Toolbox, Project Update 2.0

Today I poured the papercrete mold for the first prototype of the toolbox! The process was long and grueling, and complications with the mixture ratios set me back a bit. After the testing two of the different mixture ratios, I decided to go with the following recipe, encouraged by the good results from test mold #2:

• 55% wet paper pulp
• 20% clay (earthenware)
• 15% Portland cement
• 10% dry sand
  
  

  

  Test mold #2

Paper shredding and pulping—the first step—turned out to take up the most time. I used my paper shredder to munch up about three days of Albuquerque Journal newspapers, and then put this chaotic jumble into a five gallon bucket and filled it with enough water to cover the paper to blend it with a mixing bit.

With the paper, I learned that a longer soaking time kept the paper from just spinning around and clumping up around the drill bit, and this is where most of the delays came from. Blending with the mixer drill bit resulted in this very soggy paper pulp, which needed staining off of its excess water.

At the same time the paper soaked away, I got my very dried out clay soaking as well. (If you were using new earthenware clay, soaking wouldn’t be needed.)

Next up, measuring and mixing! Because of the volume the mold needed, I ended up using two five gallon buckets. The actual volume of the mold was a little less than 1 cubic foot. After some number crunching, I marked off the percentages on the side of the buckets. Then I added all the ingredients, layering them for easy measuring.

What followed was a frenzied shoveling/mixing/drilling rampage. I was so covered in clay and cement I dared not touch the camera, but here is the completed pour after I filled the mold. I had some warping issues with the side panels, which is why it bears a resemblance to a fortress with all the blocks.

Not too shabby! My biggest concern is the drying time, but I feel confident that it will be able to survive the drive to campus on Thursday. The Portland cement will be cured by then (it's already setting up nicely), and the rest of the moisture will soon follow.

Exciting stuff!

Front lawn = world of opportunity

After World War II, when the soldiers came home and the economy stabilized and then boomed an interesting thing happened, the American dream was revamped to include a single family home with a pristine front lawn.  This lawn was used as a buffer from the street, a subject of pride in the lush grass, and a sign of wealth based on the size.  Although this trend started over 50 years ago it is still as strong today.

In areas of the southwest where water is scarce the public has become aware of xeriscaping.  They pull up their grass and irrigation systems to fill in the space with water wise plants and lots and lots of gravel.    This does solve the issue of having water guzzling grass from curb to threshold but it doesn't give a usable space.

Edible Estates is a concept started by Fritz Haeg in 2006.  He has proposed that the front yard be used as a productive garden using site specific plants.  The first project was installed in Salina, Kansas and was an innovative move.  Since then Haeg has been embraced by people in the Art, Landscape Architecture, Sustainability fields as well as Foodies and environmentalists.  It started out as an unknown project but now 16 yards and many countries later, Fritz is being bombarded with people offering up their yards to him.  The volunteers needed for these projects flood in are distributed over many days of installation.

Not only are the people who live in these homes benefiting from the lower water bill and year round fresh produce, but also a sense of community.  These front yard gardens are a talking stick that bring people together and give them the opportunity to educate and inform about the project and it's benefits.
Edible Estates has started a conversation and transformation.  People are taking this concept and running with it.  Even without Haeg's help or designs, homeowners are tearing up the grass and making a front yard that truly gives back to the resident and the community.