speakers behind places where
I point out though that starting as we are from attackers might hide, or sounds of animals or
the bottom up, and considering the great leverage gunfire, or I've heard there are "sounds" below
in security provided by availability of modern audible frequencies that create nervousness in
firearms, should make clear the utter folly of the many people.)
24
The longest verified shot from a .45-70 was SUPERSTITION / FEARS
Two Miles. The Report of the Secretary of War,
1880 included "… Mr. R.T Hare of Springfield Real or imagined animals, ghosts, etc. may
Armory who has the enviable distinction, so far unnerve those who are already disoriented,
as is known, of being the only person in the having seen their entire "world" collapse.
world who has hit the 'Bull's-Eye' six feet in
diameter… at 3,200 yards.” LIGHTING

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When you decide to light up the area, consider
that you WANT the light "in the eyes" of Individuals. If not hostile, do you feed them?
intruders, but NOT in your eyes. Once a light is Even if you send them on their way, if you've fed
activated, it's location is obvious to all nearby. If them, will they return? Will they return with
you want your light to remain, despite "hostile" others, or send others your way, as an easy
approaches, consider what a slingshot, air rifle, "mark" for a free meal? Do you let them camp
or well thrown rock will do to most lightbulbs. on the property, or ignore their camp just off the
property? How to guide them to establishing
If practical, place the bulb in a protected area, their own sustainable village?
and put the light where you want it with
reflectors. Even aluminum foil will reflect a Friends / family. Perhaps the hardest question of
significant portion of the light, yet projectiles all. If you've got a year of food storage, and
thrown at the light will just pass thru the foil. gardens sufficient for your family, and not much
more, what will you do?
ANTICIPATED "INVADERS"
Real animals. In a disaster, pets may wander
What type of hostile "enemy25" is expected? In away, or be cast out from homes that can no
the 1950's and 1960's, talk of atomic war longer feed them, or people heading to shelters
prompted some to prepare fallout shelters. At that do not permit pets. Such animals, when
the time, and perhaps in retrospect, some saw the hungry, can readily revert to their instincts and
shelter building activity as foolish. Your self- become pack hunters.
reliant home may be similarly cause you to be
the object of criticism by those who will not see What is your response to a "government" that
the problems we face. But if done well, those decides your stored food is now illegal
shelter spaces continued to be an asset, and may "hoarding"?
once again, in the coming crash, prove their
value as fallout shelters. Similarly, your self BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE
reliant home, even if there is an energy
breakthru, has reduced your living costs, while If you can, keep a gas mask near by, and
providing peace of mind and a form of complete body cover. Check out the firms that
"insurance". sell hazardous material handling clothing. Short
of this, at least get a quality face mask (NOT the
Organized Army. As shown in the operations of cloth/paper ones) designed for use in painting.
formal Armies, against less well equipped and
trained adversaries, "strongholds", even those If you think you have been exposed to biological
constructed by the oil rich Iraq regime, are no agents, get to your physician. In the absence of
match for computer guided bombs. Probably professional medical care, implement home
the best defense against a formal Army is to remedies. Note, guidance on the web indicates
simply avoid a conflict in the first place. Don't that, should you have antibiotics available, DO
be obvious as a desired asset. Don't be an NOT start their use until you are certain of the
enemy. infection. Antibiotic use may adversely effect
your "normal" resident bacteria, giving the "bad
Mob. A stronghold has value against a mere guys" an advantage.
mob, but I would still propose every home has
it's own reinforced safe-room, rather than one Stop eating your normal, cooked food diet, opt
group location. Interconnect these safe-rooms instead for a very light diet (almost light fasting)
with communications wiring, pipe, etc. as of fresh fruits and vegetables.
technology and resources permit.
Drink lots of pure water, and take:
25
As opposed to you directly confronting an
enemy, can you remain hidden from view, or if 1000 mg every two hours of Natural Vitamin C
discovered redirect any attack such that one with bioflavanoids. If infections symptoms such
enemy of yours is pit in battle against another as aches or fever begin, take hourly. Raw garlic,
enemy of yours, vs you doing the fighting? one small clove crushed several times per day.

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Colloidal silver solution, one dropper several Say you own your home free of any mortgage,
times per day (see generation instructions and you have no personal commercial debt.
elsewhere in this treatise.) Echinacea— several Your home is fireproof, and you're quite content
times per day Goldenseal— several times per you can take care of yourself. You collect all the
day Olive leaf extract— several times per day water you need from rainfall, and grow your own
Grape seed extract (or other high-potency anti- food in your biodynamic garden. Solar cells
oxidant)— several every few hours. provide all the electricity you want, therefore
you don't have any need for cash, or to work.
"SAFE ROOM"
Wrong.
Potential dangers still include events not
necessarily "aimed" at your, such as hazardous You have forgotten about your property taxes26.
releases, extreme weather, earthquakes, The government will decide how much they
eruptions, flood, etc. Examine FEMA, which believe your home is worth, and how much you
has materials describing building a room in/near owe for the mere privilege of having your home
your home for tornado safety, and NBC warfare setting in the community.
protection.
If you improve your home, your tax will go up.
SAFETY PRIORITY II
REVENUES & RESOURCES If your neighbors improve their homes, your tax
will go up.
At the beginning of 2007, the U.S. government
asserts if an individual earns $10,210 or less per If big picture inflation (caused by the
year, or a family of four $20,650 or less per year, government) raises prices, your tax will go up.
then under federal guidelines they are living in
"poverty". If you must pay rent, buy food, While outside the domain of the local
water, power, etc., pay to own and operate a community, the illogic is similar with vehicle
vehicle to GET to work, you probably are registration - a fuel sipping low air pollution new
impoverished. (And GREATLY at risk in the hybrid is taxed far higher than an ancient gas
coming financial collapse.) guzzling, leaking polluter. These taxes are
contrary to logic, if as professed the purpose of
But if your homestead is fully paid for, and the taxes is to achieve some social policy. (Of if
capable of meeting your minimum "life support" a policy statement is intended, consider how sick
needs, you need not panic in economic such a policy appears to be.)
disruptions.
You may have expended all of your liquid
How secure is your job, business, or other resources obtaining and outfitting your
income? What investments other than a secure homestead, and be out of a job. The taxman
home have you selected? Inflation MIGHT raise won’t care.
income and/or the cash exchange value of other
assets, allowing payoff of a mortgage with Warlords, (mafia bosses), etc. demand protection
inflated dollars. Or income might disappear and payments from the serfs, funding the warlords
paper assets fall to zero value, putting your enforcers and hangers-on. How is the property
possession of your home in jeopardy. tax so different? Somehow, you must come up

You need to understand21 the financial markets 26


WHAT TO DO: Politics, lobby and become an
and products, and realize the risks you may be activist for the elimination of real property taxes,
taking by going along with the crowd. (For a starting at the least with residential property that
broader presentation, see the Financial Issues is owner-occupied. At the most basic level, this
Appendix) type of tax hits the hardest those least able to
pay, and forces those who would otherwise be
A TAXING SITUATION able to eliminate their excess resource use, and
involvement in the marketplace, to perform some
service to be able to pay their tax.

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with the arbitrary protection fee, or the county officials decide it would benefit the public,
will impose a lien against the title of your even if the property is not blighted and the
property. That lien can then be sold, and if you new project's success is not guaranteed.”
fail to pay off the back taxes and interest for
three years, your title can be foreclosed in court, Some state governments implemented
and someone else will own your home. protections. Some, such as Arizona in the 2006
election, had protections implemented by a
For perspective, what if the county announced referendum coming not from the elected
that each year it was going to take an intangible officials, but from the people.
property tax 1% of every bank or other financial
account in, or owned by someone in the county? REGULATORY TAKING

This economic cannibalism by government edict Those who have or desire power over you must
is the anti-thesis of security, and the anti-thesis of have a means to reward those they desire, and
the operation of eminent domain, where the punish those who fail to obey. Direct theft in the
government takes your property and pays you. form of taxes or taking of property under
It functions to discourage permanent eminent domain is obvious. Less clear but
improvements. perhaps more direct in establishing control is
exampled by "environmental" regulations over
In short you are forced to sell goods or labor - the water in a prairie pothole, and the quality and
forced to work. Your earnings will of course be quantity of pothole water sources. (Yes, there
subject to federal and state income tax, social are members of Congress who author and submit
security tax, medicare tax, etc., all before you such proposals.)
receive any funds to use to pay the property tax.
As repeatedly submitted, the law would allow
If you improve your home or business, the federal control of your rainwater collection.
county government will raise your tax, When you have achieved local self reliance in
regardless of your cash flow. And it can get life support, you see less need to work for cash.
worse. As others follow your lead, and real income and
tax revenues decline, you must be vigilant for
Coming the other direction, up from the those who will seek to ensure your obedience by
grassroots of your self-sufficient homestead, the creating a monopoly on some essential aspect,
better job you do in changing your lifestyle, and such as water.
setting up your home to eliminate dependence on
the grid, or fuel flow, or the commercial food INCOME FOR INCIDENTALS
system, the less you are, for now, a source of
revenue… And later, the greater you are a source Are you planning on some continuing stipend,
of supplies if the local government decides to such as a pension from a private sector employer,
quit pretending, and admit how far we've come or the government, a stipend from Social
in the government being a group of mobsters, Security, or investment payouts? Do you really
demanding protection payments. believe they can be depended on?

If you minimize the taxable aspect of your home, RETIREMENT INCOME


and live simply, you may face being forced off of
your property under “Eminent Domain” Are you entitled to a pension? Where does the
proceedings. In earlier years, this was only used money come from? Where does that entity
when the government needed your property for a (government or private sector) get the money,
public purpose. The U.S. Supreme Court when the economy is not functioning? The news
decision in 2005 however upheld: in 2006 included growing mention of private
sector firms being unable to pay promised
“…that local governments may force pensions. General Motors at least offered
property owners to sell out and make way employees a cash departure option, in lieu of a
for private economic development when pension and benefits. Which would you take, a

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promise of a payment in the future, or cash now you were looking for 5% annual earnings, in
that you could invest? theory you might be willing to pay $1,200 per
share, at a facility estimated value of $12
U.S.A. million.
SOCIAL SECURITY
As inflation raises the dollar “value” of the
As of 2005, the news is finally mentioning facility, and the rents, it makes it look like the
Social Security, and the disaster that the system cash value of each share is greater. Would you
is. When the "baby boomer" generation, which buy this stock as an investment? Is it an
includes some of the highest earning (and tax investment?
paying) citizens retires, stops paying taxes, and
becomes eligible for some of the highest Social Your officers gain from the new pool and
Security payments promised, a fiscal disaster recreation area, the investment in solar panels,
awaits. The U.S. federal government can't make insulation, geothermal heat storage, etc. Do
the promised payments without taxing and taking you?
not only 100% of the annual gross earnings of
the nation, but it could require taking everyone's Your investment has no actual cash-flow value.
property and selling it to someone outside the Your investment brings no right to any physical
nation. possession or facility use. The numbers look
good on paper, but you only make any profit if
The most likely course is to make SS "means you can convince someone else to buy your
tested", so that if you have a retirement income, shares at a later inflated value. It appears this is
you won't receive SS. The most likely means for a “speculation” (perhaps something short of a
the government to make Social Security gamble) where the only way you physically gain
payments, is to simply print the money, inflating is to run a successful campaign for corporate
the currency to a disaster. officer, and get a free apartment (worth $6,000
per year).
PRIVATE INVESTMENTS
Earn – Provide goods or services to someone
Do you believe that in a collapse of the else at a profit to you
infrastructure, you will be able to sell your Save – Accumulate your earnings in a safe
stocks/bonds? Will you still receive interest manner.
income? Could you find yourself HOPING to Invest – Expend savings on an asset with
sit back and relax, but with no USEFUL money apparent and enduring value, producing income.
actually coming in? The boomers are highly Speculate - Fluctuating value depending on
invested in securities. As they retire, they will public opinion.
want cash for their spending. If SS payments are Gamble - More likely than not to lose value.
limited, stock sales will come faster. The oil
crash may make some stocks worthless, UNEMPLOYMENT / WELFARE
requiring further sales.
As with pensions, anyone receiving or counting
To example a corporation. Envision a 100 unit on unemployment or government welfare
apartment building, held by a corporation that benefits must plan on a future WITHOUT any
only owns only the facility. The three corporate such benefits. It's simple, the economy crashes,
officers live in the building, getting a free tax revenue disappears, therefore welfare
apartment but no salary as a requirement of their disappears.
management of the operation and maintenance of
the building. The overall averaged net unit The author seeks a clear, factual explanation
monthly rental income is $500 per unit. There from anyone who can demonstrate that in a low
are 10,000 shares of stock outstanding, 1% energy, essentially self-sufficient future any
owned by each officer. The stock does not pay program that entails mandatory over-production
dividends, but instead re-invests all profits in by “someone”, to be taken at the point of a gun,
improvements in the facility. Total annual profit to provide for non-productive members in a
for the facility is $600,000, or $60 per share. If society, can be sustained. Can anyone who is

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rational vote for any politician that advocates Expect to need a completely separate means,
such? independent of the government currency, to
value local transactions outside your homestead.
INFLATION
Whether the government mandated public
Inflation, although appearing as a general currency, or your local currency, once the units
increase in prices, is in other terms a decrease in are determined, currency can of course be
the value of currency. Inflation is often promised for future delivery, loaned, found,
exampled by Germany in the 20's, when they destroyed, etc.
printed a billion Mark note on only one side, to
save ink, and a classic story of a man who took a Consider a currency denominated in some easily
wheelbarrow of money to the store to buy bread. understood unit, where the unit itself represents a
When he couldn't get the wheelbarrow thru the potential barter item. You have as a goal a
door, he left it outside, certain no one would steal means to continue local transactions without the
the worthless money. distortions created as the government
manipulates the national currency as a means of
He was right, someone dumped the money and government policy.
stole the wheelbarrow. But inflation dates back
to the earliest currencies, Rome inflated its The "Gold Standard", touted as an essential
currency, even though based on precious metal means to avoid currency devaluation (inflation),
coins, by mixing other metals, clipping the coins, is in reality simply setting a clear barter unit to
or making them smaller or thinner. "Modern" denominate currency. As a demonstration of
inflation, like the German situation, does not holding value, it is probably true that the same
require physical alteration of the currency, to $20 gold coin which in the 1800's would buy a
shrink its value. new gun, or a quality suit, will due to the value
of the gold in our devalued dollars be
In an inflating economy, in general, depositing exchangeable for the same goods. Gold can be
money in fixed percentage income investments mined, or used, altering the stored supply
(bank accounts, bonds, etc.) can be a guaranteed “backing” a currency. Gold may be attractive to
LOSS for you, if the rate of return after all some, and have some minor yet significant uses
applicable taxes does not clearly exceed the rate in a technical society, but it is not essential to the
of inflation. This guaranteed loss also applies to function of a simple or modern society, and may
anyone who is living on a fixed income, whether not be an optimum unit of currency.
from employment, or a pension.
Locally, anyone can create money. Consider a
In a continually inflating economy, in general local barter note system where a plumber fixes
those who borrow at fixed rates, and use the the pipes in the home of the dentist, in exchange
money in carefully selected investments, will be for an "IOU" note good for a root canal. The
able to pay off their loans with cheap dollars, and plumber trades the note for pipes and parts from
build fortunes thru leverage. This plan of course a demolished building. The note can continue to
requires appropriate selection of investments, circulate for so long as people are willing to
and a continuing economy that actually pays out trade for it, perhaps even past the retirement of
the inflated dollars. the dentist. Your neighbor provides you a bushel
of apples, and you in return give them a promise
MONEY to provide one kilowatt-hour of electricity.

Money is simply an agreed unit of exchange, so The challenge is not in creating a currency, but in
that there is no need for a complex barter system. creating one where the units are standard and
The money specified by a government taxing easily understood, relatively stable, and the
authority, is the money in which they want to be system is generally accepted. Finding gold adds
paid. You must somehow generate the required units to the economy, but no new functioning
currency. value, as would more bushels of apples, or an
increase in power generating capability.

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bank gets paid first, then the banks lawyers, and
FINANCING YOUR HOMESTEAD IF there is anything left, it might go to you.

While a lot of your homestead can be "sweat U.S.A.


equity", unless you inherit it (or stand to inherit) INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
somehow you are going to have to pay for the
real property. There are real estate markets In most cases, the home is the largest investment
where for example speculators, who have bought for a family. In the U.S., those with funds in an
for the purpose of re-selling at a higher price, IRA, 401k, etc. potentially have another asset
have temporarily flooded the market with approaching the value of the home. To tie these
borrowed cash such that the price of homes together, your IRA money CAN be invested in
clearly exceeds the ability to pay of the "typical" real estate. While you cannot live on the
family that would ordinarily be expected to property owned by YOUR IRA, you can live on
purchase the home. In such a scenario, due to the property owned by your NEIGHBOR's, or
the mortgages, the price correction is not likely even you siblings IRA, and they on yours. If you
to take place unless and until the speculators are need to live and work somewhere other than
unable to sell or rent to cover the mortgages, and your retirement / retreat location, put you IRA
default repossessions occur. As of late 2007 money in the "second home".
though, the federal government is talking about
“bailing out” the loans of these speculators. A valuable point to consider is using a ROTH
IRA as a savings account. Your interest grows
Please pardon the bluntness, but IF you have to tax-free. The ROTH is not subject to
pay for such, WHY? Our parents, grandparents, garnishment / seizure under the typical lawsuit,
etc., had to have lived somewhere, why is it that yet it has the advantage to you that if you need
we seem to take it for granted that each cash, you can withdraw your original deposits
generation is going to have to "make it on it's WITHOUT TAX OR PENALTY.
own", to go out and mortgage their life, forced to
work to pay the finance company. ECONOMICS

Why don't we all inherit a stable functioning Getting in place a homestead that can meet your
homestead? Some things wear out, or become life support needs should be a first priority.
obsolete, but a well done home can last Consider though, can you grow all of your own
generation after generation. Too many of the food, make your clothes, build your home,
decisions of our ancestors, and ourselves, have engineer a car, appliances, etc?
been short-sighted.
To the extent that you own your own shelter,
If you are not living at, and standing to inherit a garden space, make clothes, etc., you are
fully functioning multigenerational homestead, capitalist27, owning the means of producing your
make it part of your plan that your children will. necessities. In continuous ownership by the same
family, the usefulness and value of capital
Could you pull together your parents, improvements accumulate to the benefits of
grandparents, etc. to one location, or at least coming generations. To the extent that your own
within walking distance, to consolidate your assets provide for your life support needs, you
resources and natural interdependent support eliminate the need for outside income and
group? purchases, making you an autarky.

If your home is financed, beware of foreclosure


by your finance company if you miss payments.
If there is any significant "equity" in your 27
Note, the authoer would argue that
property, in an economic downturn you become corporations are not "capitalist" in nature. They
a likely target. Even if property values have for hardly represent individual private ownership
some reason declined, YOUR property with and responsibility, and are in many aspects
equity has become a more viable foreclosure creatures of and subservient to the government,
target. Remember that in a foreclosure sale, the rather than the purported individual owners.

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Does it make sense for every individual / family
to do everything for themselves? Will your That which is available, affordable, and
spouse do open heart surgery if you need it? If sustainable in the most likely situations. This
you think there should, or must be specialties, has been essentially ignored in our century+ long
you've created economics. Some level of oil party. Hopefully you will be inspired to
grouping can get by with a complex barter personal research and planning.
system, where ditch digging is exchanged for
chickens, which are exchanged for dental work... Numerous articles on creating your own "home
grown" technology are available online at
A long term sustainable economy will be... http://www.vita.org and at http://www.itdg.org.
different. Start, with the elimination of "housing When the functional lifespan of your purchases
starts" as being seen as a positive economic ends, will you still have a need for the product or
indicator. In ecological reality, new housing service? If so, can you repair or replace it with
construction means either some previous what you have remaining? The greatest source
structure was or had to be destroyed, or some of energy on Earth, is the sun. It evaporates
new area of nature had to be destroyed. "Gross water for rain, powers worldwide thermal
Domestic Product" (GDP) figures include the currents in the air and water, and thru
money spent in the un-sustainable industrial food photosynthesis provides all of the food
system. It includes business that creates toxic consumed.
pollutants, it includes cleanup of those
pollutants, and medical costs of those injured, On your own property, with you own property,
NONE of which is a positive effect. If with your own creativity, what can you
significant quantities of people once again grew accomplish?
their own gardens, the personal improvement in
food quality, safety, and security, would be Solar/steam micro hydro for power. Consider a
presented as bad news, an economic "downturn" large tank of water capable of withstanding
as spending at food merchants reduced. modest pressure, not necessarily much about
typical city water pressure. Could solar
LIFECYCLE PLANNING concentration then be used to generate steam in
an insulated bladder, to push water thru a micro
If solar panels have a useful life of 20 to 30 hydro generator into another water tank?
years, and I anticipate a continuing need for
electrical power, I have that long to find an Vertical axis windmill. Even numbers of
alternative. Silicon cells are a high-tech opposed arms, each holding flexible material
process. Low tech p/v cells can however be sails. On the power side, the wide billows the
made from blackened copper, and thermocouples sail open, pulling a cable to help hold the
also offer direct sunlight (heat) to electrical opposing sail closed as it moves to windward
power conversion. during rotation.
Regardless of what you buy or install now, can
you maintain it, or replace it? Understand it? Clay/ceramics. What could be more
“appropriate”, dig clay, add water, form, bake in
PARTS & TOOLS a solar oven.

With a modest collection of quality hand tools, Other solar devices. Israeli research has
even a neophyte can make modest repairs, developed a relatively simple means which uses
disassemble obsolete equipment, or fashion vital a parabolic mirror to concentrate sunlight onto a
devices. Imagine trying to "double dig" you fiber optic cable, which then leads to a light
garden without a shovel, or loosen a bolt without scalpel, useable as a laser scalpel. Sunlight can
a wrench. be used to directly “pump up” a laser to firing
power. It can heat dangerous compounds past
Obsolete devices are a potential "goldmine" of the temperature where they separate into
parts and raw materials. harmless atoms or compounds. Light can readily
be manipulated by lenses or mirrors. Given a
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY crashing infrastructure, my feeling is that shiny

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material is going to be easier to obtain than Web and computer files are the fastest means of
precision formulated and ground lenses. Take finding and gathering information, but rely on
the simple fact that light reflects off a flat mirror continued computer technology. Unfortunately
at the same angle it strikes the mirror. Now for surviving humanity, the web may be an early
envision many tiny mirrors rather than one large victim of the collapse. Download to local
one. If the angle of adjacent mirrors are adjusted storage any file you file valuable, and print all of
right, the light can all be reflected onto a single those you find essential.
spot, or spread to provide diffuse illumination
from a single bright beam. Microfiche is a means of storing a great deal of
information in a small package, that can be read
with a child's toy microscope.

Books probably remain the most practical means


of gathering, storing, and passing on knowledge.
Your local library should be able to order for you
on "interlibrary loan" virtually any book. Read,
please! A potential sustainability library (with a
lean toward a desert environment) is in the
Bibliography28. Used bookstores, several of
which have online search functions, can yield
may priceless "gems".

Plan as though your library is the only one that


survives the crash, if your luck is bad, it might
In sixth grade, as part of a statewide “Solar be.
House” competition, once my daughter got the
concept, she was able to use cardboard and Sustainable agriculture
mylar gift wrap to make an 8” wide parabolic Farming
curve. She used this to concentrate on black Gardening
plastic ½” irrigation hose. It melted the hose, but Trees
not before it proved that in minutes it raised the Hydroponics
temperature of water flowing in the hose to past Organic Farming / Pest Control
114 degrees F. Food conversion technologies? (soybeans to
tofu, sugar beets to sugar)
Her design, shown above, is a two story Solar energy
courtyard home, with second floor outdoor decks Passive Solar
on the south 1/3, and the solar panels on the roof. Photo voltaic
It is intended to be earth sheltered halfway up Hot Water
the lower floor. This combination active / Homesteading
passive model took first place. Slaughtering / Meat Preserving
Homebuilding
KNOWLEDGE Tool Making
Cloth Making
What does a human know by instinct? Husbandry (horses, cows, pigs, chickens, etc.)
Technology
We have no instincts for even food. A human Old Technology
must think about what is food, how to find it, How things work
grow it, hunt it, preserve it. We have no Technology Repair
instinct for making fire, writing, reading, or Medicine
even speaking. We must each learn from the Homeopathy
preceding generation. Herbology
- The Virtue of Selfishness, Any Rand
28
Start with publications such as Amaranth to
Zai Holes, available online free from ECHO.

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Math Earth is a sphere, around 8,000 miles in
Elementary Math (Teaching) diameter, orbiting the Sun in a path of a slight
Algebra ellipse at a distance of around 92 million miles in
Geometry / Trigonometry 365 days. We rotate on our N/S axis once every
Calculus 24 hours. Our axis is tilted about 23.5 degrees
Statistics relative to the plane of our solar orbit. This tilt
Language means that every day the apparent path of the
Reading (Teaching) sun across the sky is a little different. That said,
English the path can be calculated, and accounted for in
Writing positioning of solar interfaces (p/v, heat
Spanish (simple translation) collection, plants, etc.
French (simple translation)
German (simple translation)
Chinese (simple translation)
Russian (simple translation)
History
General Histories
Maps
Politics
Art / music
People
Literature
100 greatest books of 20th century
100 greatest classics

Planning for a library points out an obvious


factor, which is language. You and your family Referring to the above diagram, set the angle
must understand each other. It does you no good between the ground and the north pole of the sky
to have books you cannot read and comprehend. at the same number as your latitude. The daily
You should understand and be capable of using path the sun takes will be 90 degress to the sky
the language which has been used to preserve the pole. Assume a line from the center of the
information you need. ground position that is 90 degress from the sky
pole line. To locate the path relative to the sky
EDUCATION pole, the highest summer sun will be 23.5
degrees to sky-north of a right angle, and the
How are you as a teacher? Can you serve as a winter sun will be 23.5 degrees to sky-south of a
teacher for your children, for even the basics of right angle. The circles scribed are the locations
K - 12, let alone some technical specialty? If where you see the sun from the center
you must, or choose, to undertake this challenge, observation point.
good news for you is that standardized testing
has shown that home-schooled children can learn The Earth constantly presents an 8,000 mile
as well, if not better, than those who attend a diameter disk to the sun. Due to factors such as
more traditional class. If your homestead is reflection, refraction, and the angle of the surface
remote and isolated, you have little choice in in relation to the sun, probably only around a
whether you will home-school, only in the 5,000 mile diameter disk receives useful
curriculum you will prepare. sunlight. This area when not shaded receives
energy at the rate of around 1kwh (3412 BTU or
It seems obvious, that if you have access to 859,845 heat calories) per sq. yard of direct solar
"experts" in any particular field, they should exposure. In planning your solar harvesting,
teach that field. If you have neighbors, do you remember that in general in your summer the sun
know their background and abilities? will rise polar of east and set polar of west. In
the winter, it will rise equator of east and set
SOLAR PATH equator of west.

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TRANSPORTATION It takes 3 minutes (at 20 mph) to travel a mile, so
the electric bike uses 1/20 times 750 watt = 37.5
Absent an energy breakthrough, biofuels cannot watt/hours to go a mile. Grid electricity costs 8
possibly be generated to meet present demand. cents per 1,000 watt/hour. In running a mile, the
Much of the population will have to walk, or electric bike needs 3.75% of a kilowatt hour, or
perhaps ride a bike. about 3/10 of one cent of electricity.

Pedal power, referred to as bicycles, but more Round-trip travel between the further most
properly human powered vehicles, can meet a points of a grid city 11 miles on a side (see
great deal of local transportation needs. Per Chapter VII) would be 44 miles. The electric
power used, a bicycle is the most efficient bicycle would require 1,650 watt/hour, or just
vehicle available, with a typical adult on an over 13 cents of electricity, and just over an
upright bicycle able to maintain a speed of 10 to house of travel time each way. (Less if you
12 mph. The same person on the recently pedal.)
“rediscovered” recumbent should achieve a
higher sustained speed due to lower air Until human powered light vehicles, such as
resistance and the ability to provide a more variants of bicycles are the PRIMARY means of
efficient braced "push" on the pedals without transportation, perhaps a bike friendly
also straining back, neck, arm, etc. muscles as is community needs a separate network of bicycle
required on an upright bicycle. roads or "tracks." The author recalls at least one
such separate bicycle path in Seattle, running
behind homes and businesses, with independent
bridges over major roads, allowing essentially
non-stop bicycle travel for 10+ miles. It was
primarily for recreation. (The author prefers
restricting heavy vehicle use and opening up the
local community roads for manual or low power
bicycles – such as the 750 watt federal limit.)

The test: Are you comfortable sending your six


year old to/from 1st grade on the bicycle paths
between your home and the school?

BREAKTHRU PROMISES
A recumbent bicycle enclosed in a streamlined
fairing has been pedaled at sustained speeds of Amory Lovins, of the Rocky Mountain Institute
over 65 mph - try THAT on your mountain bike. (www.rmi.org) essentially presents in his online
book "Winning the Oil Endgame" that advances
Personal powered vehicles. The cost and in materials (light and strong) and in fuel cells
complexity of batteries, fuel cells, etc. may keep will so revolutionize transportation that we will
personal vehicles from returning to anything somehow be able to continue to drive where and
approaching the widespread ownership and use when we want, with no problem of fuel
of today's industrial nations, or at least from availability or price, but he presents no
resembling a 20th century automobile. consideration for expanding population, or the
initial energy source for generating hydrogen
In 2006 federal law classified bicycles with a fuels.
electric motor of 750 watt or less, and not
capable of traveling under power more than 20 Consider for a moment alcohol as a fuel. Corn is
mph, as NOT a motor vehicle. States may not a potential alcohol crop, but I remain convinced
require them to be registered, or require a that it will be more valuable as food, and as a
driver’s license to operate them. beverage for escape of misery, before it will be a
practical fuel.

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All biofuels have the same "problem", the In 2006 MIT battery advances in lithium-ion
efficiency rate of converting sunlight to a useful technology, labeled A123 Systems, by use of
fuel is horrible. Corn for example manages to nanoscale particles to coat the battery electrodes
convert at best 2/10 % (two tenths of one doubles power density, with peak energy of up to
percent) of sunlight to food matter, then, at a five-fold, and great drops in recharging times.
wild guess, 80% or more of that is "lost" as They are on the market as M1 batteries in Black
solids in the brewing process... You end up with & Decker portable power tools.
say 4/100% (four one hundredths of one percent)
conversion of light to fuel... To attain increases in speed, great increases in
power are required, or efficient streamlining. A
The most promising biofuel engines are diesels. standard, upright and open bicycle would
A diesel burning "clean" fuel releases 15% to require:
20% less CO2 per mile than a gasoline engine,
and gets 40% better miles per gallon. A diesel Horsepower
can for example be run on pure plant oils Mph 21 .25
(peanut, olive, etc), or diesel can be made from Mph 26 .50
organic waste. It can never be a gallon per Mph 60 6.00
gallon replacement, but it is a viable fuel for
essential mobile power. Compare to the earlier faired recumbent, pedaled
by a .20 hp human at 65 mph+.
Vs P/V panels at 15% conversion to electricity,
then 50% efficiency splitting water to get Biofuel trains. Great increases in the efficiency
hydrogen as fuel... You end up with 7.5% (seven of burners, and steam engines show potential for
and one half percent) conversion of light to continued long distance land travel by efficient
fuel... trains on well graded and maintained track. This
is however not a consideration until a sustainable
Despite the much "better" numbers, solar p/v - community is well beyond the level of a single
hydrogen is a "loser" in any thought of keeping family, or small gathering.
the present fuel gulping infrastructure going...
LIVESTOCK
In my daughter's 6th grade, she was part of a
group of kids who engineered a single seat, solar Animals do not necessarily compete with
powered three wheeled vehicle. With a 200 watt humans for plant foods. Before the inedible
motor, it could operate at something over a portion of plants or food scraps can again be
walking pace solely on solar power from the available to plant roots, it must be broken down
panels it carried. But it was hardly what is seen again by compost bacteria and insects, or a meat
today as transportation. animal.

Beyond being a food source, they also provide a


source of leather and other materials, as well as
service as beasts of burden.

Burros. The small donkey of the dry lands of the


world is supremely adapted to living off the
browse and meager feed often available, and for
its size is surprisingly strong and a magnificent
beast of burden. Not to be laughed at, the burro
can easily be adapted to useful roles on the farm,
including basic transportation and pulling carts.

Chicken. Hybrids will not properly nest. 5-10


chickens, 1 rooster. Feed daily handful of grain
& food scraps. Japanese jungle fowl (Biosphere
II)

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SYNERGY
Fish. Tilapia, catfish, or local varieties. 10" min,
48" max deep, 12-15' dia. Dip in the pool (as if a Appropriately layered, putting all of the above
teabag) a bag of horse manure, as food for algae. together, we could all be living in a home which
Scrap meat and bugs as food for fish. (Grow provides our daily needs, air, water, food, shelter,
flies on trays of manure & water, and drop larvae for our multi-generation family.
into the pool)
Solar utilization. In theory, a 1/4 acre area that
Goats. Goats may be produced for about the receives at least moderate sunlight in reasonable
same purposes as cattle, and their smaller size weather conditions can meet the food and home
makes them suitable for many situations. They energy needs of a multi generation family.
are often grazed on open range in arid regions.
They are browsers (nibble at a variety of plants), Food. 8000 to 10000 sq. ft. of crop area exposed
and sometimes are better adapted to production to the sun (1/4 acre). In the summer, depending
of useful meat than cattle, especially in heavy on latitude and weather conditions, experiments
scrubland. While goats may be raised for milk, have shown some crops actually do better with
the really fine milk varieties are not well adapted reduced sunlight, perhaps as low as 1/3. As
in the tropics. Sensitive to rain and cold. opposed to shading, can you engineer a means to
Nigerian dwarf (Biosphere II) divert part of the sunlight to another level? This
could double, or almost triple (losses in the
Ostriches have been around for perhaps 150 system) your effective solar growing area.
million years, and have some traits of dinosaurs,
such as wing claws. The meat is red with less Consider a two floor greenhouse. Facing the sky
fat, less calories and less cholesterol than is a "shade layer" consisting of a matrix of
skinless chicken or turkey. The Ostrich egg is diffusion grids, and light collectors with light
equivalent to 2 dozen chicken eggs, averaging tubes. The overhead diffusion grids scatter the
about 60 eggs per year. An Ostrich may have 12 light to the top floor of crops. The light tubes
square feet of find quality leather. They have a route light to a lower floor, with more diffusion
unique immune system, and oil rendered from grids to scatter the light to the lower floor crops.
their fat has medical benefits. Adult males are In the summer, you may be able to grow two
eight to ten feet high and weigh 350-400 pounds, crops in the same square footage of one.
with the female slightly smaller. The Ostrich can
run at speeds of up to 40 MPH for sustained Solar utilization for power. With clear skies,
periods (can they pull a cart?) An Ostrich will every square meter of direct solar exposure
live to be 50 - 75 years old. receives around 1 kw of power. Low efficiency
panels (10%) requires 10 sq. meters (12 ft. per
Pig. Ossabaw Feral Swine (Biosphere II) side, 144 ft. sq.) exposed to the sun for an hour
for every kwh of electricity you need.
Pigeon. Nest in groups, mate for life, live 7 Remember, that if the sun is not directly
years, become attached to their home nest, lay overhead, the panels need to be tilted, and
every 6 weeks. Take young birds at 1 lb. just therefore shade more ground space than they
before new eggs are expected. have exposed to the sun.

Rabbit. 3 doe, 1 buck, in hutches out of the rain. Daylighting and solar heat collection. One solar
Feed greens along with some oats or bran. tube type device per room, and heat panels
exposed to the sun.
Sheep. In addition to the wool-bearing sheep of
the temperate zone, there exist hair sheep which Multi level. With your family living under your
are much better adapted to the tropics. In food source, your structure if spread under the
addition to their value in producing meat, such entire growing area could be 10,000 sq. ft. per
sheep are often used to control weeds in level, plenty of room for a multi-generation
orchards, and thus constitute a profit-producing homestead. Does your family have a business to
biological control. operate? How about a business on ground level,

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home above, and garden/solar collection on the the other hand, seems to suffer from hyperopic
roof? (farsightedness), an inability to recognize a
serious crisis when it is close at hand. In the
As reported in Mother Earth29 Issue # 42 - middle are a few lone voices, such as ourselves,
November/December 1976, the Farallones wondering how the nation will manage to
Institute of Berkeley, California project “The dedicate the necessary trillion dollars to develop
Integral Urban House”, was a 100-year-old alternative energy if none of our leaders see it as
Victorian house, adapted into one of the then a critical issue."
country's most innovative and successful "urban
homesteads". While many will not admit it, elected leaders (at
all levels) and heads of major industries are
The project was on a 1/8-acre city lot. While aware of the problems. What they do not have a
the solar exposure area of the lot is insufficient to grasp of is a solution they can impose which
provide complete subsistence for a family, the preserves their position and power. The U.S.
innovations in the structure are great "food for Department of Energy is experimenting with
thought" regarding optimizing a micro- probably every energy device imagined.
environment for human habitation, and that such
an environment is NOT "natural" by any stretch If you are one of the (relatively) few who see the
of the imagination. problem in advance, and prepare, do you want
government, big, or local, to steal from you your
home, storage of supplies, food, seeds, etc.? Or
Regardless of your location, what you need is a do you see the government's job as
mini-ecosystem that is tailored to your family PROTECTING you from such theft by others?
needs. Surely, nearly 25 years later, we can do
better. We need to educate public and elected officials
on how their actions affect individual abilities
SAFETY PRIORITY III and local businesses, and in particular what they
MORAL & PHYSIOLOGICAL need to STOP.
Do you believe anyone has the right to enter
your home against your will, take your water, A belief that any current political party, or
food, money or other property, unless you are the politician, has everything "right" for long term
one who refused to perform your side of a trade, sustainability is naive…
or deliberately or carelessly caused harm to
someone else? Attempts to foist such a belief on others is
disingenuous…
Do you base your relationships with others on
religion, national origin, race, etc., or the positive Our current industry, politics, and personal
and pleasant nature of your interaction with paradigms developed in an era of cheap
them? abundant energy, expanding population, and
what seemed to be unlimited resources… All of
POLITICS this is ending…

"One faction of society's leaders22… suffers from We need to not only work on personal
myopia (short sightedness), in that they refuse to preparations, and remove the roadblocks to
see the long-term energy fundamentals or the further realignment of the infrastructure, but to
consequences of a serious energy crisis. The remove the artificial incentives and support that
academic and environmentalist community, on feeds the current mindset. One of our first
"pushes" has got to be removing the "zoning"
29
Mother Earth News has online a searchable restrictions that essentially outlaw home-based
index of vitually every previously published businesses. We need to get rid of the stupid
article, and should be considered an initial go-to barriers, not only to home-based businesses, but
source for ideas or palns for simple self reliance in some places even clothelines are banned…
projects.

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Multi-use zoning, or eliminate zoning? What
animals are allowed? We have evolved a complex (mess) government.
What is really needed? What changes are
We need to re-think from the grass roots up, not needed? (As indicated earlier, what about
bumble blindly on… starting with elimination of real property taxes?
At least on all residential property?) Do you
Be warned though, those who do not to follow realize that "tax freedom day" is probably in
the expected normal conduct of the majority are July? This reference means that in general, if
often subjected to harassment, persecution and you allocate your salary for the year, the first 6+
prosecution, and even physical attack. months or your labor goes to pay your various
level taxes.
Members of groups such as this, who "see" a
problem such as peak oil and other resource If there are government rules or programs that
depletion that is yet ignored by most of the are contrary to long-term sustainability, seek
population, may for the time being be seen as them out, bring them to the attention of the
some type of "kook". We must act with caution, electorate, and seek their elimination.
to avoid fueling the fire of such a belief by
others. At the same time, we must "wake up" Government is essentially "out of control". As
such of the rest of the population as can be we have it, the government is a thief and multi-
awoken. Calm, rational presentation of facts level coercive, not a protector our friend.
must be an underlying principle.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
We must focus on the goal of preparing
ourselves, our homes, neighborhoods and A homestead should be planned to provide, in
community for the self-sufficient and self-reliant the long term, for the relevant family. In general,
lifestyle that logically appears necessary when this starts with a voluntary partnership of a
energy decline becomes the obvious norm. husband / wife, and such extended family
While we recognize preparation needs to start members as voluntary live together. With no
now, we must also recognize the challenge elsewhere for generations to move to, it will
presented when others wait too long. fluctuate at around 4 generations.

