Wrapping Up

As part of the open-sourced approach that I’m taking with the Garden Toolbox, here are some schematics I used when making the papercrete mold, as well as the slightly modified version for the wooden box. Over the week I would like to make a printable paper model where you can cut on the dotted lines and have your very own mini paper Toolbox! I’ll post that up as soon as it’s done.

(Click images for a larger size, it's way better)

Outer and Inner molds used for the Papercrete 

Outer mold perspective

Measurements for the wooden version (still under way!)

Also, I wanted to thank you all so much for making this class so enjoyable and inspiring! So often, I get into the dusty parts of issues like local food vs. industrial food, global climate change, and sustainability and get so dried out and un-inspired. But from an art-expression perspective, I’ve rediscovered that drive, the intrigue, the myth, the wonder that keeps us going. Each one of your projects sparked this wonder in me, and really motivated me to continue with renewed enthusiasm.

I’m looking forward to seeing you all again, and inviting you to join in the Toolbox community when it goes online (hopefully soon!).

Cheers all,

Keenan           

            

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!

Toolbox, Project Update 1.0

This is really just a brief snapshot of today's events :) Yesterday I poured two test molds of the "papercrete" mix, each using different recipes.

Mold #1 uses 65% wet paper pulp, 20% damp earth (with high clay content), and 10% Portland cement.
Mold #2 uses about 55% wet paper pulp, 20% damp earth (with a higher sand content), 15% Portland cement, and 10% dry sand.

Mold #1 has been drying for over 30 hours and is still not entirely dried. Hear's hoping it'll hurry up! Next time I think I'll drain the paper pulp a bit more try and to speed things up. I'll post some pictures of both of them soon, when they have cured a bit longer.

Today, I've been modeling, measuring, procuring, and cutting various plywoods and blocks for a scaled Toolbox mold.

Hooray for SketchUp! 

It's been a tedious process, but worth the time to get the right shape. Next up will be assembling the outer and inner molds, mixing up a large batch up papercrete, and pouring! Can't wait to upload some pics!

Cheers all :)

Urban Gardening Survey

Greetings!

I don’t know about you, but I like food. I like local, fresh, and organic food even more. And I’d like to reconnect with this food, start a garden of my own, and connect with others who share these interests. But where to start? How do you know what to grow? Who else is growing food in the city, in the urban foodshed?

This is where I need your input, your ideas, and your creativity to help design an open-sourced urban gardening toolbox to guide, grow, and inspire the city foodshed. This toolbox will take the form of a planter box, with planting guides, adaptive infrastructure, and online connectivity and resource sharing.

 All are welcome to fill out this short survey. (https://www.esurveycreator.com/s/5ba76eb) Feel free to share it with your friends, family, and community.

Thanks so much for your time,

Keenan Boliek-Poling

Urban Garden Toolbox Concept