Blair

joined 5 months ago
[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 7 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I’m not American, but for basic essentials, creating an online local network seems like a good idea to me. You could use it to share free clothes, food, seeds, and so on, and perhaps help run or boost local projects. The rich absolutely hate trading or gifting, so that makes it even better.

I think a huge one is also encouraging friends and family onto platforms and apps/programs that don’t sell your data. That way, you have a safe place to chat and organize without the government watching and collecting info, and without algorithms trying to bury movements.

Use trusted encrypted platforms for important chats.

 

Could a 3D-robotic loom be the answer to making fast fashion faster and more sustainable? Unspun's patented loom (so proprietary that we had to blur it for the video) can create clothing that fits you seamlessly every time, with just a scan of your phone, and far less waste than other clothing production methods.

Unspun is pioneering a different method of apparel production out of Oakland, California. By utilizing three-dimensional weaving, the start-up is building garments from the ground up, perfectly customized for the wearer's dimensions.

One other fact that stood out to me is that the weave uses more yarn (about 3x more, if my memory is right) than the average clothes today. That difference makes clothes more durable and last longer.

I doubt this will make the clothes more affordable, but the tech is interesting.

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 16 points 3 months ago

I like the idea of a wicker basket coffin with natural-fiber clothes....and an added sword just to confuse future archaeologists •ˋᴗˊ•

 

Keeping a lid on your carbon footprint doesn’t stop with your last breath. Your choice of funeral can have a significant environmental impact. In a recent report by the US-based National Funeral Directors Association, 60.5% of those surveyed expressed their interest in greener options including resomation (water cremation) human composting and natural burials.

https://www.positive.news/society/eco-concerns-prompt-green-funeral-options/

I debated for a while on if I should post this or not (rather morbid, I know) but I think it's an important thing to think about.

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 3 points 3 months ago

I could be wrong, but I don’t think you can grow all plants in hydroponics. For example, anything that grows on trees(large root systems) as well as grain crops (where you need a lot of plants together, rather in individual pods like in most hydroponics).

The only alternative I can think of is a greenhouse system. Like what indoor botanical gardens use for trees, but instead designed for farming. That would be expensive(more than farmers could afford), but it would also weather-protect crops.

But you are right about hydroponics or aquaponics for a lot of produce, though!

 

Herbicides have a long history of negative consequences. Glyphosate and paraquat, among other pollutants, are extremely harmful to human health and the environment. These pollutants impair soil quality and destroy beneficial organisms such as pollinators. Furthermore, the widespread use of herbicides has resulted in weed resistance, making chemical management less effective.

Kenny Lee, co-founder and CEO of Aigen Robotics, is personally committed to reducing pesticide use. Lee, a glyphosate-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivor, has collected $19 million for his startup to produce solar-powered weeding robots. “We’re on a personal mission,” Lee says, emphasizing their dedication to sustainable agriculture.

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 1 points 3 months ago

As far as I know (I have never 3D printed), yes. I vaguely remember a guy who tows around a 3D printer on his bike into parks, and prints parts for people. It wouldn’t be instant(I’m guessing they tell the person to come back later), but it is possible. I’ll try to find the video haha.

Keeping in mind I’ve never 3D printed, here are some sites that look promising.

https://www.traceparts.com/en https://grabcad.com/library

Also, I’ve seen tutorials for 3D printing on Instructables, and people sometimes give download files in the instructions.

https://www.instructables.com/

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 4 points 3 months ago

This one doesn't list all of them, but it has some: https://www.repaircafe.org/en/visit/

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 4 points 3 months ago

This site might help with planning!

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

They go off of who volunteers. For example, if a person who specializes in fixing stand mixers volunteers, that will be one of the tables people can visit. That repair person brings the parts (for example, there are a few parts in stand mixers that tend to break, so the repair person would know to bring fixes for those). I have also heard of repair cafe's elsewhere even bringing in 3D printers to help with part replacement.

Here is the text from a recent one in my town:

Items that are accepted at Repair Café events:

  • Electronics such as gaming consoles, CD player, DVD player, camera, adaptor cord, etc.
  • Small appliances such as toasters, coffee makers, lamps, waffle makers...you get the idea!
  • Smaller pieces of furniture such as small wooden furniture pieces, a clock, or a plastic item that needs some crazy glue.
  • Toys! Whether it needs glue or some wire soldering, we can try to repair it!
  • Clothing or housewares (clean please!) that need mending. Full alterations will not be done.

Items not allowed:

  • Microwaves
 

RIGHT TO REPAIR

A big fight is happening world-wide to push governments to ensure people can repair the products they own.