We need to not only work on personal At the homestead / family level, it may seen
preparations, and remove the roadblocks to ridiculous to comment on a formal organization
further realignment of the infrastructure, but to structure, but the thought is relevant to later
remove the artificial incentives and support that discussions.
feeds the current mindset.
A family may have some aspects of "voting", or
Multi-use zoning, or eliminate zoning? members in some manner providing input, but in
the end a family is probably "run" by the
What animals are allowed? member(s) most capable of doing so. I believe
you will find extended families for the most part
We all bring with us the "baggage" we have to be meritocracies - leadership based on talent
accumulated during life. Our notions, or ability, with significant influence from the
infrastructure, industry, politics, religion, etc., owner of the major assets, or the wisdom of the
has all developed with a paradigm of continued elders.
expansion of population, and apparent unlimited
resources and energy.
ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Peak oil shows that paradigm is ending.
In planning / executing your plan, have you
I argue re-thinking everything from the grass taken into account the ecological aspects of your
roots up, not only the physical needs of a single actions? Are you planning on buying a plot of
person, but our laws and government. trees, and clear-cutting them down to build your
structures, sell for income, and burn for your

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heat? Do you intend to pump-down a
groundwater supply, divert a large portion of a Nutrition. Not only for weight loss and
surface supply, etc? What are the net effects of conditioning, but to build your immune system.
your plans?
MEDICIAL CARE
SAFETY PRIORITY IV
HEALTH SECURITY Unless a member of your household is a
physician, nurse, paramedic, etc., your home
It is a common event, that we ignore our health, medical care is probably going to be limited.
even for the sake of fun, or for the sake of our Anyone who requires ongoing medication, or
family. We certainly work in jobs where our their care provider, must plan in advance for a
health is impaired. long term storage program of medications, OR of
some locally renewable alternative. A broader
Your health however should be a priority, not an discussion of home remedies is in the appendices
afterthought. Do you know what is "good" for to this treatise.
you, and what is not?
There is good news though, even in primitive
The transition period to a post-oil paradigm may conditions. Although we like to think that our
be a distinctly unpleasant period. Given the medical science should be credited with overall
extent of dependence on oil, the scenarios are better health and the decline in mortality, in
probably NOT limited by your imagination. A reality medicine probably accounts for only a
defeatist attitude often expressed about nuclear small percentage of the improvements. A better
war is that the living will envy the dead. and more varied diet, and basic sanitation are far
more deserving of credit.
Can you physically, and/or emotionally cope
with essentially what may be a life-long Complex medicine is more useful in treatment of
emergency? The concept of limited resources? injuries, and those diseases which have become
Can you physically respond to squatters, or more noticeable as people susceptible to such
raiders, or worse? survive, where in earlier centuries conditions
would have meant their early demise.
PHYSICAL CONDITIONING Unfortunately, we have to a large extent moved
past the benefits of improvements in food
Disrupted industries, food delivery, contaminated availability, to agricultural practices, processing,
air, water and food, and just plain hard work may and diets that while of sufficient calories, are
prove to be more than many can physically deficient in other essential nutrients, and contain
handle. Are you ready to live on in tough times? additives, which may be damaging us.

Immunizations. There are numerous nasty germs That said, if you need the care of a physician,
out there that are kept at bay by the technology and such is available, how do you pay for it? Do
and services of our modern civilization. Absent you expect your doctor to work for free, or for
protections, and with increased breeding barter? Do you believe any insurance program
grounds, "old" diseases may gain new footings. you may have will continue to function?
These diseases remain "typical" in third world
countries. Consult your physician for what HEALTH INSURANCE
additional immunizations you should have if you
were planning an extended trip thru a variety of General Motors (2006) has $64 billion in
impoverished third world nations. outstanding UNFUNDED healthcare obligations,
which is $50 billion more than its market
Exercise. If you're not in shape, work with your capitalization. Do you want to be dependent on
physician now and establish an exercise this? In a scenario of hyper-inflated currency, do
program. In selecting your exercises, consider you believe any government program would be
the type of physical labor you are likely to be viable? If Congress just "drags it's feet" about
doing. My personal focus is on bicycling and passing an annual budget, the programs shut
shoveling. down.

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In a localized economy, friends, family, and provide for yourself and your family absent the
physical assets will probably be required. present infrastructure?
Consider health insurance as an agreement
among a group of people to pool funds such that You can do on your own property and with your
if one member needs an expensive procedure, the own assets anything you have the capability to
group has/will agree what portion of the achieve that is not legally prohibited. BUT:
accumulated funds can be so exhausted. The Assume you, and/or your family completely
typical member is NOT though "on the hook" equipped a homestead with everything from this
beyond money already deposited, and is free to chapter, planning on isolation. Do you have the
drop out, or move on to a different pool at will. technology and technique to repair or replace a
broken plate or cup? How about a p/v panel? Or
The income tax code has made it difficult for even a light bulb?
employees to move on, as the range of insurance
pool options are often selected by the employer. Preparedness, even modest efforts, can make a
huge difference in how well you survive a crisis
When the government runs the "health situation. But survival preparations alone do
insurance" program, the average citizen30 little for a long term outlook for your heirs, and
typically DOES NOT have any other option in humanities future.
selection of treatment, even if they want to pay
independently. The government decides who First do no harm. Have at most two children,
gets what, and who pays what. and given our overpopulated state, preferably
one. Take responsibility for your own household
Whether thru an employer, private contract, or and life support. Share the knowledge, and work
mandated by a government, big picture with at least two other households to awaken and
investment or tax insurance accounts can easily guide them toward sustainability. In your
become mere numbers on paper. Financial security, and the security of your family, friends,
investment values can fall to zero. The value of and neighbors, you gain the strength and
currency can fall to zero. resources to look to greater development.

Your "natural" insurance pool (health or The achievements of an organization are


otherwise) consists of your friends and family, the results of the combined effort of each
those who come to your aid (we would hope) individual.
without need of monetary payment, or a - Vince Lombardi
government compelling them to do so.
Location. Where do you want to place your
THINK BIG PICTURE family homestead? In the wilderness? Do you
have everything you need? Do you have
There are those who believe they are rugged neighbors for help if you need it? ABSENT the
individualists31, who can head off into the crash, what about a simple medical emergency,
wilderness and go it alone. How well can you or even a visit to a grocery store?
30
The Roman empire offered not only "bread and
circuses" for masses of idle citizens, but also With a secure home, reliable water and food, in
medical coverage. It was typical for a physician short when you at least temporarily feel secure,
to be paid by the local government, to provide you can begin to reason out a bigger picture, how
care free of charge to the population in general. we got where we are, where we need to go, and
This arrangement did not draw the best the next steps. Setting aside the present
physicians to public service, in particular when paradigms which developed in a short-term fact
the wealthy and powerful would pay well for pattern, what limits do you face as you
resident or visiting doctors. contemplate a scale larger and longer than a
31
While everyone must be capable of providing single family?
for their own life support needs, it is impossible
for any one person to globally shepherd a project
of personal responsibility.

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Sustainable Civilization: From the Grass Roots Up
Chapter II - Physical Sustainability Factors and Limitations

The present infrastructure and ideologies of mere subsistence. That said, much of the
civilization developed in an era of cheap remains of our inheritance must be used to play
abundant energy, expanding population and what world-policeman and prevent war on a global
seemed to be unlimited resources. All of this is scale. We will, probably, continue misguided
ending. Given present knowledge and science, programs that sustain a growing underclass of
humans are faced with physical limits. We need individuals who return nothing to society.
to recognize what these limits are, and re-think
our civilization from the grass roots up, not With the food production and shipping made
bumble blindly on. possible by oil, as well as energy to transform
the landscape, and overcome the environment,
HISTORY humans have overpopulated32 like a plague over
the planet. For the present, humans can live in
In this past 100 years, the incredible places, and in concentrations that are impossible
development of our global society and to sustain without oil.
population expansion was made possible
primarily by oil, which provided a store of Our strategic reserves, established as a "buffer"
cheap, concentrated, portable energy, as well as against OPEC economic actions, and for security
plastics, medicines, clothing, pesticides, paint, use, represent less than 30 days supply at our
and thousands of other products. normal use. And, these reserves can not be
pumped faster than a flow which would be
God blessed the United States with an original around 17% of our normal daily use. So, the
supply of about 260 billion barrels; only Saudi governmental reserves, if NOT used for the
Arabia had more. From 1859 to 1939 the U.S. military, could keep 17 percent of the economy
produced two-thirds of the world's oil. Part of going for a few months. Our total domestic
the motivation for Japan and Germany in WWII supply could only operate the nation's present
was their lack of resources to cope with the infrastructure for a relatively brief period. Until
combination of expanding population and we have an alternative, we're stuck providing
increased per person demand, with a particular security to keep the foreign oil flowing.
shortage of energy in the form of oil. It could
easily be argued that American oil, and the In 1859 when oil was struck in Pennsylvania,
industrial output it nourished, was a major factor Americans traveled on horseback; in 1969 they
in World War II, as was our hydroelectric power drove Mustangs and flew to the Moon. In 2069,
which allowed for production of great quantities those who survive will probably walk. Will your
of aluminum for aircraft. For oil, taking heirs, if they live, live in a comfortable self-
California as an example, this one state had more reliant modern city, or hide in caves?
than all Axis territory combined. As recently as
1950 the U.S. was producing half the world's oil.
32
When is an area overpopulated? When its
Today, we now don't produce half our own oil, population can’t be maintained without rapidly
and absent a scientific energy breakthru, we depleting nonrenewable resources.... By this
should probably preserve it for national defense standard, the entire planet and virtually every
use as the oil era ends. nation is already vastly overpopulated.
- Dr. Paul R. Ehrlich, Stanford Professor of
Starting immediately, should make every effort Population Studies and author of The Population
to use our power, technology, knowledge and Explosion (1990).
resources to transform our oil-dependent society
into one that is sustainable, above the level of

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FOSSIL FUEL FOLLIES estimated23 cost in 2005 is $2.80, while a barrel
RETURNING TO "KING COAL" is selling for over $60.00. (21 times cost) At
that ratio, coal to oil would retail at $931.77 per
A century or so ago, humanity switched, in large barrel, with a gallon of gasoline at around $22.18
part, FROM coal TO oil as the primary fuel. The per gallon. (Your calculations may vary.)
U.S. has perhaps the largest remaining coal
supply, estimated to be around 270 Billion Tons, The coal-oil investment would represent a 29
currently being used at the rate of around 1.7 year timeframe to come up with something else.
billion tons per year. (158 years at 2006 rate) (Less when you consider rising demand and
increasing difficulty mining.) Will we re-throne
Every barrel of oil has around 6,048,000 BTU, King Coal? It is at the top of the President's
and every ton of coal around 20,000,000 BTU 2006 Advanced Energy Initiative.
(equal to 3.3 barrels of oil).

If coal were as readily accessable, easy to


process and use, the U.S. coal supply is equal in
BTU's to around 890 billion barrels of oil. I've GREENHOUSE GAS & GLOBAL
seen on the web conversion efficiency rates of WARMING
40%, so the conversion uses about 7.6 billion
tons of coal to make 10 billion barrels of oil, for Without some level of greenhouse gases (i.e.
a combined coal and liquid fuel lifespan of 29 CO2, water vapor, & methane) most of the Earth
years, with a total of 290 billion barrels of oil. would freeze. For perspective however, the
present (400 ppm) level of CO2 is reported to be
But of course, BTU's are not the only issue. higher than at any time in the past 650,000 years.
There is the dangerous work of mining, the The level of these gases are effected by factors
environmental damage left behind at the mine, such as the number of animals (including
the pollution from coal use, and it is of course humans), plant cover, in particular forests which
NOT able to directly power most of the present can store a great deal of carbon, and the release
machines. of "new" carbon from the human activity of use
of fossil fuels.
In June 2006 the reports are that a coal to liquid
fuel facility would cost $7.5 billion for a plant We seem to be clearly approaching a level of
that could produce 150,000 barrels per day greenhouse gases where there is potential for
(around 54 million per year). It would take 182 dramatic global warming, telling us of the need
of these facilities to replace the U.S. annual use to cease fossil fuel burning. At the same time we
of 10 billion barrels, costing about $1.4 trillion to are warned of impending peak oil, where oil
build. cannot be pumped fast enough to meet demand.
The clear consequence of peak oil, to be
Amortize the plants over the production in their followed by decline, probably quickly in
useful life and without interest or profit for pumping rate, is the dramatic increase in the
anyone the plants cost $12.96 per barrel. price of all oil derived products and services, and
the end of many of such.
In 2005 the price of coal used at synfuel plants
was $42.78 per ton, so the coal cost for each The Kyoto treaty is often presented as an
barrel is $32.41. Taking efficiencies into account essential example of international cooperation to
and amortization of the construction costs, with reduce carbon emissions. However the treaty is
no inflation, and no demand increase, the clearly flawed, in that it fails to require that quite
production cost of coal-oil is around $44.37 per a number of countries actually comply, even if
barrel. they join in the treaty.

China, with an estimated population of 1.3


For perspective, the per barrel well-head cost of
billion (and still growing) has become essentially
oil in Saudi Arabia in the 1950's was 7 cents. In THE worldwide source of a large variety and
the early 1990's it was little over 50 cents. The
volume of consumer products, and which in its

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burning rate is (2006) the #2 volume polluter in fuel current U.S. demand for oil for another 80
the world, rapidly catching-up with the U.S., is years. But there’s more to the story.
for treaty purposes EXCLUDED from
compliance. As with oil sands, enormous amounts of energy
would be needed for both the heating and
As of 2006, China is constructing the equivalent freezing processes. Rand estimates that a single
of one large coal-fueled power station EACH 100,000-barrel-a-day operation would require a
WEEK. Over their roughly 60 life span, these dedicated 1.2-gigawatt electricity generating
facilities could collectively put into the station--a size that would be comparable to one
atmosphere the amount of CO2 that has of the nation's largest power plants, like the New
heretofore been released by ALL OF THE COAL Hampshire nuclear giant, Seabrook, which
BURNED SINCE THE DAWN OF THE serves 900,000 customers."
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.
To generate that power using the oil recovered
Sulphur dioxide emissions in China rose 15% in form the project would probably require burning
2005. There are areas of China that are black at each site 14,256 barrels per day. This leaves a
from coal soot and slag heaps. net for each site of 85,744 barrels per day. To
fuel the U.S. would require 319 of these. To fuel
The rising demand in China for all resources puts the world would require 958.
it a #2 for fossil fuels, and #1 for virtually
everything else. Cement, uranium, aluminum,
corn, soybeans, zinc, and in particular copper. Commentary: This supply is distributed
undergound over a 16,000 square mile area.
Despite extensive expansion, there remain even Liquid oil can flow to the pumping site. The
significant cities where electricity is not yet proposal for shale oil is to drill and heat the rock
available in private homes, and only while in the ground, then pump the oil as it
intermittently for businesses. China has separates from the rock. This only works of
underway nuclear plants expected to average one course in a limited around around the drill site,
new plant each year for the next 20 years. To which must be moved (Redrilled).
transmit and use this electrical capacity, China
will need a lot of copper. So much that estimates If shale oil had to meet 2005 U.S. annual use,
are that if every ounce of remaining copper in with no increase in demand, the above best
the world were mined and sold in China, the recovery estimate would fuel this country for 68
demand could not be met. years. It could substitute for world (2005) use
for 22 years.
The Canadian tar sands project in Calgary, and
the pipeline to carry the oil to market is China TAR SANDS
funded: from Canadian tundra to Beijing taxi, 17
days. Canada has in its tar-sands an estimated 175
billion barrels of oil, spread out in locations the
Pollution, is pollution. CO2, is CO2, the size of the State of Florida.
atmosphere does not care where the CO2 was
generated, it still effects the temperature the These oilsands look and feel like molasses, and
same. are found in bands 6 to 10 meters thick. Two
tons of oilsands yield about 1.25 barrels of tar
SHALE OIL and a barrel of crude oil. However, if all planned
development is put into operation, the expected
"Colorado24, Utah, and Wyoming harbor a store peak flow rate is around 1.095 billion barrels per
equivalent to 2 trillion barrels of oil--more than year. This rate would meet a grand total of
all the crude that has been produced worldwide 3.65% of world demand, for a period of 158
since the petroleum age began. A Rand study years. It would keep some governments in
estimated recently that 800 billion barrels might military vehicles, and the ultra rich in some toys,
be recoverable, which would be more than triple but if somehow processed fast enough to be
the proven reserves of Saudi Arabia and could

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humanities sole-source it would fuel temperatures and pressures there, as opposed to
"civilization" for about 5 years. being buried biological matter that grew in
ancient sunlight. It may be true, but even if it is,
Despite difficulties in processing, under the rate of production can't keep up with our
construction in 2005 was a 1,160 km pipelinle to annual use. If oil was being produced deep in
carry the oil to the Canadian Pacific coast. the earth at the rate of 30 billion barrels per year,
long ago the entire planet would have been oil.
BIO-FUELS
THE NUCLEAR OPTION
While manmade bio-fuels meet or exceed fossil
fuels in quality, they are impossible to produce in A nuclear fission reaction26 releases around 10
the quantity necessary to sustain the present million times more energy than chemical
infrastructure. processes. Current (2005) world uranium use is
around 65,000 tonnes per year. with production
In full page color ads (2006) Chevron tells us, of around 40,000 tonnes per year, the difference
"With current technology, one acre of soybeans made up from drawn-down of stocks and the use
yields 60 gallons of clean-burning biodiesel of material from the Nuclear Weapons.
fuel". Yes, but with 2006 global use of fuel at
1.260 Trillion gallons, it would take 21 billion For the past decade (2006) prices have been low
acres of soybeans to replace our fuel use. The due to use of "old" material, which is expected to
world has 4.898 billion25 acres available. If all of be exhausted by the middle of the next decade.
the cropland was planted in soybeans, we might The price of uranium was $23 per kg in early
replace 23% of our annual fuel use, but no one 2003, and $110 per kg in 2006.
would eat.

An early 2006 article in Mother Earth News on Uranium is not particularly rare. There is an
biodiesel presents an apparently optimistic view estimated 40 trillion tonnes of Uranium in the
of biodiesel production. The article indicates Earth's crust. To date we have mined less than
that the United States has 6 million acres of one ten-millionth of this. The relevant
cropland that are fallow, asserting that if all of information though is what can be recovered
this acreage was planted in rapeseed, it could using known technology.
conceivably annually provide 6 billion gallons of
diesel fuel. Estimates as of 2005:
Setting aside considerations of putting our last
fallow cropland into use, let's put this amount of Readily recoverable at around $130/kg is 4.7
fuel into perspective. In barrels, this is 142 million tones. If each 1 GW light water Nuclear
million barrels. Approximately 2 BILLION Power Plant consumes 30 tonnes of fuel per year
barrels per year are used in the U.S. in the food this "easy" to get uranium represents 157,000
production industry. reactor/years. Say we already have 441 (1006)
in operation, so it's enough to keep them
Therefore, the loss of every "spare" acre of operating for 355 years.
farmland could replace perhaps 7% of the fuel
used in farming and food processing. If these reactors represent a continued output of
1 billion watt/hour through the year, then for
There are, absent fossil fuels, means to example at 100% efficient conversion of oil to
sustainably obtain clean water, nutritional food, electricity that it would take around 5,280 of
appropriate clothing and shelter, but not in these reactors to replace our 2005 oil use. Then
sufficient quantities to sustain the present the "easy" uranium extends our present global
population, let alone provide any excess. energy use levels by 30 years.

ABIOTIC THEORY
There is potential for additional recoverable
uranium of 35 million tones, for a total land
There are theories that oil is constantly being
based estimated available and useful supply of
produced deep in the earth by reactions in the

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39.7 million tons. If known supplies are all There is of course the concern over spent
mined it could provide power for 1,300,000 Nuclear Fuel (SNF), which is highly radioactive.
GW/reactor years (each equal to burning 9000 The TransUranic component of SNF must be
tonnes of coal per day). In 2005 oil equivalent it isolated from the environment for 100,000 years
represents energy for nearly 250 years. or more. The fission products typically reach
background levels after 500 years.
Good news. A nuclear plant may produce 93
times more energy than it consumes. Or put There is research into "burning" the
another way, the non-nuclear energy investment TransUranic's in either advanced reactors or
required to generate electricity for 40 years is accelerator driven subcritical assemblies, but this
repaid in 5 months. technology has not yet been developed to work
on a large scale.
The oceans may represent a repository of a
further 100 million tons, for another 600 or so The bad news. There is of course the small
years, IGNORING of course the energy & problem storing 39.7 MILLION TONS of highly
method to ensure every single ounce of the ocean radioactive waste for 100,000 years. The time
passes thru the collection device, and the energy "storage cost" of this waste we impose on our
of isolating a microscopic quantity per ounce. children is immense, for 200 or so years of
power, a horribly short-term view.
In total, if uranium fission is used to meet energy
demands equal to those at the turn of the THE ENERGY LIMIT
millennium, it MIGHT provide power for 620
years. This timeframe of course must assume no Our readily available source of sustainable
increase in population, and no per person energy is solar. There is logically a maximum
demand increase by anyone in the world. amount of solar energy that would be available
to an Earthbound human society. Imagine we
For an eventual future global population, if covered the entire surface of the Earth with solar
stabilized at 6.6 billion, and eventually all living panels (think Trantor in Asimov's stories, or
at something like the U.S. level, the total Courasant (spelling) in Star Wars).
uranium would last:
Every square yard of the surface of the Earth
Years of Power exposed perpendicular to full sun receives
Reliable Recovery 1.4 around 1kw of energy. A square mile contains
Questionable Recovery 11.9 roughly 3 million square yards. Using 10%
Ocean Recovery 29.9 efficient panels is represents AT BEST 300
Total 43.2 megawatt of generation.

Some CO2 emissions arise from the construction The Earth presents an 8,000 mile diameter disk
of the plant, the mining of the Uranium, the to the sun. But remember, the world is not flat,
enrichment of the Uranium, its conversion into is tilted relative to its orbit, and rotates. The
Nuclear Fuel, its final disposal and the final plant further you are from the equator, the less sunlight
decommissioning. The total estimated CO2 per square meter of surface, therefore covering
emitted per KW-Hr is less than one hundredth polar regions with solar panels would be
the CO2 of Fossil-Fuel based generation. impractical. To provide continued collection in
the non-polar regions, the entire earth would
The Chinese Nuclear Power Industry has need to be belted with panels. At any given
contracts to build new plants of their design at moment though, probably a circle of 5,000 mile
capital cost reported to be $1500 per KW and diameter or less would face the sun adequately
$1300 per KW at sites in South-East and North- for solar collection. Area = Pi x radius squared.
East China. The greatest growth (2006) in With present solar panels (say 10% efficient),
nuclear power is in China. how much power could we intercept?

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It's an area of 19,634,954 square miles exposed To replace "just" our recent 30 billion barrels per
to the sun. It is 60,821,233,704,000 square year is an array constantly in the sun of 701,248
yards, each intercepting, when not shaded by square miles. To have a five thousand mile wide
clouds, an average of something under 1 swatch of constant sun at the equator equal this
kilowatt. (For design/building purposes, area, we would need a solid band of photovoltaic
remember the curve of the Earth. To expose a cells around the earth at least 140 miles wide,
5,000 wide area probably requires 7,500 mile across oceans, mountains, etc.
wide be covered on the surface of the Earth.)
The "real world" power per facility footprint is
Assume half are shaded by clouds at any given of course NOT as good as the above. In 2005
time, so it's intercepting something under Stirling Energy Systems started planning on a
30,410,616,852,000 kw. Readily available p/v solar thermal generating facility for the desert in
panels are around 10% efficient, so we could southern California.
expect to have 30,410,616,852 kw.
The facility, to generate 500 megawatt, will have
Let's compare the energy to our oil use. a footprint of 6.25 square miles. (Roughly 19
million square yards.) This planned facility tops-
Recent annual oil use was 30 billion barrels, or out at 80 megawatt per square mile, vs the 300 of
126 billion gallons. theoretical top using 10% panels. In a quick
estimate, to expand this real-world facility to be
A gallon of fuel has 144,000 BTU, equal to large enough to replace our annual oil use would
around 36.7 kwh. require a continuous band built around the
equator of the Earth around 540 miles wide.
If we use the array and the electrolysis process to
obtain hydrogen from water, the best efficiency Geothermal appears to present an opportunity for
rate discussed is 50%, or that we must put in a lot of energy, almost anyplace on Earth. It
twice as much power as we gain back when we does. There is of course a limit, if you "cool" a
use the fuel. large area under your generator; you may lose
your heat. In the extreme you may change the
Every hour the array operates is could produce physical characteristics under you site such that
hydrogen fuel equal in BTU's to around you generate earthquakes. Carried to extremes
414,313,581 gallons. worldwide the cooling rock, cracking and
contracting, could provide openings for water
Operating 24 hours a day, say for 360 days a and air to seep downward.
year on the average, it could produce
3,579,669,339,840 gallons. The nuclear option. Present fission reactor fuel
and technology provides a window of
The good news is that such a global solar array opportunity to provide concentrated, high
could provide electrical energy and convert it to electrical generation, for a limited period of time.
hydrogen fuel roughly equal to 28 times our At a cost. Reactors tend to have a lifespan of 50
recent annual oil use. years, after which the reactor must be taken apart
and stored long term, as must the depleted fuel.
Remember though, the bad news is that the As of 2006, no country on the Earth has put into
surface of the planet is covered with solar panels, place a permanent storage program. The U.S.
with essentially no open exposure to the sky, on has been debating about it's "Yucca Mountain"
land or on the sea. And of course, there's all the site for twenty years. If nuclear power expanded
silicon for the panels, wire, metal, etc., to one million megawatts, the waste produced
exponentially beyond any supply of such would fill this discussed, but as of yet non-
materials we dream may be available to us. As existent facility, every three years or so.
touched on in an earlier comment on China and
copper demand, there is probably not enough Scientific American suggests thinking along the
copper left to mine on Earth for this type of lines of what they call the "2,000 watt society",
project. where they posit having available 2 kilowatt of
power per person. They conclude that 2kw per

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person is technically feasible for an ongoing
industrial society. Consider the U.S. 2006 energy picture:

2006 Residential Electric


Data Overall Transportation Industrial Commercial Power
BBL/Equal 25 BBL Total 28.00% 22.00% 11.00% 39.00%
10 Oil 40.00% 11.200% 8.800% 4.400% 15.600%
5.75 Natural Gas 23.00% 6.440% 5.060% 2.530% 8.970%
5.75 Coal 23.00% 6.440% 5.060% 2.530% 8.970%
1.5 Renewables 6.00% 1.680% 1.320% 0.660% 2.340%
2 Nuclear 8.00% 2.240% 1.760% 0.880% 3.120%
100.00% 28.00% 22.00% 11.00% 39.00%

What if the U.S. had to generate all of our power 35,680,555,555,555.60


from solar photovoltaic’s?
Divided by 100 (watts generated per square
To put it in electrical terms - yard)
356,805,555,555.56 number of square yards of
1 Barrel = 42 gallons. 1 gallon (roughly) = collector
144,000 BTU or 36,700 watthour.
Divided by 3,097,600 (square yards in a square
25 billion barrels is roughly the electrical mile)
equivalent of 38,535,000,000,000,000 watthour. 115,187.74 square miles of photovoltaic panels,
or an area say 340 miles on a side
Readily available (limited quantity) photovoltaic
panels are 10% efficient in converting sunlight to Then the “hydrogen economy” arguments want
electricity, such that for every hour that a square to use the electrical power to electrolyze water to
yard of such panels are in direct sunlight, 100 replace 10 billion barrels of portable fuel. If we
watthour of electricity is generated. really want to do so, what is the efficiency LOSS
in splitting water? In labs it is 50%. In the 2005
We can guess it’s going to take a large array. Department of Energy "Solar Decathlon"
competition the New York Institute of
Let’s say the average daily solar exposure of our Technology found their hydrogen fuel cell power
array is six hours of sun, with a further storage approach didn't reach the 25% efficiency
adjustment of 50% of the array being in shade, they hoped, vs 80% for lead-acid batteries. If
dirty, undergoing work, etc. Also assume an you really wanted to use the array to split
optimistic total “loss” of only 5 days of sun per hydrogen from water, 40% of the array would
year. (Thinking of the author’s residence state of need to be at least four times the size. The total
Arizona) array would need to completely cover 253,413
square miles, or an area 504 miles on a side.
How large does such an array need to be to
generate 38,535,000,000,000,000 watthour? An obvious point must be the engineering
challenge of constructing over 250,000 square
38,535,000,000,000,000 miles of photovoltaic material, and the applicable
Divided by six (hours per day) mounting frames. If such is to be a stand-alone
6,422,500,000,000,000.00 array, envision the response from
environmentalists regardless of where you
Divided by 360 (days operation per year) wanted to place it.
17,840,277,777,777.80
A complete coverage approach ignores though
Divided by 50% (adjust for various blockages that current p/v panels lose generation efficiency
and partial downtime) when much off from being perpendicular to

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sunlight. In other words the panels must be able There are estimates that humans may already be
to track the sun. To track the sun, there must be diverting 40% to 50% of the productive life of
space between the panels. the planet to essentially exclusive human use,
this in a time when energy and technology
As touched on elsewhere, if each device was just permit food growth on marginal land, and
fixed re seasons, say at 30 degrees, there is still a processing for storage and long distance
minimum of 1/2 of the collector panel width shipping. Absent improvements in for example
between each device on the north/south axis to food productivity per acre, we are therefore
avoid shading. So to be able to optimize panel within one population doubling of ecological
exposure, each 1 square yard panel needs a disaster.
ground footprint of 9' x 9' or 81 square feet.
But we are not poised for such productivity
To incorporate tracking, the area of the array improvements. We are more likely facing the
must as an example be NINE TIMES the area of loss of significant areas of existing farmland,
the actual p/v panels. This calculates out to be estimates range from 20% to 50%, which has
2,280,717.25 square miles, or a square area been "overworked" and no longer viable. We are
1,510 miles on a side. If you want to keep it also facing reduction in the level of crops from
inside the U.S., and in the lower latitudes, it will remaining farmland, perhaps to production that
not fit. It will not fit within the continental U.S. is only 25% of the present, absent chemical
fertilizers.
At the moment, the bulk of the energy being
used in the United States is being purchased and To calculate the maximum possible supply of
used by the private sector. The cumulative cost food for an Earthbound solar civilization, let's
of the array, if say each 100 watt unit costs only use the same 5,000 mile disk as with solar power
$500, is $178,402,777,777,778.00. That is $178 above (food is, after all, a chemical store of solar
TRILLION (With a “T”). energy.)

Putting photovoltaic panels where the demand is If the same swath as with solar power was
does not necessarily work. In higher latitudes, in instead turned into an 7,500 mile wide
overcast climates, etc., the power generated biointensive garden, completely surrounding the
would not be worth the effort or cost. There may Earth, 50% clouds, it would intercept in BTUs:
not be a lot of time left to implement some
functional alternative. 207,522,049,398,048,000

Converted to calories, it's:


169,231,652,138,178,722,753.
THE ECOLOGICAL LIMIT
Shaded 50% by clouds, 2000 calorie per person
Pre-agricultural man lived "off the land," per day, 365 days per year, given overall
consuming only the bounty of nature, which photosynthesis efficiency of 1/10% as observed
could sustain a global population of about 2-20 in food crops today, it could provide food for
million human beings. (3/10 % of the present 115,912,090,505 (115 billion) people. No other
population) animals. No open place to walk. No fuel. No
solar electricity. No ocean waves... Just feeding
Per the CIA World Factbook, of the world land people.
area 13.31% is arable land, (4,898,576,237 acre)
with permanent crops planted on 4.71% Absent such sci-fi technology, the reality is we
(1,733,455,603 acre) of the overall land area. are already diverting around 50% of the
productive life-force of the Earth for human
Use whatever crop selection and per person use purposes, and that with the additional input of
you like for nutrition, materials, animal feed, and fertilizers, pesticides, and green revolution crops.
energy, and divide it into the above numbers.
Agricultural man could produce about 10
calories of energy with the expenditure of about

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one calorie of energy. This meant that a single but it will, very soon, whether by voluntary
man could produce enough food for his action, war, or starvation.
immediate family, and still have a surplus to sell,
or be "taxed" to support nonagricultural urban The only practical source of sustainable food is
civilization and a total global population of that grown close to the consumers, recycling
200-300 million. natural wastes into fertilizers. The most practical
source of fertilizer for the crops is recycling in as
Remember though, early agriculture was set up small and closed a loop, as meets with health and
on farmland selected from the best produced by safety, the humanure and urine. Returning to
God's natural processes. Compare the "Fertile manual labor is not practical for huge farms that
Crescent" of 5,000 to 10,000 years ago to the are isolated from the human population they
conditions in the area today. Farming techniques feed, and the labor necessary to tend the farm.
may have contributed significantly to the
effective death of the environment in that area. During the last 40 years, perhaps 30 percent of
total world arable land was abandoned because it
Industrial man probably uses over ten calories of was no longer productive. Potentially, half of the
energy to produce a single calorie of food, which current arable land now in cultivation will be
is completely unsustainable. Most of what you unsuitable for food production by the middle of
see in the industrial world is a transitory illusion the twenty-first century, further lowering
made possible by a one-time windfall supply of sustainable population.
energy from fossil fuels that were accumulated
over millions of years. When the fossil fuel When crops produced are consumed elsewhere,
reserves deplete in 50 years OR LESS, the (i.e. farm goods are shipped to the city, or
modern food system will simply disappear along overseas) non-chemical agricultural practices can
with them. not completely make up for the massive
withdrawal of nutrients from the soil. While
Unfortunately, in the U. S. and many other artificial fertilizers can, as in hydroponics,
nations farming is dependent on several key literally allow plants to grow on lifeless rock, the
unsustainable factors: plant cannot contain what is not in its fertilizer.
And the fertilizers used do not contain the full
Oil, for machines and fertilizers spectrum of minerals that the plants, and
humans, need.
Hybrid plants, specially bred, consuming
artificial fertilizers The U.S., with the heavy application of
fertilizers, has around 2% of the population
Ground water, massive pumping, exceeding working in farming, and uses just over 1 acre per
"recharge" rates that will take tens of thousands person to maintain our present diet. (It was just
of years, or more to refill once we cease in 1998 that the U.S. food demand first exceeded
pumping. its production capacity, with a net importation of
food) China manages to keep its starvation level
Without oil 2% of Americans working in our population alive with just .2 acre (8736) per
present industrial farming CAN NOT feed the person. But these production levels are based on
remaining 98%, let alone any type of surplus to fossil fuel dependent fertilizers.
help the rest of the world. And there are many
nations who are, or will, be far worse off then the EXPECT 5/6 FOOD PRODUCTION LOSS
U. S. Absent input of oil based fertilizers, it
could take up to three times as much land to What happens when, as oil supplies dwindle, and
produce the same amount of food. If the prices rise, that farmers cannot afford them? It is
irrigation cannot be indefinitely sustained, then projected that absent the chemicals if the same
don't count on the food produced from use of the farm fields are continued to be worked (say by
water. extensive manual labor) that production would
probably be 1/3 of the present yield. Without the
The population surge of the industrial age has ability to pump deep groundwater sources
passed 6 BILLION, and has not yet leveled off, (which will themselves be depleted shortly

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anyway) up to 1/2 of the present farmland may than the future sustainable level (12.5 million),
simply be unworkable. There is the possibility preferably less until stability is clearly
that the food factor may limit us to only 1/6 of established. 5+ billion will, quite probably, die
the present population, or a total global of untimely and unpleasant means by 2020.
population of 1 billion. This does not however
mean every nation will necessarily experience a If the crash started significantly now (2005), and
loss of a little over 80% of it’s population. There progressed evenly and slowly over 15 years, we
are locations which are at this time at what would be looking at 346.5 MILLION deaths per
appears to be at a sustainable population for year (334 million population reduction + 12.5
food. million of birth balance), well beyond the present
75 million or so averaged deaths each year.
All truth passes through three stages: It is not a pleasant topic, and one ignored by
First, it is ridiculed; many. The deaths will not be randomly
Second, it is violently opposed; and distributed, from any one cause, or all at once.
Third, it is accepted as self-evident. Expect them to come in waves.

- Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) THE GENETIC WILDCARD

In our efforts to create more productive plants,


There are locations which are at far more than
and profits in the agricultural industry, we have
six times the sustainable population. While an
bred and widely use hybrid plants. While in
initial reaction to population density is to
themselves producing more food material than
“correct” it by redistributing from the crowded to
their natural "cousins", the hybrids have little
the less crowded, this punishes those who have
genetic diversity, and are subject to widespread
been limiting their own numbers, and rewards
crop failure when disease strikes.
those who have been careless.
In addition, the children of the plants, their
Absent a store of fossil fuels, if we want to
seeds, may be sterile "mules", incapable of
continue to operate any type of combustion
reproducing themselves, or at best multiple
engine (including for these purposes fuel cells)
throwbacks vastly different from the sought crop.
we may need to divert food production land to
This makes it impossible to store up seed from
fuel production
your own crops, and forces farmers to return to
the seed "manufacturers" every year for more
This would further reduce the practical standing
seed. Not only does this entail unnecessary
population.
costs, but also failure of the hybrid production
could lead to a sustained scarcity of crop seeds,
REACHING A SUSTAINABLE
and huge food production shortages.
POPULATION
I've read that NO hybrid corn will pick up cobalt,
Exploring a population of 1 billion for a few
a necessary micronutrient for vitamin B12
moments (the size which can at least be fed)…
formation. Don't you wonder what we're doing
to ourselves?
Assume an average lifespan of 80 years. If the
ages of the 1 billion residents are spread across
Beyond hybrids problems, agribusiness has also
80 years, there would be 12,500,000 of each age.
begun to specifically add a "TERMINATOR"
We should expect about that many births each
gene (their own wording) to crops, to guarantee
year, and that many deaths, keeping the
no seeds produced can grow. They cannot
population overall in balance. We have however
however guarantee what will happen when
6+ billion.
pollen from these "TERMINATOR" crops is
spread to natural plants.
Numerous estimates put the oil crash on or about
2020. Meaning, on or before 2020 we “need” to
A greater yet opportunity/threat is inter species
get the population down to no more than a
genetic transfer. Until genetic splicing entered
billion or so. First, births must be no greater
the scene, "new" plants or animals were limited

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to products of those entities which could breed The author has read data which indicates the
with each other. The new technology allows global water evaporation rate is around 92,000
splicing animal and insect genes into plants; i.e. cubic miles, with the rainfall returning to the
fish genes for production of oil have been spliced land amounting to around 25,000 cubic miles of
into tomatoes to help protect them from cold. water. If we could collect every drop of rain that
These products are not mere unique breedings, falls on land, it would amount to around just over
but virtually a new life form. 27,000 trillion gallons. If we collected just 1/10
and used it without re-evaporation losses for just
Of the 10's of thousands of species man lives biointensive gardens, it would provide for a
with, only cattle, sheep, pigs and goats are population of around 42 billion.
globally employed as livestock, and only the
chicken is a true global contributor among the THE TOXIC LIMIT
birds. And of the 20,000 food plants, hardly
more than 100 have been properly domesticated, Mankind's hazardous wastes cannot be handled
with a mere dozen or so bearing the bulk of the by the natural ecosystem, where energy is
burden of feeding humanity. Perhaps we should obtained from the sun each day, and
work with this resource on a natural level and continuously converted by living creatures into
keep the genetic transfers to the lab. waste that is completely consumed by other
living creatures. Mankind however produces
EUGENICS waste that cannot be consumed by living
creatures.
Most of the civilized world has for decades been
conducting a widespread program which has For industrial society to be sustainable, ALL
dramatically increased the numbers of those least waste of industrial activity must be recycled.
capable of contributing to society, (whether from This increases the amount of energy that must be
actual or pretended disabilities), and used for any given process, further reducing the
DEGRADES the overall quality of humans as sustainable population. Despite progress in the
breeding stock for future generations. past few decades, accurate information is not yet
available to determine the energy needs for such
THE WATER LIMIT recycling. It is in the best interest of all to
simply avoid, or minimize those processes that
The only naturally sustainable source of fresh produce hazardous wastes.
water is that which is naturally replenished by
precipitation. A large part of America's cropland THE DISEASE FACTOR
is watered by pumping from deep underground
ancient stores, which are being pumped dry. Diseases have found our towns and cities where
When the underground water runs out, the crops human populations are dense to make great
stop. For example, there is little doubt that when incubators. Our remedies for epidemics of
the Ogallala Aquifer is depleted, the 12 million diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, smallpox,
acres it irrigates, (perhaps 1/3 of the U. S. flu, cholera, and polio, are being undermined by
cropland) will be out of service. The Ogallala new strains of diseases that are resistant.
overdraft as far back as 1975 was 14 million
acre/feet per year, the flow of the Colorado Mismanaged concentrations and mixes of human
River, and about 1/2 of the total U.S. and animal wastes, and mutigenic substances are
groundwater overdraft. The situation is similar ideal for the propagation and mutation of
in other nations. This not only affects the food pathogens.
supply, as discussed above, but the greater
priority of clean drinking water. If the overall health of humanity is eroded by
decreased living conditions, disease will run
Desalinization of ocean water is possible, but rampant. Swift, worldwide transportation of
known technology does not make it a viable people and goods is quite an achievement. But
source for enough freshwater to feed, and quench diseases also benefit from our transportation
the thirst of the present population. systems. Viruses that were once isolated in a
small pocket of the world can now travel

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anywhere, and spread before they can be noticed. currency, and industrial products are not
Even our miracle drugs, which once seemed on available in the emergency.)
the verge of wiping out diseases, are now
themselves responsible for new mutations. Please forgive the flippant analogy, but we are in
a horror show game of “Musical Chairs”.
We've introduced "air tightness" in buildings (in Whenever the music (essential aspect) stops,
the name of energy efficiency) and air anyone who does not have a safe chair, dies.
conditioning (and, incidentally, the reduced rate
of airflow in the cabins of modern jet airliners, People will fight to get into chairs, and pull
also in the name of energy efficiency). Keeping others off, killing each other and others around
people breathing the same re-circulated air them. Chairs will be destroyed in the process,
makes the transmission of airborne pathogens all making each round worse.
the easier. It also leads to new environments to
concentrate and multiply deadly bacterium that FINITE MINERALS AND METALS
otherwise were kept in check by natural means,
i.e. the occupant of air-conditioning systems: We cannot be dependent on a one-way thru put
Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of of any finite resource. Expect present garbage
often-fatal Legionnaire's disease, is in it's natural dumps to be future small-scale "mining" sites to
state a minor soil component kept in check by seek pre-processed materials such as metals,
the micro ecosystem of healthy soil. glass, and plastics.

