OFFGRID TECHNOLOGY
As the Industrial Revolution gained steam (literally), and the people
became caught up in the idea of "progress" and "modernizing", there
was an entire class of technology which was swept to the wayside.
As steam, gasoline, and electric powered machines became the foundation
of progress, many of the solutions to everyday problems which had been
developed and refined for centuries, disappeared from the public
conciousness. In some ways, there was benefit to the industrialization
of society. In other ways, it created an entire culture of corporation
dependent slaves.
On this page, I will explore some of the technology which I have used
personally, and was widely used in the time right before the Industrial
Revolution. Today, these tools can be used to reduce dependence on
outside systems, as well as contribute to a more healthy and sustainable
life.
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THE SCYTHE
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| | THE SCYTHE:
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| | A few years ago I purchased a scythe from a small
| | company in New England. The blades are hand made
.-----` | and hand hammered, and the body is made from
/.-----| | hardened oak. When you purchase a scythe from them,
/ / | | they send you a list of measurements they require.
| | | | The length of your arm, the length of your forearm,
| | | | etc. When they make the body, also called the snath,
|_| | | it is fitted to your body.
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| | Here is a 40 second clip of a woman mowing her lawn
| | with a european scythe to see what I am talking about.
| | (use mpv instead of youtube!)
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| | mpv http://atyh.net/video-woman-mowing.mp4
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| | Once you learn how to use and maintain a well made
| | scythe,it is not difficult to out perform a gas mower.
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| | mpv http://atyh.net/video-mower-vs-scythe.mp4
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Learning how to use a scythe takes some practice. There is a method,
and a meditation to it. You arent just swinging it around. But its
peaceful.
The scythe has been in continuous use since at least 500BC. And in
Europe, since the 12th century. When something stays around that long,
there is a reason, and it is improved and refined over the generations.
I purchased two blades. One is a long grass blade, which is actually
fairly delicate, and light weight. Its also razor sharp. It cuts through
grass like its not there. The other blade is a bush blade. This is sturdy,
and cuts through brush and blackberries quickly and easily. Many
mornings in the spring, I will go for a walk around the property, and
bring the scythe with the bush blade, to keep things trimmed back along
the paths.
I like this tool because if I take care of it, it will last for a lifetime.
And it requires no gas to operate, save a decent breakfast.
Ill end this with a video of an man harvesting wheat by himself, like
they used to do in Egypt, Europe, Rome, etc...
mpv http://atyh.net/video-scythe-wheat-harvest.mp4
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JAPANESE PULL SAWS
The Japanese pull saw has been used for hundereds of years. It differs
from the western saw in that the cutting stroke happens on the pull
stroke instead of the push stroke. This has the effect of largely
keeping the saw from binding in the wood as easily, making cutting more
smooth, and more efficient. The steel used in the hand made saws before
the industrial revolution, was also some of the best in the world. The
same blacksmithing methods which were used to make japanses swords were
made to make japanese pull saws, which were a primary tool in the
construction of the Japanese temples which still stand to this day.
In fact, the temples are so sturdy, Japan is now re-studying the
construction methods of these temples to understand why they survive
earthquakes, when many modern buildings do not. The Japanese temple
builders used no nails, instead relying on complex joints which
distribute weight and allow for flex and movement without breaking.
These joints were made possible by the precision cuts of the Japanese
pull saw.
A short video of a japanese carpenter using a pull saw:
mpv http://atyh.net/video-pullsaw.mkv
Today's Japanese pull saws are of course industrially produced, but
they maintain the traditional shape and cutting precision of the
old saws. When I originally purchased my first pull saw, I was
amazed by how quickly they cut through wood. I began using them
for construction projects, because in some ways it was easier to
use them than an electric rotary saw. You dont need a power source,
you dont need to drag a cord around, and the hand saws are much
lighter than any rotary saw. Cutting 2x4s and 2x6s are quick and easy
with a pull saw. In some ways, they even produce superior cuts to a
rotary saw with small timbers. The only time I find myself wanting a
rotary saw is when I am making long cuts on plywood, where you want
the edge to be machine straight. But even then, if you are patient
and let the tool do the work, this can be achieved with a longer
blade pull saw.