“The right to repair refers to proposed government legislation to forbid manufacturers from imposing barriers that deny consumers the ability to repair and modify their own consumer products.” | Wikipedia

This is happening because of:

  • Planned Obsolescence: companies are purposely building their products to break faster, so you have to pay to replace them sooner.
  • Unfixable Products: some products will have their components soldered, glued, or riveted, to stop people from being able to repair.
  • Brand-Specific Parts: These parts may cost more than buying a new product. As well as that, some companies refuse to let independent repair technicians purchase their parts to try and force costumers to only use the product company for repairs.
  • Restrictive Programing. For these, the programs refuse to let you fix your own products (a large example of this happens to farm equipment, where farmers have to hack their own equipment if they want to repair on their own).

More Info:

REPAIR CAFES

Repair cafes are typically community-run events where volunteers gather to fix the broken items of strangers for free. My town started doing it a long time ago, and it was so popular that it now happens several times a year.

People bring in stand mixers, vacuums, computers, items that need sewing repairs, and more. Often, the person is very willing to explain the repairs as they do them.

In other places, repair cafes have become more permanent. For example, in Austria, the government started paying those who repair.

Repair cafes not only save people money, but they also can greatly reduce the amount of waste produced by saving those repaired items from the landfill.

More Info on Repair Cafes:

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 1 points 3 months ago

Thank you! That looks like a great system

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 2 points 3 months ago

Typically, with hydroponics or aquaponics, you won’t have a problem. For example, fungus gnats(a common attacker of house plants) are born in soil and feed on decaying plant matter. So, if you remove the soil, you can’t have fungus gnats.

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 1 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Haha could I have more info on NFTs? When I try searching it up, I only get the non-fudgable token kind of NFTS 😆

Just guessing, though, think of this as a low-income starter kit. Assuming you can scavenge the bottles and substrate, this whole set up might cost around $40CAD (though keep in mind that’s a rough estimate from someone with dyscalculia hahaha)

 

This one isn't for balconies, but it is for apartments, so I hope it makes sense that I am posting this here.

With window hydroponics, you take:

  • used water bottles
  • a pump kit (with tubing and joints)
  • a bucket of water
  • growing substrate
  • a hanging anchor kit
  • silicone steel tube
  • chain (for hanging)
  • tools (electric drill, plier, hole punch)

... and convert them into a tiny food garden that hangs by your window. This gives food options for those who live in apartment’s that might not have had the choice before.

You'll of course need plants that do not get too big (such as dwarf tomato plants instead of full-sized). If your window does not get enough sunlight, you may also have to supplement that with grow lights and a plug timer.

You do not need to buy an expensive kit. There are DIY sources everywhere, including this video explaining to use a pool noodle to create a growing substrate(an option to save an old pool noodle from the trash) instead of rockwool or pebbles.

I have not tried this myself, but thought I would share it in case it helps someone.

More Info:

[–] Blair@slrpnk.net 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Not sure! It does not say on their website. Here's the info they have:

Partners with Sun invented and patented the first Industrial Solar Oven. The Solar Oven has been successfully tested and launched in the year 2022. The Solar Oven cuts up to 80% of the bakery’s fuel bill and improves its production efficiency, increasing its profits and savings. The Solar Oven is embedded with IoT technology to optimize energy consumption and production processes

There is also a video here, if you just want to see more of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MEw6TFSu-E

 

"To help feed the country’s population, an inventor, Toufic Hamdan, created a commercial bakery to bake bread in solar ovens. The startup “Partners With Sun” has installed a solar convection oven on the bakery’s roof. The Solar Oven uses large silver mirrors to capture and magnify the sun’s rays to build heat. The heat is transported by a transfer fluid which is then used to help operate a convection oven, allowing it to reach a baking temperature of between 300 and 400 Celsius. The heat is used directly in food and beverage production. " Baking Bread in a Solar Oven | Happy Eco News

According to the company website, “The Solar Oven cuts up to 80% of the bakery’s fuel bill.”

Images Source

 

I do not have a balcony, but I thought I would share the videos I have collected in the past just in case they ended up helping someone. I just joined, so I am not sure how/if they can be embeded, so I will just put links.

Also, here is a website that might help.

“If it is a South or West-facing balcony, you’ll have sunshine almost all day, which means you can grow anything. An East facing balcony receives sunlight in the morning, which is sufficient for most greens, herbs, and root vegetables. On the contrary, a North-facing balcony usually remains shady throughout the year, and it isn’t easy to grow vegetables in the shade. However, you can still try lettuce, parsley, peas, cilantro, fenugreek, green onions, bok choy, and mustard greens.” BalconyGardenWeb

The image used was also sourced from that website.

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