THE CONFLICT FACTOR QUALITY OF LIFE

Warfare is the historical response to the pressure Is humanity as a whole, and the citizens as
of local needs, or greed, or the perceived individuals, better off in a world with some
unfairness of better off neighbors, or those who maximum population existing at a starvation
refuse to strip their own resources and join the level, unable to maintain a sane organized
death of a failed society. Leaders will need to civilization with teaching, medicine, etc., or with
shift the responsibility and blame for failure much lower numbers, well fed and healthy, with
elsewhere. America, with the highest standard of reserves of food, the ability to produce biofuels,
living on Earth, the greatest purchaser of oil, and etc.? With the globe covered by human sprawl
producer of food, is the most visible, most likely & refuge, or with distinct human enclaves
target of this redirected anger. The accumulation isolated from a protected greater volume of
of atomic, biological, and chemical weapons has natural environment? With a long-lived
spread dramatically, and they are now in the educated and experienced population, or short-
hands of many small nations, who have long lived neophytes who must reinvent the wheel
histories of conflicts with neighboring nations, each generation? The future will be what we
and short tempers. make it by the accumulation of our individual
decisions and actions.
Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts
absolutely. The U.N. and those behind the EARLIER CRASHES
scenes control the world, with agendas probably
contrary to your personal freedom and Starving frightened33 people do not care about
achievement. sustainability. If sustainability is to be achieved,
people who are not starving must supply the
If we can’t sustain the present population, what necessary leadership and resources. There must
are you suggestions for avoiding such conflicts
and their spread? How do we avoid further
destruction of the natural ecosystem, the human 33
The author is a fan of “zombie” movies. When
life support ecosystem, and the artifacts and you are running from one crisis, only to
knowledge of civilization and manage the least encounter another, it is at the least difficult to
painful and damaging way out from our self think and act long-term. How many survivalist
imposed crisis? (Reminder: Excess food, viable guides provide any long-term consideration such
as collecting seeds for storage?

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therefore be someone who retains a viable good old days". The worse our problems
society, when all else fall into chaos. become, the more they will act instead of think.
The less they think, the worse our problems will
"In the end," says the Grand Inquisitor in become. Social order will disintegrate, and
Dostoevsky's parable, "in the end they will Roadside Warriors will go mad, killing, raping,
lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, torturing, and burning...
make us your slaves, but feed us."
There are various locations, ranging from
Human societies as far apart in space and time as islands, remote valleys, selected cities, and
Rome, Mayans, and Easter Islanders came to nations, that may still have enough arable land
ruin by expanding beyond the capacity of their per person, economic and natural capital per
environments to sustain them. They depleted citizen to actually make a rapid and functional
their local habitats, and had to disburse. transition to a sustainable yet technological
Humanity as a whole survived, however, because society, even in a post-peak scenarios with
there were always places elsewhere on Earth declining supplies, IF we focus our efforts, and
capable of supporting people. our resources, on that goal. We must
immediately cease wasting our resources, time,
Today, of course, humankind has become a and money, and cease subsidizing unproductive
global culture, one increasingly driven by a consumption.
philosophy of competitive expansionism, one
that is subduing and consuming the Earth. The The future development of agriculture must be
numbers are simple, the present population directed toward closed loop ecological yet
cannot be sustained. When the present economically viable solutions. It may be highly
infrastructure fails, the population will crash, mechanized, or it may be hands-on. But we
potentially destroying all that we have must recognize it requires a greatly reduced
accomplished so far. The problem is that dulring population. It is important to keep the
the crash, and once demolished, there is place to productivity of farmers' labor high enough to
hide while the worst passes, and the tries to heal avoid a heavy burden on the economy in the
itself. form of government subsidies and unstable
agriculture. For a society to continue to develop
Do not harbor a belief that the end of cheap fuel each farmer must be capable of feeding a
will end war. Long before modern weapons or significant serviced population.
equipment wars went on for decades, with each
side stripping the countryside bare for miles. No The practicality of achieving self-sufficiency in
fortress, means of concealment, ability to offer food production requires a stable population. The
bribes, is as effective a defense as the ability and American public must understand the issues of
the will if required to crush an attacker. immigration and population growth and their
implications for future food security in their
COMING SOON country now while there is still time to make
adjustments. Self-sufficiency in food production
In many ways, the next hundred years may be and other basic resources should be viewed as a
the inverse of the last hundred. As fossil fuels strategy to guarantee a continued high standard
dwindle, supply lines collapse, and societies of living and national security to U.S. citizens in
disintegrate, muscle will gradually replace the face of turbulence that can be expected
machinery. "Home grown" will replace around the world in the next decades. There is no
"imported". Cities as we know them may be time for delay, choosing not to change the
impossible to sustain. current pattern of high immigration and
population growth is a suicidal trap.
Activists from both the Left and Right -- armed
with selected facts and ideologies -- but devoid The bulk of the population of the world does not
of logic -- will form political agendas, select the live at the American standard of living, nor can
best liars for leaders, and take to the streets they.
demanding that government take us back to "the
There is not enough water.

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There is not enough food.

There is not enough energy.

The world is finite. The resources within the


boundaries of every homestead, neighborhood,
city, and nation are finite. We must all, as
individuals and nations, live within our
resources.

Within our finite resources there is some level of


population and per person resource use that is
sustainable. More specifically, there is some
minimum level for a population which if in
isolation could continue to produce healthy new
generations. There is some density level where
conditions are optimized for ongoing interactions
among the neighborhood residents, and the
beginnings of specialization to provide the root
for greater specialization, production and
research beyond mere hand to mouth existence.

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Sustainable Civilization: From the Grass Roots Up
Chapter III - Neighborhoods and the Web of Life
If located in relative isolation, such as a survival
What is the minimum gathering of gathering, there is some minimum starting and
multigenerational family homes such that if in stability population size for a community with
physical isolation could maintain ongoing ongoing successive generations, without the need
generations, provide basic safety and increased for "immigration", or exchange of
food security? husbands/wives from outside.

We have fragmented families in neighborhoods


where no one is related or even knows anyone
within walking distance. Much of this can be
attributed to quick & cheap transportation, PHYSICAL PRIORITY I
making work commutes and a friend across town POPULATION STABILITY
as "easy" to reach as a neighbor. Responsibility
must also be attributed to expanding government Whether a multi-family isolated neighborhood,
programs, making a plea to a bureaucracy that or the global population, the total number of
does not judge your shortcomings, more likely humans MUST NOT grow beyond the reliable
than a plea to family for friends, who will. renewable resources. In general, when averaged,
it means no one should parent a child beyond
Multiple living locations, communication and their own replacement and the replacement of
commute costs, and no readily available family their mate. (Thinking of immigration, provided
support has been great for the businesses and of course that both mates were already accounted
government agencies who fill the gap, all loved for in the relevant population.)
by the tax man. Absent an energy miracle this is
ending. We need to re-think what really matters Given nutritional food and reasonable sanitation,
to us, where and how we live to provide a solid improved living conditions and health care,
foundation for our civilization. prolific child production is not necessary to
ensure that a sufficient next generation survives.
INTRODUCTION In simple fact, any number in the next generation
which exceeds the present generation is the
An individual or family, with an earth sheltered SOURCE of our problems. We must use our
home, a large enough water collection area, and intelligence to overcome our biological
a "biointensive" garden, (best case 1,000 ft. sq. tendencies.
per person) could potentially live quietly in
isolation for the lifetime of the youngest member Birth rate. No couple should have more than
of the family. But the technology could easily their personal replacement children. (Every birth
outlast the residents. or other new-arrival that exceeds replacement
levels, assuming that steady-state policies are
A single-family isolation approach is a "dead thereafter followed, means an eventual
end" for the family, and if replicated, potentially permanent standing increase of the population of
for civilization. If effect, you’re hoping that from 4 to 6 people.
your children will be able to leave the isolation,
and amidst the ruins find others who have also Childbirth Age. The average age at which a
been waiting in isolation. You’re hoping that family has children, divided into the average
someone else preserves civilizations while you lifespan provides the average number of standing
hide. What type of survivors and civilization do generations. An increase in the age at which
you think you’re likely to find? conception occurs reduces the overall standing
population and demand on resources, while a

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decrease in the age of conception increases the resources? Note, if a resident of a population
standing population and resource demand. restricted community brings in and marries
someone from the “outside”, provided the couple
Lifespan. The average lifespan divided by the only has one child, the negative effect on
average age at which children are conceived community resources will abate when the first of
provides the average number of standing the husband/wife dies.
generations. To maintain a stable number of
standing generations, a long term increase in We can readily calculate the upper limit for a
lifespan must also in the long-term be balanced population, based on available resources, and per
by an increase in the average age at which person resource use. But if you intend to plan
conception occurs, or an appropriate one-time for optimum living conditions, and the
adjustment in the birth rate to reduce the number GREATEST available resources per person, you
of new mating couples. need to find the LOWER population limit for
each level of community.
To maintain a large enough gene pool,
genetically the “better” choice is children born to POPULATION LOWER LIMIT
older parents. As we passed the end of the
1800’s, improved nutrition and sanitation can be I have been unable to locate a definitive study,
credited with an increase in the average lifespan, however, provided the genetic makeup of the
yet we not only did neither adjustment, we made starting population has no inherent problems,
increases in the other factors also. consider in an isolated population starting with
"unrelated" couples, who each have one boy and
In reference to the above population stability one girl. Current law in many U. S. states is that
factors, I'll use "standard" families, with first cousins may not marry. Just working it out
extended households (i.e. one set of grandparents "on paper":
resides in the family home), two children per
couple, childbearing at age 20, lifespan of 80. A deliberately selected group, all of essentially
The average extended family home could have 4 the same age, all unrelated. For this exercise,
to 6 generations living there. (8 to 12 people) assume each couple has one boy & one girl.

Immigrants. An isolated "Neighborhood", being WARNING: A narrow genetic base implies a


sustained at the minimum reliable level of risk of inbreeding. In a population of few
renewable resources, should make the concept of childbearing individuals the risk of inbreeding is
immigration restriction clear. high. The genetic history of parents is
particularly important in a small population,
Assuming average lifespan of 80, children born isolated community.
to parents in their 20's, there are more or less five
generations alive at any given time. Assume One couple, all children are siblings, dead end.
each new person (immigrant or child beyond
parental replacement) after arrival then follows a Two couples, the generation 2 four children can
parental replacement only child bearing marry, but the third generation are first cousins,
guideline, the population can be expected to dead end.
settle out at a permanent increase of 5 people for
each new potential breeder. Three couples, the generation 2 six children can
marry, but most in the third generation are first
If you don't have extra water and food, how can cousins, dead end.
you afford to increase your population? Can the
scope of your facilities be expanded without Four couples, the generation 2 eight children can
violating your principles? Has there been an marry, and the following generations being 1/2
untimely death in your group? first cousins CAN avoid first cousin marriages,
but each has only one person available as a
Is someone willing to "forgo" a child (their spouse. In addition, there is a cycle where both
biological replacement) and "adopt" the outsider brother and sister of one family must marry the
as someone to be sustained on their family sister and brother of another family. While this

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does not technically violate the first cousin rule, The result is genetic variation of the offspring,
it is a repeated pattern of genetic concentration. which in turn may enhance, or diminish
capabilities.
Five couples, the following generations can
marry and avoid first cousin marriages, and The genetic quality of offspring will affect a
avoid the four couple forced cycle of brother & group, and humanity for years ahead, or forever.
sister family "A" marrying sister & brother of Since the cost of rearing a healthy child is
family "B". But in avoiding the brother / sister essentially the same regardless of genetic history,
cycle, it appears each person alternates between overall for humanity the investment will pay
only one mate potential and a choice of two. better when applied to good quality genetic
stock. The cost of caring for a chronically ill or
Six couples, the following generations generally physically defective child may easily exceed the
each have a choice of three mates that avoids capabilities of a typical family, in particular in a
first cousin marriages. This is probably the post-oil low energy era, when it is not possible to
smallest practical genetic gathering to wait out a force “public assistance”.
long-term dangerous situation.
In the past when most of mankind lived
At this point, I ask your indulgence as I comment generation after generation in villages, you had
on support for monogamous human mating. The access to the detailed family history of potential
six couples just commented on are of course mates. In our highly mobile society this family
twelve people (six males & six females), who memory has been removed as a source of
have twelve children as their replacements. I use information, and many protest its reasonable
an extreme example to demonstrate the "defect" replacement with readily available scientific
of multiple mating partners. Envision eleven genetic information. In the coming decades
females, and one male, who parent the same absent an energy and resource miracle, we are
twelve children. All of the children are half quite likely to see a very large drop in the total
brothers or sisters, and given present genetic number of living humans. Humanity needs those
knowledge, should not mate and produce who survive to be the “fittest” for the applicable
children. circumstances.

Six extended families does not however provide The collection of homesteads is the lowest level,
a wide safety margin (i.e. for sicknesses or probably the BEST level, to consider what in
accidents) or the ability to maintain and pass on human terms, “survival of the fittest” means for
specialized knowledge and skills, or maintain long-term civilization. It is perhaps NOT what
and develop much technology. you would first think. Early tools, stones and
knives required physical strength, and hand to
If we assume the initial Homestead association hand combat ability was essential to survival.
group begins with members of random age, the The bow, a more refined tool, allowed for lesser
likelihood of practical mate matches in a strength but a distinct skill to provide distant
gathering of just six families is reduced. Tossing neutralization of a much larger adversary or
around some random numbers. Children born to animal. Our continued progression has made
couples at some point between are 18 and 36. mind and precision more important than
We could easily find an 18-year or more age gap strength, in a feedback loop. The drive to
between potential mates. Increasing the number overpopulate was early on another survival trait,
of families by a factor of 3 (to 18 families) in as many died as children, or before they had their
theory reduces the likely mate average age gap to own children. Like other early "cave" aspects,
6 years. (See discussion later of 20 homestead given the now global coverage of humanity, the
"units" for Homestead associations.) drive to expand population is obsolete.

WARNING TO OVERLY The "gene" for prolific procreation is now a


SENSITIVE PEOPLE - GENETICS threat to the entire race. The “gene” to initiate
force, to impose your will on others, is obsolete.
Children constitute unique genetic compositions, The “gene” to waste, pollute, overproduce,
resulting from mixing parental genetic material. overrun nature, etc., is obsolete. In the “wild”,

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these arguably obsolete genes would quickly and 10,000 sq. ft, leaving 42,000 to 55,000 sq. ft. If
easily out-produce (in the form of children) and your water collection area is to be integrated to
out-number those who have gone beyond the your homestead, if you’re in isolation and have
mindlessness and greed of our primitive no other water source, you need 1 ¼ acres+.
animalistic origins. The “mutation” toward long-
term thinking keeps occurring, but in the past Looking only at the food production area for a
was readily overrun. moment, consider now a 100% safety food
production factor. But instead of making it
The “up” side is that at least for the present, integral to the family homestead, make it part of
resources such as the internet provide a means a mutual investment area with the homesteads all
for the isolated occurrences of those who are surrounding a large field.
awake to reach out to each other, organize, and
come together. The first point where the number of homesteads
surrounds an adequate core plot is 20. In a
A significant question is how those who are deliberately planned neighborhood association
awake to sustainable population requirements units of 20 families (160 people) seems
react and interact with those who think they have reasonable. This number meets or exceeds the
the god-given right to drop as many children as minimum genetic in both deliberate and random,
they want, force others to not only pay the costs as described above.
of childbirth and raising THEIR children, but
that others need to get out of the way so THEIR Arranged in a square it is around 600 ft. per side,
children can further procreate. consisting of 100 ft. per side homesteads,
surrounding a core 400 ft. per side "safe" area.
PHYSICAL PRIORITY II (3.66 acre). This area fits in a typical city layout
OPTIMIZE LIVING CONDITIONS where there are 8 blocks per mile.

On a modest 1/4 acre lot if the family home and In any existing community though it is not likely
structures are underground or earth covered (see that 20 families are going to be able to buy out
PAHS), the entire surface of the homestead could the 16 families occupying the prospective central
be available for food production, say around field, to demolish the structures. A pre-crash
10,000 ft. sq. At the best biointensive yield, the option might be for the 20 to establish an LLC
lot itself could feed the family. and progressively buy the core for temporary use
as rentals.
How about a 10,000 sq. foot multi-floor
building, a business on the first floor, living Pre-crash do not expect politicians to look
quarters above with a greenhouse/garden on the favorably on attempts to shift from maximum
roof? density of voters to a local balance of housing,
food production, etc. Your livestock doesn't
As touched on in Chapter I, the ability of a ¼ vote, and vacant land planted in crops does not
acre multigenerational homestead to provide for pay the politicians as much in property taxes as
the family has two significant factors, sufficient yet another building. “Compromises27 between
sunshine for crops, and sufficient water for the demands of urban / industrial growth and
crops. agriculture will always result in the conversion
of agricultural land to urban and industrial uses.
A simple greenhouse can provide a lot of leeway The reverse conversion never happens.”
regarding solar exposure time. If there is not
enough natural rainfall, water can however If the overall 20 homestead area is in isolation
become a significant limiting factor. from other resources and needed to be
surrounded by water collection, at the upper
With 12” of rainfall (presented for reference (safer) estimated area the neighborhood needs a
purposes, adjust all estimates for your local water collection band around it 304 feet think, or
information.) a multigeneration homestead of 8 the neighborhood needs to measure 1,208 feet on
to 10 people would need to collect water from an a side.
area of 52,000 to 65,000 sq.ft. The homestead is

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CENTRAL FIELD CHALLENGES that which can be used by one family, and many
(TRADGECY OF THE COMMONS) trees require a pollinator mate. A potential use of
this central protected field would be as an
The central field presents the blessing, and curse, orchard.
or what might be a commons area.
Merely as an example, on a grid of 15 foot
To present the “curse” aspect, let’s say for a spacing, there is potential for 625 trees. If
moment that every separate homestead collects evenly planted in the crop spread of Apple,
every drop of rain that falls on the homestead. In Apricot, Almond, Cherry, Fig, Pear, Peach,
the central field though, the rain reaches the Persimmon, Plum, Pomegranate, Quince, and
ground. If the families agree to one central Walnut, there could be 52 of each type, for a
wells, and NOT put down private wells, or potential annual yield of:
private wells but with no pumping beyond each
homestead pumping 1/20th of the agreed total Crop Ttl.YieldPer Person
estimate of aquifer recharge, consider:
Apple 208 Bushel 1.30 Bushel
What does the group do if family “Gulpy” Apricot 104 Bushel .65 Bushel
pumps more than their 1/20th share? This hot Almond 2080 Pound 13.00 Pound
summer month, family “Gulpy” pumps twice Cherry 3900 Quart 24.37 Quart
their share of groundwater. YOU needed extra Fig 1300 Pound 8.00 Pound
water also, but did NOT cheat. How does the Pear 26 Bushel .16 Bushel
group handle it? (The water is gone, and cannot Peach 208 Bushel 1.30 Bushel
be put back.) Persimmon 104 Bushel .65 Bushel
Plum 104 Bushel .65 Bushel
Each family can “shun” the Gulpies, until they Pomegranite 104 Bushel .65 Bushel
feel the indiscretion has been atoned. If YOU do Quince 52 Bushel .32 Bushel
so, and everyone else loves the Gulpies, YOU Walnut 2600 Pound 16.25 Pound
may be the one shunned. Is there a good
solution? None the author has uncovered. In the
opinion of the author, in general, ANY
commonly held asset is a disaster waiting to
happen. There needs to be clear guidelines, and
penalties, agreed to in advance, penalties able to
be imposed by any aggrieved party without
outside repercussions.

Who can show affirmatively this functions?

A general concept you must incorporate is, IF


people can cheat to their personal advantage,
they will. Whether it is direct theft, or theft via
others acting on their behalf, expect the need to
deal with those taking more than their actions
and assets have earned. The above and below scenes are of a roughly
circular grass courtyard in one area of an outlet
From the individual perspective, if you have any shopping center.
dependence at all on any commonly held aspect,
you are just ASKING for a problem.

AFFIRMATIVE CENTRAL FIELD


OPTIONS

Tree food crops. Even using a single dwarf


variety, trees tend to produce yield greater than

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growing period of six months then to provide
one week of protein for the upper estimate of
200 people per neighborhood requires tanks 9’3”
in diameter. A steady supply requires 26 tanks in
operation, a add walking space around each (for
a tank footprint diameter of 12’) and you need a
space about 60 foot on a side, easily fitting into a
corner of the central field and providing valuable
fertilizer to other central crops.

The fish reportedly have minimal swimming


requirements for individuals health, with
recommendations that the tank diameter not be
The area shown is somewhat smaller than the below 8’, with a minimum depth of 4’. Floating
area encompassed by the 20 homes would be, plants serve as a “nursery” for eggs and baby
but it provides a flavor for what the area could fish. Common floating plants include: duckweed
be. (Lemma minor), water hyacinth (Eichornia
crassipes), and water lettuce (Pistia Stratiotes).
Tree energy crops. At the best yield of 2 cord Duckweed is a popular plant for use in living
per acre per year it's around 150,000,000 BTU machines. It has been shown to remove (by
per the field per year. (930 some cubic feet of bioaccumulation) as much as 99% of nutrients
wood – with better uses we hope than burning) and dissolved solids in wastewater. Duckweed
grows at an extremely rapid pace and can double
Tilapia34 fish farming provides liquid fertilizer, its mass in less than 2 days. In field conditions,
high in ammonia. While caution is required as to duckweed has produced as much as 13 to 83
the plants which first receive tank outflow, the tons/ha/year.83 Since it grows at such a rapid
project provides high quality protein. pace, duckweed requires frequent pruning and
Columbia28 reports four tilapia per week per harvesting.
person provides a key protein diet aspect. If
each 8’ diameter tank grows 600 fish over a Power Generation. Set up in photovoltaic panels
of a square yard, with a two foot walkway
34
Tilapia - a hearty freshwater fish native to the around each, it readily holds 6,400 collector
Middle East and Africa which grows rapidly units. At 10% efficiency panels, it generates 640
within a range of environments, with a high KW per hour of full sun, or 32 KW per
tolerance for bad conditions including relatively homestead per hour, averaging something like
low oxygen and high silt, with a diet that can 5760 KWH per homestead per month. How
include algae, agricultural "waste", or bugs (see does that compare to your electric bill now? The
notes elsewhere on fly-farming). The growing p/v power option has two significant challenges,
fish must be fed roughly one and one-half times initial purchase cost, and maintenance. (Unlike
their average daily body weight throughout the trees, that can be self-replicating.) If the field
course of their lives. They have 19.7 g protein were limited to non-water use aspects such as
and 2 g fat per 3.5 oz (100 g) serving. Tilapia power, it could also serve as rainfall collection,
need warm-water from 82° to 86°F. They need and could provide 15% of the neighborhood
minimum dissolved oxygen level of 3 parts per water needs. This would reduce the water
million, requiring some pumping system in a collection band to a thickness of 269 feet, and an
crowded tank. Tilapia grow best in water with a overall area for an isolated neighborhood of
pH of 7; as nitrogenous wastes (urea, uric acids) 1,139 feet on a side.
build up and make the water acidic, neutral pH is
maintained by added buffers such as KOH or Beef. To grow animals for meat and other uses,
(Ca(OH)2), added daily or every other day. Iron look into “Mini cows”. New breeds of pint-size
is supplied through the addition of an iron heifers and bulls are making it easier for small
chelate once every three weeks and the areas such as the neighborhood central field to be
recommended amount is 2ppm. used to raise cattle for milk & meat. Breeders
claim that while each animal may be smaller,

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more meat can be produced overall from each
acre. The miniature cattle (42 inches at the hip) Somewhere there are probably people who
are between 500 and 700 pounds, said to provide remember your first steps, your first words, and
enough meat to last a family of four to six when you became potty-trained. Somewhere
months. Their footprint concentration is about short of this, there is vital information that your
two per acre, so the central field could support neighbors should know about you. What you
eight of these animals. chose to put in your “bio” can say more about
you then the words themselves.
Obviously, the entire field does not have to be
dedicated to a single purpose. The mix could “HIRING” YOUR NEW NEIGHBOR
include some of the above, animal grazing space, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
and facilities common to cooperative housing
facilities, a commons building, perhaps a pool. The smaller that a community is, the greater the
importance that each member be trained and
A goal should be developing a facility where the experienced in a variety of complimentary
residents enjoy spending such time off as they emergency and functional areas, and that
have, reinforcing neighborhood bonds. everyone be readily capable of interacting with
each other as necessary.
HOMESTEAD SOLAR EXPOSURE
Universal Qualifications.
If your family homestead is in isolation, the
height of your trees, towers, buildings, etc., is (1) Common language
not a real concern. Once you elect to build and (2) CPR - First Aid.
live in close to other solar dependent families, (3) Self-Defense / Weapons Skill
you must take into account everyone's effective (4) A grasp of basic sustainability concepts.
solar window.
Specialists to consider. In selection of specific
Envision a flat field, with just ground cover type individuals (if you can select) you not only want
crops, and all human structures underground. someone compatible with your group and our
Everyone would essentially have 100% of the philosophy, but someone who can teach their
prospective solar window within their property "specialty" to others well enough that others can
borders. assist the specialist, or take over as the specialist
if need be.
Something similar is achieved if everyone agrees
to not build or grow anything higher than a It’s obvious you are not going to have a
selected limit, say for example 20 feet. For a dedicated specialist for everything. But people
mental exercise, envision a 20' high wall around may be quite knowledgeable in something vital
each property border. Some areas inside your that is their hobby. Are your "specialists" open
domain may not receive direct sun at various to learning other skills so they can continue to be
times of the year, but this can be compensated by fully integrated functioning members of the
making the inside of the fence reflective, or in a village absent an immediate need for their
more extreme choice placing a reflective grid personal unique training? (i.e. If no one has a
over selected areas, or the entire property. tooth problem, what does your dentist do?)

ASSET BASED COMMUNITY MODERN TECHNOLOGIES


DEVELOPMENT (ABCD) – KNOW YOUR (i.e.: existing skills, educated skills
NEIGHBOR
Doctor
If you have not been life-long friends and Midwife
neighbors, there is probably much you DON’T Dentist
know about each other. There will be those Chiropractor
reluctant to say anything about themselves. Nurse
Why? Your academic record, job record, court Naturopath
matters, etc., are all public records. Arborist

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Horticulturist Medicinal plant identification and use
Farming Butter churning
Veterinarian Milking
Mechanic Cheese making
Electrician
Electronics FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES
Plumbing
HVAC engineering Genetic engineering
Carpentry Chemical engineering
Nanotechnology
OLDER TECHNOLOGIES Physics
(i.e.: possibly existing as "hobby skills") Electronics
Gravity
Gardening Magnetics
Wood Carving Warp fields?
Clay working
Hunting ABCD
Fishing VIRTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Tree cutting
Vegetable canning An example might be a virtual library, where
Baking whether a paper or computer file, all of the
Machine repair members would simply need to provide a list of
Sewing the books in their possession, that they are
Quilting willing to loan out to other group members.
Pottery
Glass blowing Think along the same lines for tools or other
Weather predicting skill durable materials.

Lost or Little Used Technologies (i.e.: probably As long as the use of such lists remains the
rarely practiced skills) voluntary exchange or lending of goods or
services, one might expect people to be quite
Blacksmithing forthcoming with information. If the community
Horse shoeing implements any approach that commandeers
Sheep Sheering property, expect cooperation to cease. This
Gunsmithing points to the problem of such lists getting into
Hand yarn and fabric making the hands of thieves.
Cotton ginning
Slaughtering / hog dressing INFRASTRUCTURE ACCESS
Hide tanning
Meat preserving A single family or small group can't anticipate
Home building: Log, Rammed Earth, Straw everything, and can't gather everything. I guess
Bale, Heavy Timber Framing, etc the "plus" side is that (at least in the USA) it's
Barn raising difficult to find ANYPLACE that is very far
Hand tool carpentry from some town.
Furniture making
Hand plowing If you are building a remote retreat community
Hand wheat preparation (drying, winnowing, "from scratch", (NOT recommended by the
grinding, etc) author) costs and difficulties are reduced while
Windmill design / building the resources of a functioning community are
Water mill design / building within reach.
Wagon / horse buggy building
Boat Building All 20 families can live in a single room, or
Stone Mason individual family homesteads, built per the
Shoe Making resources of each individual family, or in a multi

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family condo complex, or in a motel "Home schooled" children have demonstrated
arrangement with everyone having a private that traditional classrooms may not be essential,
room, and common service facilities. It does not or even rational, but those programs rely on
matter. educational materials developed "elsewhere",
published and shipped, and on non "expert"
What matters is adequate sustainable life-support parental teaching. Home schooled does not
and minimum biological levels such that mean second rate. Education should be
reasonable genetic safety can be maintained. emphasized in all aspects of the Homestead
Life support needs to be “local”, and essential association.
life elements recycled locally, if for no other
reason than to provide incentive to ensure that If there is not an overall crash, the web offers
that materials put back into the food system are expanding opportunities for education, without
acceptable in the food system to the intended "leaving home". Following a crash, the
recipients of the food. homestead association should as soon as possible
document all of the resident knowledge. Note
Regardless of how the population is housed, the though, homeschooling or any teaching approach
relationship of population size, solar window, with too small of a class is an in-efficient use of
water supply, essential nutrients, human scale, the teaching resource.
unavoidable limits, etc, does not change.

The internal infrastructure of an isolated


community will probably of necessity initially be
limited. You are, after all, basically working
with the assets of at most a dozen or so families SAFETY PRIORITY I
(i.e. 20 family minimum unit). Over time, with PHYSICAL SECURITY AND SAFETY
the labor of multiple generations consistently
upgrading the site has potential for significant A single family can be surprised while asleep or
refinement. distracted. A single family can easily be
physically outnumbered. Clustered homes raise
A clear advantage of building new on virgin the stakes for potential invaders, making it more
territory would be cheaper land purchase price. difficult to determine the exact number and
Remote cheap land would for example certainly nature of residents and their habits, as well as
make it more likely that a community of 20 putting the help of family and friends within the
families could afford an area 1208 on a side carry of your voice.
(about 34 acres) with a four acre center court, vs
attempts by 20 families in an existing Neighborhood watch. Regardless of other
community to buy-out 16 other homes to factors, an awake and observant person is likely
establish the center court in an existing town to be an essential factor of a security program.
setting.
With a large enough population, a gathering of
But, if the community is a remote retreat, homesteads can maintain a 24/7 "on duty" watch.
physical refinement may by be outweighed by There are 168 hours in a week. If security is
loss of education and technological abilities. A stood once per week, for a four-hour period,
particular challenge will be education. there are 42 watch periods. An isolated family
would be quickly worn down providing
EDUCATION IN ISOLATION continuous surveillance. Six families would
mean each family would have to provide
If a gathering of 20 homestead units has someone "on duty" once every day. 20 families
"perfectly" randomly distributed population ages, would mean each family would have to provide
multi-generation families, etc., it might have 2 someone "on duty" only once in nearly every
kids per class / age, and some approach to three days.
"Home Schooling" will probably be required.
The person “on duty” does not need to be a
muscular guard. In a low-tech environment, the

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guard must move about the overall complex in neighborhood of such homesteads attract
some “random” manner to sense what is attention and visitors. The gathering of
happening. In a high-tech environment, it could homesteads is better off in security though than
be an elderly grandma sitting and watching an isolated family. Residents still face the ethical
favorite movies, while also having camera and / moral question of how to deal with outsiders,
audio feed from throughout the complex wired to especially those who do not show obvious
the same room. hostility. Who decides?
To protect the property and lives of the
neighborhood residents, what is called at the first If the group does not somehow have extra
step is just a version of “Neighborhood Watch” - common assets, the food or shelter for such
someone to watch and listen, and sound the guests will be from individual family assets. Yet
alarm if warranted. (What other “laws” do you the guests pose a threat to all. Discuss it in the
care about?) As the homesteads gather, the per- group.
day watch standing for each homestead
dwindles, but the requirement for security does LOCATION
not.
A modest gathering of homesteads has wide
With just this level of community, we see the choice in location, as it only requires cooperation
potential for specialization, as one or more among some low number of families. Location
individuals or families would rather volunteer to is still however a significant consideration.
pay someone to stand watch for them, than stay
up on their own. Ecological concerns. Do your plans include
paving/over and / or building on that wonderful
Each home already has its own food production, piece of wilderness you found? How are you
power generating, etc. area. Whether isolated or going to keep your life support infrastructure
gathered, each home needs to be fenced from separate from the surrounding nature?
unwelcome invaders. As an example, putting a
secure fence around six independent 1/4 acre Pollution. What would be the point of creating a
homesites requires around 2,400 ft. of fence. If retreat to sustain our families into the future,
concentrated around the perimeter of clustered only to discover it's been located on top of a
homes, it would enclose the entire 20 homestead toxic waste dump. In the USA, I understand the
site. Not to mention a circled gathering of such federal EPA, and state equivalents, track all
homes provides significant controlled gardening known significant threats. While still available,
area with essentially no additional outlay in obtain all relevant information on your location.
protective fence.
Low natural risks. Winds, floods, earthquakes,
Every home should have its own safe-room. volcano's... These types of disaster are all
These can all be interconnected with reduced in impact by advance warnings, and
communications wiring, pipe, etc. as technology prompt outside assistance. Typical emergency
and resources permit. Communications among planning for today, is to expect no more than 72
homes can be carried over a wire for thousands hours before significant help from outside the
of feet by sound powered phones, using only the damaged community is on scene. I suspect that
minute current generated by the impact of voice for quite some time, the advance warnings, and
sound waves on a microphone. The technology help, will be absent. Inherent risks should be
is robust, and simple. minimized by careful site selection.

ANTICIPATED "INVADERS" Security. There may already be prepared sites


out there, which are remaining silent for security.
Hostile. In isolation or otherwise in the absence This is certainly a consideration, and if I can
of organized law enforcement, self defense is manage to prompt a group to come together,
required. once we've reached our initial "critical mass", it
is possible that we would also cease public
Neutral. I'd suspect that no matter how well discussion that could lead to excessive
hidden, both pre and post crash activity make a temptations in a time of crisis. The location

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itself can be the first level of security. If your of those you are officially cooperating with, I
location is uninviting, most people won't even don't see that it is a "show stopper" to make your
think of looking. family preparations, even though you're actually
inside a greater, non cooperating (YET)
Transport corridors. If you are in isolation, community. When neighbors wake up, you and
major highways, railways, etc., may be pathways your associates can serve as guides for the late-
for refugees of a "crash". There with still though risers. Absent physical co-location for security
be a need for ready access to appropriate paths and the advantages of a single large gathering, to
for appropriate commerce. some extent a community could be “virtual”.

Even if transport is reduced to dependence on SAFETY PRIORITY II


human power, i.e. bicycles, would you rather REVENUES AND RESOURCES
undertake a cross town, or cross country trip on
foot, carrying your supplies on your back, and Everyone in your neighborhood owns their home
walking across raw land, or have your goods free of any mortgage. All are fireproof and grow
strapped on a bike, and pedaling, even on broken enough food to feed the family. Someone from
roads? The existing roadway grids could each homestead works enough to pay the
probably remain as viable pathways for quite property taxes, but otherwise each family more
some time, even in the absence of repairs, due to or less specializes in some craft, and the crops
the also missing heavy traffic. grown. Since everyone gets along on the barter
system, and no money changes hands, you
Use of a bicycle as a primary means of transport ignore the rest of the taxing authorities.
imposes limits (weight, speed, endurance, and
angle of incline) but also offers advantages Wrong.
(aerobic exercise, no artificial gas generation,
greatly reduced "road" needs. Typical automobile Your local “sales tax” authorities may consider
roads have extreme changes in altitude, “bad” for all of your barter exchanges a commercial
a bicycle rider. Enter old railway beds. Many transaction, and demand their tax.
old, abandoned railway beds, often stripped of
the track and ties, continue to exist as stone The IRS29 is also quite likely to consider your
paths. Per an average of several web bicycle exchanges as commercial transactions, subject to
safety sites, project the sustained speed of an income tax, self employment (Social Security &
average adult on an upright bicycle is around 10 Medicaid) tax, etc.
to 12 mph.
And it can get worse. Say the neighbor kid
If you are considering a remote retreat, or ease of double-digs your garden, and you barter some of
human powered transport between cities, your canned goods in exchange. If the tax
remember that for railroad tracks significant authorities deem the kid your employee, vs an
effort went into providing smooth, gentle grades independent contractor you potentially owe
and turns for the trains, therefore these may be minimum wage, tax withholding, and such other
nearly ideal locations for bicycle paths. In labor law requirements as are imposed in your
addition to their city terminals, early railroads jurisdiction. (Our laws are “nuts”, and even the
required stopovers for taking on more coal, tax authorities DO NOT know what they say.)
wood, water, etc. These resupply stops, now
abandoned, may prove to be appropriate Although no money actually changed hands in
locations for a retreat gathering of homesteads. any of the above events, if they are deemed
taxable you will have to obtain official currency
Virtual. I'd suggest a significant aspect of a somewhere to pay the tax officials. Most likely,
banding together homesteads that are self-reliant someone from each family will be forced to
and self sufficient in the basics, is the synergy work at a “real” job to earn cash.
possible in association with other similarly
prepared and functioning families. So long as Government agencies, in particular the tax
other neighbors around you are not a "threat", authorities, have a vested interest in
and you are within reasonable walking distance fragmentation of families, friendships, and

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communities based on such. If you are growing dollar in the hands of, or on deposit on behalf of,
your own food, looking after your neighbors, EVERYONE ELSE.
helping each other, taking turns letting the kids
gather at homes, and not hiring someone for There is an entertaining, yet for all practical
these "services", the tax authority has no easy purposes accurate, audio file floating around of
basis to establish and siphon off part of the and old lecture, titled "Wheat Receipts". I found
effort. Government agencies have a vested a version on it online at:
interest in discouraging people from taking care
of themselves, or each other, and in CREATING http://www.markswatson.com/Audio.html
problems, and expanding problems, to expand
the scope of the solutions the agencies offer. It explains the federal reserve and other banks,
which would include a barter / bank system, in
ECONOMICS terms of the operators of grain storage facilities.
We encounter… problems… whenever anyone
Even for a small gathering, if intentionally has the opportunity to create new symbols of
established in a remote undeveloped area, the wealth, without bothering to provide the labor or
potential cost is significant. The land purchase, goods that make the wealth real. As presented in
although cheaper than a similar area within or the lecture, farmers store their grain in
close to a community, nevertheless alone poses commercial towers, blended with wheat from
difficulties. Unless there is extensive group others. The farmer is issued a receipt. A grain
cooperation, pooling of funds and agreement is tower owner realizes that the towers are never
reached, the purchase may need to be initiated by completely empty, and he could if he wanted sell
one or a few wealthy individuals. Within such a the wheat he believes will never be asked for.
gathering there is the likelihood that the standard He elects to issue a receipt to himself for the
currency will be used, as will a “gift / favor” amount, which representing a claim on wheat in
approach to activities. the tower, he can sell for cash.