In the context of the focus of this page, which is offgrid technology,
for the purpouses of having simple tools with cut wood in a variety of
situations, the pull saw cant be beaten. It requires no power, produces
clean, accurate cuts, and its very easy to use. Much easier to use that
westen saws. There are many different sizes. I have one with a blade
that is 26in long, which gives a chain saw a run for its money when
cutting down medium sized trees, and requires no fuel.
The one caveat I would offer is that modern pull saws are currently
very cheap. Replacement blades can be had for $10 is some cases. But
this relies entirely on the manufacturing and supply chain of modernity.
If that were disrupted, it would be difficult to maintain the machined
edges of modern pull saws. In that kind of a situation, having a couple
antique pull saws would be beneficial, because they can be maintined
with a file and a small hammer. These are harder to cut with, but not
by much. And they can last for 100 years.
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D U T C H O V E N
THE DUTCH OVEN
The Dutch oven, as we in the west understand it, came into existence in
around 1710. But the concept has existed in various forms for thousands
of years. The thick walled cast iron cooking pot is available in a variety
of shapes and sizes, but for the purpouses of getting the most bang for
your offgrid buck, Ill be talking about what is commonly called the
Chuckwagon Dutch Oven.
The Chuckwagon Dutch Oven is a large, deep, thick walled cast iron
cooking pot. It has short cast iron legs on the bottom, which elevate
the pot above the coals of a fire. It has a thick lid, with a high
rim which runs around the edge. The rim allows the piling of coals
on top of the pot. With heat coming from both bottom and top, it
becomes a very functional oven.
I bought a 12 quart chuckwagon dutch oven a couple years ago for about
$50. This summer I dug a firepit in the yard, and experimented with it.
I am fairly amazed by how well it works. The thick walls prevent the
temperature from fluctuating too quickly, and it stays hot for quite a
while after the fire is out. What amazes me about it is not just that
you can really cook anything in it (including bread, pizza, stew, rice,
etc), but that it is so simple and primal. Even easy. All you need is a
fire, and the pot, and you can cook almost anything. I found that the
best way to use it, at least for me, was to make a fire pit large enough
to have a fire going on one side, and have a coal bed and the pot on the
other side. This way you can pull coals over from the fire when you need
them, and better control the temperature. Additionally, if you do get one,
also get the lid hook. When you have coals on the top of the pot lid,
you dont want to try to open it with a hot mit. You want a hook of some
kind. There are usually hooks for sale with the pots which are used to
open the lid, and also pick up the whole pot. The hooks are with
the investment.
From the experiments I did over the summer, I came to the conclusion
that a dutch oven, a rocket stove (which ill write about next), and a
simple pan, provide a complete kitchen in terms of being able to cook
just about anything with just sticks. A great offgrid solution.
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R O C K E T S T O V E
THE ROCKET STOVE
The rocket stove is a simple device built around a simple principle.
When the exhaust chamber above a burn box is 1.5 times the volume of
the intake of the burn box, a vortex is created. When a fire is
burning, this vortex pulls in air providing more oxygen for the fire,
making the fire hotter, increasing the vortex.
Once an equilibrium is reached, and as long as enough fuel is provided,
the fire will burn hot, with almost complete combustion, leaving
almost no smoke, and just heat. Put more simply, its a little rocket
engine, which runs on sticks, that you can cook over.
I absolutely love the rocket stove. I have a small one constructed
from welded 4 inch square steel tube. It has a simple stand, and burner
grate on the top. In the summer and fall, I will wake up, walk outside,
grab a hand full of dry sticks, and cook breakfast over the rocket
stove. The efficient burn converts so much of the wood to heat, that
one handful of sticks is usually enough to cook breakfast, and heat
water for coffee.
If you intend to build any sort of sustainable off grid lifestyle,
the rocket stove is not just worth using, it is worth understanding
as a principle. There are a variety of devices which use the principle
to great effect like the rocket oven, and the rocket mass heater,
which can cook and heat a home with the same level of efficiency.
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