The Community Services Administration (formerly OEO) is in the process of trying to set up a National Center for Appropriate Technology with initial funding of $3 million. A planning committee, including Community Action Agency people from different parts of the country and a.t. people such as Gene Eccli, Tom Bender, Helga and Bill Olkowski, Travis Price, Kye Cochran and John Borrego, has met twice in August. The small center is to use 75% of its funds as grants for innovative development and demonstration projects that· will benefit low income communities. Grants will be under $10,000 so as to discourage large interests from making eyes at the money. The small staff, based in Butte, Montana, will evaluate and disseminate information on a.t., open up other federal programs so that low income people get a fair share of the government energy r&d, conduct training sessions, etc. The center will also fund regional coordinators to keep itself as decentralized as possible. Sam Love (formerly of Environmental Action and Editor of the Feb. 1975 Futurist on a.t.) is writing the proposal. The center has great potential both because of the welcome (and long overdue) federal government support of a.t. and because of the strong existing network of local community action organizations around the country-many of whom are already implementing a.t. ideas for poor people. Thorny political problems remain to be solved before anything gets off the ground, but they're off to a good startwe '11 keep you posted. (LdeM) more academically oriented than programs at Community Technology, Max's Pot, Farallones, or New Alchemy. Hosted by Murray Bookchin, and with workshops by visitors such as Karl Hess, Stewart Brand, Wilson Clark, Eugene Eccli, Bob Reines and others, the program had a large enrollment of 15 people, despite high tuition-most of which .went to keep the rest of the college afloat. The by now usual range of solar collectors, wind mills, methane generators, aquaculture ponds and organic gardens were nearing completion by the time we were there in mid-August. The ambitious organic garden pointed up one of the recurring problems of academic schedules- when the crops are ready, the students have left. The nice thing about the redundancy of such energy experiments is that each group tries some different combinations. Goddard folk were using septic tanks for solar heat water storage-but also for algae . and aquaculture. The highlights of their experiments for us were the number of energy-conserving experiments applied to an old farmhouse by a group working with Eugene Eccli- insulating curtains, through-wall solar heaters, ducted outside combustion air and thermo-grate for a fireplace, etc. The thinking in the program seemed heavily and uncritically based on a single philosophical approach-"anarchical communism"-and might well benefit by more comparative analysis of other societal structure such as traditional Asian societies, present-day China or Vietnam, Cuba or Scandinavia. Along with other new learning/working centers, the Goddard program points the direction to some more meaningful and workable learning processes. (TGB) Ekoteket c/o The Museum of Modern Art Skeppsholfnen Stockholm, Sweden An information center, public library and information gathering system on alternative technologies and ways of habitation based on ecologically adapted technologies. They are now trying to t locate, monitor and acquire the most ] relevant and interesting books, periodi- ~ cals and reports in this area. If you have E methane info to share, send it to Keith ~ Elkin at Ekoteket. 0 0 f Earth Cyders Through-the-wall solar heater at Goddard The Social Ecology Program at Goddard College became one of the primary East Coast focuses this summer for people wanting to learn how to build their own intellectual and personal skill "lifeboats." The program seemed generally to be Rt. 1 Edwall, WA 99008 (509) 236-2353 Earth Cyders is setting up a small farm methane and wind irrigation system with the help of a grant from Hunger Action Center in Olympia. Three twomonth apprenticeships or two three- ... (IJ -0 c:: (IJ r:o E 0 r' 0 0 ..c:: Q., Sept/Oct 1975 RAIN Page 7 month apprenticeships are being offered to persons who want to learn about alternative energy systems, organic farming and communal living while helping with this project. Persons interested in being apprenticed either this fall or next spring should contact us. A Simple Portable Shower Using a pump type 3-1/2 gallon garden sprayer and a sink hose sprayer head with the hose. This is a good way to have a shower in an area where there is little or no water. John A. McGeorge (11 Ells St., Norwalk, CT 06850) sent us a handy description of the one he uses; available on request. Send selfaddressed, stamped envelope and donation, if possible. Community Environmental Council 109 East de la Guerra Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 962-2210 An environmental resource center similar to Institute for Local Self Reliance. As well as publishing Survival Times- a good energy-environment journal, they are involved in the community garden project, with preparations being made for a permanent outdoor environmental education center (La Mesa project) on a 5-acre site. "The center will combine environmentally sound building concepts, organic agriculture and alternative energy." Also working with local health officials on the installation of Clivus Multrum toilets. ($12 membership, $6 sturlents) Solar Sustenance Project Rt. 1, Box 107A Santa Fe, NM 87501 Bill Yanda, Director A design for an attached solar greenhouse (well insulated, with thermal storage capacities) that provides yearround food production and supplementary heat for rural low-income families in the high altitudes of Northern New Mexico. So inexpensive, attractive, easy to construct and maintain from indigenous materials that 11 experimental greenhouses have spawned at least 50 owner-built ones... . A perfect a.t. example! Write for a clear, detailed report (11 pages).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc4NTAz