Internal trade in a small community of family / So long as there are banks that can “loan” the
friends can be barter / loan, with informal money you have in on-demand deposit, the same
accounting. If a goal is the same 2% in farming situation could develop regardless of what you
as the U.S. today, in each association there are 3 call the currency.
people doing the gardening/farming.
Nevertheless, your group, your community,
Posit a gathering of 20 families having agreed to whatever the level, NEEDS a currency that is
use "MONOPOLY" money as a medium of disconnected from the highly manipulated and
exchange. Someone finds another game box, completely artificial federal currency. You need
and divides up the money. Is anyone richer? to realize that all voluntary exchanges between
Prices rise, but everyone can still afford the same two parties are barter. Money or currency is
purchases. What happens though if the second simply some agreed intermediate barter item,
game finder slowly filters the excess money into where everyone is readily willing to exchange
the economy by purchases that benefit that their goods or services for the barter item, or the
family? In the long-term overall the community currency representing the barter item.
is no more wealthier, however, the sneak has
personally profited to the percentage the If the basis of your agreed barter currency
additional “cash” relates to the initial cash. The denomination is something that can be created, it
extra monopoly money adds no new value to the needs to be something that if created adds value
community, but does inflate everything. to your local economy of at least the same
usefulness as the unit created. Finding gold adds
The U.S. dollar is no better. The federal potential units to the economy of a gold standard
government, via the NON-GOVERNMENTAL economy, but new gold found in a mine does not
agency of the Federal Reserve, puts printed, and add real useful value to the economy, and
debt generated cash into the economy, essentially dilutes the currency, just as a
benefitting the government and the federal government printing press does. In comparison
reserve, but lowering the value of every other growing a commodity such as wheat, or

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generating a useful amount of electricity does have the technology and technique to repair or
add clear value. replace a broken plate or cup? How about a p/v
panel? Or even a light bulb?
What do you, your neighbors, your community
do to generate material wealth, or more on point Once in isolation it appears limited to
while the present tax authorities exist, to “Handicraft” technology for new items, or
generate “dollars”? Earning external income reworking and replacement of more complicated
presents another question for such a gathering technology. Within a short period of time in
that is in a remote site. While communications isolation, expect technology to be limited to
and transport remain, almost any specialty could scavenger activity, then decline. (How do you
be engaged in, though I suspect that post-peak make a bolt, or an eyeglass lens?) I would
oil that productive "industrial" activity would be expect to see significant reliance on natural
limited to handicrafts, or repair / reworking of biological processes. (Growing plants and
existing products. Once internal stability is animals, fermentation, etc.) I would also expect
achieved, it could be that external income needs to see significant reliance on herbal medicine or
would be minimal, and perhaps met by “home remedies”
retirement or investment payments, or a few
working outside the group, and purchasing the ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
outside goods needed within the community.
The closest example is the cohousing movement,
POLITICS which in simple terms is privately owned
dwellings with their own traditional living
Until the rest of society, and politicians, catch-up facilities, but also with perhaps extensive jointly
with the requirements of long term sustainability, owned facilities (food preparation & dining,
your group may need to stay “below the radar”. meeting rooms, recreation facilities, library,
There are of course things that need to be workshops, children's space, etc.) which are
presented to your local officials. essentially reserved for the use of the owners.

Existing zoning and/or business license/taxation The physical design is usually such as to
requirements may pose sufficient barriers as to encourage personal contact and use of the
prevent some from implementing a "sideline" common areas. There is no required sharing of
business that they might otherwise have an income or other personal assets. There may also
interest in operating. The very people who be other jointly owned assets, vehicles, tools,
would benefit in the future from such hobby machines, etc.
businesses waiting in the wings, will probably
balk at changes today that would allow them to Cohousing facilities, and quite a number of
start to develop. But it must be done. neighborhoods, have restrictive covenants, rules
for the neighborhood that one must agree to
What else do you see that needs to be changed, follow as part of obtaining title to the property.
to get the various levels of government OUT OF As with an easement on the property, the
THE WAY of achieving long-term sustainable covenants survive even seizure of the property
civilization? and a resale. I solicit input for covenants for a
long-term sustainable neighborhood.
TECHNOLOGY
With private ownership of the means of
So long as the external infrastructure continues providing for life support and comfort needs, as
to function, the gathering should be capable of well as potential sources of income for the
keeping up to date with the rest of the world organization, it is by definition a capitalistic
(given appropriate funding). autarky.

A question: Assume your family, and nineteen While such fictional entities are still available
other families, have completely equipped under law, the common areas and the overall
homesteads with everything in presentations to neighborhood may want to create and operate
this point, and are planning on isolation. Do you

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under a corporation, or a limited liability The four acre El Monte Sagrado Resort in Taos,
company. New Mexico, with 40 guest suites is not exactly
Please note my "two cents" is that such a permanent living environment, but it strives to
entities that do not hold owners and provide a comprehensive design solution for a
operators of a business responsible for high desert environment. It incorporates
what the business does are contrary to a rainwater collection, minimum energy to provide
long-term sustainable community as heating and cooling, re-use of organic wastes in
ecology, where "negative" feedback and production of food, earth-based building
consequences are required. materials, etc. Water is the critical limiting
resource in our high desert environment, with the
Typically each homestead (regardless of the ancient irrigation network near Taos area having
number of people living at that location) has one once made it the breadbasket of area.
"vote" in areas of management where the
association has discretion. I solicit feedback on The facility was previously a motel of small
further organizational thoughts, association rules, adobe casitas, which were restored and
etc. incorporated into the new resort infrastructure
systems. Compressed earth blocks made with a
The person voting for each homestead may, or hydraulic press were used for 8 of the units.
may not, be the same person who in general is
"in charge" at home. In general family homes The facility uses a "living machines" approach
are essentially meritocratic, lead by the person for wastewater from toilets, showers, etc. with
most qualified. All members may provide input, initial collection in tanks to moderate flow. They
perhaps the “owner” of the home (the elders) and use ultraviolet disinfection and only the amount
the primary wage earner(s) have significant of energy around that of a common light bulb.
input, or perhaps “veto” power, but in general They avoid using chlorine as it is reported to
someone (in our home, the wife) has the “final” create carcinogenic and estrogenic compounds
say. biologically harmful in minute quantities.

Depending on local law, it may be in the best CALL TO ACTION


interest of the association for all "common" areas
to be owned by a corporation, limited liability Where do you want to be when the oil-based
company, etc., with the goal of minimizing the infrastructure is no longer operationally viable?
liability of any individual family / homestead to In your independent home, in a community of
a third party who may be injured on such similar homes, or competing for scraps from a
common property, and seek to sue the failing society?
association.
At the present, numerous oil wells are estimated
As with the thought of virtual organization for to "dry up" before 2010. Rationally, as more
the community, where the homesteads are not wells empty and production levels will fall, oil
necessarily physically next to each other, neither will no longer be cheap, or abundant, and all of
does the common field, or other common assets humanities oil dependent technology will
need to be directly connected to any of the wheeze to a halt.
homesteads.
Admit, as oil ceases to be cheap and abundant,
Consider there is a vacant lot, or perhaps a run- the present infrastructure will fail. I have no
down and abandoned home in your crystal ball, and cannot tell you what the
neighborhood. Don’t whine about it to the city, reactions of nations, and people in general will
organize a group and buy it, and put in the be. But my guess, based on what we see with
“sweat equity” to turn it into a common facility minor interruptions and shortfalls, such as the
for your group. Bolivia seizure of oil fields, and front page news
in the Financial Times of Iranian youth signing
INSPIRATION up to volunteer for suicide bomer missions, is
that it will not be pleasant. The first priority
must be surviving the crash.

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resources, even on a global scale, redevelopment
What response to you intend to tell your must take place within at least basic guidelines to
grandchildren when they ask, "where were avoid re-acquiring long term dependency on a
you"... when you used the last drop you could short term resource.
afford... what were you doing when others were
preparing for the tragedies of the "transition" Look at history, and the reasons stated (and
period... or when others were preparing for the unstated) as to why earlier civilizations failed.
inevitable, post-oil paradigm? Are your children Research periods of crisis (i.e. the “Great
and grandchildren well fed, in safe surroundings, Depression”30)for causes, and analyze the acts of
or in the wilderness? significant “players”, and their underlying
motives.
There will be those tough, resourceful, wealthy,
or lucky individuals, and their families, who
make it through the transition "without a
scratch", and do fine. I'm hoping that I fit some
such category, and that my family survives... But
I've come to believe that everyone who joins in
the creation of an appropriate sustainable
community will vastly increase their chances of
success, and quality of life. If we "close the
loop" locally on water, food, utilities, etc., we
reduce our "footprint", and reduce the need to
conduct economic activity to earn funds to make
payments on such.

Consider where we are, our resources, our


beliefs and opinions of the future, and act now.
Right now, we can not only communicate by
phone, over the web, etc., but we can research
nearly anything we can imagine, and by a mere
"click" cause books, tools, materials, devices,
etc., to be shipped directly to us. How long do
you think this capability will continue when
things start to get "tight"?

If we are going to not only CORRECT the


mistakes of the past 100 years, and move on to
developing to our greatest capabilities, there
must be some groups that avoid the worst of the
oil collapse. While "online" discussion can
connect like-minded people in their thoughts and
planning, it does nothing for any of us regarding
physical world preparations.

SUMMARY

A modest neighborhood of self-reliant


homesteads can in theory provide life support,
and new generations, for an indefinite period.

But in isolation (physical or mental) such a


neighborhood is going to find maintaining
modern technology, and indeed knowledge,
difficult. Realizing there are limits to physical

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Sustainable Civilization: From the Grass Roots Up
Chapter IV - Sustainability Principles or Guidelines

The apparent principles and guidelines of our - From the Great Law of the Iroquois
present civilization ignore natural limits. Once Nation
we recognize these limits exist, we need to shift
the focus of our thinking to different paradigms. Seven generations is somewhere between 96 and
280 years. A properly maintained and managed
INTRODUCTION neighborhood or cooperative housing association
provides a minimum genetic population, and can
"Sustainable" is a word you will more readily see provide for the life-support needs of residents for
added to the name of programs. Real change seven generations and beyond. But it appears
though will be difficult to actually implement clear that a homeowner association scale
and maintain given present individual attitudes, community, if isolated, will be unable to sustain
institutions and paradigms. much technology, education, or skills.

Civilization, operated on sustainable principles, Humans and all other animal life on earth are
could eliminate starvation, poverty, pollution, dependent on plants to use light to recycle our
etc. But such will not be implemented by a wastes and mortal remains to create food. We in
starving population or by those who benefit from particular are dependent on our agriculture art
the present system. Such will be resisted by the and technology. Without it, the natural systems
selfish and greedy who contribute nothing while on the Earth could not support the present human
demanding others support them. It will be population.
resisted by those who feel THEY have the
“right” to have as many children as they want, to Given present science, what comprises a
do what they want, to go where they want, sustainable community?
regardless of whomever else upon which the
COSTS of such actions are imposed. There are no secrets to success. It is the
result of preparation, hard work, and
Given humanities civilization is now global, for learning from failure.
many practical purposes, we've got to recognize
- General Colin Powell
we are living in a closed environment. Our
resources are finite. Other than energy from the
sun, there is virtually no input to our resources.
Absent a breakthrough in technology, we are PRESERVE GOD'S NATURAL
effectively limited to the confines of the Earth ECOSYSTEMS
for the foreseeable future.
We must avoid interfering with any unique micro
HOW LONG environment, or the environment overall, such
that we cause species extinctions, or such that
The word sustainable implies the ability to natural evolution is prevented. Therefore a key
continue for an indefinite period. To put initial question, what is the upper limit for the
sustainable into an easier to comprehend portion of the environment to be devoted to
timeframe, consider seven generations. human use? 1/10? 1/3? 1/2? More? Less?
Please note, humans are already using 50% of
the productive life of the world.
"In our every deliberation, we must
consider the impact of our decisions on
Within such dedicated space, or indeed the entire
the next seven generations"
world, simple logic shows the number of humans
who can be sustained, and the per person ability

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to use resources, are inversely related. The We need to allow for some specialization,
smaller the population to be maintained, the maintain skills and simple technology.
greater the resources per person.
Somewhere there is a range of population that
Despite the appearances of vast remaining wide allows continued human achievements without
open spaces, estimates are that almost 50% of destruction. It requires however understanding
the productive life of the globe is already and individual responsibility to achieve the local
diverted in some manner to human use. action which is essential to achieve stability on a
global scale - unless you WANT war and
FEEDBACK LOOPS pestilence.

If you stick your hand into the fire, you need the Every factor I've examined indicates the
negative feedback of searing pain letting you population must decline dramatically. Once we
know there's not much time to get your hand out. have reached sustainable levels, the population
can only be permitted to fluctuate within a
There are consequences to actions; whether limited range. Consider the factors of
those of an individual, family, neighborhood, fluctuation, lifespan, child bearing age, and
city, nation, or humanity as a whole. birthrate..

Foul your air and you're dead in 3 minutes. Lifespan. Given other factors being stable (child
bearing age and birthrate) an increase, or
Foul your water and you're dead in 3 days. decrease in the average lifespan of a population
will cause a one time increase (lifespan divided
Foul your food and you're dead in 3 weeks. by child bearing age) in the number of
generations alive at any given time, and therefore
You may be able to temporarily obtain resources the total living population.
from elsewhere, but in a long-term sustainable
world where everyone is in balance, there may Child Birth Age. Given other factors being
not be excess to share. stable (lifespan and birthrate) an increase, or
decrease in the average age of parents when
POPULATION CONTROL children are born will cause a one time increase
(lifespan divided by child bearing age) in the
Some maximum population can be fed, but with number of generations alive at any given time,
no resources available for any other purpose. A and therefore the total living population.
technological civilization, in particular to
continue developing, requires "excess" resources Birthrate. Given other factors being stable
that can be invested for the future, and lost in (Lifespan and child bearing age) an increase, or
failed projects. decrease in the average number of children born
to parents, in simple fact, ANY deviation from a
At the other end of the scale, there is certainly a strictly replacement birth rate, will cause a
minimum human population, and distribution continued, and essentially geometric change in
program, for safety, maintenance and the actual number of people alive at any given
development of skills, knowledge, scientific time.
discovery, etc.
Regardless of the size of the population units, it
The smallest human population is that required appears practical to blend living, working,
for genetic safety. (A tribe? Six families? entertainment, etc. facilities in as close proximity
Twenty families?) While this size might be as practical.
appropriate for a "survival" community, or a well
organized and supported project (i.e. an INFRASTRUCTURE
interstellar mission) it is doubtful that technology
could be indefinitely maintained, let alone Modern civilization, as we experience it, is a
development continue. product of the present global socio-economic-
industrial infrastructure. Surely, no one believes

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this present infrastructure is indefinitely Throughout the globe, humanity needs to "...get
sustainable. Flying the face of logic, we have it's act together...". But there is no indication it
expanded our numbers such that much of the will do so in time to prevent a crash.
present 6+ billion human population depends on
this infrastructure not only for an economic RESOURCE BASES
livelihood, but for essentials of life (water, food,
shelter, etc.) Our infrastructure itself though is Use of a finite resource (i.e. fossil fuels,
dependent on the destruction of a finite resource. minerals, ancient groundwater) in a manner not
readily recycled is foolish. Having the
What does human-scale infrastructure look like? infrastructure of civilization dependent on such
use is insane.
Background. We cannot indefinitely burn fossil
fuels, pump groundwater stored millennia ago, Use of a renewable resource beyond the
mine, etc. The easy discoveries and recoveries reasonably reliable applicable renewal rate is
of such are past. Very soon, we must begin to foolish. If it takes 50 years to grow a tree, our
live with the declining supplies. use to growth relation must be balanced. For
every tree needed annually, we need to have fifty
The Earth, and every definable (political or growing. (Growing in the human resource
geographic) area has a maximum population that dedicated areas.)
can be maintained using local resources or
sustainable trade. Technological innovations may for example,
possibly eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels
The present global population is well beyond (ancient stored solar energy) prior to effective
sustainability even for food, let alone a exhaustion of this resource. Absent such leaps in
functional and developing civilization. There are technology, we will, relatively soon, need to
some places and peoples who may have attained again rely on our annual solar energy allotment.
a stable population, but none is good example of
stable population and sustainable resource Further, it is not in the present day "best interest"
utilization. of business or political leadership to prevent the
crash, or even take steps to mitigate it.
Most places on the globe are so overpopulated
(and still expanding) that they have no chance of Air / O2 / CO2. In theory, the area of plant
attaining higher standards of living, let alone material necessary to balance the breathing of a
sustainability, absent a massive, premature, and human is the same as that needed to produce
unpleasant death of the bulk of the population. food. The same area is that which can be
practically fertilized by the humanure and urine
Those in poor, but expanding population areas, from an adult.
in seeking to emulate higher resource use
nations, or emigrate there, are acting contrary to Micronutrients. Whether from humanure, ruined
sustainability. clothing, a damaged wood item, or the body of a
human, when the micronutrients that comprise
The smaller the sustained population, the greater the object, or person, are no longer needed, they
the resources available per person. But a small need to be recycled to the growing medium.
population is vulnerable to the "needs" of the
majority being imposed unwillingly. If the world Physical Limits. Absent scientific breakthroughs,
is not composed of sustainable units, conflict is humanity is effectively restricted to the limits of
the logical outcome. the Earth for the foreseeable future.

A small, sustainable community, must be capable ECONOMICS


of resisting unwelcome and oppressive
"neighbors", and needs appropriate defensive First, do no harm. Present businesses make huge
and policing capabilities. profits selling products engineered for short
useful life and disposal, with no concern for the
damage to the environment. Pre-crash, while

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cheap fossil fuels are still available, fully "backed", gold-based currency remains
sustainability engineered products might subject to fraud and inflation by whomever
compete, but to a limited public. issues the receipts. Far worse than this, virtually
every nation today uses "fiat" currency, which
Consider, no one asks you what the "payback" only has value because the government directs
period is for an investment in a new "Corvette", that it does.
but put up solar panels, and expect the question.
The present (2007) currency is backed by the
We already arguably divert 1/2 of the production "full faith and credit" of the nation, which in
of the planet to human uses, and we continue in reality means the productive capability of the
most places to despoil our own communities, and nation. Now remember what happens to the
common resources. It must stop, or after an oil economy with peak oil. What is a real currency
shortage, we will face shortages of safe places to that cannot be subject to false receipts, theft and
live, safe food, water, and air. deliberate inflation? One that creating more of
the backing adds actual value to the community?
Fossil fuel has for around 150 years put into the
infrastructure concentrated easy to manipulate Wheat is a real example where the entire
energy, with only the minute cost of initiating the community gains when more “currency” is
digging (coal) or pumping (oil) process, after generated. Finding more gold does not
which diverting only a small portion of the coal necessarily add to the capabilities of an
or oil sufficed to drive and expand the removal, economy. Beyond food and life support, it really
refining & distribution process. It has been a appears that power is the prime driver of a robust
great self-enhancing feedback loop, soon to end. like to know.

Absent a breakthrough, we will not have the POLITICS


"free" energy store such that we can expend 10+
times as much energy to get a can of corn to your As human groups become larger and more
home, as there is food value in the corn. complex, we tend toward establishing and
expanding formal government, whether by a
High shipping prices should lead to a religious cast, or secular organization. All tend
concentration on local production and virtually toward becoming kleptocracies, using the force
closed recycling loops for necessities. of government to involuntarily take from those
who produce and accumulate, whether to enrich
Centralized design and manufacturing of critical the king and royal caste, or provide for an
components, with local assembly and underclass that keeps the "generous" politician in
craftsmanship of non-critical components, cases, power . Can human civilization exist without
frames, etc. surrendering to the power of thieves?

Proactive maintenance and repair. What is the minimum "necessary" level of


government, how to achieve it, and maintain it?
Solar energy. Sunlight powers the photosynthesis Perhaps most significantly, can such be
process, and feeds virtually all life on Earth. It maintained against opposition that is organized
powers the evaporative process, giving us rain in a more authoritative manner?
and hydroelectric generation. It powers the
winds and wind driven waves. But as great as it Business and political leaders advocate trying to
may seem compared to the size and capabilities attract new industries and populations to their
of a human, it is still limited. The probable areas, then complain and wonder what to do
maximum effective solar collection area of the about the consequent increases in taxes,
Earth that faces the sun at any given time is a pollution, congestion, crime, costs, etc.
disk of around 5,000 mile diameter.
Political and business leaders use the circular
An economy requires a stable and readily arguments of self-fulfilling predictions regarding
acceptable currency. As touched on earlier with population growth, which then CAUSES
mention of the "Wheat Receipts" lecture, even a population growth. Consider the process where

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projections of the "inevitable" future population Given present technology, it is unclear as to how
growth in the area are made. Plans are then the majority of the present population can be
generated to ensure the infrastructure can meet sustained.
the projected future “needs”. They then borrow
to finance the needed expansion of basic We must however voluntarily attain
infrastructure, ignoring real improvements for sustainability, or it will be imposed, probably not
those already living there. Typically, programs in a pleasant manner.
are then put in place to attract the new business
and residents needed to pay for the loans. When Criminal Sanctions. Laws and police action tend
the new businesses and people move in, those to grow in areas where is easy to show
who “predicted” the growth pat themselves on "accomplishments", vs real protection, leading to
the back, and look to the future... an enlarged force with an emphasis in the wrong
areas. That tossed out there must still be some
Dumping toxic waste on the land of the poor means of maintaining order in disputes between
TEMPORARILY keeps it out of your personal individuals, to deal with fights, theft, assault, etc.
ecosystem, but only temporarily. It must not be Ignoring crime leads to a free-for-all.
generated.
Prisons as in place today are gymnasiums and
Growth means in the short term more votes and institutes of higher criminal education, with a
money for leaders, but only in the short term. significant portion of the prison population
consisting of those arrested for created victimless
It is easy to talk about sustainability, but too crimes, vs those who commit actual assault to
often it‘s just talk, with no personal conviction, person or property.
(i.e. Al Gore and his four children representing a
100% increase in the population in one Taxation. Fee for service? At what level do you
generation.) accept that you no longer get to decide who
benefits from the fruits of your labor or
Many nations and their citizens will continue to investments? With a collapsing economy, tax
believe that the environment can be preserved revenues will fall, regardless of tax rates. Higher
without the need of addressing population rates lead to greater avoidance, until either
growth. government is swept away, or becomes openly
totalitarian.
Re political leadership, consider the career of a
politician who announces legislation drafted to Regulation. At what level do you accept that
remove incentives for a growing population. To someone, not one whom you voluntarily submit
attack the root cause of humanities problems, to, is authorized to initiate force to make you
overpopulation, would lead to a short career. But change behavior, even though you are not
it needs to be done. harming anyone else?

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the 1. Compassion which gives a drunk the


creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, means to increase his drunkenness is
its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of counter-productive.
misery." 2. Compassion which breeds debilitating
Sir Winston Churchill dependency and weakness is counter-
productive.
3. Compassion which blunts the desire or
Those who feel they have a right to take from necessity to work for a living is counter-
others will resist sustainability. It will be resisted productive
by those who benefit from an expanding 4. Compassion which smothers the instinct
population, and by those who want to pander to to strive and excel is counter-productive.
the above. - Attributable to Benjamin Franklin

TERRORISTS

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You, your family, your community need to be
Why can’t we all just get along? Because there “armed” with the information and abilities
are those who would kill you for a jacket, the essential to resisting thugs, and terrorists.
change in your pockets, to make a point, or for
the fun they find in it. There are those who Recognized terrorists do not want you to be
would hold a gun to your head to force you to armed, neither do the politicians who see you as
comply with their whims. their surfs.

Via oil, Americans are voluntarily helping to pay TRIAGE


for the rope which will hang them. Via our own
government, we are involuntarily taxed to pay Not everything we see today is practical or
for programs and policies that are contrary to our sustainable. We must salvage what we can and
best interests. prepare to move on. We must prepare to survive
the fall of the present infrastructure, which is a
A thug, is a thug. A terrorist, is a terrorist. The model of NON-sustainability.
typical terrorist “cell” member has been told who
to trust, and devalues everyone else. How does What must be saved?
this differ from our politicians who mandate What should be saved?
what you do, say, spend you earnings on, etc? What can be saved?
The “enemy” of civilization, is first anyone with
a birth rate higher than replacement who then What should not be saved?
seeks to force others to bear the consequences. What must not be saved?
It is anyone who insists that THEIR approach to What cannot be saved?
civilization is one worthy to be imposed
involuntarily on others at the point of a gun. Into the weeds...

Whether you see it or not, we are engaged in a What must be saved? Knowledge, skills, and
multi-front war. The object of war is not technological capabilities. How much has been
necessarily to destroy the enemy, but to destroy wasted in humanities history by the same
his will. Terrorists seek to do so with preemptive discovery, invention, or even simple fact, being
acts of violence. Politicians seek to do so thru a "rediscovered" multiple times?
combination of promised government benefits,
that must be funded by theft. Knowledge. I can't tell you off-hand which
plants grow well with each other, and which can't
Regardless of what YOUR religion is, if it is stand each other. But I know the information is
NOT radical Islam, you are going to be involved important to efficient gardening, and that the
in a religious war. Our civilization cannot information is out there in books. I don't know
continue to use resources at the same rate as at which piece of information, invention, or
the turn of the millennia. Regardless of your discovery can or will become critical, so we need
personal resource use level and you are going to the maximum possible under whatever
be involved in a resource war. conditions we encounter. Post crash, I'd want to
have access to an intact university, or at least city
On September 11, 2001 the citizens on flight 93 library. My own library is merely a few
did not sit on their hands. They used their cell bookshelves of selected text.
phones, and discovered news of the World Trade
Center impacts. When big government plans Skills. Almost lost skills, such as blacksmithing,
failed, it was the acts of free men that prevented may need a revival. But if we lose skills such as
the final flight 93 from reaching its terrorist precision surgery, bringing them back will quite
intended target. What of security measures and probably be MUCH more difficult than resuming
gun control? Everyone on all of the flights, and smithy work.
in the two World Trade Towers would have been
safer if every citizen had been armed. Teachers. What is the minimum level
community expected to be capable of sustainably

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training specialized teachers of K to 12? (Or do basis for civilization. "Sustainable" clearly
we use the apprentice system?) implies the ability to continue for an indefinite
period. Stepping back from indefinite, to a more
Medical. Continued practice of medicine readily understandable timeframe, consider just
requires either people get hurt and sick a lot, or a seven generations.
lot of people occasionally getting hurt or sick.
I'd suppose that "apprenticeships" can/will return Physical Growth has Limits. A community may
(for lots of purposes) if there is no formal have "sustainable growth" in the economy,
university. education, or development of technology or
infrastructure, but applied to any material thing,
Technology. Even if it's a museum piece, like a or the population, it is an oxymoron.
Pentium computer that won't run anymore…
A key point of mine is to avoid the folly of Consider "housing starts". Construction of each
reinvention / rediscovery of the same thing, new home added to the inventory is a drain on
which has occurred OVER AND OVER in our resources. In recent years wood construction has
history. been decried as unfriendly to the environment.
But wood is a renewable resource, and with
What should be saved? Examples of as many reasonable care in construction and maintenance
aspects of our present tools, technology, and can last far longer then the time it takes to grow
even household items as can be practically replacement trees.
managed, if for nothing else than eventual
inclusion in a museum. In past (localized) It‘s not that building ONE house of wood
collapses, the centers of civilization were adversely effects the environment, it’s that
abandoned to scavengers and the ravages of building an expanding number of houses to meet
nature, with the loss of priceless cultural expanding population demands is bad. With that
treasures. realization, new housing starts that would consist
of digging a hole are also unsustainable.
What can be saved? If we have the will, we can
save most of our present scientific and With a variety of materials and designs, homes
technological knowledge and technology. (I.e. a can be built to provide reasonable temperatures
limited number of internal combustion engines without the need for externally powered HVAC.
can be run on biofuels.) They can be built to last hundreds of years to
house generation after generation. But a stable
What should not be saved? Programs that foster population is a necessity.
or enable population expansion.
Population growth has limits. Every defined
What must not be saved? Any attitude, program, area, whether political or geographic, has an
operation, function, incentive, etc. which upper limit of population and resource
requires, promotes, or encourages an expanding consumption that can be sustained by the local
population, or the use of a finite resource in a resources or by sustainable trade. We must
manner which, given present knowledge and eliminate any incentive toward population
technology, irreversibly precludes it's reuse in growth.
any other practical manner.
There are families who make the conscious
What cannot be saved? Most of the present decision to limit to two (and preferably for the
human population, any part of the infrastructure immediate future) one child. This needs to be
dependent on cheap, abundant fossil fuels, in encouraged as a voluntary act, or it will have to
particular oil. be enforced involuntarily, whether by humans, or
nature.
SUSTAINABLE CIVILIZATION, CAN WE
ACHIEVE IT? We're only borrowing the physical present from
future generations. Sustainable development
Humanity must transition as quickly and must meet the needs of the present without
thoroughly as possible to a rational sustainable compromising the ability of future generations to

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meet their own needs. We must also sustain
human progress. Governmental drain test. Programs, policies, and
full time government positions are a drain on the
WHAT COMPRISES A SUSTAINABLE productivity of any society, which requires the
CIVILIZATION? society to produce more than would otherwise be
required to support the costs. Unfortunately, too
Limited intrusion on natural ecosystems. No many in full time / professional government /
more than ten percent (10%) of the ecosystem is political / police military positions see
appropriated solely for human use. (At the themselves as rulers, rather than public servants,
present, estimates are that 40% to 50% of the and are engaged in personal empire building.
biosphere is diverted to human use.) We must be prepared to wage war. If fighting
on the level of war is required, total involvement
Recycling. We must not be dependent on is required, from the extra food to be grown, it's
consumption of a finite resource. (Fossil fuels, delivery to the troops, resupply efforts, etc.
mining, ancient groundwater, etc.) There are no civilians in war, only those
incapable of actively fighting or providing
Stable population. We must limit our own support. But unless we’re involved in a war,
numbers. maintaining a professional full time military is a
drain on resources.
Human enclaves. Living, working, food
production, recreation, etc. are consolidated, It is similar for police. They cannot be
with open space around and interspaced. Human everywhere that real crime is, and the incentive
communities can be "ecologically sound", with is to criminalize actions that can readily show
natural processes meeting our needs, such as progress in dealing with crime by the police.
"living machines" processing human sewage. Technically in most of the U.S., every citizen has
BUT, an ecosystem optimized for human the authority to make a citizens arrest, but it's
habitation is NOT COMPATIBLE with a natural discouraged by the professional police. We need
ecosystem. to encourage personal initiative with offenders
taken to the "on duty" staff.
Consider: We can grow food in biointensive
gardens, live in earth sheltered homes within We can’t continue to ignore and downplay self
walking distance of shops or stores… But do you defense. Winning peace, not just at the level of
want wild rabbits or deer in your garden, bears "war", but down to local one-on-one crimes
wandering your sidewalks, or fleas in your bed? takes eternal vigilance at all levels.
Human activity must be kept isolated.
It is the same for protecting the environment, it
Homes, business and public structures are takes eternal vigilance of concerned citizens.
engineered for long term service. Aspects which There is no terminal point when we can declare
require periodic maintenance (pipes, wires, etc.) we’ve saved the environment. It, as with many
are accessible without damage to long-term aspects, appears to require universal involvement
aspects. (Stop digging up streets to access of citizens. Absent such personal responsibility
utilities!) for security, there should be no vote, or other
citizenship "rights" accorded.
Spectacle test. Is the health and general physical
condition of the residents such that the local Stable population test. Consider the energy and
technology can meet their medical needs? If you resources lost in public infrastructure,
need eyeglasses, can you or some make them? businesses, food processing, etc. to meet the
needs of the spiraling growth of world
Technological progress test. Are there excess population, which could instead be invested in
resources to be risked in development that may progress.
fail? Is there a broad knowledge base, and the
availability of communications? Is there enough There is an immediate need to develop strategies
population for specialization, and a market for aimed at eliminating world population growth.
developments? The long term consequences of population

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growth are going to be demonstrated to all
nations as the oil crash progresses. Cheap international trade allows the developed
countries to draw on the carrying capacity of the
Can you think of any problem we face where entire earth, providing an illusion of sufficient
having more people makes it better? local life support.

Communities and civilization can slow their Living machines. We need human communities
population growth by removing the many visible to be fully integrated living ecosystems
and hidden public subsidies that support and optimized for human habitation. “Science writer
encourage growth. Welfare as it exists in Janine Benyus points out that spiders make silk,
America today must be eliminated. Its programs strong as Kevlar but much tougher, from
provide incentives for the unproductive to digested crickets and flies, without needing
reproduce excessively. It is the same with boiling sulfuric acid and high-temperature
dependency deductions, employer provided extruders. The abalone generates an inner shell
health insurance for families regardless of size, twice as tough as our best ceramics, and diatoms
free public schooling, etc. make glass, both processes employing seawater
with no furnaces. Trees turn sunlight, water, and
Stopping population growth will require air into cellulose, a sugar stiffer and stronger
educational, technical, and outreach programs in than nylon, and bind it into wood, a natural
the areas of social responsibility, family composite with a higher bending strength and
planning, contraception, immigration, and stiffness than concrete or steel. We may never
resource use. We must make clear the greater the grow as skillful as spiders, abalone, diatoms, or
degree to which the carrying capacity has been trees, but smart designers are apprenticing
exceeded, the more probable it is that coercion themselves to nature to learn the benign
will become a factor in these programs. It also chemistry of its processes.”
requires a review of governmental programs and
taxes, which “reward” population growth, or Pharmaceutical companies are becoming
penalize those who are successful. microbial ranchers managing herds of enzymes.
Biological farming manages soil ecosystems in
The food chain is nature's equilibrium order to increase the amount of biota and life per
mechanism. It functions to prevent unlimited acre by keen knowledge of food chains, species
expansion of populations of flora and fauna. interactions, and nutrient flows, minimizing crop
Primitive human societies were often able, if not losses and maximizing yields by fostering
forced to maintain approximately constant diversity. Meta-industrial engineers are creating
populations and to live within the carrying "zero-emission" industrial parks whose tenants
capacity of their ecosystems. The methods they will constitute an industrial ecosystem in which
used to maintain approximately constant one company will feed upon the nontoxic and
populations were often cruel and inhumane. useful wastes of another. Architects and builders
are creating structures that process their own
Technology has given many people the feeling wastewater, capture light, create energy, and
that, through our own efforts, we are exempt provide habitat for wildlife and wealth for the
from the cruel constraints of limited carrying community, all the while improving worker
capacities. Be prepared for the consequences productivity, morale, and health. High-
WHEN our infrastructure fails. temperature, centralized power plants are starting
to be replaced by smaller-scale, renewable power
Ancient civilizations have vanished, in part generation. In chemistry, we can look forward to
because they grew too large and their size the end of the witches' brew of dangerous
exceeded the carrying capacity of the ecosystems substances invented this century, from DDT,
on which they depended for support. PCB, CFCs, and Thalidomide to Dieldrin and
xeno-estrogens. The eighty thousand different
Education notwithstanding, civilizations today chemicals now manufactured end up
show considerable tendency to repeat the everywhere, as Donella Meadows remarks, from
mistakes of earlier civilizations, but on a much our "stratosphere to our sperm." They were
larger scale. created to accomplish functions that can now be

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carried out far more efficiently with SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
biodegradable and naturally occurring
compounds.” The challenge of making the transition to a
sustainable society is enormous, in part because
No processes with toxic waste. In fact, no of a major global effort to keep people from
manufacturing or any other process with "waste". recognizing the centrality of population growth
Close the loops, use the waste as a resource in to the enormous problems of the U.S. and the
another process, or otherwise recycle it, and world. We must have no further net overrun of
recycle products which have passed their useful nature by humans.
life.

WHEN IS IT TOO LATE?

The complete era of the use of fossil fuels by


humans will be a vanishingly short fraction of
the span of human existence on the Earth.
(Hubbert 1974)

The supplies of all non-renewable resources will


effectively expire when the costs ( in cash, in
energy, in ecological and societal disruption ) of
making available a quantity of the resource
exceed the value of the quantity of the resource.

Comprehensive educational, technical, and


outreach programs in the areas of efficient use of
resources will be needed in order to help achieve
sustainability.

Peak world production of petroleum will


probably happen before the year 2020. Peak
production of coal and oil shale, may occur in
the 21st Century. Other fossil fuels probably will
not be available in globally significant quantities
for more than a few decades into the 21st
Century.

The probability is very small that technological


breakthroughs will produce new sources of
energy not already known at the end of the
millennium that will have the potential of
supplying a significant fraction of the world's
energy needs for any appreciable period of time.

WHO IS GOING TO DO IT?

Maslow in his hierarchy of needs theory


contends that only after humans meet 'basic
needs', do they seek to satisfy successively
'higher needs' that occupy a set hierarchy. If you
have a homestead, and neighborhood that can
provide your life support needs, YOU may be the
one called on to re-build civilization.

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Sustainable Civilization: From the Grass Roots Up
Chapter V - Ecovillage

What is the minimum level gathering to allow microenvironment in the name of creating a
individuals to practice personal specialization in human ecovillage.
providing daily goods and services, even basic
schooling, within walking distance? Wherever the location, it must be possible, and
within the scope of community capability for the
A typical present day community is dependent local resources to sustain the climax stage
on a constant inflow of energy and goods, and population for the indefinite future, and the
outflow of "waste". Providers of goods and population must be large enough (without
services, even basic schooling, often requires exceeding the local resources) to be self-
trips beyond walking distance, such as long bus sustaining not only in the physical essentials of
rides for children. What happens when the fuel life, but also education of the children sufficient
which allows this to happen stops flowing? to at the least continue maintenance and
operation of the infrastructure, awareness of
INTRODUCTION plant and animal requirements and
characteristics, etc.
Consider if you will an "ecovillage" to be the
primary unit of society. A homestead may Research has shown that merely assembling
provide indefinite life support, and a modest climax stage factors does not a climax stage
neighborhood continuing generations for an environment create. The climax stage tree may
indefinite period, but it is doubtful that complex need the fact that earlier pioneer species have
technology, specialized or technical knowledge, accumulated nitrogen, opened pores in the soil,
or even "modern" K - 12 education would be etc.
maintained in an isolated neighborhood of 20
families. The next logical step “up” in Developers may construct collections of new
complexity is the infrastructure for basic houses & roads, but it is not a neighborhood or
education, community meeting places and community until the people are there and make it
marketplace, location for unique limited demand their own. Expanding this thought, the author if
services, etc. further skeptical of those who purport to create a
village in the wilderness. In general, the
Ecovillage does not necessarily mean that human designer/builder has no contact with the
activities are harmlessly integrated into the prospective owner/occupant until after the
natural world. As touched on earlier, humans in facility is constructed. A wilderness location
general do not want to live in direct contact with means of course that the facility is cut-off from
nature, in simple fact humans generally want to human infrastructure, it is in essence a pioneer
override what would have naturally occurred. species, and does not represent a long-term
climax stage.
This does not mean that humans can, or want to
continue in complete isolation from other life Frequently new developments are houses and
forms, rather humans want to choose the life roads, and little else. The houses were probably
forms the cohabitate with. built at the lowest cost, to present the greatest
attractive appearance, disregarding practical
The word “ecovillage” frequently initiates long-term use. A heavy rainstorm or wind,
thoughts and comments along the lines of settling of disturbed soils, and there may be more
finding that perfect pristine piece of idealist than a few surprises.
wilderness, and quite frankly cutting, digging,
paving, and planting there to meet human desires Existing neighborhoods, in particular perhaps
and needs, essentially destroying the local those that pre-date extensive auto ownership and

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grid utilities may in this author’s view be better
candidates as a basis for evolution into a climax Not everyone can live in a "Garden of Eden".
stage, low power human residential community. Indeed, as the lyrics of the song go, "...call
The evolution may take deliberate guided effort, someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye..."
or perhaps for those who realize they must take
personal responsibility for their own situation, it Is the site conducive to daily walking scale for
will simply arise as the “right thing to do”. If an even the young & the elderly to make such
ecosystem develops and runs on information and physical trips as are required? Can a fix of built
feedback, hopefully false-starts and blind alleys and growing aspects function to provide a new
can be avoided if clear facts are available to the level of resource complexity?
residents on how to build (or grow) their
community. I encourage every reader to brainstorm on
locations and all aspects of your planning.
A primitive village would hardly notice the Location, and the resources of the location, can
effects of peak oil. What would happen in vary significantly the area needed per person.
YOUR neighborhood? Could the children can An "ecological village" will have greater area
play openly in the streets? (Can they now?) Do requirements than a "survival" location.
you know and trust your neighbor? Can you and
your neighbors tell when someone is in the area Air: An ecologically sustainable village concept
who does not live there? includes a consideration that the village air usage
(i.e. CO2 from breathing) is balanced by plant
The ecovillage concept considered here is a activity in the area under village control.
deliberate microenvironment for ongoing
generations of human habitation, embedded Water: The renewable water supply (in the
within a larger system to provide more complex worst year) must exceed the total needs of the
goods and services. population, AND allowances for the natural
surroundings.
One does not have to be a developer or politician
to seed development of more ecological Park space for flora and fauna: The "common"
communities. You do not necessarily have to areas of the village need space for an appropriate
have personal contact with members of the "park" ecosystem. I don’t want to call it "wild"
community. Think how many lives have been or "natural", as it's intended for a place for
changed throughout history by the great works of humans, and therefore still excludes any "threat".
literature. The author has no delusion that this
treatise is a great work, it is just one of many While it is a "bonus" if isolated village property
attempts to alert people to the need for change, is surrounded by BLM or state preserve lands,
and samples of the information and tools since those are under the "ownership" of
available. It is hoped that presented with the someone else, they really should not be counted
basics for life support, ongoing generations, in overall village planning. For example, if the
basic education, and specialization, and the true village determines that human activity should
extent of current community “footprints”, that only predominate on 20% of the area, and that
people will take responsibility for their past one acre or so should be dedicated per each
actions, and act toward a more sane future. family, then the village would need to own 5
acres for each family residing therein.
LOCATION
My personal selection for location is "high
Every location has its unique advantages and desert", in Arizona. My current job is in
disadvantages. Wherever you decide to reside, Arizona, so work on a project here is within the
or reside by default, you must ensure sustainable realm of practicality. Over the years, I've grown
access to the above life support factors, air, to tolerate, if not appreciate the heat. In the
water, food, shelter, etc. If we are indeed appendices I further develop a high desert village
confronted with a worldwide disaster, natural or scale, and other proposals.
manmade, humanities future will need numerous
far-flung self sufficient seed communities.

