Digging with the tooth bar bucket on LifeTrac was a major success.

We’ve already described the open source tooth bar in a previous post. Here is the tooth-barred bucket in action.

We have fixed minor problems with LifeTrac, including a frame that cracked in half. One can say this is field testing for real – open source tractor, backhoe, tooth bar bucket, rototiller. Problems come up, problems are solved. Yes, I said minor problems. It took me two days to fix it and and fabricate a new part – on an issue that could have been a major setback in the project – as we had with our former industrial tractor. This is a beautiful example of post-industrial eco-technology in the making. Post-industrial – in sociological terms – means that the distinction between master and servant is clear. The promise of human-centered technology is delivered in practice.

We are now in the dirt digging for gold: soil for CEB construction. In the short time before it rained, we have dug enough soil for about 600 bricks.

Then the most unique event happened in our orchard – as also shown in the video. One of our orchard apple trees – it’s blooming in November!

That is absolutely inspiring. It just shows a reality: anything can happen at any time. The world is full of mutants, freaks, alternatives, surprises, expanded consciousnesses, and other things tucked under the rug. Homogenization may be a major mainstream ill – but good old diversity always wins. The only constant is change itself. I’m interested in hearing other stories like this – with plants or other topics.

Categories: Agroecotechnology, Compressed Earth Block Press, LifeTrac

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