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Wilderness. Do you believe we need to preserve POPULATION
such wilderness as remains? Then do you object
to proposals for human habitation which requires The practical upper limit for an ecovillage is the
any further paving over of, or disruption of a life support capabilities of the relevant
natural ecosystem. We should use our ecosystem, organizational issues, and "human
intelligence and capabilities to "rescue" some scale". The practical lower limit is that needed
area already disrupted by some lesser concerned to maintain knowledge and relevant appropriate
human. technology.

Urban. Just as a wilderness "gathering" of Education Factor. Assume a healthy population


families does not necessarily mean all of the at an essentially stable number, with an average
homes are clustered into a single compound, lifespan of around 80. Assume a kindergarten
neither is such clustering an absolute to12 classroom size is 20 students per grade. On
requirement for an urban ecovillage. What is the average then the community needs to have 20
required is the contact and cooperation that goes citizens of each age, for a minimum population
with the village concept. The town / city is not a of around 1600. This is a collection of 10
natural ecology, but it is the ecology of a Homestead association units (20 families per
technological human civilization, and we must unit). This now implies the beginnings of a core
find a way to make it work. services area, if for no other purpose than a
modest school, and marketplace.

To use education to set an upper limit for an


ecovillage, if we want the kids to walk no further
than one half mile each way to school, the
organized and occupied area of the village is a
mile on a side (640 acres). Setting aside the
central 40 acres for school, marketplace, and
other village common functions, this walking
(human) scale max ecovillage has 60 Homestead
association units (1200 homes), for an average
population of around 9600, with an average of
120 students in each grade, requiring 72
teachers.

The above photo, taken by the author while on a ECONOMIC


trip along the California coastline, shows the
potential for multi level structures, here with Reaching beyond the scope of personal
retail on the lower level, and living spaces above. friendships and a gift / lend / borrow economy,
Envision the spaces behind a square block of and with expanded specialization, a formal
such a structure as being an orchard. currency and organized economic system is
probably required.
PURPOSE
The currency must be in some unit that all in the
To provide, in a manner which is sustainable for community can understand and readily translate
an indefinite number of future generations, a the goods and services of the community into the
location where all human life support needs are denomination of the local currency. While there
met. To provide a location where following will certainly be need for some translation of the
generations have access to at the minimum the local currency into the national currency, the
same resources as the initiating generation. To exchange rate must NOT be pegged at some
provide a location where following generations specific value, or the local currency will suffer
can be adequately educated such that they can at whatever fate befalls the national currency.
a minimum maintain the basic knowledge
expected of a high-school graduate. Whether internal or external, confidence in the
medium of exchange, and stability of it's value

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are required. Think in terms of the "gold continued generations. The village represents a
standard". The U.S. economy has experienced great jump in capability, and threat if
great changes in prices (value of currency) since environmental impact is ignored.
the 1800's, but consider, in the 1800's, a $20 gold
coin would buy a quality firearm, or good suit. POLITICAL
"Today", $20 can make such a purchase, BUT, a
$20 gold coin or such amount of gold can still A stable minimum population of 9600, living in
make similar purchases. How do we get a stable multigenerational family homes, is a community
currency without fixing its value to an arbitrary of around 1200 such homes. Given this
mineral? population, which exceeds an expanded family /
personal friends scope, this level probably needs
As a defined unit of exchange, the author formal administration and internal security.
presents for argument the kilowatt hour.
Electricity is the premier means of power. It can Starting at this level, it appears that
be generated and utilized or promised for future "government" cannot necessarily be dismissed
delivery. It can be expended in investment, or out of hand. But what is the minimum required
the means to generate can be collected and held "government? Do you grant or acquiesce to
as a store of value. Generating more of the basis having someone else power over how you live,
for the currency adds useful value to the or do you merely want someone to turn to with a
community, which can be expended on luxury, grievance whenever someone else "steps on your
entertainment, or invested in a means to further toes"?
generate power, or eliminate some power drain.
Internal organization. Absent order imposed by
Family homesteads are privately owned. an external authority, the group needs an internal
Homestead association / association units have charter to define operations. The charter, being
some "common" assets, which are still privately agreed upon by the originators, and impliedly
owned by the association. The entire community agreed to by everyone who inherits from the
can be privately owned by a collection of the originators, or later joins, should only be capable
associations. "Private" ownership of streets and of being modified by unanimous agreement of
facilities permits the village, under present laws each property ownership.
in most areas, to enforce "NO TRESPASSING"
aspects not only at homes, but in otherwise Where the charter provides leeway for decisions,
“public” areas such as sidewalks and streets. each property / homestead location to have one
vote, either direct or by proxy. The homesteads
Artisan technology. If for no other reason than a are gathered into associations of 20 homesteads
larger concentration of population, hopefully each forming the neighborhood associations.
specialists, and individual interactions, I would The ecovillage groups together 60 of these
hope the group would be capable of higher associations, therefore direct representation to
technology than simple handicrafts, repairs, the village of one person from each association is
reworking, etc. With time and practice, a skilled a village counsel of 60. My recommendation is
person could hand-make, if needed, screws, to have these positions unpaid, to help avoid
bolts, and more complex parts, as well as unique incentives for "empire building", extended
services inside the community, and for potential meetings, lavish offices, etc.
surrounding populations.
Existing authority. While present government
Farming. 2% of the population is 192 people remains viable, any unit will have to deal with
This size group of farming workers should allow such external authority. Under present law in the
for significant specialization - custom knowledge U.S., if the community organizes as a formal
of custom crops. government, it becomes subject to a great deal of
requirements, at many levels, and loses a great
Ecological aspects. Earlier "homestead", and deal of it's ability to deny external access to it's
"cooperative homseteads" discussions really deal property.
primarily with survival on a physical level, an
individual family, and a large enough group for

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Growth. If the village is the only entity in an Service and Supply Court, walking scale within.
area, or the most viable to lead appropriate
restructuring, it probably needs to consider
eventual growth beyond the village size, and
what the maximum community size per the
resources would be.

CREATING INFRASTRUCTURE

If there is time, finance, and resources, an


intentionally constructed, sustainably oriented
gathering is probably cheaper, and would
function better, than attempting to adapt an
existing neighborhood. (Consider building a
solar oriented, earth bermed home, vs. modifying
an existing home) But in location selection also I suggest thinking of each Homestead association
consider the need to avoid any further unit in terms of the cooperative housing
destruction of natural ecosystems. movement, where jointly owned facilities allow
for interaction and economics of scale. (i.e. a
It does not matter whether the village is central pool vs multiple home pools) If each
composed of individual homesteads, or a single village has set aside a central core of 40 acres, (a
arcology, or anywhere in between. What matters square about 1300 ft per side) there should easily
is the relationship of population level to be room for schools, marketplace, some small
resources. industry, etc.

Interior Roads. If the gathering is to create, in a


brief period, in physical isolation the physical
infrastructure that would have otherwise taken
decades, or perhaps indeed centuries to evolve, I
expect that heavy vehicle access will be
necessary. But that does not necessarily mean
that natural surroundings must be destroyed, or
paved over. If we are anticipating the end of
motor vehicle traffic as we know it, interior
"roads" could be two paths of stepping-stones,
spaced wheel width apart. Should a road, in the
future, need to be manually removed, or
relocated, (or used as building blocks) such
individual pavers could far more readily be
moved than the work involved in breaking up a These photos are more of the same outside center
monolithic concrete or asphalt road. While referenced elsewhere, where autos are kept out
internal paths may generally only carry foot of the shopping area.
traffic, bikes, etc., nevertheless on a general grid,
for a 1 mile on a side village 18 mile of access
pathway/road is needed.

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community project. In utilitarian tanks, or
aesthetic pools.

Although the particular facility shown has a


focus on retail sales, the same buildings could
obviously function as offices for physicians,
dentists, school rooms, etc. It presents a
pleasant, stress relieving atmosphere. A fish farm could be incorporated into a much
larger facility. The decorative ponds, streams,
Supply sales. Some services, and supplies, are pools in the above shopping plaza could perhaps
used so infrequently that every resident doing it if interconnected serve an overall "farm".
for themselves, or owning the item, is simply
irrational, especially in a post fossil fuel era Library. If there is spare space and labor
where high "real" fuel costs impose high real available, a physical library as is thought of
costs on good and services. today in an American town can be operated. In
a village though an alternative that works for a
For example, there are times now that I need a library (and other functions) is to establish a
truck, but I don't need one every day. When I do, simple central information resource showing
I rent one. It should be the same with the books owned by individuals, with borrowing
village. The entity should own the large, being either a private transaction, or processed
infrequently used resources, and rent them to thru a central resource manager.
residents at a rate designed to maintain and
eventually repair the item, and provide Layout of streets and paths. For an isolated
reasonable income to the entity, to lower the community, rolling terrain provides advantages
temptation to create taxes. not only in security, but in esthetics. Even with
an urban environment, the terrain surrounding
buildings need not follow the level streets and
sidewalks. The typical U.S. neighborhood
development is first bulldozed as flat as possible.
Consider instead rolling terrain, with earth
bermed homes.

At each home you could have a wall of glass,


looking out onto your own small garden, deck,
natural terrain, etc., which as you reach the edge
of the property rises in a gentle slope, then drops
down again on the next property. You see only
nature, not your neighbor's wall. Even if there
are flat paths or roads cut thru the terrain to
connect the homesites, with planning the "road"
Fish farming. Serves as a local source of high could pass such that the homes were not really
quality protein, and fertilizer for crops. It can be visible.
done on a very small scale for a family, or a

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The slope and mass between the homes absorbs on the property, or ignore their camp just off the
and deflects noise and vibration. property? How to guide them to establishing
their own sustainable village? Perhaps the
Minimum outside open lighting reduces hardest question of all is the arrival of Friends /
electrical demand, preserves the beauty of the family. If you've got a year of food storage, and
night sky, and preserves night vision. When the gardens sufficient for your family, and not much
human eye is in the dark then exposed to light, it more, what will you do?
takes at least several minutes for "night vision"
to return. In that time, places appear dark and Central management. Provided the numbers of
threatening which, if night vision were incoming "visitors" (and the threat they may
preserved, would be relatively clear to see. pose) does not overwhelm the village, the village
may want to set up a formal "visitor center" to
SECURITY serve as the contact point for arrivals, assess
skills and assets vs village needs, and perhaps set
At the ecovillage level, at least at the upper size up an arrangement to add to the village, or work
levels, the community may have its own assets, on set up of a new one, leading to development
funded by donations, or taxes. What type of of a city.
hostile "enemy" is expected? In the 1950's and
1960's, talk of atomic war prompted some to TECHNOLOGY
prepare fallout shelters. At the time, and perhaps
in retrospect, some saw the shelter building It would probably be a significant challenge for a
activity as foolish. Your self-reliant home may village of 1,200 families to establish a
be similarly cause you to be the object of functioning community in secret and isolation.
criticism by those who will not see the problems As with an isolated neighborhood, so long as the
we face. But if done well, those shelter spaces external infrastructure continues to function, the
continued to be an asset, and may once again, in gathering should be capable of keeping up to
the coming crash, prove their value as fallout date with the rest of the world.
shelters. Similarly, your self reliant home, even
if there is an energy breakthrough, has reduced A question: Assume your group has somehow
your living costs, while providing peace of mind established a square mile, or more, of
and a form of "insurance". homesteads, roads, schools, etc. You can achieve
anything possible with your own property and
Organized Army. As shown in the operations of own assets, that you have the capability to
formal Armies, against less well equipped and achieve. BUT: If in isolation, does your village
trained adversaries, "strongholds", even those yet have the technology and technique to repair
constructed by the oil rich Iraq regime, are no or replace a broken plate or cup? How about a
match for computer guided bombs. Likewise p/v panel? Or even a light bulb?
though, standing Armies readily fall victim to
hidden insurgents. Probably the best defense Producing a silicon p/v panel requires some
against a formal Army is to simply avoid a minimum level of "high tech", and an ongoing
conflict in the first place. Don't be an enemy. demand to require ongoing production to
Mob. A stronghold has value against a mere maintain the facility in operation. If each
mob, and while each home has it's own homestead has twenty five 100 volt panels, the
reinforced safe-room, at the ecovillage level the collected homesteads of the village have 30,000
ability to gather the entire community in the panels, with an expected lifespan of 30 years. A
courtyard in a secure spot has great advantage in replacement schedule could then require
self-defense capabilities. (Think castle.) production of around 1,000 panels per year. Can
you village then produce say 3 or 4 new, or re-
Individuals. If not hostile, do you feed them? worked p/v panels every day?
Even if you send them on their way, if you've fed
them, will they return? Will they return with SYNERGY
others, or send others your way, as an easy
"mark" for a free meal? Do you let them camp Each unit, homestead, neighborhood, ecovillage,
ecocity, are parts that build toward a sustainable

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civilization. Do not expect the physical, or
mental, transformation to be a quick process.

In the August 2006 issue of Scientific American,


an article on developing expertise indicates that
it takes approximately a decade of heavy mental
labor to master any field. This would imply then
that until any individual or group has been
intensely involved in thinking and acting
"sustainably" for such a period of time, it is still
not going to be "natural" to them.

We have a physical infrastructure that has


developed around fossil fuel waste, with over
100 years of work that must be re-done.

As education and management of more complex


communities comes to the forefront, we need to
ensure that the projects into which we invest our
time and assets are in our long term interest, or
acknowledge our interest is other than long term.

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Sustainable Civilization: From the Grass Roots Up
Chapter VI - Sustainability Programs, Politics, and Technology

Sustaining civilization goes well beyond air, selective in selecting a mate. (Or the strongest
water, food, shelter, and new generations. It is and most prone to violence do what they want.)
also about education, specialization,
development of technology, etc. Do you believe We have however in the "developed" nations had
that a few friends in an isolated "village" can an ongoing misguided program of expanding the
sustain civilization alone? numbers of the least-fit, those who without
assistance would have never "made it" on their
INTRODUCTION own, and from whom society never had any hope
of any beneficial contribution.
Village size organizations can function on a
barter system, and may not have much need for Conversely, in growing numbers, those with
formal laws, or a complex economy for internal higher education, significant earnings capacity,
purposes. Absent a large-scale disaster, they and better living conditions have opted for less
could provide a healthy, nurturing environment than replacement level children.
for an indefinite number of generations. But
villages appear to be limited in the amount of This needs to be corrected. The physically and
specialization that can take place, and if unable mentally fit must no longer be subjugated to the
to communicate, and conduct physical exchange less fit.
of unique products, development is so inhibited
that mankind's progress would essentially come To maintain a stable population level, yet
to a standstill, and most likely regress. improve humanity overall, there will need to be
some form of restriction on breeding, whether
POPULATION bringing back "taboo's", economic incentives (or
disincentives such as IMPOSING a tax on every
A stable population is essential. Children may child, vs granting tax deductions), or outright
be a joy to the parent, and of value to the enforced controls.
eventual future of the community, but typically
until adulthood they are a burden. And any We have governmental incentives to have more
children beyond replacement for the parents pose children, and other incentive programs which
a threat. Yet despite wars, famine, pollution, increase the population. While there is such
resource depletion, and a crowded globe, most of government, THESE MUST STOP. In the end,
humanity still doesn't get the picture. these transfer the cost of children from the
parents to unrelated families. Eliminate tax
In a limited resource (air, water, food, etc.) deductions for children. IMPOSE a tax on the
situation, the lower the overall population, the parent of any child beyond replacement.
greater the amount of resource that can be
expended per person, with surplus for If people do not voluntarily address procreation,
experimentation, research and development. eventually either mother nature, or the
government will. What if the government
BREEDING imposed a license requirement on having
children? This would encourage creation of a
In a group of free individuals, there is to some market in parenting sales. Say NO parent has the
extent always a breeding program ongoing, right to more than their personal replacement
where the wealthiest, best looking, most child. "Wealthy" could have more children by
successful, etc., mate with peers, or can be more buying the parent permission of the poor. The
poor person(s) then does not have children, and

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the estate of the wealthy is divided among a matter whether the item is imported and sold by
larger "pool" of children, diluting how much a large chain store, or a mom & pop store, it still
each gets. Parenting rights cannot be "sold" until has driven out some aspect of local production,
a person reaches a proper mature age (30?) A and sent a significant percentage of the purchase
married couple, who decide to have only one price out of the community.
child, could sell their remaining parenting right.
Parenting rights can also be sold to the It is difficult to envision how the federal
government, for example in exchange for government can divert economic disaster, and
old-age care, or left by will. individuals may not want the government to
even try.
THE BIG ECONOMIC PICTURE
Traditional government means to manage the
The federal government is running $500+ billion economy are spending, interest rate control,
annual deficits with trillions in debt on the financial liquidity, etc. These tools work to
books. If the baby boomers start to retire in tweak the economy away from inflation or
2008 as they become eligible, government costs deflation. Our federal government though
in Social Security benefits will soar, even as tax simply has such a large amount of debt that it
revenues plummet. The debts of Social Security cannot be paid, even if the economy would
and federal pensions are not on the books, with remain robust, because any realistic debt
estimates running from $57.8 trillion up to $74 repayment schedule would strangle a robust
trillion. Our "fiat" currency is already strained economy. Our government will not even slow
almost to the limits by the tax/spend & down on adding new debt.
borrow/spend politicians.
A problem presented in economic discussions
U.S. consumer debt in 2006 is around $2.2 with rising real energy prices is they are both
trillion dollars. Our desire for cheap foreign inflationary and deflationary at the same time.
products sends $600 billion more OUT of the Oil as energy and feedstock is a significant
country every year than comes in. component of much of the world economy.
Inflation as we have come to accept is essentially
As of late 2007, the sub-prime real estate finance the government dumping more “dollars” into the
“bail out” promises to be yet another millstone economy, allowing the government to siphon off
tied around the neck of the floundering U.S. value for its purposes, even as it lessens value of
taxpayers. (Apparently those in power in the currency. As the real price of oil is driven up,
Congress, and the Whitehouse, have not read the so goes the real price of goods and services.
history of the Great Depression. In both
scenarios the bulk of the borrowers were Real price increases force people to limit
essentially in zero down loans, and of such a spending, some things just will not be bought,
financial status they could walk away. Those slowing the overall economy. Our government
who took and made such loans knew the risks, officials, accustomed to getting what they want
but did so anyway. in the way of their benefits, and handouts for
their voting public, can be expected to rely on
Locations, such as China, that do not have the their favorite hobby of keeping the money
web of environmental, labor, wage & benefit, flowing, further ruining the national currency.
etc. laws and regulations in place in the U.S., are
obviously at an "advantage" when examined Federal cash, or cash equivalents, fixed dollar
strictly on the question of cost of production in payments, etc., could easily become useless.
currency. Although currency may become useless, you still
need a local means of exchange that bypasses the
For so long as products from such locations can gloom of the big picture.
be imported without application of a tariff at the
U.S. border that brings the currency cost up to THE LOCAL ECONOMIC PICTURE
equal what internal production would cost, the
typical consumer is going to continue to Every community has drains on its income, some
purchase the lowest price tag item. It doesn't perhaps not so visible. Perhaps the largest drain

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on income, and indeed even accumulated wealth, The money flow has become ''the world's most
has been inflation, followed by taxation. Add up effective poverty alleviation program,'' said
how much of earnings is lost to Federal and State Donald Terry, a top official of the Inter American
income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare, etc., Development Bank (IDB). However, he also
vs the amount that returns to the community in notes that, ``if you're No. 1 in remittances, you're
viable benefits from these governments. I'll tie not developing jobs in your local economy.''
this back to what I allude to re pension or social
security payments, where I expect the big picture
to cause problems with traditional currency. CURRENCY TO FACILITATE TRADE

Even the most innocent appearing, "mom and Barter is typically thought of as a direct trade of
pop" store, can be a significant drain on the local goods or services. You grow a flock of chickens,
economy. A foreign product or service, is a and need a tooth cavity filled. Both you and the
foreign product or service. In a store selling for dentist are by your activities creating physical
example items that are virtually all made in value. The barter exchange occurs when you and
China, the only part of the funds spent there that the dentist agree on an equal value, for example
could continue to flow in the private, local 8 chickens for a tooth filling. "Buyer beware"
community are the after tax profits. applies to determining the value to you of what
you trade for. Your property and skills are your
As bad as consumer spending on foreign measurement and storehouse of value.
produced products is, if the spending is financed,
yet more money leaves the community. (Where General acceptance of common means of value,
do you send YOUR credit card payments?) i.e. grain or gold (grown/mined), or the modern
equivalent of grain to feed an industrial
Do you have a company pension plan, 401(k), economy, electricity, all permit less direct
IRA, whole life insurance, etc.? How much of transactions. You raise chickens, the farmer
your money in these products do you think grain, the miner digs the gold, and the dentist
circulates in the local community? As a distinct tends to teeth. You all create physical value.
example, purchase in the marketplace of stock of Whether you carry around grain, gold, or
a local firm sends your money to the sellers indefinable dollars, your transaction with the
account, NOT necessarily (or likely) someone dentist is nevertheless still barter - a trade of a
local. physical value for a physical value. "Buyer
beware" applies to determining the value to you
Another drain on local wealth I would conjecture of what you trade for. While "buyer beware"
that is often overlooked are those who earn includes the quality of the grain or gold,
income, live frugally, and send a significant manipulation of the inherent value of the
portion of their income to family located "currency" remains virtually impossible and
elsewhere. It doesn't matter whether the taxation difficult. Your property and skills are
elsewhere is another U.S. city, or a foreign your measurement and storehouse of value, some
country, it is still money leaving the community. of which can be held in the more convenient
barter/coin form.
In 2006 the Miami Herald estimated that
migrants sent over $300 billion in remittances to The next step is a receipts (debt) currency. The
home countries. It’s nice to help relatives “back grain, gold, or power is held in some secure
home”, just realize what you are doing to your manner, and some token representing the
“new” home. As an example, money drained commodity is in circulation. In theory the
from the U.S. economy and sent “home” to currency still represents barter; the receipt can be
Mexico from the U.S. is the second largest exchanged for the agreed item of value. This
aspect of the Mexican economy. step in economics introduces though relative
ease of fraud - you cannot tell a "real" receipt
India ($24.5 billion) from one with no value behind it. For example, if
Mexico ($24.3 billion) the grain silo owner, who issues grain receipts,
China ($21.1 billion) knows the silo is never empty, there is ready
temptation to write an extra receipt that lets the

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silo owner perpetrate a fraud on his neighbors - currency in essence then serves as receipts for
create economic value, without any physical such a commodity, or a promise to deliver such.
value or cost to the silo owner (at least no cost
until caught). Your property and skills are your To disconnect from the fluctuations, and
measurement and storehouse of value, some of potential crash of the present national fiat
which can be held in the more convenient currency and the looming global crisis, the unit
receipts/token form (if you trust your silo of the local currency must NOT be directly tied
owner). to the national currency, nevertheless there needs
to be a means of converting between the two.
When you get to an un-backed/fiat currency,
such as is in use in virtually every nation on Currency Base
earth, the numbers on the currency represent
nothing, which government officials love. You Does the barter backing have to be a physical
still raise chickens, and still need your tooth object, such as grain or gold? The author
filled. There is (for now) still a marketplace presents an argument for currency based on the
where people will pay you dollar$ for your kilowatt-hour (kwh). In the modern world,
chickens, and the dentist will probably still electricity is the premium type of power. It is a
accept the money. The government can though "commodity" that can be created and used to
print as much currency as it likes, and typically perform valuable work, or entertainment. It is
does. The extra money in circulation - people clearly defined, readily measurable with the right
with more money - leads to increased spending tools, and virtually impossible to "counterfeit".
and rising prices. With higher prices the
government prints more money. Those who lose Virtually every modern community is already
are those who have an income defined in some wired and metered to measure the physical
fixed dollar amount, or those who hold economic withdrawals, and in growing cases deposits in
value in the form of dollars vs. physical assets. the flow of kwh. The power can be sold to those
using the national currency, adjusting for the
A backed currency is one where the connection fluctuations of the national currency, while
between the stated currency value and the barter keeping the local connected economy completely
item represented remains stable. As with grain, separate from the fluctuations of the dollar.
gold, or kilowatthour the item you agree upon as Those who want to opt in/out of the kwh
a basis for barter does not need to be fixed in currency just come or go based on the kwh price
quantity; in fact you might want it to be in external currency as of the time of their
something easily increased, IF such an increase transaction.
means an increase in the capabilities and
therefore physical wealth of your community. 1 - kwh 1-kwh
LOCAL CURRENCY
Power To Build The Future
A primary goal of establishing a local currency is
to facilitate ongoing local economic activity
irregardless of economic fluctuations (money 1 - kwh 1-kwh
confidence problems) elsewhere.
As a receipt, the power company issues such
All exchanges between parties are, in effect whenever it receives a net deposit from local
barter. Currency functions as a common means generation, fuel sold to the bank/generator, etc..
of exchange, allowing exchanges to be multi- The power bill would be paid by the same note.
step, item/service to currency, then currency to
item/service, vs direct exchange. The currency The chicken grower takes the birds to market,
unit must be easily understood, and accepted by and receives the kwh notes in exchange for the
the community. In essence, the only viable birds. The notes function as any other currency,
method to fix a currency value is to denominate at least within those entities who accept them
it in some clearly definable "commodity". The pre-crash, such as the dentist.

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community. As peak oil returns limits to our
THE INDIVIDUAL PICTURE horizons, you cannot escape the fact that you are
an intimate and interconnected member of the
How secure is your job or business? web of life where you live.

What are you invested in? Disconnect from consumer culture. As with
eliminating your dependence on oil, this doesn't
Are you planning on retirement with a pension mean never again make a consumer purchase.
from a private sector employer, or the But stop buying what you don't need, or that
government, or a stipend from Social Security? which has no enduring significance. Try to shop
The federal government can, if it elects, cease for locally produced products, those (somehow!)
Social Security, make it means-tested, or perhaps produced without toxic byproducts and large
worse, pay everything promised in useless inputs of fossil fuel energy. Realize though that
printing press money. For now, private firms for so long as the present picture global economy
that default on their pension plans might have the remains, local cannot compete on a price basis
deficit covered by the federal government, with with the far side of the planet.
the same eventual printing press challenge.
Carrying debt for the purpose of consumer
You need to understand31 the financial markets spending is a waste. Conversely though, debt for
and products, and realize the risks you may be the purpose of controlling an asset that even
taking by going along with the crowd. "holds" value in inflation may be a prudent
move. (At least while the current economy
continues to function.) If you pledge the asset
RETHINKING THE LOCAL ECONOMY though as security for the debt (i.e. a home
mortgage) and do not have sufficient cash
To become sustainable32 means to integrate our reserves to keep up with the loan, realize you
economic and social lives into the environment may lose your bet (and your home).
in ways that maintain and enhance it rather than
degrade or destroy it; sustainability is a moral In conflict with an exhortation to stop consumer
imperative to pass on our natural inheritance not spending is the fact that money in the bank is,
necessarily unchanged, but undiminished in its thanks to (primarily) government generated
ability to meet the needs of future generations. inflation, a guaranteed LOSS in purchase power.
As a sad example, as of OCT 2006 you are
Sustainability also includes the concept of probably better off holding rolls of pre-1981
carrying capacity, which means finding the pennies, than deposing money in a bank or credit
balance point among population, consumption, union.
and waste assimilation. Carrying capacity applies
to the economy, taxation, and government If the peak oil crowd is right (no evidence to the
programs as well. contrary) then to the extent any good or service
is a "daily" need, it will either need to be taken
Sustainability is NOT per se an environmental care of at home, or somewhere within essentially
movement, although preservation of nature is an walking distance. Things taken for granted
aspect. It is more about creating a sensible stable today are likely to become a "luxury". But until
human community. At the present, while the and unless enough people wake-up, and in fact
benefits of growth accrue to the few, not until things get bad enough, many things are not
necessarily even local, the costs of growth tend going to change.
to be distributed across the community. The cost
of growth needs to be borne by those who A personal example: I am a lawyer, nearing
benefit from such. retirement from Army civil service. If the "worst
case" scenario comes to pass and we are in
Every decision one makes--in life, community, "survival" mode, I do not expect that my
and business--can be gauged against this neighbors will have much need for services of a
definition. The simplest way to do so is ask lawyer. Nor do I have confidence that my
yourself whether your choice supports the local pension (or Social Security) will be paid, or that

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if it is, the money will have any significant There is essentially NO reason for local
meaning or value. Even though I see a coming unemployment. Surely there is something you
problem, I CAN'T see resigning. can do, make, fix, etc., with greater skill than
another, and they have a specialty in turn.
I am also an Arizona Master Gardener. At the
moment, there is no significant money to be As an example, if someone wants to get into the
earned as such, but it may become a valuable shoe making, or other such business, for now, it
retirement skill, if for no other reason than to must just be their hobby, as we're NOT going to
feed my family. compete with the imports from China.

In the meantime, I research, experiment, prompt KEEPING THE ECONOMY LOCAL


discussions, and write.
Support a local currency if you find a means to
LOCAL PRODUCTION disconnect such from big picture inflationary
trends.
If your community is to become truly
sustainable, it must adhere to the definition of Pre-crisis though, creating a local currency, and a
sustainability. Too many people think web of business using such, is potentially going
sustainability means the continuation of the to be "frowned upon" by multiple levels of
status quo of the Industrial Growth Society. government who do not want their revenue
streams interrupted.
In most places the current business environment
is hostile to small business and home-based My "Two Cents" is we need an atmosphere and
business. We dare not however wait for the local rules that encourages home enterprise.
Greater Depression before trying to do Existing zoning and/or business license/taxation
something about our situation. One of the ways requirements may pose sufficient barriers as to
to take back power from the people who have prevent some from implementing a "sideline"
taken over our political and monetary systems is business that they might otherwise have an
to break their strangle hold on the local economy. interest in operating. The very people who
Local production not retail is key. The value- would benefit in the future from such hobby
added to the community is in production, not businesses waiting in the wings, will probably
reselling something from somewhere else. balk at changes today that would allow them to
start to develop. But it must be done.
An area where people show a willingness to pay
a premium price (greater than that for "slave In a sustainable community, some business
labor") is custom and quality handicraft. This operations will be "short term", some ongoing.
'small shop' approach fits a coming paradigm of For example landscaping and building for
high energy costs for shipping. A level playing rainwater harvesting is going to be for the most
field is not going to happen while cheap energy part a short term business. Although it takes skill
allows slave labor products from 12,000 miles initially to get collection in place, once someone
away to enter without the tariffs to compensate sees what needs to be done, the work of the
for the present safety nets here. We want our business is easily replicated, and if done well,
safety nets and benefits, without personally remains functional for a long period of time
paying for them. This cannot continue. If the without further intervention.
fuel costs for shipping had to be paid for in
purchase of "present day" energy, instead of the An obvious problem is going to be those with
underground storehouse of ancient sunlight, even living arrangements that precludes any
distant slave labor would have difficulty significant growing of food. They will have to
competing. purchase such from savings or earnings, steal it,
or leave. Along with growing food goes safe
Given our current situation it will be difficult to recycling of the human effluents back to the
get the public to see the need for local, higher growing medium. A great deal of food can be
cost products. Everyone is encouraged, and to grown in compact areas if the growing medium
encourage others to start small and think big. is kept fertilized, and it receives the attention

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required. Intensive gardening requires indefinite overproductive, expanding, resource wasting
attention, and a variety of knowledge, and economy. Consider that when the (virtually) free
appears to be a practical ongoing business with energy subsidy of oil ends, and socio-economic
this specialist allowing others to pursue their activity relies on current energy flow, there will
specialty. be greatly increased real prices (in terms of
earnings per unit of labor). This greatly reduces
RETHINKING THE LOCAL BUSINESS the lifestyle of the working and makes every cent
ENVIRONMENT of earnings critical.

How to improve the business environment for At the same time living expenses for the working
local enterprise, and make our communities rise, they will rise for the non-contributing. This
more sustainable and self-sufficient? Tossed out means that as workers have rising concern about
for consideration: their jobs, and find their useful income dropping,
the socialists will be demanding greater and
Identify and plug the (economic) leaks. greater percentages of workers income.
Identify products that could be produced locally,
but are not currently. How much of this are you going to tolerate?
Identify skills that are present in the community
and those that need to be developed to produce IMMIGRATION
these goods.
Establish a network to facilitate local business We must think and act more realistically than
development. present immigration procedures. Immigration
Create a local green business directory. refers to arbitrary government regulated
Appeal to local loyalty to entice market share movement of individuals. There are those who
from non-indigenous enterprises. advocate elimination of any limits on
Improve the self-sufficiency of your community immigration. What if the government was taken
through economic development with special out of the picture for setting rules, and deciding
focus on food production and small scale water who can move where, and is instead limited to
supply systems. protection of individual rights?
Create an increased sense of community by
working together to start and support local If a community has realistically implemented
enterprises. sustainability concepts, it should be clear that an
immigrant (adult or child) to a long-term
Establish a local currency to improve the use of sustainable community would cause a net
capital, facilitate trade, and encourage doing increase in the relevant population unless they
business locally. are a replacement for a native born resident.

Publish a newsletter and website to promote your NOTE: The assumption is that the community is
efforts, encourage participation, provide an already AT the maximum population that can be
objective source for local business news, and sustained on the available water, food, etc. If
alert readers to issues not covered by the every other community is also at maximum
mainstream media services. population, or worse (as we have now) well
beyond long term sustainable population,
COMPELLED ALTRUISM purchase of the needed extra resources is not a
viable option. Given these (which I believe may
In a rapidly expanding economy, with what was be best-case) parameters, how do you address
seen as an unlimited source of energy and vastly immigration?
enhanced growth of food, "charity" at the point
of a government gun was not widely objected to. Each multi-generation homestead if already at
It became un-acceptable to question this wealth their safe population has internal incentive to
transfer (theft) and the destructive results. restrict new births, as each new mouth takes a
portion away from everyone already there.
This meddling to breed for the least capable is
perhaps the program most dependent on an

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Perhaps the immigrant could purchase the What about taking your entire community (city)
parenting right of an existing person, in effect for "private"? If your community remains viable,
population purposes becoming their instant while others that have failed to prepare are in
"child", subject to the limits of their "adoptive" collapse, what is the legal basis for maintaining
family. Perhaps such an immigrant should not your resource to population balance? A new
parent a child until they have been here for some person, is a new person. Must you, will you,
time period, consider (15?) years. wait until you are overrun?

LIMITS TO NON-RESIDENT ACCESS How do you improve the quality of life for the
residents already in the city while avoiding the
Related to consideration of permanent growth that news of the good life would cause?
immigration is the issue of those who have no Each family, neighborhood, village, and city
permanent connection to the area lingering should look after itself first. Personal then local
about. Do you want continued personal welfare, working upward from the grass roots
security? Do you want the ability to exclude must take priority over daydreams about
unwanted intruders from your home and addressing the problems of those who take no
business? At what point do you want to cede steps to solve their problems themselves, or
control? You operate a restaurant, and someone make them progressively worse.
parks their hot dog cart on the sidewalk outside?
How about your neighborhood? Your schools? Water collection and food growing at the home
level makes it clear what the life support limits
Under current law you only have control are. I suggest it is similar with sidewalks, roads,
authority within your privately owned property, and other currently considered "government"
you home, perhaps your neighborhood if it's not property. It needs to return to private ownership.
open to the general public (think a gated
neighborhood, with privately maintained streets).
Government is force. We need a paradigm of
voluntary cooperation and partnerships to work
Face it, people will move away from danger, and together. This means though not only work such
toward wherever they perceive as a "better as building a new library, but also working
place". If your home or neighborhood is, or together to establish and maintain limits. Public
appears to be better off then others, you become projects and programs paid by taxed theft or
a likely target for thieves (with or without slavery discourages involvement by the victims
government credentials). Get involved in your of the theft, and by those who benefit by it thru
community, in particular any aspect which no effort of their own.
involves the "law" and your private property
rights, self-defense rights, etc.
Consider a community with limited water. The
city takes all the water, and gives it away.
Current U.S. law allows for the most part non- Demand would rise, supply, recycling and
residents to freely walk about public conservation development would fall, and the
(government owned/controlled) sidewalks, per person supply would diminish. In contrast if
streets, lots, etc. But we are contemplating each homestead is free to use their own collected
extreme times. What if you don't want strangers water, yet must pay the full costs for other water,
hanging about in your neighborhood in the efficiencies are encouraged, as are naturally
middle of the night? If your neighborhood imposed limits to new development and
sidewalks and streets were once again private expansion.
property, with mere easements granted to other
property owners, only residents would have the
right to use such, and only for what the easement We are not likely to see, or desire, sustainability
authorized. Authorities would then be called on imposed from political authority. But we need to
to enforce trespass laws, or where the law allows have governments stop rewarding actions
private citizen detention for the trespass. contrary to sustainability.

PLANNED FUNERALS

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It takes creative people, educated and with extra
Deaths must essentially match births. There are time and resources for significant advances. It
those who are chronically depressed, and dream takes easy access to previous knowledge, tools,
of suicide. Why do we stop them? Perhaps expert assistance, etc. An information and
society should accept voluntary suicide, perhaps goods exchange among a network of eco-villages
of adults over 30, or under 30 when diagnosed should be expected to yield far more new
by (3?) physicians with a terminal and painful or inventions each year than the same villages kept
debilitating condition. isolated. Communication and trade must be
maintained, which in a low energy environment
UPPER COMMUNITY LIMIT probably means being physically nearby.

It appears in history that numbers approaching 1 Not every invention is in the best interest of
million were the upper limit for cities. A city of civilization (think of a device that could destroy
a million, if part of a larger civilization may every living thing, so simple to make any kid
expect some significant percentage, say 80% of could do it...) Even without posing a physical
it's population to be permanent residents of threat, inventions are not necessarily welcomed
extended families, giving us around 100,000 with open arms. There are always those who
homesteads, with the other 20% considered oppose anything new. With innovation the
transitory, coming to the city on less than a demand for a product or service may wane
permanent basis for education, to learn or (buggies and horsewhips after the auto).
practice a trade or skill, etc.
Not every site has the same resources. Not every
A transitory population will have some needs group of people has the same capabilities or
that differ significantly from permanent interests. Specialization nurtures expertise.
residents. Some homesteads may absorb the Trade nurtures specialization. But it also
temporary population, whether due to charity nurtures the "theft" of inventions, reducing the
considerations, providing for a relative, or a paid reward for the inventors efforts.
border arrangement. If however the temporary
residents are present for a purpose such as We need an environment that nurtures positive
attending college, one might expect them to be creativity, avoiding careless waste of resources,
concentrated near the purpose of their visit. contamination of the environment, and
Facilities such as college need to be within a unacceptable risks. Thoughts?
regular daily commute for permanent residents,
but also have appropriate temporary living ECO-ECONOMY
quarters. (Note the need for expanded
community production to be able to provide “life Your first step, determine what product or
support” for the temporary residents.) service is being produced or provided in a
manner contrary to your ecological belief
The limited resource and population base of system, and stop buying it. Convince your
small villages provides little reserve capabilities family and friends to stop buying it. Get them
to cope with disasters. Even minor disturbances all to tell the provider why their business has
in water or food supplies, or a natural disaster been lost.
damaging infrastructure, could be a death knell
for the village without outside support. "The earth is finite. It cannot provide for
continually growing numbers of people. It can't
CREATIVITY even provide for anywhere near the present
population. Current economic practices which
The U.S. patent office estimates 1 patentable damage the environment, in both developed and
invention per year, per every 1,000 people in the underdeveloped nations, cannot be continued
population. But don't let statistics mislead you without the risk that vital global systems will be
into believing an energetic isolated eco-village damaged beyond repair. Pressures resulting
should expect 9 new ideas every year. from unrestrained population growth put
demands on the natural world that can

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overwhelm any effort to achieve a sustainable each generation has the incentive to continue to
future" upgrade the homestead.

- World Scientists Warning to Humanity, the Air. We've got to stop pollution. Humans have
Union of Concerned Scientists. burned fuels for energy for a long time, and we
today burn at LOT. If we didn't derive the fuel
Prices must reflect the ecological reality of the by concentrating the energy component from the
situation. As touched on earlier, fossil fuels have environment (carbon from biofuels, hydrogen
been replacing human labor at an arguable from water, etc.) we shouldn't be putting it into
"exchange" rate of a gallon of fuel doing around the environment. (Biofuels and systems to split
562 hours of human labor, which at the U.S. hydrogen from water will be major factors for
minimum wage each gallon is around $3,000 portable power, unless of course Mr. Tesla's
worth of human labor. broadcast power proposals were accurate, and
are implemented.)
Oil has annually provided in recent years energy
to power civilization that is roughly equal to the In theory, if the community is growing its own
dedicated labor of more than 250 billion slaves. food, it should be balancing the CO2 output of
This is ending. It's not so much as what an eco- the residents, perhaps not exactly locally (due to
economy CAN be, as what it CANNOT be. open air and winds) but on the average. The best
the community can do for other air pollutants is
"In a sustainable society, durability and to avoid producing them, and refuse to deal with
recycling will replace planned anyone who does.
obsolescence as the economy's organizing
principle, and virgin materials will not be Water. The Ogallala Aquifer WAS a huge store
seen as a primary source of material but as of "fossil water", under around 225,000 square
a supplement to the existing stock" miles in the Great Plains region (the U.S.
- Lester Brown, Worldwatch Institute "breadbasket"), which has long been a major
source of water for agricultural, municipal, and
When human numbers were small, and the earth industrial development. Use began at the turn of
covered with a dense, diverse ecology, a tree cut the century, and has now greatly surpassed the
here, an animal or fish taken there, made little aquifer's rate of natural recharge. Some places
difference to the system as a whole. With our overlying the aquifer have already exhausted
vast numbers now, and technology, we clear-cut their underground supply as a source of
entire forests and eliminate entire species. irrigation. Given high power pumps, it may only
be decades before vast areas are pumped "dry".
For all practical human purposes, we have done, Given the loss of high power pumps, the
and continue to do damage that may never be irrigation will cease. Probably 1/3 of the U. S.
repaired. Limited population is an essential cropland is irrigated in this unsustainable
element. The very life processes of each person manner, and will then "disappear".
places that much of an additional demand on the
counterbalancing ecology. Any projection of the The Colorado River examples another source,
future is at best, a guess, based on present while renewable, allocated beyond its natural
information. But using present knowledge and flow. Often nothing reaches the ocean of what
technological capabilities, a sustainable, was once a river that could handle ocean-going
technological society can continue to exist, and shipping. The next cycle of lessened rainfall in
develop. the catchment area will have serious
repercussions for those dependent on this water
Try looking at the world as a series of sealed for their life. Limited population is an essential
bubbles. You are personally responsible for what element.
you do, or allow, at home, your property, your
town, country, the world. You can't pollute. In We do not have the technology to replace the
multigenerational family owned homesteads quantities of "fossil water" that have been
squandered. If "global warming" fears
materialize, heat and reduced rainfall pose a

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deadly threat. Ocean water can be "de-salted",
but not in sufficient quantities to maintain the Manufacturing. "Key" components of systems
present population and the necessary crops, nor or devices.
is enough energy likely to be available to
transport the water to distant fields and Pedal power transport and devices (people today
population centers. could use the exercise anyway)
Wind driven devices, motion, moving matter,
If the air is clean, then rainfall should be clean. energy generation / storage
We need to then avoid polluting it within the Light rail (REALLY light, powered by P/V or
community, including "salts", concentration of small biofuel engines)
which threatens crops, and soil life.
Energy generation / storage. Solar p/v,
Food. Bio-intensive, perhaps in concert with thermoelectric, thermo heat-engine, biomass
some aspects of the hydroponic, aeroponic and production. Providing power not only for the
aquaponic systems. Most farmland is "mined community, but outlying customers.
out" of trace minerals, and does not produce
appropriately healthy food, and absent chemical Selective surfaces are materials that reflect, or
fertilizers, is incapable of producing a quantity of absorb, given qualities of energy or matter. A
food anywhere near present production. diode only allows electricity to move in one
direction. Certain membranes allow thru water,
Cropland must have trace minerals restored, and but exclude "contaminants", including dissolved
be maintained in such a manner that these salts.
minerals are returned to the land and crops,
including our bodies when we no longer need High concentrations of u/v, an ionizing
them. We can grow terrific crops, and properly frequency of light, can provide significant
nourish a few, or greater quantity of lesser "excitation" of water molecules such that the
quality crops and feed a greater quantity of less electricity needed to electrolyze water is
healthy people. What we have today is a version BELOW that which can be generated when the
of the LATTER. hydrogen is again burned or used in a fuel cell.
This is not an over unity device, since the extra
Industrialized food production, processing, long energy is coming from sunlight. If the complete
distance shipping, etc., obviously subjects this spectrum of light is used at the concentrations
vital life support aspect to far greater necessary the water heats too much, decreasing
"uncertainties" than does growing food locally. the electrolysis efficiency and making more
complex containment necessary.
TRADE
Assisted living homes in the pre-crash economy
It does not appear probable that long distance often receive significant income for providing
shipping of products, in particular overland on relatively low levels of service to residents.
roads, or by air, is sustainable absent fossil fuels. (Typically taxpayer subsidized) Post crash there
While many of the components of high tech will still be those who cannot personally provide
devices require such unique processes that they the care that a fragile weak person requires.
are not likely to be made "locally", in many
locations, there is likewise no need for entire Holistic medicine. Avoid injury and illness, vs
devices to be assembled, packaged, and shipped. complex and expensive corrective steps. Those
taking personal risk based on their employment,
In example, the high tech manufacturing should be insured by their employers for those
"essential" components of a computer are no risks. Those taking personal risk on their own
where near the overall mass and volume of a behalf, should shoulder the bills for such risk.
complete computer. Frames, cases, connectors, Like unto regular oil changes and other
etc. can be hand-crafted locally for assembly. maintenance in a car prevents major repairs later,
it is similar in many aspects for our bodies.
ENTERPRISES A campground may have post crash value as
low-cost temporary lodging.

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Standardization of components. Imagine trying
Gardening. For those who can't / won't grow to play music if every record, tape, or CD
their own food, skills in creating and maintaining required a special player. Along the lines of the
an effective and low - maintenance garden could shipping discussion above, standardized
be a growing demand. components and subcomponents, assembled to
make various devices, yet designed to be
Recycling. There is no away to throw things to. re-arranged at the consumer level, leads to
Components and materials must be taken apart, enhanced recycling.
sorted, stored, and made available again for new
projects. If there is no garbage pick up, and no Recycling, of not just materials, but individual
"city dump", would you pay to have things taken components and assemblies. Current electronic
away? Would you run a business where you devices, while "neat", are in most cases not
were paid to take "stuff" away, and paid again for repairable, requiring the entire device to be
the parts after you took them apart? discarded when there is a single component
malfunction.
Sewage management. Forcing someone to
manage your feces / urine would be slavery. If Food. Of the highest nutrition, in appropriate
you realize you must recycle such to survive, but proportions. Grain, potatoes, rice, etc. continues
don't want to, and the city won't let you connect to be presented, even by physicians, as the base
to the sewer, how much would you pay to not of the food pyramid. These carbohydrate items
have to worry about it? (Ties to gardening) are the most profitable for farmers, and for the
food processing industry, as cheap carbohydrates
An ecological economy is by its own are processed into "snack foods". Most of these
terminology NOT based on a once-thru process contain little though beyond calories, and
of disposable goods. The fossil fueled industrial certainly do not qualify as a healthy diet.
age COULD have given everyone high quality,
high durability goods, and permanently lifted Consider for a moment, have you ever heard the
worldwide living standards. What we DID was phrase "corn fed", or "grain fed" in reference to
produce at the lowest cost, lowest quality fattening up cattle, hogs, etc. for the slaughter?
possible, a "disposable" product.
As discussed earlier, much of the farmland in use
With current economic thinking, advertising, and today has been depleted of the micro-nutrients
business practices, an ecological economy we need. Yes, plants can still be forced to grow
appears at first to be an antithesis of a healthy on the depleted soil, but the food cannot contain
economy. It does NOT seek change for the mere the nutrients we need. The growing medium
sake of change, deliberate repeat business by must be fully restored, from "outside" sources if
planned obsolescence, etc. necessary, and the minerals eaten must be
returned to the soil. Therefore recycling must
Nanotechnology promises a revolution in include the valuable atoms which comprise our
materials engineering, and product construction, bodies, once we non longer rely on them.
provided we do not lose the underlying support
community for such high-tech industry. No net loss.

Quality. A thoughtfully designed and executed Expanded copyright and patent protections.
product can have lifetime appeal and usefulness, These protections encourage new ideas,
and be a cherished heirloom, passing from discoveries and devices to be brought to the
generation to generation. A quality item is less public, by ensuring that the proper credits and
likely to be replaced merely because "new and accolades, as well as the financial benefits of the
different" is produced. creation accrue to the creator.

Durability. Don't you have that favorite shirt, Short term patent protection, such as the 17 year
pair of shoes, watch, etc., that you just love to United States patent, provide a relatively short
wear? Do you wish they would last longer? period for benefits to accrue to the creator, then
Why don't they? the invention becomes "public domain". In some

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instances, the inventor may not find the financial disparity between those with, and without such
risk of research to be worth the potential gain of benefits, by the government assuming the
an invention. Compare this to copyright insurance business.
protection, where the song "Happy Birthday"
still warrants royalties… Repeal social security, Medicare, etc. These
programs “reward” the non-contributing of
We've got lots of sunlight. But so far, getting society, or impose the expense of the ills, or ill
from sunlight to energy types used in current conduct, of the few on to the productive
commerce and technology is not efficient. Low members. Consider the Social Security reform
energy input approaches are required. Some discussions, with means-testing as a favored
perspective. Say we're looking for a kilowatt of approach. This means that those who pay the
electricity. Compare use of a 10% efficient p/v most into a government mandated, gun to your
panel, to the area required to grow food for one head “retirement” program, get the least benefit
living horse. Or for producing 1 hp of power from this program. A completely irrational
from an engine burning wood, or other biofuels? approach. “Charity”, should be voluntary, not
imposed at the point of a gun.
RELIGION
Eliminate corporate double taxation, where
Take your pick, they are all a leap of faith. There corporations must still pay corporate income tax
is no ongoing event to evidence that any on profits of stockowners, whether or not paid
particular formal religion has a rational factual out. (For that matter, eliminate the limited
basis. Most clearly have biases that are clearly liability aspects of business entities. If investors
contrary to a long-term sustainable civilization. “own” the “upside” of their investments, why do
they not own the “downside” and costs of
POLITICAL STRUCTURE & business liabilities. How is it that some fictional,
CHALLENGES TO POLITICIANS paper entity can be found “guilty” of torts, or
crimes, and the human owners get off free?)
Humanity is past a sustainable population. In an
ideal world, we would use the remaining oil Eliminate federal deductions for state income
ONLY to create an infrastructure that is tax, property taxes, etc.
sustainable on solar input, and voluntarily focus
on reducing the population to sustainable levels. Eliminate estate and gift taxes.

But what would happen to a politician who How do we avoid corruption? How do we avoid
proposed measures appropriate to these ends, institutionalism?
such as:
Democracy, or one person, one vote, majority
Repeal income tax dependency exemptions, rule, is self-destructive. It is mob-rule.
child tax credit, and all deductions for child care.
Have a one-time only, limited time grant for Democracy is two wolves and a lamb
abortions, then cease public spending for any voting on what to have for dinner
pregnancy related cost or child care costs, and Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the
cease welfare. Eliminate immigration for other vote
than critical national defense abilities. Eliminate -Benjamin Franklin
government mandated union membership.
Eliminate deductions for donations to "charities",
providing health insurance, life insurance, or "Democracy is a regular feature of
other benefits other than salary. decaying civilizations. When a democracy
is established, the destitute consume the
These have all contributed to a situation where capital of the wealthy, and the civilization
motivation to independent action has been must then decay until invasion destroys it."
suppressed, to gain the "benefits" of a steady job. - Sir Flinders Petrie.
Such jobs making taxation easier. Leading then
to demands that the government "fix" the

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Twentieth Century welfare programs in the U. S. sought admission to the village under the terms
example the defect. Greater payments were of the charter, born under the charter, etc., from
made to those with more children, encouraging the arbitrary democratic mob rule of any
greater births in families who could not afford to "majority".)
care for the children, leading to following
generations of welfare recipients that grew The village or city does not have the power to
greater in numbers, both from excessive births, "tax". It does though have the authority to sell
and expanded scope of the programs. Welfare is goods and services that are determined excess,
one example of the "tragedy of the commons", or with members having first priority to purchase
"public goods game", which shows cooperative such.
progress is endangered when it becomes clear
that it is possible and "profitable" for individuals Decisions where the charter does not clearly
or groups to "free ride" on the productive efforts control must pass by a 2/3 majority of the total
of others. In games experiments, a functional possible votes. Likewise earlier such decisions
"out" from such a "tragedy of the commons" is can be overturned by a vote of more than 1/3 to
for the producing, cooperating members to be modify or eliminate. This in effect means that
able to punish welfare free riders, even if it for any such action to remain valid, more than a
means a cost to those punishing. 2/3 majority must want it in place at any given
time.
The disproportionate weight given to the vote of
city dwellers also examples the defect. In an The tragedy of the commons must be avoided.
area which should be the center of education, When an asset is held in common, and all have
research, manufacturing, etc., attracting the best an unlimited access, the typical result is prompt
of humanity, many present cities are gross drains depletion.
on resources, far beyond any benefit returned.
Estimates are that the current city of Los PRIVATISM
Angeles, California, has a "footprint" of
ecological effect that is larger than the entire “Give a man the secure possession of a
State of California. Do you believe that the bleak rock and he will turn it into a garden;
entire population of LA are contributing citizens? give him a nine year lease of a garden and
he will convert it into a desert”.
On the U.S. federal level, the Constitution Arthur Young – English Writer.
originally contained some protection against
such "mob rule", by assigning to each State two MILITARY SOCIETY
senators. Originally, the Representatives were
elected by the people, and Senators were sent to (Please excuse my drift into a science fiction
represent the State Government. Therefore, work) The people in the U.S. military command,
Senators owed their allegiance essentially to the control, and maintain some of the most
governor and legislature of their home state, complicated hardware on the planet, in
NOT to the people. The distinction is that they conditions that are often far from pleasant.
had incentive to avoid proposals that cost the
State. When it was changed that Senators were Our military are volunteers. Whether they
elected by a democratic popular vote, such signed up for a job, for the educational and other
protection was lost. benefits, or as a career, our military people are
just that, people. The military organization is the
Each distinct PROPERTY, or some other fixed most "integrated" I am aware of. We see every
unit, regardless of the number of people living race, religion, national origin, economic
on the property, has one vote. It is up to the background, etc. in the military, at any level. For
owner of the property to decide how the speaker the most part, it is promotion by merit, vs
for that portion of land is selected. popularity.
A vote can only change the primary charter if the STARSHIP TROOPERS
vote is unanimous. (Protecting the original Robert Heinlein
intentions of the founders, those who after

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Rico's teacher, Mr. DuBois, asks "'What is We need to encourage personal initiative with
the moral difference, if any, between the offenders taken to the "on duty" staff.
soldier and the civilian?" "The
difference,'" Rico answers, "lies in the field We must be prepared to wage war. If fighting
of civic virtue. A soldier accepts on the level of war is required, total involvement
responsibility for the safety of the body is required, from the extra food to be grown, it's
politic of which he is a member, defending delivery to the troops, resupply efforts, etc.
it, if need be, with his life. The civilian There are no civilians in war, only those
does not" incapable of actively fighting or providing
support.
"Can you tell us why our system works
But unless we’re involved in a war, maintaining
better than any of our ancestors?... Because
a professional full time military, separate from
under our system every voter and
other normal functions of society, is a drain on
officeholder is a man who has
resources.
demonstrated through voluntary and
difficult service that he places the welfare
of the group ahead of personal advantage" (ST) "Once someone asked me if I knew
the difference between a citizen and a
civilian. I can tell you now. A citizen has
The point being that those who voluntarily bear the courage to make the safety of the
the burden should make the decisions and get the human race their personal responsibility."
benefits, not "free riders".
What's NOT going to work is a society
I cannot see how that a individual, attempting to maintain industries, programs, and
neighborhood, city, state, or nation, if "prepared" people that drain resources without providing
for the crash, will be able to survive without any benefit back to society in general. Perhaps
obvious means of defense, and the obvious time spent "drafted" into military service will be
ability and willingness to use it. We can’t a means of paying taxes?
continue to ignore and downplay self defense.
Winning peace, not just at the level of "war", but I do not see that a government limited to those
down to local one-on-one crimes takes eternal who have so served is necessarily something to
vigilance at all levels. be feared. I can't though see the military
involuntarily taking over from the civilian
(ST) "Naked force has resolved more government, until / unless that government has
issues throughout history than any other already failed such that the population
factor. The contrary opinion, that violence "demands" the change, and I still have a difficult
never solves anything, is wishful thinking time going from the concept of military control
at its worst." in a disaster period, to a long term military
government
In a home invasion, or if one of your family is
assaulted, I advocate all should respond. In my We readily see the "organization" advantages of
personal capacity, I started teaching our daughter the military in response to civil unrest, or natural
how to shoot when she was 4. At 11 she could disaster. Send in the "National Guard", which is
handle a .45 ACP pistol and/or carbine the state army, composed primarily of part-time
reasonably well. Firearms are no toy to her. soldiers, people who have self-selected for the
She's also taken martial arts training, as well as extra "hastle" that guard duty represents,
all of the other crash and post oil era including being sent into disasters, while earning
training/education I can think of. less than in their normal jobs.

Your local police cannot be everywhere that real Americans readily demonstrate they are not
crime is. Technically in most of the U.S., every frightened powerless peasants. Even little old
citizen has the authority to make a citizens arrest, neighbor ladies join "neighborhood watch"
but it's discouraged by the professional police. programs. Rather than demand police or military

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protection, I suspect they will BE the military
civilization. LAWS

Perhaps I need to re-read my Heinlein to look for Only those formal laws minimally required to
clues as to a practical long term "military" provide for defense against outside threats of
government… force, or provide deterrent and redress for inside
initiation of inappropriate force. All government
(ST) "One of the older cadets took a crack activity diverts the fruits of labor at the point of a
at it. 'Sir, revolution is impossible . . . gun.
because revolution --armed uprising --
requires not only dissatisfaction but Spending for military and police equipment, and
aggressiveness. ... If you separate the the wages of the personnel, is in general a net
aggressive ones and make them the sheep loss to society, unless of course we experience an
dogs, the sheep will never give you invasion, or someone (outside the government)
trouble" forcefully violates you. The purpose of the
military is to prevent a foreign invasion; the
purpose of criminal punishment is to prevent
Rather than hold my breath for a military another crime, whether from the same individual,
imposed organization, I'd still suggest everyone or another; the purpose of civil courts is to
get their personal affairs re-aligned to survive the address fraud or redress of initiated harm. When
crash, and to cope as well as you can in the post you get to any legal framework beyond this, you
oil era. can quickly get into unlimited government
intervention.
Create a neighborhood watch and neighborhood Consider, Alvin and Bob feel that Dick has a
clean up program.
problem, which they want to fix33. After a brief
session, they decide what they are going to force
Implement your own "planned collapse", but
John to do to help Dick. Dick at the point of a
realize the consequences, not only for you, but in
gun is not allowed any input or objection to the
the bigger picture.
decision. The above examples what takes place
when governments stray from their function of
You go off-grid, grow your own food, and enter
military and police protection, and courts of law.
into cooperative agreements with neighbors to
While a government using a fiat currency can
swap your various handicrafts. You are no
create currency using the printing press, it does
longer part of the tax base. As taxpayers
not create value. If a government wants a
"disappear", or per taxpayer revenue falls,
subsidy payment to anyone to have any value, it
government must raise rates, go further into debt,
must first take value at the point of a gun from
or cut non-essential programs.
someone who produces it.
Eventually, you are looking at government doing
Politicians pandering for the vote of the “poor
nothing but defense / law enforcement /
and/or weak” rob those who produce, to divert
emergency response… All potentially done by
the “fruits” of productive effort to their selected
volunteers. But, gone are excess revenues that
serfs, to perpetrate their own political power.
can be expended to provide life-support for non-
But every cent so diverted to the sustenance of
contributing individuals.
those who, in their own turn, do nothing, is a loss
of funds that could have been supporting even
Besides laws and paychecks, coercion can take
greater accomplishments. And when such
many forms:
“charity” comes from politicians who depend on
it for their power, you can be assured that money
will continue to disappear into such a void.
(ST) "Service guarantees citizenship." If we have a limited government, a significant
challenge is to keep it limited. The primary
"Constitution" cannot be changed without a
Perhaps Heinlein will be proven right… unanimous vote of the representatives. Consider,

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you either voluntarily moved to live under this intelligent minds, who can understand, conceive
government, or were born under it. If you do not and implement new ideas.
want it changed, why would you grant consent
for some less than unanimous group to change The data, numbers and calculations for
the rules? sustainability are relatively simple. Getting
people to see them, accept and act on them, is
"Doctors without Borders" appears to advocate not.
medical care regardless of local licensing.
Actually, I concur, a government issued license Those few, who see problems and take personal
should not be REQUIRED to practice medicine, responsibility for finding and implementing
or any other profession, rather it should be seen solutions, also continue to allow themselves to
as a statement of "quality control". So long as be ruled by those who have no clue. Whether the
the practitioner you elect to visit is required to population in general is aware of it, civilization
tell you of their qualifications, or lack therefore, needs a philosophy that encourages the best from
let it be a free and open market. If you everyone.
CHOOSE to be attended by a “voodoo”
practitioner, it is your chose, so long as you have There was a time when I looked at the
not been fraudulently misled. tragic mess they’ve made of this earth,
and I wanted to cry out, to beg them to
Economically, every handout to a beggar (by listen – I could teach them to live so
direct voluntary action or government theft) much better than they did – but there
represents additional stress placed on the was nobody to hear me, they had
environment and drain on resources. We have, nothing to hear with… Intelligence? It
for a century, enjoyed virtually free energy, is such a rare, precarious spark that
available only at the pumping and processing flashes for a moment somewhere among
costs, vs any need to divert current production. men, and vanishes. One cannot tell its
This is ending. All of the excess production it nature, or its future, or its death.
has allowed is ending. With this, the excess tax - Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
revenues, ends.
We face danger, in particular the probability that
GOVERNMENT "SERVICES" a large portion of the present living population
will die early, and unpleasantly. Each will
Perhaps communities, indeed individuals, should probably have to work, and work hard, to
select the services they desire to receive, and pay survive. You will have to know what you’re
for them. If you live in a self-reliant multi doing, or readily accept and follow advice from
generation homestead, fireproof, with someone those who do. But be careful in whom you
armed always at home, and your neighborhood select to follow. Be awake, aware, and thinking.
maintains the adjacent road, what city tax paid
services do you need? As yourself what other human do you accept as
your mentor, or on the dark side, your master?
TECHNOLOGY When your wages are no longer high, and money
and luxury easy, what will be your view of those
Living technologies vs sterile machines. who refuse to contribute, and demand the
government force you to provide for them?
PHILOSOPHY
If the rest of them can survive only by
destroying us, then why should we wish
We are probably approaching the crash of our
them to survive?
present “civilization”, not due to an alien
invasion, or cosmic catastrophe, but due to our - Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
collective, blind, ignorant decisions, or lack of
decisions, and lack of rational philosophy. Our If you do not want to be forced into a particular
now, and more importantly, our future, needs profession, act, etc., do not expect that you have
any right to force others to follow your wishes.

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Humans must be free to trade as willing What then is evil? Killing when the one killed is
participants. Your will to participate may stem not being punished for the first unjustified death?
from hunger, but it is still your personal decision. Forceful enslavement? Theft? Irrational
Does a slave make a better product that a private mindless activity at the cost of others? Are these
skilled craftsman? To what other human do you not all “evil”, whether practiced by an
grant a claim on your life, mind, body, and fruits individual, a religious zealot, or the government
of your labor that is senior to your own? Charity of a nation?
may satisfy some moral or religious good, but
should it be imposed at the point of a gun? Money, as it is circulated in the world of the
early new millennium, is an illusion. If money is
In her writings, Ms. Rand had her characters a medium of trade, it should have some type of
defend themselves with their wit, technology, clear value relative to the two ends of each trade.
and ability to hide from government forces. In The currencies issued by national governments
an era of satellites, and sensors of almost every has no inherent value, it only has such value
sort imaginable, hiding anywhere on Earth is relative to the goods and services of the nation
hardly likely to be a successful approach. It is and world as the governments of the world
probably impossible to hide in sufficient support.
numbers that your community could be long-
term viable operating independent from the rest Even in short-term, localized emergencies, the
of the world. value of money, whether barter or government
currency, can disappear, even if only for a brief
Sooner or later, it is going to come down to the period. But even in a protracted emergency,
question, who has the “right” to initiate physical barter, some means of exchange of clear value
force, vs the right to respond with physical force, for clear value, will relatively quickly return.
and if you reach the point you are ready to resist, When confidence to any significant scale in an
will it be physically possible? unsupported paper currency disappears, the
currency is doomed.
Everyone has some potential to earn by the use
of personal mental and physical capabilities, to What corruptions, typically attributed to
provide some item or service that is of sufficient business, are not in true scope attributable to the
value to someone else that they are willing to actions of government that enforces at the point
trade some value of their own. of a gun monopolies for a business that would
otherwise be competed OUT of business, or
Your efforts improve the value of something, in provides protections from responsibility for the
simple example planting seed, tending a crop to owners and operators of the business? Do not in
maturity and delivery of the harvest to market. your mind inseparably mix business with
Even the simple sedentary “act” of sitting on a corporations.
front porch, as the eyes and ears to watch a
home, or neighborhood, has value. "Fascism should more properly be called
corporatism because it is the merger of
It is said that money is the root of all evil, if so state and corporate power."
then what is money? Money is simply an agreed - Benito Mussolini
common intermediary barter item, used to make
simple the voluntary exchange of goods and Corporations are children of special interest
services at an agreed upon value. Money is a governments, where the government at the point
unit of mutual trust. Therefore in attempting to of a gun tells the investors, customers, and
tell you that money is evil, they are telling you to victims, of the corporation, what actions taken
see voluntary cooperation is evil. Money is not on behalf of the corporation are subject to the
evil; it is a symbol of trust and voluntary rules of civil society, and what are not. The
cooperation. Money is the means by which the government tells you whom of the agents and
productive and trustworthy in the world can owners of the corporation that are subject to the
meld their efforts into even greater rules of civil society, and who are not. These
accomplishments. corporate protections are not part of some

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agreement between you and the corporation; they value they stand to inherit, HOW could anyone
are an agreement between the corporate thing that a large non-contributing population
originators, and the government, which is could possibly be a useful heir?
imposed upon YOU at the point of the guns held
by the government. Without the thoughts and effort of those who
produce the food, clothing, shelter, etc. of the
When you hear stories of drug conglomerates world, not to mention electronic circuits and
being aware of simple natural cures for scourges computer programs, what happens to those who
of humanity, that are withheld because of a drive have not clue of their personal capabilities, or
to profit, consider how such cures are withheld. drive to use what they have? We have a world
An individual, partnership, or current artificial where those who are awake and thinking have
corporate entity has no power to keep a cure off allowed themselves to be put under the rule of
the market, once discovered, even if hidden, it the insane and incompetent. We have a political
will be found again and again, with increasing system where those incompetent to handle their
frequency. own lives, even basis subsistence, have become a
major voting force, electing pandering and self
The current ability to keep cures and treatments serving politicians who impose control and taxes
off the market resides in the hands of over- on those for whom the politicians could not
powered governments. Even patients and qualify on merit to work for as household
doctors that have full knowledge of risks, and servants.
that are willing to take the risks, are prohibited
under the law and regulations of the Food and A return of thought and reason is essential to the
Drug Administration (FDA) from taking such overall survival of humanity. An example for
risk, unless the treatment has been approved by “charity”, whether voluntary, or at the point of a
the FDA. The FDA test and approval process is gun. At an isolated bunker location, you have a
time consuming, and expensive. Essentially, room, water collection, an garden area sufficient
only those treatments that offer a significant to provide for ONE MORE person. Two show
profit for large scale drug companies can be up. What criteria would YOU use to select one
approved. If YOU found a cure for every cancer of the two? Make them dramatically different,
in a few simple seeds in your yard, you would be one is a helpless whining idiot, and the other can
PROHIBITED from offering such, as would clearly enhance the long-term chances of your
physicians, regardless of notice of the risk, group.
unless the FDA approval process had been
followed. Rights are conditions of existence on earth, it is
right for a human to use their mind, it is right to
Ask yourself, in day to day transactions, when is act on individual free judgment, it is right to
it that you reached an agreement with someone work for your values and to keep the product of
about value and exchange, and when was it that your work. If life on earth is the only visible
someone ordered you, ultimately with the threat purpose to our existence, it is right to live as a
of a gun, to act? rational being. Any group, any gang, any nation
that seeks to negate rights by force, is wrong, it
It is often alleged that inherited money, at least is evil, and must be resisted, and if it persists,
“new” inherited money, is squandered by the destroyed.
first generation after the one that generated the
wealth. The producers knew the value of their A cancer eats away on the inside of an otherwise
efforts, and of investment. The heirs who never healthy appearing, cooperative and productive
had to worry about their needs, or make any body. At first it just steals a little of the nutrition
personal effort to plan or build for their future, that would have otherwise provided nourishment
have no idea of the value of what they receive, for normal cells, but soon it invades and destroys
and squander not only the wealth handed to productive cells, creating a growing mass of a
them, but their lives. dangerous parasite, that the defensive immune
system of the body continues to see as part of its
If the biological heirs of the top thinkers and own, and refuses to excise it as the danger it is.
producers are not necessarily “fit” to handle the

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“Only a ghost34 can exist without material You need a dentist. A village does not even have
property; only a slave can work with no right to enough people to demand full-time local service,
the product of his effort. The doctrine that let alone provide for training subsequent such
“human rights” are superior to “property rights” professionals. A significant, yet arguably
simply means that some human being have the manageable jump in scale is required the more
right to make property out of others; since the subtle yet valued trappings of civilization..
competent have nothing to gain from the
incompetent, it means the right of the
incompetent to own their betters and to use them
as productive cattle. Whoever regards this as
human and right, has no right to the title of
“human”.

The only proper functions of a government are:


the police, to protect you from criminals; the
army to protect you from foreign invaders; and
the courts, to protect your property and contracts
from breach or fraud from others, to settle
disputes by rational rules, according to objective
law.

Without specialization, without cooperative trade


in society, each person only knows, and can only
accomplish what is in their own mind, and
possible with their own muscles. Anyone
capable and willing to initiate force against a
weaker opponent can steal the physical
productive output of that weaker person (forcing
them into slavery). But this drives mental and
physical output “underground”, reducing the
overall per person quality of life, for the
temporary relative but not necessarily actual
qualify of life improvement for the slave master.
(How do the living conditions of a Pharaoh
compare with the poorest worker of the 20th
century United States of America?)

In the middle ages, “secret societies”, such as we


hear of the Masons, developed to protect the
skills, and lives, of their members, so expect
such may again become necessary, on some
scale. For so long as the greedy are in power,
live modestly, without pretention, attracting no
unnecessary attention. In the past,
communication and organization of such
minimalist yet developing organizations was
hampered by lack of communication, a barrier
removed by modern communications (at least for
so long as such remains in operation). The more
free and unfettered communities develop, the
more the truly enlightened can again stand in the
open and breathe free.

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Sustainable Civilization: From the Grass Roots Up
Chapter VII - The City As Ecology

What is the minimum population that is a large live in subdivisions and drive to the Wal-Mart."
and dense enough gathering of people to provide -Alex Marshall (How Cities Work)
the opportunity for continued training in
specializations? How many times was fire "Above all else, a city is a means of providing a
discovered, or the wheel, or the beginning maximum number of social contacts and
principles of math, only to be lost when the satisfactions. When the open spaces gape too
individual with the spark of insight died? widely, and the dispersal is too constant, the
people lack a stage for their activities and the
Civilization exists to protect voluntary safe drama of their daily life lacks sharp focus."
interaction among individuals. -Lewis Mumford (The Highway and the City)
"City-making is an art rather than a product of
There must be ease of interaction, not only in statistical analysis or social service casework."
exchange of information, but of goods and
services. For non-crash consideration of the "The future will compel us to change our way of
infrastructure aspects, examine on the web the life, to give up the fiasco of suburbia and all its
publications of the “New Urbanism” movement. revolting accessories and re-condense our living
and working places into the traditional human
Taking a long term view, in a low energy habitats called cities, towns, and neighborhoods."
paradigm, the city needs to be an ecosystem -James Howard Kunstler (The City In Mind)
where its living and non-living aspects have
multiple and interwoven sources of feedback. MINIMUM SIZE

The combined skills of technologists, Preserving civilization on the scale of an


economists, and ecologists are needed. A "ecovillage" is probably not sufficient to
back-to-nature approach will not work - maintain even present knowledge, skills, and
there are too many of us for that. technology, let alone make significant advances.
- Eric A. Davidson, You Can't Eat GNP Similar to a single family retreat (homestead), or
a multi family (6 min 20 suggested) retreat
PURPOSE (Homestead associations), an ecovillage can be
too small to maintain "civilization", yet it is
To provide on a local basis life support and already too large to be an ad-hoc creation.
sustainable community, including not merely the
ability to repair existing technology and maintain Education factor. Just providing on a sustainable
current knowledge and skills, but to continue to basis teachers for K - 12 requires something
advance. As an element of a larger civilization, larger. In Ecovillage discussed earlier we
each city can be seen as potentially the provider assumed each grade 1 to 12 classroom has 20
of a unique product or service specialty. students, with each village unit requiring 72
teachers.
"A city's internal transportation system - the
layout of its streets and roads, the layout of If each teacher works an average of 36 years,
streetcar systems and subways - determines the then for 72 teachers on the average two retire
character of the city, how its citizens live and and must be replaced each year. If college for a
work. It has less to do with the direct engines of teacher takes 4 years, with 20 teachers per
wealth creation. Build subways and people will college class, there are 80 teachers minimum "in
live in dense neighborhoods and walk to corner the pipeline" at any given time, with 20
stores; build broad suburban streets and they will minimum graduating each year. An individual
ecovillage only needs only 2 though.

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I would suggest that an "optimum" size is one
To utilize the minimum efficient production of where homes are within a reasonable bicycle ride
any given teacher specialist requires at least 10 of the city center minimizing "need", or demand
ecovillages or a population of 96,000. If you for motorized intracity personal vehicles. (Per
want for example 8 different "specialists" in the average of several bicycle safety sites, expect
teachers, the number of ecovillages needed to "sustained" speeds of 12 (experienced), 8
provide for teaching the teachers jumps to 80, or (average adult) and 6 (very young or very old)
a population of 768,000. mph for a human on a typical upright bicycle.
When younger, I recall almost daily bike rides
from downtown Seattle to the mall, a one-way
trip of about 12 miles…) A half-hour commute
(reasonable?) to the city / industrial core should
HUMAN SCALE probably be no more than 4 to 6 miles or so from
the most distant housing.
Los Angeles, New York, etc., are not likely
candidates for conversion to low energy, low Let's carve out an arbitrary 9 square miles of city
population sustainability. Such cities, that core, as a mile wide cross in the center. For the
combine over dense population with sprawl will outer edge to be 6 miles from the far edge of the
not survive a fossil fuel shortage, for example perpendicular aspect of the cross (75% of the
they cannot produce sufficient food within their city center) the city overall is 11 mile wide.
borders.
This provides 112 square mile "village" areas, at
Cities as we know them have exceeded the law around 9,600 people each, or a city population of
of diminishing returns and become a gathering a little over 1 million.
place for the excess and excesses of humanity.
Potable water collection. Using earlier numbers
Human scale clearly implies the ability for an developed for the homestead at 12" annual
un-enhanced human to access the services rainfall, to provide for human use, and
available within a reasonable amount of time and biointensive gardening on the homesteads , the
with a reasonable amount of effort. (Not water collection area is around 230 square miles,
necessarily “immediately”.) a dedicated water collection belt around 3.5
miles wide would provide for filling the city
RETROFIT cisterns. The city is now 18 miles on a side.

While some cities may be too large, on the other Thinking in term of this same 230 square mile
end of the discussion, how do you see a large water collection area completely covered in
enough group coming together to start a city- present technology solar panels. This is around
scale eco-community from scratch? There may 712 million square yards constantly intercepting
though be existing communities, with plot 712 million kw of sunlight. With 10% efficient
division, roads, pipes, wiring, etc. already in solar panels while exposed to the sun it produces
place that could be steered into a path to develop just over 71,000 megawatt of power.
along more sustainable lines.
Tossing more numbers, 6 hour/day average, 360
What, to you, is "Human scale"? How far are (Ariziona) relatively clear days, 10% intermittent
you willing to walk to visit family or friends, the coverage, annually the array produces around
library or museum? How far to grow or 138 million megawatthour of power. Before we
purchase your food? How far to your get too cheerful on this, note that the present cost
employment? for around 712,000,000 one-hundred watt solar
panels at $500 each would be around $356
Commuting distance. Absent "energy to burn", Billion, with each of the 134,400 homesteads in
the upper size is the ability to get people and the city being billed abour $2.5 Million.
supplies around.
Farming and food shipment. The city needs
food. While each homestead has its own garden,

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the field inside each 20 homestead unit, adding a visual limit helping to provide a feeling of
the additional safety factor of farmland bordering place, rather than a straight line running off to
the city for a population of a million, at 1/4 acre the limit of vision. You must keep in mind
per person, requires say 39035 square miles of though, that a curved road
farmland. As a belt outside the potable water
collection, this would be a belt about 4.5 miles Consider three dimensional use of the space.
thick. The city is now 27 miles on a side. This Living space does not necessarily have to be at
puts the outer edge of the farming belt about 13.5 ground level. Say a big department store type
miles from the city center, and of course less for building is 75,000 square feet. If built well, six
the housing areas, and most of the community homesites could be located on each such roof,
centers of the villages. Not an unreasonable while still leaving skylights to the business area
distance for even pedal-powered food shipment, below. What about the "roof" of your home as a
if that's what is necessary. greenhouse?

Crop irrigation water collection. Depending on


the rainfall of the applicable area, the water ECOLOGY
collection area outside the farming area will
vary. A 12" rainfall could for example require 6 It seems clear that a human optimized ecology is
times as much water collection as is planted in incompatible with a "natural" ecology. I'm not
traditional farming. The farm water collection thrilled about jackrabbits in my garden, rattlers
belt is 14 miles wide. The city is now 55 miles napping on the porch, or stepping on scorpions
on a side. as I enter a dark room, but they're part of the
"natural" ecosystem. And we as humans want to
Age Distribution. Assume a healthy population exclude them.
at essentially some stable total population.
Assume on the average that the lifespan is Which would you think is a better house pet, an
around 80 years. Assume that on the average angora cat, or a captured bobcat kitten? We can,
there are the same number of people in each and need, to live in a self-regulating ecosystem,
particular age. In a city of a million or so, there BUT it needs to be "domesticated" flora and
are around 12,500 of each age. fauna. We can reemphasize "biological" means
of meeting our needs, obtaining materials, etc.,
The entire city need not be constructed or altered but we've already over-run enough of "nature".
at the same time.
An ecocity needs to provide it's own food
Just as a thought, curved roads, or those with tree resources. Consider, a hunter-gatherer in a good
planted "traffic circles" at intersections provide area may need a square mile per person. For a
population of 1 million, you're spread over an
35
Fuel Crop Commentary - If the entire farming area 1000 miles on a side. That's not likely to
belt were planted in biodiesel crops, the city support a high-tech civilization. High population
might expect to harvest around 3,750,000 gallons density appears a civilization prerequisite. High
per year. On a per-person basis, that’s a density, indeed simple high numbers of humans,
whopping 3.75 gallons per year. If you want to requires a deliberately organized food web.
add cropland for production of fuel or materials,
raising animals, etc. the farm belt and water belt It appears clear that making changes such that
must be expanded. But by how much? (Next some city scale communities survive the crash is
pg.) a requirement for maintaining civilization. The
further we fall, the more knowledge, skills, and
The “average” U.S. use (2006) is around 1400 technology we are likely to lose. The further we
gallons per person (every man, woman, and fall, the harder it will be to regain ground. Fossil
child). To produce 1400 gallons per person in fuels have allowed us to make great
the city would require dedicated cropland of advancements - let's not lose the achievements
145,600 square miles (vs 390 square miles for and waste the expended fuel, human creativity,
food). and lives.

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In a post fossil fuel era, I don't see how large should keep them in mind as we consider how
scale long distance surface freight or travel is we need to re-think and re-engineer already
practical, nor is the extensive personal motor disturbed areas to better meet human needs while
vehicle use of today. A city will encounter limits essentially eliminating the impact of human
in sustainable population, most significantly in activities outside of human communities.
food and water.
Can we learn to:
As sprawl and suburbia (as we now know them)
become impractical, the scale will need to be 1. Use waste as a resource.
more "human" in terms of commute for regular 2. Diversify and cooperate to fully use the
daily activities (work, school, shopping, etc.) It habitat.
doesn't mean that we have to lose civilization. 3. Gather and use energy efficiently
4. Optimize rather than maximize
The infrastructure of human communities can be 5. Use materials sparingly
a unique ecology tailored not only our physical 6. Don't foul their nests
needs, but to our individual and collective 7. Don't draw down resources
aspirations. Properly developed, the need for 8. Remain in balance with the biosphere
external input for "life support", other than the 9. Run on information
sun, and occasional rain, can be minimized and 10. Shop locally
essentially eliminated. 1. In general in an ecosystem the nutrient cycle is
closed, but the weblike physical infrastructure
THE CITY AS ECOSYSTEM and food chain allow high diversity and density.
The human community seen as an essentially
An ecosystem consists of abiotic and biotic closed ecosystem must take steps to eliminate
factors that vary in function, in location and the concept of waste, with everything going back
time, which interacting with each other into the web as a resource. Considering the
eventually reach relatively stable numbers and biological matter and water that have and
relationships. In a city as in an ecosystem, the continue to flow into the city, one might expect it
early stages are occupied by pioneers who cope to be a lush oasis. Instead for the most part we
with the pre-existing conditions. As time continue to have a one-way flow where materials
passes, human presence and deliberate actions enter the city only long enough to become trash,
suppress “undesired” biotic factors in the to then be shipped away. The world is full such
community (i.e. insects, rodents, scorpions) that we cannot expect to indefinitely draw
considered as pests, or those that compete with resources from somewhere else, and dump our
humans for resources. Humans also alter effluent in the home of someone else. When it
physical abiotic aspects, and introduce and becomes clear that it is in your best interest, what
provide enhanced supportive physical steps will you take to:
environments for desired creatures.
- Cease "waste" enabling activity
Ecologically the focus of a city is a population - Utilize graywater and blackwater
humans living in a definite area. The dynamics - Compost biological scraps
of human population density, age distribution, - Pass on useful but no longer desired items
overall size, resource use and paradigms affects - Disassemble broken complex items for parts
dramatically other creatures. In theory reuse
interactions of abiotic and biotic and selected - Leave no waste to dangerous to reuse
human intervention should leads to a human - Your thoughts?
centered mature climax community. Perhaps for
example humans tend to intervene too much in We must rethink and rework our use of materials.
factors affecting their biotic neighbors. The throwaway economy that has been evolving
over the last half-century is itself headed for the
In Biomimicry, Janie M. Benyus presents 10 junk heap of history.
"Lessons" humans need to learn, not only as
Various studies indicate that modern industrial
individuals but as a civilization. Perhaps we
economies could (as an interim measure)

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function very effectively with a level of virgin collection completely? Make businesses, and
raw material use as low as one tenth35 that of individuals, find their own means to safely
today. dispose of trash, if there is such, or otherwise
avoid generating trash in the first place. The
We need to recycle36 all materials. Modern legislative involvement here is to simply protect
society uses a LOT of steel, which tends to dwarf general property rights, no one can legally dump
all other metals combined. In the United States, on your site without permission, AND you
roughly 71 percent of all steel produced in 2003 cannot allow effluent from your site to be
was from scrap, leaving 29 percent to be imposed on your neighbor.
produced from virgin ore.
A refillable glass bottle used over and over
Steel recycling began to “work” with the advent requires about 10 percent as much energy per use
of the electric arc furnace, a means to re-melt as an aluminum can that is recycled. Cleaning,
steel from scrap using only one third the energy sterilizing, and relabeling a used bottle requires
of that required for virgin ore. little energy, but recycling cans made from
aluminum, which has a melting point of 660
With the appropriate policies, metal can be used degrees Celsius (1,220 degrees Fahrenheit), is an
and reused indefinitely. Mature industrial energy-intensive process.
economies with stable populations will find it
easier to get most of their steel from recycled Even more fundamental than the design of
scrap, simply because the amount of steel products is the redesign of manufacturing
embedded in the economy is essentially fixed. processes to eliminate the discharge of pollutants
Countries in the early stages of industrialization entirely. Many of today’s manufacturing
have little steel for recycling, and there is little processes evolved at a time when the economy
enough raw material left. was much smaller and when the volume of
pollutants was not overwhelming the ecosystem.
Another recycling example is breaking down old More and more companies are now realizing that
buildings into their component parts so they can this cannot continue and some, such as Dupont,
be recycled and reused. As with old-time efforts have adopted zero emissions as a goal.
to deconstructing a barn or building, the same
thought and care applied today can allow most of “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
the material in a building to be recycled. Simply put arrange industrial activity such that
the waste from one process can be used as the
It SHOULD be a “no brainer” to design all raw material for another. (As it is in nature.)
products such as automobiles, appliances, and
equipment so that they can be easily 2. Effectively fully use area and resources.
disassembled and their component parts Animals claim territory, yet do not show
recycled. Once “free” energy, and “free” raw aggression to other species who claim the same
materials are a thing of the past, linked with territory, and cooperate with others of their
whomever wants to throw things “away” must species.
pay for the long-term costs of such tossing, - Niches for Decomposers, Scavengers & Miners
better design and reuse/recycling efforts will be - Multi-Layer / Multi-Use
in the best interest36 of business.
Animals and insects. They are part of an
Relatively recent governmental responses to ecology, and can either BE pests, or used to
encourage recycling is to ban various materials control pests.
from garbage/landfills. What about simply
eliminating the government involvement in trash Commensalism - In commensalism, one
organism derives benefits from its relationship
36
We have local pollution laws, wage and with another. The other organism is not affected
benefits laws, etc. which at the present make the in any way by the relationship.
“cost” of energy to mine and prepare new
materials, even on the other side of the planet,
less than local recycling.

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Mutualism - In a mutualistic relationship, both - Minimized energy needs vs toxic generation
participating organisms derive benefits from methods
each other. This results in a steady, long - A productive thinking population vs a mass of
relationship. Some may argue that this is the uneducated welfare recipients
situation with human’s food animals, but a more - Select annual crops for minimal residue
likely example is human association with pets. - Perennial crops are a standing investment
- Repair/Update vs Demolish and Build Anew
The Ecological Niche of an organism describes - Quality vs Quantity
how that particular individual "fits" into its
ecosystem. Within its habitat, it must make use There are limits on human population size, upper
of available resources, withstand abitoic and and lower, determined by factors such as
biotic factors, with the help of adaptations. In resources and how they are utilized, knowledge
other words, a niche is the role that the and technology, and distribution and density of
individual organism plays in its nonliving and the population.
living environment.
Concentrated populations are vulnerable to
Within a city the humans can clearly be seen as disease and environmental changes, but provide
the top predator, with the typical animal “prey” opportunity for accumulation of tools and
of humans specifically nurtured in controlled knowledge, and the ability to readily exchange
environments for the purpose of becoming food. ideas.
There are though those humans who physically
prey on other humans, whether for Dispersed populations are less likely to develop
physical/monetary gain, individual gratification, science and tools to deal with disease and
or just psychotic drive. environmental changes, or advanced
technologies.
In the world of unthinking plants and animals, a
parasite usually physically lives upon or inside Each human generation represents a significant
the host, with the host subjected to a long, investment in time, physical resources, and
painful relationship. Parasites and predators education before the up and coming individuals
differ in that while prey suffers an almost are capable of self support, let alone producing
instantaneous death, a host typically suffers any net individual advancement. (How long
prolonged pain, not necessarily leading to death. would it take a new adult to pay back the parents
For e.g. – tapeworms. It remains similar at the for the time and resources invested during their
human vs human level. childhood?)

Humans who impose on other humans as Within an ecosystem, including a city, larger
predators or parasites present a situation that environmental factors such as seasonal changes,
may warrant intervention by physical or deadly rainfall, growing season, even decomposers and
force. predators affect the cycle of resources, and
therefore the overall stable population range.
3. Balance energy supply & demand:
- Solar (Photovoltaic, heating, wind, Even if life support factors are evenly
hydroelectric, biomass) distributed, at a more focused level, specialized
- Geothermal environmental factors may require clustered
- Nuclear (Theory) populations. For humans, this could include
- Minimize regular movement of mass and potential daily factors such as work, school, and
people access to markets.
- Minimize temperature extremes
5. Use materials sparingly
4. Optimize rather than maximize - Form fits function
- More nutritious and greater variety and - Use fits need
quantity of food for lesser numbers, vs a - Design for durability
starvation diet for many

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- Think "Lending Library" Whether complementary proteins in human food,
ph or other factors for plants, the supply of fresh
6. Don't foul nests water, etc., there are abiotic and biotic factors
- No toxic releases which limit any given population. This limiting
- Bioremediation factor can be too little, or too much of
- Zero Fossil Fuel Burning “something”. I.e. for humans there can clearly be
- No garbage dumps (Find a way to recycle, or too little or too much water. The range of
stop producing the item) tolerance though can vary dependent on many
- Avoid noise other factors, such as is there material to make
rafts, or ability to store rare rainfalls.
Noise pollution – Can have physical
consequences on the human body. We can Within natural ecosystems, abiotic elements like
reduce noise by producing less or, deadening it, nutrients are recycled and reused. Unfortunately
or masking it with other "white noise". Earth most human communities have broken these
sheltering, plants, avoiding hard straight natural cycles.
surfaces, etc. helps greatly in noise abatement,
but in general those “assaulted” with sound at 9. Run on information
harmful levels cannot completely mitigate the
noise. Eliminating the sound of engines will do - Feedback on benefits and consequences
are great deal to bring a quiet to a city. Running
and falling water, wind thru the trees, etc. are In nature, ecosystems self-organize based on
natural examples of white noise. Brushing up feedback, some benign, some deadly. Humans
against someone in a crowd is different from a must realize when we are selecting for
deliberate punch. Your right to swing your arm improvement in the human community, and
in YOUR space ends when it enters your when we are acting to our own long-term
NEIGHBOR’S space that happens to contain his detriment.
nose. In a similar vein, those initiating noisy
events or processes with harmful sound levels Risk-taking has consequences. There are those
must realize the limit of their right. who are lazy slobs. There are those who fill their
bodies with dangerous substances. There are
those subject to inherited illnesses and/or
Considering toxic releases, the environmental disabilities.
effects of gold mining raises doubts about the net An option for reducing the use of raw materials
benefit to society. It involves extensive release of would be to eliminate subsidies37 that encourage
mercury and cyanide into the environment. To their use. Whether the cost of irrigation water to
produce 2,500 tons requires the processing of farmers, paying farmer to NOT grow food,
750 million tons of ore--second only to the 2.5 depletion credits to oil companies, etc. tax
billion tons of ore processed to produce 1 billion incentives seriously “skew” economic and
tons of raw steel. The cleanup costs are left to therefore ecological decisions.
someone else. To get an honest market price for
gold means including the cost of cleaning up the A growing policy is a proposed tax on the
mercury and cyanide pollution from mining plus burning of fossil fuels. The tax is presented as a
the costs of landscape restoration in mining means that would reflect the full cost to society
regions. of mining coal and pumping oil, of the air
pollution associated with their use, and of
7. Don't draw down resources climate disruption. A carbon tax is claimed to
- Maintain groundwater levels and quality
- Don't Kill the "Golden Goose" 37
In the words of Ernst von Weizsäcker, “The
challenge is to get the market to tell the
8. Remain in balance with the biosphere ecological truth.” To help the market to tell the
- Avoid population expansion incentives truth, we need not only a carbon tax, but also a
landfill tax so that those generating garbage pay
the full cost of getting rid of it.

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lead to a more realistic energy price, one that Wind driven. Would you like an intermittent
will permeate the energy-intensive materials breeze in your home? Consider a direct driven
economy and reduce materials use. Obviously inside fan, turned when the wind blows outside.
though, the tax revenues should NOT be used in
any manner that creates a long-term dependency, Solar thermal. Relatively minor temperature
as the indicated purpose of the tax is to differences can be used to circulate gas or
discourage fossil fuel use. If the tax succeeds, liquids. The movement can be used to just move
then the revenue from the tax will be brief. heat, or generate power. Solar can be used
directly, or indirectly for cooking or heating. .
10. Shop locally
- Import / Exports limited to luxuries Flat panel.

As the total mass of the human population has Concentrating. In what technology other than
grown, instead of providing for greater, or faster solar can something as in-substantial as a sheet
recycling loops, and a more complex yet human of shiny mylar be used to transform the diffuse
centered ecosystem, we've broken feedback warmth of the sun into a burning or melting tool
loops, destroyed much of nature, and isolated capable of easily destroying the mylar
ourselves from the biology needed to sustain us. performing the service?
Considering the biological matter and water that
have and continue to flow into the city, one Biological. Early man started by “taming” those
might expect it to be a lush oasis. Instead for the plants and animals that readily submitted. With
most part we continue to have a one-way flow genetics, we have far greater potential, and of
where materials enter the city only long enough course far greater RISK in what we can achieve.
to become trash, to then be shipped away. Drugs from bacteria, food or fuel from algae.
Potentially custom designed species, or “to
TECHNOLOGY order” humans.

What are your thoughts for appropriate Biogas. Biological waste, composted in a sealed
technology in a post fossil fuel era? container, can produce gas such as methane that
can be collected in relatively simple water-traps,
With liquid fuels a premium commodity. and used as fuel on demand. It is not readily
With electricity in far more limited supply than efficient as fuel for motors, but it is a means to
today. provide “stored heat” to cook in non-sunny
periods, vs trying to store solar heat directly.
Long distance shipping (at least on land)
inhibited by limited fuel and electricity. Sewage processing in "living machines" to
fertilizer (if not applied directly)
Pedal Power. Certainly devices that are
manually operated. Thinking… playfully… for a Wood. For all our "scientific progress", we ever
moment, can a computer be operated on the managed to replicate this wonderful
electricity generated by a pedal driven generator? "chlorophyll" thing, just to make non-renewable,
non-self-replicating, chemical imitations
What other pedal driven devices? A rule of (photovoltaics).
thumb goes something like this: a human's peak
power is 200W, and can sustain 50W to perhaps Electronics. Components and simple devices,
75W for longer durations. Add a "buffer" while perhaps not at energy efficient as present
(lead/acid battery and charge regulator) to circuits, can be hand-made. CPUs (central
smooth out the output, would there be enough to processing units), the heart of any computer, is
power a small desktop computer (Case + CRT), probably the most technically difficult thing to
and even more so, a laptop (energy efficient Case develop and build on this planet, together with
+ LCD screen). "rocket science", building and launching rockets
and satellites. A "fab" (short for fabrication
facility, the huge white room places that build
CPUs) costs billions of dollars to build, not

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including costs to operate, the research and yard, 20% efficiency panels, the car can generate
development, all of this of course null and void up to 13 KW in direct sun. I think that's around
once we no longer have enough oil to power 17 horsepower. It's an approach which can work
tractors and the such, let alone for extravagant to keep some type of between city travel going.
energy use like spending millions of barrels to Steep grades could get a boost from trackside
find ways to cram up as many transistors as panels, or how about a trackside connection
possible on a surface less than an inch wide. At between trains going up and down the grade…
what level of civilization and what type of The down train uses generators to brake, feeds
technology, can computers be sustained? the slope grid, and it's used to help the up train.
Or the power could be stored for later use, with
Simple Devices. Electronic components can be some further losses.
made by simple technology, but the larger hand-
made components use a great deal more power, Intracity. Trains / trolleys / electric bus on a
and waste much of it has heat. fixed route, central power allows a lighter
vehicle (no battery weight), regenerative braking
A question: Does such a city have the to distribute to the grid of vehicles. If these
technology and technique to repair or replace a vehicles are to travel at any rate significantly
broken plate or cup? A p/v panel? If each faster than a walking pace, they need to be
homestead has twenty five 100 volt panels, the isolated from the surface pedestrian traffic. The
collected homesteads of the city have 3,125,000 two obvious options are putting them on raised
panels, with an expected lifespan of 30 years. track, or as subways. With either option,
“stations” higher than the track conserves energy,
A replacement schedule could then require using the uphill to slow the transport on entering
production of around 100,000 panels per year. If the station, and downhill to resume speed on
p/v panels are broken, or fail on a regular basis, leaving.
the city needs to produce or re-work 285 p/v
panels every day. The Tucson MEC estimates A subway tunnel approach offers the opportunity
that 8% of the p/v panels actually in use (2005) for much heavier cargo, with less ongoing
need to be replaced each year, which would be a maintenance of the system. The subway does
daily replacement rate of around 685 panels. not necessarily need to be a large or luxurious.
Think in terms of a large concrete storm drain
Is P/V, at least as we know it today, practical pipe, with a sit-down only scale subway car. The
long-term? Can a city of a million do better? city has 121 square mile grids, which if limited
to one "station" per grid (not necessarily so
TRANSPORTATION limited) would put everything in the city within
two six minute (brisk) walks, and a few minutes
Movement of people, and things. At the present, subway ride. In a similar below ground pipe
things tend to be moved by a human controlling system, heavy cargo could be floated in an
a heavy powered vehicle. For the relatively slow enclosed canal, moved by low power pumps
need of cargo movement within a city, can we moving water to the “high” side of the system.
switch to some type of "pipeline" system where
only the cargo moves, perhaps in an underground Personal transportation. Lightweight, low
canal system? power, streamlined vehicles can still provide
relatively "high speed" personal transport,
Intercity. especially in a compact city. Although
pedestrians can cross flow at corners without
Vehicles with solid wheels, running on a stoplights, it doesn't work for vehicles. But stop
relatively smooth and level track, are probably at and go wastes energy. Thinking in terms of
the top of energy efficiency and effectiveness in human powered vehicles, or neighborhood
moving bulk or heavy cargo on land, long electric vehicles, "roads" would only need to be
distances, between distance points of origin and improved walkways, and could be elevated to be
destination. If a train car is 10' wide, and 60 essentially level and permit crossings without the
long, it' has around 600 ft. sq. of roof surface. typical city stoplight every 1/8 mile. Pedaling a
Using primitive estimates, 1 KW of sun per sq bicycle / human powered vehicle, the "engine"

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needs exposure to clean and flowing air, further bookcase inherited from my grandfather,
making this a "fit" with raised tracks. meanwhile numerous "particle board"
bookshelves I've purchased have crumbled,
Emergency response vehicles hybrid / fueled (i.e. snapped, or otherwise quickly passed their useful
alcohol or biodiesel), able to travel unrestricted life (not to mention the fumes from the particle
by power connections or track. board…)

LOCATION Reduce. Design / engineer / build for zero toxics


release. Act as though the city is inside a sealed
Which existing community, if any, do you bubble of its land footprint.
believe has the greatest potential for
development into a "sustainable" human centered Reuse. When do you recall the metal structure
ecological environment, and what steps do you of a washer or dryer wearing out? We need to
suggest to assist / guide such development? engineer so that such durable parts can continue
to be used without costly and energy intensive
reprocessing. We need to have components that
A whole new city does not normally just happen.
are easily disassembled and if still viable reused.
Cities typically develop at sites because of a
Think of used item stores, or "ebay" where
natural resource, trade route intersection, etc. An
people auction off their "trash to treasure" items.
ecocity starts with one of these existing cities
and evolves.
Recycle. Design / engineer / build for upgrading
or recycling. Obviously bio-degradable products
Relative isolation from other large
can be returned to the soil by microbes and re-
communities…
grown into something else. Complex, high tech
materials or artifacts probably need to be
Walking to the city presents too much of a
collected, categorized, and stored, or
challenge in distance and/or conditions.
disassembled and stored, for re-use.
Adequate renewable resources within walking
Self constructing / Self Replicating. Design /
distance of the city center, which are or can be
engineer / build to emphasize use of biological
under control the city or city citizens. In
systems. Wood for example remains an
particular for the author’s location in the desert
incredible engineering / construction resource.
southwest of the U.S., fresh water.
Alcohol is a practical fuel where free roaming
quick refueling power is required.
A variety of small businesses with potential post
oil era viability.
A climate tolerable without mechanical HVAC or “The challenge is to get the market to
burning fuel for heat. tell the ecological truth.”
- Ernst von Weizsäcker,
Government / residents willing to accept/allow
alternative construction, graywater use, etc. Sustainability is a broad concept, with a problem
for sustainable economics exampled in the "529"
Access to reliable power. A good stream/river college savings plans. In general, there is a
drop for hydro, windmills, solar p/v, solar choice between investment plans, and pre-paid
"steam", SOMETHING. (I don't see any tuition plans. If we were NOT saddled with an
practical substitute for electricity for nighttime inflating currency, the cost of a college education
lighting, or of course electronics, which seem to would be virtually the same now, or 18 years
be a "floor" for continued progress) from now, varying essentially based on the
quality of the services and demand. In that
ECONOMIC THEORY scenario, the investment approach would seem to
make more sense. In an inflating economy
Heirloom, one of enduring value. Design / though, you are chasing a rising target, and the
engineer / build for quality and durability. In pre-paid tuition may work out to be a better bet.
example, the author is still using a glass door

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Jobs. Performing a particular service for the Water collection. All rain should be directed into
same entity on a regular basis. cisterns or on to a stream system. Wind could be
used to pump water to "high ground" for gravity
Professions. Performing a particular service for pressurization of the delivery system.
a variety of entities on a regular basis.
Modification and upgrades. The physical
Repair or replacement would appear to take a structure of the city, when physically modified,
higher place then expansion or completely new needs to be modified with future upgrade in
facilities (at least not those that simply provide mind. For example, how many times have the
the same use or service as something already in streets in your community been torn up and
existence. Without resources being wasted in repaved because a particular pipe or wire was
ongoing construction of new facilities, to being repaired or added?
perform the same “old” services (housing or
providing for an expanding population) “new” Multi-purpose Zoning. Interweaving work, play,
facilities would rationally represent completely learning, socializing, and other activities. So
NEW needs or capabilities, vs rehashing of the long as the noise, light, and visual interference of
old. a home and a restaurant don't intrude on each
other, why can't such be side to side? It is
Even in so far as law, as personal responsibility generally undesirable to have isolated areas
and “common sense” is brought back into the devoid of "eyes watching". All of those facilities
picture, one would hope that frivolous legal "needed" on a "day to day" basis should be
cases would fade into the background. (Yes within walking distance of the homes served.
folks, this is an attorney commenting that we
have far too many “B.S” – and I do not mean Energy Co-generation. Using waste energy from
Bachelor of Science – cases in the legal system.) one process in a different process which needs it.
Far too many times, I’ve seen lawyers for parties
“churn” cases, make motions, file documents, AGRICULTURE
interrogatories, demands for discovery, etc., not
necessarily for vital information, but as a means Present cities rely on the production of
to harass the other party in a case while running widespread markets to supply food. Absent
up fees. cheap transportation the city MUST have a more
direct connection with the food source. It must
We need creative thinkers, those who can look at recycle the human and resident animal effluent
what we have, and what we know, and envision safely, efficiently and effectively back in to the
something that is better. food production system. The city be able to feed
itself from within the resources under it's control
INFRASTRUCTURE
Open field agriculture is the present standard.
The city can be composed of individual family This method, at least as practiced, is dependent
homesteads, of whatever construction each on fossil fuel to operate farm equipment, process
family can manage, or a single large arcology. and deliver food to cities, and is also dependent
What matters is the relationship of numbers of on chemical fertilizers to feed the crops. It is an
people, and reuse of resources. open ended process which moves from oil to
food to cities to the dump or the sea. It is not
Night outside illumination for paths, placed sustainable.
below eye level. If electrical consider
centralized bulbs with fiber optics for the Attempts have been made to use processed
individual walkway lights. Just enough to light sewage sludge as fertilizer, but these have
the ground but leave the night sky visible. encountered the problem of contamination. Not
everything that ends up in a city sewer has first
Venturi effects of terrain and structures which been eaten and digested by a human. The typical
increase air velocity may be used to improve the city sewage is contaminated with metals, toxic
harvest of wind energy. chemicals, etc. that go down our drains.

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Closed loop agriculture. We've go to close the consider it is time to gather and move your assets
loop on recycling the nutrients from human to somewhere that recognizes your independent
effluent as close to the source as practical, while right to exist and deal with the world.
also minimizing the opportunity for
contamination. The closer that the recycling is to External. The city must be prepared to exercise
home, the more the residents will take personal self-defense. Whether peacetime or war, a
responsibility for ensuring the safety of the question is what about visitors? A city, that is
system. NOT in collapse, in a world that is, will be a
primary destination for many. But the city
Urban Landscaping. City landscaping can be a CANNOT accept everyone who approaches.
food source. Microclimates created within the There MUST be some approach, some “welcome
city can make for a rich urban ecology and center” where potential new recruits for
substantial biodiversity. residency are evaluated and an determination
made whether there is excess resources, and
Farm Staff. Current U. S. farming has I believe whether they should be offered on a temporary /
2% of the population working to feed the rest of permanent basis to any particular individual, and
us. Shooting for the same %, the city needs the terms overall.
20,000 people working in food production.
The next level up in government. In most
Assuming 250,000 cultivated acres in a farming locations at least in the U.S., a city can appoint
belt, it's about 12.5 acre for each person to work. as law enforcement whomever it wants. In
With a shift to greater concentration on trees and argument, it could be every citizen of the city. If
other perennial crops in a permaculture approach your state or higher government prohibits this,
and with "temporary" help is doesn't sound like again, it may be time to move your assets.
an impossible task.
Other governments. Your city, your state, your
The city has 134,400 homesteads. If the home nation. What other government do you
gardens are instead tended by master gardeners, recognize as having authority to control your
working a 40 hour week, the gardener would life? The United Nations?
have only around 1/2 hour per property. This
again appears to point toward perennial / long Non-governmental organizations. If you did not
term crops, vs annuals that must each year be vote for them, did not invest money in them, and
coaxed up from a basic seed. do not care about their policies, don’t let them
interfere with you.
SECURITY
POPULATION STABILITY
Keeping strangers away from one's back door is
a significant design consideration. In theory the misery generated at the earlier
discussed levels by an expanding population
Internal. An essentially pedestrian city provides should make it clear the city also cannot expand.
a lot of eyes and ears in the public arena, and a But if your city gains attention as the most
mix of zoning minimizes regularly scheduled advanced in sustainability, and we are in the
"abandoned" sites. Start with the concept of post-peak oil era, who believes that the city
neighborhood watch, and expand. WON'T be challenged by a population influx?
How do you stop it?
Crime. We tolerate too much, and have
abdicated too much responsibility to our elected
and professionally paid law enforcement POLITICS / GOVERNMENT
employees. Get off your butt, refuse to be
intimidated, and act on the fact that you have When the government falls, those to whom
arrest authority. If your state or local violence and force are no stranger will take over.
government does not allow you to do so, and They will not necessarily be the best, brightest,
does not allow you to be armed in the same or even the strongest. They may simply be the
manner as the police, perhaps you should first to use violence to impose their will.

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Consider if you will the "turf wars" among
gangs, and their escalation if there is no CITY CORE
organized police force to oppose them.
Ecological Industry - A potential function of the
At each level, surviving communities will need city core is repair / recycling / manufacturing of
some form of organized government, and complex products, and storage of parts /
defense. When our complex and oil dependent materials in the area most readily accessible by
government system dies, Feudalism may again the bulk of the residents. Many aspects logically
rise to replace the missing layers of government. need to be centralized. Consider that a high
I discount "elected" officials, because, at least in temperature "foundry" can be solar powered, but
our present system, those elected are primarily the mirror set up would be a large device,
there due to a popularity contest, based on their requiring careful construction and operation, not
promises to tax and spend, rather than an practical to replicate or operate on a small scale.
understanding and ability to manage. In those
large cities which manage to survive, the police The folks at Columbia University, New York
commissioner may be the individual with the City, New York, have worked up a theoretical
greatest power. For smaller communities, the food system where a city building is used to
natural leader to arise seems to be the County produce food for a significant number of city
Sheriff. residents. Under typical present law, to actually
implement such would require the support of city
During and immediately post-crash, there will be agencies such as building code, health, planning,
an excess of people, well beyond what can be sanitation, etc. Their model for concentrated
sustained. I suspect that there will be little commercial urban farming to feed 50,000 people
tolerance for criminal acts, or thought of scarce in the City of New York is a 48-story building,
and valuable community assets taken to support either 90,000 ft2 or 250,000 ft2, depending on
a prison population. A "kind" sentence will be necessary requirements.
expulsion. A "standard" sentence will probably
be death. Doing the math, their preliminary statement
appears to claim only between 1.8 & 5 square
If the city is a governmental entity, while foot per person is needed to produce food, while
authority remains, it must comply, including with their wheat discussion indicates a best non-stop
access, allowing protests, etc. If the city entity production of 292 sq. ft. per person. Whether or
was a private corporation, it would under present not such a building is long-term sustainable
law be able to exclude non members. given present knowledge and materials, it
presents an interesting use for what may become
However the city is organized, the charter needs abandoned city buildings. Outside of their food
to be fixed, unchangable except by unanimous analysis, consider such a modified structure as a
agreement of all votes. How about each village recycling, or bio materials resource. (See the
has 1 senator to the city, selected by the book Biomimicry, by Janie M. Benyus) Use of a
representatives of the Homestead associations. closed environment, provided the power is
NO elected position to be paid. available to manage heat, light, and water
condensation, presents a tremendous opportunity
A city of a million people, covering 121 square for the growth of water intensive crops (i.e.
miles, with 134,400 homesteads surely presents a cotton) without the waste of the precious
situation where some formal organization / resource in open field evaporation. It provides a
governance is required. Doesn't it? What is the very controlled environment for plant cross
minimum required "government? breeding experiments.

Radical concept? What if the government If you contemplate it, machines and industries
declined, or was unable, to register a lien on real can be formed into food webs and ecologies, just
property? You could and buy sell real estate, but as living creatures. So far, they just can't do it on
it would not be available as security for a loan, their own. Within a long term sustainable,
or as an asset which can be attached in a lawsuit. ecological city, where there can be no constant
Thoughts? external input, and no "garbage" to continuously

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dispose of, we must arrange our industry so that those who elect to live in less dense areas, who
the effluent from one process is the feedstock of will nevertheless seek local services. They will
another. need teachers, engineers, doctors, etc. The city
offers clear opportunity for specialized education
The raw materials on Earth have been here and experience that becomes a valuable trade
essentially since the planet coalesced. Atoms in item over a broad area.
your body may have been part of Julius Cesar, or
ancient dinosaurs. In the biological arena, Culture. Museums, libraries, art and
everything is designed to be disassembled to entertainment, etc. are natural outcomes of the
some level or another, and re-used. We need to specialization possible in a city. A key aspect is
apply the same rationality to our industry and NOT reaching the point where one aspect holds a
products. gun to the head of another to force them to
subsidize the lifestyle or choices of another.
The new "raw material" for industry will be
"old" products. The easier used or broken items ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
are to disassemble to a useful level, the greater
the ease for creation of a new product. A A city of a million people, covering 121 square
comparison though: miles, with 125,000 homesteads surely presents a
situation where it would seem some formal
Aluminum cans are readily recycled, but they organization / governance is required. Doesn't
require a great deal of energy to melt and re- it? What is the minimum required "government?
engineer into a new can. Glass bottles are
readily recycled, potentially by just washing and Do you want to live under a government that
putting on a new cap. Re-use of the unbroken, issues orders to you, or that reacts when
uncontaminated glass bottle requires MUCH someone interferes with your property rights?
LESS37 energy and handling than recycling of (Rights to your body, your personal items, and
the aluminum can. your real estate.)

Technology such as cell phones can avoid How much authority over your property, your
processing and laying miles of copper wires, but life, that that of your children are you willing to
present cell phones are much more fragile than sign-over to someone else?
most hard-wire phones, and dependent on
batteries that represent a constant flow of toxics. ETHICS / MORAL
To get an honest market price for any product
containing toxic materials means requiring the Austerity will be a fact of life. To use a extreme
industry bear the cost of recycling. example for us in the modern, "First World",
what is going to happen, even in a city of a
We need approaches to high-tech materials that million, to an infant born with a lifetime
do not require use of toxic materials and leave crippling defect?
dangerous residue. I understand we already
know the principles of zero-pollution production, If the family is sufficiently wealthy, perhaps they
but don't because it's still cheaper, in terms of could manage to provide for appropriate
money, to continue polluting. When dumping care/assistance, even in their own absence. But,
costs rise, business looks for alternatives. In the absent the artificially robust economy, profits,
city (or on the Earth as a whole), there IS no and taxes provided by the cheap energy from oil,
"away" to throw things to. Even for substances how could even a city of a million afford a
well below the scale human can directly deal "publicly funded" program to provide for this
with, select organisms can remove remaining child, or any other person incapable of providing
trace pollutants, and concentrate them for re-use. some service to "earn their keep"? And if a city
of a million can't afford to provide a lifetime of
Education. Higher education, or specialized care, what happens in smaller communities?
programs are a natural, low energy, but high
profit effort for a city. Even if the population of In the 1950's and 1960's, talk of atomic war
the future is concentrated in cities, there will be prompted some to prepare fallout shelters. At

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the time, and perhaps in retrospect, some saw the employable population is 444,864. The city is
shelter building activity as foolish. But if done large enough to sustain demand for specialists in
well, those shelter spaces continued to be an education, medicine, sciences, etc.
asset, and may once again, in the coming crash,
prove their value as fallout shelters. The shelters CONSIDERING GREATER LEVELS
were, and are, a form of "insurance". So it is I
see every aspect and level of "sustainability", An eco-city of a million can be a tool to preserve
from your one tomato plant, to a self-reliant city education and skills, and continue development.
of a million. It is personal insurance. It is "life It obviously exceeds the capabilities of a
insurance" for your family and heirs. It is dispersed hunter gatherer society of the same
insurance for civilization. population of a million, or any other non-urban
approach.
DEMOGRAPHICS FOR THE LONG-TERM
I do not see how a dense, yet ecological
community would be able to significantly exceed
Population evenly distributed across an age a population of 1 million, or occupy an area less
range of 1 to 80. Average births do not exceed than that set out above, which if you have limited
replacement with children born to parents who in rainfall, is an area 55 miles on a side (3025 sq.
an age range of 20 to 40. mile). Nor do I see how the same million spread
less-dense could maintain the level of interaction
There is no need for new home construction. necessary.
Family homesteads, each an area approximately
100' x 100' (about ¼ acre) house multi- Yet to house 6+ billion people, it would take SIX
generation families of 8 to 10 people. THOUSAND such eco-cities, which would
cover over 18 million square miles. The total
Homesteads are arranged into neighborhoods, temperate area of the Earth is around 37 million
each a square six homesteads on a side, twenty square miles.
total. These surround a central courtyard 400' x
400'. Each neighborhood association (about 40 What we actually have in place at this time is
acre) is a gathering averaging 160 to 200 people. worse. We have 6+ billion people disbursed over
the six continents of the globe, which logically
Neighborhoods are arranged into villages, each a means that our present cumulative human
square eight neighborhoods on a side (one square footprint EXCEEDS this area. Yet with our
mile). The central 40 acres is reserved for shops, current "system", with all of the additional, non-
schools, etc., putting schools and business within renewable input, we still cannot provide
roughly ½ mile of every homestead. Each adequately for the population.
village contains 60 associations and is a
gathering of 9600 to 12,000 people, with around To implement such low-energy eco-cities in
120 to 150 people of each age (grade in school). sufficient time to provide for the entire present
population appears to require magic.
Villages are arranged in a grid eleven on a side,
with a city core of nine square miles in a central If we wanted to limit ourselves to diverting say
“X”. The city has 112 villages and averages 10% of the total productive land space to human
1,075,200 people, around 13,400 of each age. activity, it would be 3.7 million square miles,
limited to around 1,200 of such cities, or a total
If basic education is considered as age 6 thru 18, global population of 1.2 billion. That population
there are 80,640 kids in school, requiring 4032 though could live in relative abundance, and
teachers. peace.

Aiming for an educated workforce, and low Setting aside for the moment the arbitrary laws
stress "elder" years, consider the educated written by humans, what would be the minimum
workforce to be ages 22 thru 56, this is around physical requirements of peaceful interaction of
407,400 people. Minus 4032 as teachers and 2% individual ecological communities?
of the total, or 21,504 as gardeners, the

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Sustainable Civilization: From the Grass Roots Up
Chapter VIII - Sustainability Laws

First Law. Non-renewable resources must not Tenth Law. Survival of the fittest, but not
be used in a manner that precludes their future perhaps what you would first think.
re-use, and the maximum sustainable level of Eleventh Law. Give a man a fish and you feed
renewable resource use is the minimum reliable him for a day; teach a man how to fish and you
level of renewal. feed him for a lifetime”

Second Law. Achievement of sustainable Twelth Law. There is no quick fix. Deep-seated
society globally requires that every definable problems require more than a positive mental
area, whether natural or political, maintain a attitude and collection of short-term success
population and consumption level sustainable formulas.
within the applicable borders, using the local
resources, or trade in a sustainable manner. Thirteenth Law. Power corrupts, and absolute
power corrupts absolutely.
Third Law. Personal or societal
experimentation and development requires the Fourteenth Law. Law of the minimum. There
availability of excess resources. are critical factors the limit living and non-living
processes, regardless of the quantity of other
Fourth Law. There is no "away" where we can factors present.
throw things, or move to.
BACKGROUND ON THE LAWS
Fifth Law. An economic system becomes fragile
when it comes to depend on external exchange These laws are presented for consideration as
over which it has little control. - Ekholm physical principles, and not the arbitrary laws
invented by society and governments.
Sixth Law. "If an ethical foundation is lacking, a
civilization collapses. Civilization exists in the Consider them as laws of the universe that apply
effort to perfect humanity, and originates when a to human civilization. They may occasionally be
population is inspired to attain progress and to "bent", with consequences, but for the most part
serve." Albert Schweitzer. cannot be broken without dire effect.

Seventh Law. "In our every deliberation, we In your own life, you must plan. What are your
must consider the impact of our decisions on the desired results? What are your personal
next seven generations" - From the Great Law guidelines? Your resources? To whom are you
of the Iroquois Nation accountable? Who suffers the consequences of
your actions?
Eighth Law. Isolate Human Activity. An ecology
optimized for human habitation and life support DISCUSSION OF THE LAWS
is incompatible with a natural state ecosystem.
First Law. Non-renewable resources must
Ninth Law. Protection of personal property not be used in a manner that precludes their
rights is essential. People are more readily future re-use, and the maximum sustainable level
willing to present their surpluses for trade, if of renewable resource use is the minimum
they are assured they are free to negotiate the reliable level of renewal.
trade, or not, without fear that the "authorities"
will take their property.

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Living and non-living resources can, given Which is why the soybean harvest west of
existing science, be renewable, or non Peroria is not stopping.
renewable.
And why a soybean processor west of St. Louis
Consider aluminum scrap. It takes technology, is not stopping.
and electricity, to produce aluminum. In general
though, once we've produced metallic aluminum, And why a ship's captain on the west coast is
it remains available for re-use. Even if discarded stopping but just for a while.
in our garbage, it essentially remains in a form
that can be salvaged by simple human activity, Somewhere west of Shenyand a teenager is
and with low-level technology re-melted and re- stoping for dinner.
formed into new useful items.
A dinner rich in soy protein.
Consider fossil fuels such as oil or coal. If we
use this resource as molecular feedstock to create Consider the implication. This youth,
plastics, and many other physical objects, the supposedly in China, is apparently depending on
molecules essentially remain available to be a soybean crop in the United States, and a
recycled. If however we burn the resource as network of fossil-fuel powered processing and
fuel, we have effectively destroyed it beyond our shipment industries, for sufficient dietary protein
ability to recycle. on his plate.

A prime example of renewable resource us is Can you and your multi generation family
groundwater. If average use does not exceed the subsist on food grown on your own property?
recharge rate, a well is a naturally filtering &
refilling tank. But if you exceed the recharge Third Law. Personal or societal
rate too long or too deep you may cause experimentation and development requires the
permanent loss in capacity, and other problems availability of excess resources.
such as surface subsidence, or cracks in the
"filter" layers. At an extreme example, if an upper limit large
population is living at a barely subsistence level,
Second Law. Achievement of sustainable any crop failure will result in famine. In that
society globally requires that every definable scenario, who can afford to experiment on the
area, whether natural or political, maintain a hope of a better crop, while risking a failure?
population and consumption level sustainable
within the applicable borders, using the local Fourth Law. There is no "away" where we
resources, or trade in a sustainable manner. can throw things, or move to.

Globalization has been a horrible mistake. The Earth is a finite area sphere. Absent a
Cheap (for most purposes, "free") fuels have lead scientific miracle, space travel, if we can
to a global network of supply and distribution maintain it, will only be available for a minute
that is simply not sustainable when fuels return portion of the population. It is often tossed out
to being a "currently" paid cost. Global that we should just send all of our radioactive
shipment of luxury goods is a non-event. Even waste to the sun. Sending untold tons of mass,
the logic of moderate international reliance for on an ongoing basis, on a trip to the sun greatly
durable goods is only moderately questionable. exceeds our present capabilities.
But an early 2006 advertisement by Archer
Daniels Midland could easily be considered the We are, for all practical intents and purposes,
"poster child" for peak oil. The ad shows an "stuck" on Earth with whatever is here, arrives
Asian teen, with the text: here, or that we in our misguided efforts
generate.
Somewhere west of Shenyang, a teenager is
stopping for dinner. Earlier, limited geographic scope civilizations,
even Rome, still only occupied a limited area of

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the globe. It was, if essential, possible to Seventh Law. "In our every deliberation, we
physically walk away from a collapsing society. must consider the impact of our decisions on the
We've created a high energy, intensely next seven generations" - From the Great Law
interdependent global society. When the of the Iroquois Nation
collapse reaches some critical point, anyone and
anything still dependent on the infrastructure at Eighth Law. Isolate Human Activity. An
that time will most likely fall with the rest. ecology optimized for human habitation and life
support is incompatible with a natural state
Fifth Law. An economic system becomes ecosystem. We need nature, nature does not
fragile when it comes to depend on external need us.
exchange over which it has little control. -
Ekholm Ninth Law. Protection of personal property
rights is essential. People are more readily
Similar to the above "away" discussion, but willing to present their surpluses for trade, if
limited to the financial aspect. Even if you have they are assured they are free to negotiate the
a reliable local food system, and can obtain your trade, or not, without fear that the "authorities"
other essential life support locally, what happens will take their property.
to you if you have a need for a continued flow of
funds, customers for your goods or services, who If ownership is not protected, envision the lazy
are not local? If you're in debt, and cut off from who decide they have the right to move in and
cash flow, is someone going to foreclose on your take from the innovator and builder. Such a
homestead? threat destroys incentive, and stagnates
civilization at the least common denominator.
Even when local food, water, housing, etc. have Scientific and other discoveries and
remained viable, with labor needed to keep life breakthroughs in history are, for the most part,
support processes properly going, history has individual achievements, with the "assistance" of
shown that there have at the same time been vast a stable surrounding and supporting community.
amounts of idle labor. Examples would be when Protection of property rights is a primary
a national currency fails, whether from hyper- purpose, if not THE purpose for governments to
inflation, or extreme devaluation, such that it is exist.
no longer trusted as a medium of exchange.
Those who do not personally know and trust
each other, find themselves reluctant to enter into
Tenth Law. Survival of the fittest, but not
financial arrangements with a cloudy future, and perhaps what you would first think. Early tools,
local activity fails for want of a questionable stones and knives required physical strength, and
larger scale economy. hand to hand combat ability was essential to
survival. The bow, a more refined tool, allowed
Informal local barter programs are a start, but a for lesser strength but a distinct skills to provide
local stable and accepted means of exchange can distant neutralization of an adversary or animal.
be a significant tool in reducing the local effect Our continued progression has made mind and
of a large sector economic downturn. precision more important than strength, in a
feedback loop. The drive to overpopulate was
early on another survival trait, as many died as
Sixth Law. "If an ethical foundation is children, or before they had their own children.
lacking, a civilization collapses. Civilization Like other early "cave" aspects, given the now
exists in the effort to perfect humanity, and global coverage of humanity, the drive to
originates when a population is inspired to attain populate is obsolete. The "gene" for prolific
progress and to serve." Albert Schweitzer. procreation is now a threat to the entire race.
I need to trust you, and you to trust me, if we are
going to co-exist without some third party that
Eleventh Law. Give a man a fish and you
we both either trust, or that is imposing control, feed him for a day; teach a man how to fish and
monitoring and ensuring our interactions. you feed him for a lifetime” In an optimized
society, essentially the input of everyone is
necessary, with no "waste". Those who sit, and

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wait for others to provide for them, are a net living processes, regardless of the quantity of
drain on the resources of any community. Those other factors present. As exampled in the earlier
who are shown how to provide for themselves protein discussions, the protein balance of an egg
free the time and resources of others to greater is essentially ideal and able to be fully used by a
accomplishments. human body. Reduce or eliminate any one of the
complimentary proteins, and in the case of eggs
Twelth Law. There is no quick fix. Deep- the rest of the egg is processed by the body as
seated problems require more than a positive fuel, rather than tissue building proteins. On a
mental attitude and collection of short-term macro scale, being in a remote warehouse full of
success formulas. dry food is of little value to you, if there is no
water.
Thirteenth Law. Power corrupts, and
absolute power corrupts absolutely. A challenge to you, what factor requires that
global human civilization exceeds one educated
Fourteenth Law. Law of the minimum. and high-tech city of a million?
There are critical factors the limit living and non-

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Sustainable Civilization: From the Grass Roots Up
Chapter IX - Global Civilization

An organized economy of free individuals can continue advancement. But without reasonable
allow specialization, and allow the best distribution and balance globally, one such
utilization of local skills and resources, community would be faced with a myriad of
improving the overall quality of life, providing levels of alternative gatherings, who would not
for research, education, and exploration. We necessarily have the global ecology in mind.
may yet reach for the stars, but it may take the
collective will and efforts of all of humanity. The characteristics of the whole cannot
(even in theory) be deduced from the most
History, and ancient architecture, show there complete knowledge of the components,
have been many ancient civilizations, some of taken separately or in partial combinations
which may have explored the globe. They were - Ernst Mayer, evolutionary biologist
however in relative isolation to the rest of the
world. We must preserve biodiversity. At the present,
some estimates are that humanity, in one way or
When Egypt fell, it meant nothing to society in another appropriates for human use 50% of the
South America. We face a threat, and an productive biological life of the planet. We also
opportunity not seen before, a global collapse, continue to interfere with, and therefore
that may leave the Earth permanently scarred, or significantly alter the natural environment
may leave the survivors with a world full of globally.
already processed materials ready to use.

Ancient China had oceangoing vessels, and Say the Earth has around 43 million square mile
could have explored (with their "advanced" of ice free land area, which probably includes
science, potentially conquering) the world. The areas too cold for a community that does not
leadership decided instead to deter exploration, have readily available fuel for heating.
first outside the nation, then apparently
internally, as China lost it's lead. In more temperate areas, there is probably
around 37 million square mile.
"The Earth is just too small and fragile a
basket for the human race to keep all its THERE IS A STORM COMING
eggs in."
- Robert A. Heinlein Factors beyond the control of any local or
national government, or global society, place
We must, eventually, leave this planet, or be every person on Earth on the front-line of a
capable of dealing with asteroids, and an aging global battlefield.
sun. We must continue to develop, mature, and Criminals… terrorists… anyone who feels
learn. justified to use force to subjugate others, prefer
cowering weak victims.
SUSTAINABLE CIVILIZATION A question, does an individual have a “right” to
self defense, or not? If no, then there are no
Our minimum goal must be a civilization capable individuals, just chattel of whomever is the
of continued health and life support on Earth for current warlord. If yes, the individual must have
the projected viable span of the planet, the right to possess whatever their personal
potentially billions of years. A single eco-city situation and mindset allows and requires to
may be able to preserve a great deal of the exercise self defense.
benefits of our present technological society, and A decision of no right to private arms sends a
clear message to criminals and terrorists alike,

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the door is flung wide-open to them. Worse, it RESTORING NATURE
flings open the door for untold numbers of
incidents of government officials cracking-down If we as rational, thinking creatures limit
on firearm owners, when the officials and ourselves to 10% of the productive area of the
citizens should be standing side-by-side in a Earth, then the population range is 3.7 million to
united line of personal and national defense. 1.2 billion, which at the UPPER limit would be
OR 1,200 cities, averaged at 200 cities per continent.
A decision to uphold a clear right to private arms But this potential population is all capable of
places the entire nation on the same foundation living at a similar advanced level.
as those locations where state and local
governments do not infringe an armed citizenry. SIX + BILLION IN PERSPECTIVE
Where are the hotbeds of criminal oppression of
decent citizens? Where the same citizens are Could the present six+ billion population be
subjugated by their government. provided for in organized civilization, given
Government cannot protect citizens from crime, known science? Using for reference earlier
nor can it protect against terrorist acts. The discussions on physical needs at the individual,
government can though through oppression of neighborhood, town, and city level, even if we
citizens create an atmosphere conducive to have an energy miracle, such as cold fusion, or
criminal and terrorist activity of an increasing IEC fusion, is six+ billion an optimum
spiral. population, or even practical?
There is a storm coming… . Belief in or
dedication to a particular ideology may alter Assume we want to place a mega city to provide
individual perceptions, but not physical facts. for the current population, what does it look
The government is just a collection of citizens, like?
with no more capability than the skills of the
citizens serving. Every one of us is on the front-
Alternative 1: The mega city averages 12"
line. Along with the need to wake up and take
annual rainfall which is collected for use
personal responsibility for ourselves, we need
and has 1/4 acre of cropland per person. It
our brothers and sisters within our government
covers around 18,150,000 square miles.
standing along side us, not enslaving us.
This is about one half of the temperate area
of the landmass of the Earth. It is an area
POPULATION EXTREMES 4,260 miles on a side of continuous
moderate density city with farm bands and
The potential human population, and technical water collection between each gathering of
level of civilization, depends in a great extent on one million. There is no continent on Earth
the type of agriculture in primary use. that meets the criteria.

Humans at the extreme of hunter-gatherer level, Alternative 2: The mega city gets it's fresh
while relatively low-impact, may have only an water for farming from somewhere other
average of 1 person subsisted per square mile, than collecting it within it's own "borders"
for a total human population of 37 million. (example piped in de-salted ocean water)
(5/100 % of the 2006 population.) 99.95% of the and has 1/4 acre of cropland per person. It
present population must die and never be covers 3,750,000 square miles or almost
replaced. 20% of the temperate landmass of the
Earth. It is an area 1,936 miles on a side of
At the other extreme, where humans occupy the continuous moderate density city with just
entire globe to the exclusion of all other species, farm bands between each gathering of one
and do so in the most compact "eco cities", then million. Given significant engineering, we
consider, if each city is 3025 sq. mile, the might be able to fit such on the Earth, with
maximum sustainable human population is modification of overall layout, in the
around 12 billion, to the extinction of essentially process though killing virtually all natural
every other animal and non-human food species life on a continent.
on the face of the planet.

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This would represent a global human population
of a little over 1 Billion. But every citizen would
Alternative 3: The mega city averages 12" have the opportunity to grow adequate food,
annual rainfall which is collected for use shelter, have access to the benefits of technology,
and relies on biointensive crop production etc.
within each homestead or Homestead
association gathering, and therefore does But it requires personal responsibility.
not need the farm beltway or crop water
collection. It covers 1,350,000 square VOLUNTARY GLOBAL INTERACTION
miles or around 4% of the temperate
landmass of the Earth. It is an area 1,162 The personal computer and internet provides
miles on a side of continuous moderate ordinary people knowledge and ability to
density city. This relies on continuous communicate impossible to even a world leader
good crop production from a gardening only decades ago. The internet is a form of
system that requires constant attention, and global anarchy (lack of government intervention)
perhaps, no “surprises”. Consider the - inhabited by individuals. It has created its own
effort to cover a continent with a single rules and is self-policing, in example the various
such city. “wiki” projects, where anyone can register to
make entries, with almost constant oversight,
Alternative 4: The mega city gets it's fresh virtually none of which is paid or governmental.
water from plentiful rainfall. It relies on
biointensive crop production on the roof of The concepts presented in this treatise leads to a
structures. The entire city is effectively voluntary gathering in a human-scale city which
one structure, multi story. Only 10% of the meets the long term physical needs of the
total roof exposed to the sun is not in relevant local population, including the
biointensive crops at mid-range opportunity for education, investment and
biointensive. It covers 384,000 square research for the future. If we can also maintain
miles or around 1% of the temperate the infrastructure of the internet or something
landmass of the Earth. It is an area 620 like it, the residents of such cities as maintain
miles on a side of continuous multi-level technology could continue to interact worldwide.
built structure. This “fits” in many places,
but is really a high-tech, expensive, It is not uncommon for cities, even on opposite
engineering intensive approach. sides of the Earth, to adopt each other as "sister
cities". Our technology, in particular the
internet, allows such like minded and
What we actually have is worse.
cooperating communities exchange of ideas “at
the speed of light”.
POPULATION AND LIVING CONDITIONS
OPTIMIZED
WHAT IS THE GLOBAL NEED?
Some continents could sustain more than 200
Once the day to day, as well as lifetime physical
cities, some less. Restating, Earth has around 37
needs can once again be met by human scale
million square miles of land with temperate
interactions within a functioning human ecology
climate.
(long-term sustainable self-reliant physical city),
what, if any, is the need for any larger political
What percent of this do you believe should be
unit?
dedicated to exclusive human use? 10%?
What essential purpose does a political unit
Dedicate 3.7 million square miles to human
larger than a human-scale city serve?
space.
Prevention, mediation, or intervention in
conflicts between / among cities is one, but is a
Each city of a million has a footprint of 3,025
state or nation as we have today required, or
square miles.
perhaps an agreed to arbitration panel of other
cities?

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are those who want to control what you do, what
In the early human civilization, we had city- you know, what you think, for their own gain.
states, perhaps the time has come to return to an
organization system where the individual is Beware government censorship in any manner,
important, has first-hand information and of any material. Beware government mandated
influence, and the ability to challenge officials education and educational content. Beware
directly. government influence on any aspect of
broadcasting.
Where individuals of like mind, indeed entire
communities who are of like mind can meet There are those in government and elsewhere
online, why submit to potential or actual larger who want to monopolize what you see, hear, and
political oppression? whom you can communicate with. The only
entity of course that can impose such a
This author presents for consideration the monopoly is a government, which stands with a
question, what is the physical factor which gun to your head to enforce its monopoly.
mandates global civilization be more structured Politicians want to regulate such not only to limit
than an “anarchy” of autonomous and voluntarily you, but to tax your actions.
cooperating cities?
Yes, there are those who publish trash, or hateful
We are past the paradigm where we can pretend propaganda. This is nothing new in history. But
to justify any community growing and reaching overall the trash is drowned-out by the growing
out to forcefully take under its control greater “voices” of simple truth and use of freedom for
assets, or force the needs of its population on personal and practical accomplishments.
others. We are figuratively, if not quite yet
physically, elbowing each other and treading on As the social-progressives stack greater burdens
each other's toes. on you, to bribe the support of their minions.
What if Ayn Rand in her book Atlas Shrugged
There are of course challenges that could not be was right, not just for the ultra-wealthy and
addressed by any one present day city. To powerful, but for the common self-reliant person.
present a hopefully extreme example, consider Where and when the politicians act outside the
an approaching asteroid. No single city could appropriate scope of government (justified use of
financially or physically launch an intercept the threat of deadly force), what happens when
mission. While communication and cooperation you actually comply with their mandates, and the
network that can address such larger scale issues clear goal of their mandates.
is still required, does it necessarily means
someone must be constantly "in charge?" What if you do what you are told to do, and
nothing more? What if you do what you are
A network is by definition nonhierachical. rewarded to do, and nothing more? What if you
It is a web of connections among equals. STOP doing everything you are penalized for
What holds it together is not force, doing?
obligation, material incentive, or social
contract, but rather shared values and the If they penalize you for earning money, then
understanding that some tasks can be stop. Shift your efforts to self-sufficiency. High
accomplished together that could never be property taxes for an outwardly nice home?
accomplished separately Look as simple as possible.
- Beyond the Limits
Perform such actions as are essential to you, but
BEWARE OPPRESSON nothing else. The political and bureaucratic
systems ARE DEPENDENT ON YOU. They
Regardless of what you want, or what the bulk of want to penalize you for thinking, and achieving
the other people want; regardless of what is best success, so don’t.
for you, or best for the bulk of the people, there
WHY DISENFRANCHISE NATIONS

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As of the beginning of the new millennium, the of like mind can gather and prosper, or fail as
USA is generally seen as the world’s last super their beliefs allow?
power, and the world’s national policeman.
There are nations arguably with greater industrial The single largest justification for the nation-
output (and pollution) such as China. There are state, and its taxation, is defense against other
nations functioning under belief systems that nation-states. Unfortunately THIS requirement
only “they” are right, and everyone, internal to remains valid for so long as any one “other”
their nation and external, must submit of be nation-state, or something essentially equal
slaughtered. But in an analysis the capabilities exists, or there is anyone in the world who would
of all are utterly dependent on fossil fuels. What use such accumulated power and resources to
sustainability aspect do nations and gatherings of impose their will on others.
such (i.e. the United Nations) provide which
enhances the long-term sustainability of Politicians (secular and religious) want broken
humanity? families, complex easily broken laws, taxpayers
as employees vs small business owners, etc. to
Not everyone wants to live in the identical help keep dependency on the state, and hide the
conditions. In nation-states we see the will of true nature and level of taxes (imposed by law or
the political favorites imposed on all, with the guilt).
costs in the end bore by those out of favor with
the politicians. Are there any overriding reasons This author presents that the need for a concept
why the current arbitrary political divisions of a nation-state, imposing the will of others on
should continue to be granted validity? such minorities are who cannot sufficiently gain
the attention of politicians, could be over.
Consider a goal of a human civilization which
minimizes our impact on the “natural” aspects POWERING DOWN NATIONS
remaining on the globe. A civilization where the
population is long-term stable based on the The first level working down from globalization,
resources available in the “human” area of the and up from the individual where long-term
ecology. A civilization that is limited to a sustainability of not only the individual, but
population just large enough to maintain a fully civilization “intersects”, is at the level of the city.
functioning and developing community within Absent an energy miracle, or someone
each human enclave, while MAXIMIZING the squandering a great deal of resources, and lives,
resources available per person at each location to impose for some time THEIR view, a
and overall. productive anarchy of city-states appears to be
humanities “best” future.
Loyalty to a nation is essentially loyalty to the
“tribe” into which you were born. Now though T.A.N.S.T.A.A.F.L – There aint’ no such
outside your day to day physical needs, others thing as a free lunch.
with the same philosophical interests may be on - Robert Heinlein
the opposite side of the planet. INDIVIDUALS
can use the internet to create or join a specific Minimize Taxes. A population that is primarily
community of interest rather than be restricted “employed” (as opposed to self-employed) can
by physical proximity. They are though for now have a variety of taxes hidden “below the radar
still “stuck” with larger scale government edict screen” by having the funds taken by the
controlling or prohibiting physical communities employer before the worker ever sees them. A
of like interest. person in business earns and receives the money,
and must write a check to pay the taxes. Despite
Throughout history, people have been asked, or the financial effects being exactly the same, there
forced to sacrifice their personal goals, interests is a large psychological difference in having to
or lives for the greater good of a larger look at money already in your pocket, and send it
community not of their choosing. The internet as taxes, and money you never saw.
allows voluntary communities of interest, while
maintaining physical life-support wherever one
may be. Why can we not have cities where those

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Programs which benefit selected individuals, or Currency. Although humans have come to
even large portions of the population, when accept money being issued by the “sovereign” -
imposed and funded by the nation-state can due whether the king or the modern state, as has been
to the hidden nature of taxes have the appearance shown earlier ANYONE can create money.
being “free”, while in fact the local community Money is either a physical good of value that
is funding some program that is could, if it substitutes for direct barter, or a receipt for such
wished, provide locally WITHOUT the loss of barter material promised to be delivered on
some percentage of the money for the program demand (think even airmiles). The worst
being siphoned away for bureaucrats in the represented as money is the “fiat” (ordered)
national system. currency of virtually every nation today, where
the money represents NOTHING except a
Communities must demand and enforce number. (If you will endulge, a joke, printing
elimination of costs of government imposed money is a way of turning useful paper into an
from “senior” functions, and of course waive uncertain ….
funding for such from “on high”. The carrot
dangling in front of your nose is not “free”, it is Nations give us created fiat money – a
there to entice you to haul a load for your master, mandatory medium of exchange with no inherent
and worse yet, you grew the carrot in the first value – and a mountain of debt created by
place. spendthrift politicians who have bought votes
with money either created, inflated or stolen
"Civilization is the progress toward a from the hapless productive citizens.
society of privacy”
- Ayn Rand, from The Fountainhead. Although governments have created the currency
used as cash, they hate “cash” as it does not
Privacy. The internet, our phone system, etc. is leave an accounting trail that can readily be
essentially as much an “open book” as writing taxed. Politicians are eager for the arrival of the
your personal thoughts on a postcard, or cashless society, in order to wipe out private cash
transmitting them over radio waves. Even your transactions, and tax everything.
movements within your home can be watched
from outside via devices that watch you in non- There are those just as enthusiastic about
visual frequencies of “light”. eliminating our excess and oppressive
government.

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Sustainable Civilization: From the Grass Roots Up
Chapter X - The Future

The first person to achieve a heat of 1,750 There are calculated minimums units for energy,
degrees Celsius was the 18th century French distance, even time, which fit with experiments
scientist Antoine Lavoisier, who achieved it with and observations to date. The minimum energy
sunlight focused thru hollow glass lenses filled level is very tiny:
with wine (hiccup!) Not much later, the French
socialist revolutionaries lopped off his head, 6.62565 x 10-34 watt
having in their opinion no need for scientists.
If every photon of electromagnetic energy (light)
TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT has the same energy (infrared to xray), why the
difference? The physical difference is the length
No man is an island, genius of today stands on of the photon, which determines what other
the shoulders of those who have gone before. wavelengths it readily interacts (resonates) with,
Genius functions best when relieved of and the wavelength also determines how many
encumbrances of normal day-to-day life that can “hits” an ongoing “beam” of energy imparts
be handled by the ordinary man. But the every second (or shorter time period). For
ordinary man cannot fill-in for genius. wavelength, think a quick punch, vs a drawn out
slow push, each with the same energy, and add to
it if the energy is in an ongoing beam, the quick
Professor Seth Lloyd, of MIT, presents in his punches follow each other in rapid succession,
book Programming the Universe the premise that while the slow pushes follow each other over the
the entire universe is a quantum computer, that longer time of the push. The same energy per
the atoms that comprise the stars, and our bodies, photon is imparted, but in the short wavelength
are not so much physical objects as they are bits the area impacted does not have time to cycle
of interactive information. If we learn how to and re-emit the energy before it is hit again.
"hack" the programming, we may be able to
create, or do... Anything?
Traditional science tells us that nothing can
travel faster than the speed of light. It was
The idea that the universe we perceive, is NOT astronomy which provided the first clues that
made of the solid objects we perceive, is not a light had some limited speed, as planets did not
new, or far fetched concept. There are teachings appear to be in the right positions, or moving as
in ancient philosophy and religion that things are expected, based on known "laws" of gravity,
not really solid, a belief “verified” by scientific physics, etc. When a reasonably accurate speed
determinations that atoms are mostly empty for light to reach us from such objects is
space. Delving deeper, we find that the accounted for, the motions come out right. But
“particles” dividing that empty space are doesn't that mean that the planets orbits are
themselves potentially just standing waves of calculated as though the forces acting on them
energy. Quantum physics appears to tell us that are instantaneous? In our solar system,
at the well below the atom level, “things” appear everything is in motion relative to something
and disappear all the time. else. Even the sun is in motion. But while the
light from the sun may take around 8 minutes to
In 1900, Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck reach the Earth, our orbit around the sun is NOT
calculated a minimum amount of energy, and centered on where the sun was 8 minutes ago.
laid the groundwork for quantum mechanics.

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We orbit where the sun IS at the moment the TIME
calculation is made.
Science, including reports of high-tech particle
What's the significance? I've read that any delay accelerators, tell us that the faster something
in the propagation speed of gravity, in a moving goes, time slows down, and the object gains
system would cause unstable orbits. Somehow mass. Supposedly, at the speed of light, time
the masses of the Earth and the sun, objects stops, and an object becomes of infinite mass.
millions of miles apart, are interacting as though
there was either no distance, or that gravity The time slowing has been shown by
effects travel far faster than anything we can experiments. As particles go zipping around, it
measure. also seems to take more energy to push them
faster, or make them change direction, which we
Physics continues to be a contradictory subject. are told is because they are heavier. But, since
How can electrons "do" what we use them for, if we've already pushed tiny things up to nearly the
they are what we believe them to be? If atoms speed of light, if the theory of gaining mass was
and the electrons in "orbit" are as small and fast right, they should have weighed enough to strain
moving as we are told, how is it that light is the mountings of the devices. Could it be that
reflected or absorbed? the pushing / turning problem is one of time?

How do mirrors, or other reflections, work? If time is moving slower on the fast particle, then
Light is an electromagnetic wave. When the when we push hard for "X" seconds, to the
energy strikes an electron, IT DOES NOT particle, it was only pushed for some brief
REFLECT as we think of such. The energy of instant, not enough to have any effect. The
the electron is increased, and re-radiated. If the energy went into changing the particle's time rate
"reflecting" object is rough, the "reflected" light even further?
is scattered. If smooth, the light is re-emitted in
a particular direction. How? If atomic and smaller particles right next to each
other can experience time at a different rate, than
A wave of visible light is something like 5,000 what we experience as the passage of time must
times as "long", as an atom is "wide", and be an average of the input to our body.
moving at, well, the speed of light. Why doesn't
it "miss" all atoms? ELECTROSTATICS

How does a tiny, thin wire antenna pick up a Electrostatic force holds the electrons of atoms
radio signal? There are theories, and factual "in orbit". "Sharing" of electrons, via this force,
methods, to electronically (what really IS allows atoms to gather into molecules, and the
electronics?) make an antenna appear to arrangement of atoms determines the properties
incoming signals to be MUCH larger that it of the molecule. Matter, everything from the
physically is. stars to the DNA and other materials of our
bodies are made up of molecules that use these
Within a chunk of copper at room temperature electrostatic based properties to allow life. The
there are extensive loose electrons, moving atoms are themselves mostly empty space and
randomly over short distances, but at an average moving electric charges, with the electrons and
velocity of 106 meters per sec. In one cubic protons themselves perhaps being only
centimeter38 of such copper in electrical terms
the power driving this motion is 4 billion billion
watts.

What about claims from Tesla, Morray, etc, of


the ability of their small devices to receive a
great deal of power?

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electrically38 charged waves. Iron, element 26, Atomic hydrogen torch. There are numerous
has the maximum electrostatic binding force. claims that if hydrogen is passed thru a spark
gap, then burned, it burns a great deal hotter than
Power Generation - Electrostatic force can drive hydrogen so treated, well beyond any energy that
particles to fusion. In late 2006, Dr. Robert W. could have been added by the electricity. Could
Bussard, formerlly of the Atomic Energy this be tied to what Dr. Bussard presents, that
Commission, announced online that his modest stripped of their electron, and in the midst of
company had achieved controlled, sustained chemically exploding hydrogen, the bare
fusion, by the use of electrostatic fields, in a hydrogen nuclei are forced together to the point
device that is simple, compared to the fusion of fusion?
experiments using magnetic "bottles".
The formulas of James C Maxwell appear to
Dr. Bussard points out that the concept is not indicate a relationship of electromagnetic and
only relatively simple, it is not new. He refers to electrostatic force which seems ignored by
a paper on the topic published in 1924. current science.

- Could the hydrogen nucleus, stripped of NEW MATERIALS


electrons, be pressed together tight enough by a
conventional explosive to fuse? New materials, such as further advances in
carbon fiber, might allow us to construct a "space
He proposes an approach where the fusion elevator". The ability to put people and
process generates NO NEUTRONS or radiation, materials in orbit, with the expense and waste of
it does generate electrons and protons, that might current rockets, could permit resource
be captured and converted in a shell to electricity exploration of the solar system.
at potential efficiency of 98%.
University of Maryland Professor Igor I.
Levitation. Like charges repel. There are Smolyaninov and his colleagues are reported39 to
numerous claims that appropriately configured have "altered" light from a three-dimensional
plates, charged to high enough electrostatic wave, to a two-dimensional one that can
voltage, will lift from the earth and hover. essentially adhere to the surface of an object. A
use for the discovery is the ability to see details
that are smaller than the wavelength of the
38
A conductor is a material that readily allows illuminating light. Several other facilities are
electricity to flow along it, typically the metals, experimenting with the concept, including Duke
gold, silver, copper, aluminum. That said University which in October 2006 demonstrated
general science and technology (2006) show we an "invisibility cloak".
can utilize electricity, but we do not clearly know
what it "is". Electricity is the flow of electrical The concept is reported as having the potential
force, NOT necessarily movement of electrons. for an entire new "spectrum" of devices which
Electrons do move, but an electron does not race use light instead of electricity to perform
along the powerline from the generator, to your functions, perhaps new ones that have heretofore
home, and back to the generator 60 times per been "science fiction" (or perhaps Harry Potter's
second. An insulator is a material that generally invisibility cloak).
(but not absolutely) does not allow electricity to
flow along it, such as glass, plastic, rubber. A
circuit is a complete path for electricity to flow
and return (except of course for broadcast
power) to the generating source. Voltage is MEDICAL ADVANCES
considered as a measure of the electromotive
force, an analogy is water pressure in a hose. Stem cell research40 offers the promise of new
Current is a measure of the amount of electricity treatments for disease, injury, and perhaps even
flowing in a circuit, an analogy is the water old-age.
volume flowing in a hose.

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PERSPECTIVE

In the early trans-Atlantic cable, attempts to push


high pulsed power thru the cable resulted in high
induced currents, heating, and eventually melting
of the insulation. Follow on signal attempts used
a thimble of water, a single drop of sulfuric acid,
and two different metals as the battery, and
successfully sent trans-Atlantic morse signals.

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1
SMART GROWTH - DUMB GROWTH

Smart growth is better than dumb growth.


Smart growth destroys the environment.
Dumb growth destroys the environment.

The difference is that smart growth destroys the environment with good taste.

So it's like buying a ticket on the TITANIC.


If you're smart, you go First Class.
If you're dumb, you go Steerage.
Either way, the result is the same.

OBSERVATIONS by Professor ALBERT A. BARTLETT


2
At his blog, Richard Embleton discussed "Peak Oil Methadone" - The problem with Methadone treatment for drug
addiction is that it keeps the focus on the addiction, through the use of an alternative, rather than shifting the addict's focus
to preparing for and building a life for after the addiction. The problem with keeping the focus in the peak oil
debate/discussion on the energy component of oil and trying to find alternative fuels to replace the energy derived from oil
is that it keeps the addicts (all of us) focused on the addiction rather than developing a new paradigm for life after the oil to
which we are addicted is no longer available at a level that that addiction can be supported.

The pushers feeding our addiction offer us coal to liquid (CTL), natural gas to liquid (GTL), tar sands and oil sands and oil
shale, electric cars, hybrid cars, all to continue our addiction rather than offering methods of kicking our addiction and
moving on with an addiction-free life.
We can not cure our addiction by continuing to substitute new alternatives in support of that addiction. At some point we
have to get refocused. The longer that takes, the more difficult it is going to be and the greater the number of casualties that
will result.

Kick the habit.


Bypass the methadone.
Get clean.
Move on.

Individuals, industry, and governments the world over are starting to accept that we are facing a looming global oil supply
crisis, but the "solution" focus in on finding alternative energy sources to replace the same level of use. So far most will not
consider the question, "How to we reduce our energy consumption?" (To levels that can be met by sustainable resources.)

No known combination of alternatives provides on a sustainable basis energy anywhere near what we get from fossil fuels.
They only buy us some time. We MUST use whatever time is left to make real changes.

3
Oil / food - 10:1 is by David Pimentel, Cornell University ecologist.

4
At $2.92 per gallon, your food represents $1.61 of gasoline. Use the formula Food Item Calories times ten, divided by
36,000, times price per gallon equals estimate of cost of embedded fuel used to grow the food item (Processing, shipping,
sales costs not included)
5
A SELF-EVIDENT TRUTH - If any fraction of the observed global warming can be attributed to the activities of
humans, then this constitutes positive proof that the human population, living as we do, has exceeded the carrying capacity
of the Earth.

THIS SITUATION IS NOT SUSTAINABLE!

As a consequence, it is AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH that all proposals or efforts to slow global warming or to move
toward sustainability are serious intellectual frauds if they do not advocate reducing population to a sustainable level at the
local, national and global scales.
OBSERVATIONS by Professor ALBERT A. BARTLETT
6
For a “worst case” scenario global warming advocates often point to the planet Venus, with its surface temperature hot
enough to melt metal, as a global warming horror story. Venus is closer to the sun, and should be somewhat warmer, but for
perspective, Venus has an outer atmosphere layer of sulfuric acid vapor, which reflects visible light from the sun in the
yellow part of the spectrum, but absorbs or transmits all other frequencies. This logically means that the energy in
frequencies other than yellow that Venus receives from the sun due to its closer orbit all make it to the surface.

Venus is covered by a "greenhouse" gas atmosphere of mostly carbon dioxide. Once the energy in light makes it to the
surface, the CO2 retards it from being radiated back to space. Note though, it is an atmosphere that is PRIMARILY CO2,
and please note that the atmospheric pressure is something like 92 times that of the Earth. In comparison, on Earth CO2
amounts to a few hundreds of parts per million (at the extreme it would be 1/10 of one percent) of the atmosphere, in an
atmosphere that is, compared to the pressure on Venus, a vacuum.

As greenhouse gases increase, it would seem logical that we are in for warming temperatures, including the likelihood of the
melting of glaciers, and the rising of sea level. But temperatures such as Venus do not seem rational.
7
Collapse Of Greenland Ice Shield – Consequences By Dr John James 08 August, 2006 The Greenland glaciers that cover
the island contain enough water to raise sea level twenty feet, or seven meters. It was once thoughts (and that was only six
years ago) that the glaciers would be self-sustaining even in a warming world because of size and so on. Not only are the
edges melting fast, but the surface melt is seeping through the ice to lubricate the junction between the ice and the rock
underneath. This is the unexpected factor that has turned scientific attention onto this escalating problem.

8
Richard Heinberg, "Powerdown"
9
Reflections on Sustainability, Population Growth, and the Environment - Revisited
Albert A. Bartlett
www.hubbertpeak.com/bartlett/reflections.htm
10
United Nations 2005 demographic data used
11
Jared Diamond in his book "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" suggests five major reasons for the
collapse of civilizations:
- Environmental damage, such as deforestation and soil erosion
- Climate change
- Dependence upon long-distance trade for needed resources
- Increasing levels of internal and external violence, such as war or invasion
- Societal responses to internal and environmental problems

12
The Wall Street Journal, 20 December 2004

13
Per Bill Mollison as reported in his online public domain permaculture pamphlets.
14
"Future Fertility, Transforming Human Waste into Human Wealth", by John Beeby
15
The folks at www.leafforlife.org have extensive free information available for download on edible leaf crops, and on
processing non-digestible crops such that a high quality protein & nutrients concentrate can be produced.
16
Diet for a Small Planet, Frances Moore Lappe
17
http://www.pathtofreedom.com/ This site contains not only their story, and photos, but video coverage of their own, and
various news services.
18
See the book The Humanure Handbook, available online free to download at: http://weblife.org/humanure/index.html
19
Future Fertility, Transforming Human Waste Into Human Wealth, John Beeby
20
How to Grow Fresh Water, Dr. B.C. Wolverton
21
An appendix to the primary "Sustainable Civilization" document, which is also posted at the Sustainable Tucson egroup
files area, is a consolidated introduction to estate and financial planning.
22
The Coming Economic Collapse: How you can thrive when oil costs $200 a barrel, by Stephen Leeb, PhD with Glen C.
Strathy

23
APS Review Oil Market Trends - Oct 3 2005
24
U.S. News and World Report, April 2006
25
CIA World Fact Book, https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
26
A significant part of this information is from Martin Sevior, Associate Professor, School of Physics, University of
Melbourne, which has further nuclear information in a wiki-based website (http://nuclearinfo.net).

27
Collected articles by Professor A.A.Bartlett,
28
The folks at Columbia University Medical School, New York City, New York, have worked up a multi aspect theoretical
food system where a city building is used to produce food for 50,000 city residents.
29
Summary of U.S. Internal Revenue Service regulatory comments on bartering. Bartering occurs when you exchange
goods or services without exchanging money. An example of bartering is a plumber doing repair work for a dentist in
exchange for dental services. The fair market value of goods and services exchanged must be included in the income of both
parties. Income from bartering is taxable in the year in which you receive the goods or services.

30
During the FDR period depression, why did the nation need 26,000 artists, musicians, and actors, & nearly 7,000 writers
(other than to tell everyone how great his programs were?) In her book The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great
Depression, author Amity Shlaes presents a review of the period of the “Great Depression”, essentially 1929 to the U.S.
entry into WWII. Consider, a rise or fall in the price of stocks does not necessarily mean there will be any effect on day-to-
day business operations, ability for farms to operate, etc. What then is the significance of the 29 price fall? Speculative
purchase of stock with borrowed money, financing perhaps equal to 18% of the 1929 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was
stock purchases on margin. A margin purchase differs from a credit card or mortgage purchase in that you do not incur an
obligation to make any regular fixed payments, but if the stock price falls you will be required to put more money on
deposit.
To example, say you buy 10,000 shares of stock at $1.00 per share on a 10% margin that is a promise to keep on deposit
with the broker 10% of the amount needed to complete the transaction if you were forced to sell the stock. To start with you
must deposit with the broker $1,000. If the price of the stock goes up, say 50% to $15,000, you sell and make $5,000.
If however the price of the stock goes down, say for our example 50%, you are going to get a “margin call” from your
broker. If the market price of the stock is now $5,000, if you sold you shares, you would still owe to your broker the
$10,000 original purchase price. You broker is going to require you to deposit additional money, probably $4,500 to bring
your account up to $5,000, a level where if the stock were sold, the net amount on deposit would equal 10% of the
remaining value.
Many of those who were gambling in this manner in the 1929 stock market not only could not afford a margin call, but had
borrowed the initial deposit. Failure to pay on margin purchases was a major blow to the finances of those invested in the
market, and lending money on such accounts. But it need not mean the collapse of the national economy; that took ill-
conceived meddling.
Although the time period was still one of cheap & abundant energy (in fact growing supplies), and far more people lived on
farms, or closer to the land than today, it can be argued that the extensive government intervention in the marketplace
deterred production and deterred investment and spending. Customers and businesses were taxed out of the marketplace.
Research and investment was chocked off by the lack of after tax funds.
31
An appendix to the primary "Sustainable Civilization" document, which is also posted at the Sustainable Tucson egroup
files area, is a consolidated introduction to estate and financial planning.
32
The folks at the Sustainable Communities Network have focus area-specific suggested reading materials:
http://www.sustainable.org/economy/econ_index.html
33
See The Forgotten Man, William Graham Sumner, a discussion of who really bears the cost of government programs,
and even voluntary handouts.
34
Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand
35
Research the Factor Ten Institute organized in France under the leadership of Friedrich Schmidt-Bleek for improvements
in the thru-processing of raw materials. Keep in mind though, that even a 1/10 new raw material use rate IS NOT
SUSTAINABLE.
36
In 2002, American architect William McDonough and German chemist Michael Braungart teamed up to coauthor a book
entitled Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. Waste and pollution are to be avoided at
any cost. “Pollution,” says McDonough, “is a symbol of design failure.”
37
See Lester Brown's book, Plan B 2.0. The entire book is available online, free to read, at: http://www.earth-
policy.org/Books/PB2/Contents.htm

38
THE FINAL SECRET OF FREE ENERGY, Tom Beardon. Mr. Beardon holds patent #6,362,718 on a “Motionless
Electromagnetic Generator” he seems to indicate concentrates electrical energy much as a heat pump concentrates ambient
environmental heat.

39
Scientific American, December 2006
40
Scientific American, December 2006

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