Builder Crash Course Curriculum: Difference between revisions

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=The Bigger Picture of OSE=
=The Bigger Picture of OSE=


==The First Seed Eco-Home Is Now for Sale – And a New Era Begins==
See [[The Bigger Picture of OSE]]
 
We’ve just reached a milestone: the very first Seed Eco-Home is now available for purchase, and we’ve developed eight different pathways to make it accessible to people around the world [https://www.opensourceecology.org/seed-eco-home-builds/].
 
This isn’t just a house—it’s a launchpad. Each sale helps bootstrap the full development of the Global Village Construction Set (GVCS): a complete toolkit of open source machines required to build a modern, sustainable civilization from the ground up.
 
'''From This First Step to a Global Shift'''
 
This moment represents more than a building—it's a real step toward our broader vision: an open source economy characterized by near-zero marginal cost and high-efficiency productivity. In practice, that means:
*Lower cost of living
*Greater financial independence
*A shift from survival to purpose
*A culture of productive freedom, where people are empowered to do good work
*Delivery of the promise initially uttered by the Founding Fathers: Freedom and Liberty for All
 
We believe this shift will spark a move from scarcity-based business models to abundance mindsets, and that it will resolve the productivity paradox: why—despite exponential technological power—society still struggles to deliver real human well-being.
 
'''Our Strategy: A Hybrid of Education and Production'''
 
Our revenue model is simple but powerful: we combine education and production. This begins with our new four-year institution, now enrolling its first cohort of 24 students. These students will swarm-build a complete Seed Eco-Home—from foundation to rooftop photovoltaics—in just five days.
 
After years of development, we’ve validated the build. Now, we’re launching the school to scale this model—to train world-builders, to rebuild broken infrastructures, and to fund the GVCS through house sales.
 
'''The Vision: From $50M to a New Civilization'''
 
My [[TED Talk]] hinted at the GVCS’s potential. We now estimate that finishing the GVCS will cost '''$50 million''' over four years. This projection is based on our actual development costs per machine to reach product release. The development can be achieved by talent that we create - via the [[Future Builders Academy]]. This aligns with our OSE Apprenticeship tuition of $15,000—representing the investment needed to gain the integrated skills required to launch and thrive in a sustainable village. This is not a college-for-debt swap: we include work-study so that students can pay their way and finish debt free.
 
Without this training, nothing else moves. This is why we built the school - The Future Builders Academy.
 
But our ambition doesn’t stop at 50 machines.
 
We estimate that '''open-sourcing all hardware technologies''' foundational to civilization would require around '''$50 billion'''—roughly the cost of 20 years of global R&D in new products (about the length of a patent cycle). That doesn’t include organizational redesign, but we believe open collaboration will naturally evolve institutional structures as part of this transformation.
 
Even so, '''$50 billion is less than one ten thousandth of the global economy''' (when spread over the proposed 12 year timeline). It’s a doable number. Hundreds of corporations have such a disposable budget - and could execute if they had the mindset. Meanwhile, we’re bootstrapping our way there. Feed a hungry person for less than a cup of coffee per day.  Better yet, fix the system that deprives most of the population from full nourishment - literally and metaphorically.
 
==Lessons from the Past. Tools for the Future.==
 
When I spoke at [[Bioneers in 2011]], the open hardware movement was peaking. We had industrial productivity on a small scale, with a dozen replications of our machines globally in one year. But the momentum faded. Why?
 
Because '''productization is hard'''. Because skill cultivation is harder. And because a scarcity mindset runs deeper than we realized.
 
Most people have never experienced the '''cognitive override''' needed to escape fear-based thinking. But that’s what we teach—'''not hippie optimism''', but disciplined, productive abundance built through skill and collaboration.
 
This work has never been more urgent—or more possible. The Seed Eco-Home gives us our first real taste of zero marginal cost in practice. And the deeper we go, the more we realize that '''universal basic assets'''—not just income—are key to unlocking abundance at scale.
 
That’s our next challenge: building the infrastructures to deliver those assets through open hardware and collaborative production.
 
'''The OSE Response: Scale Through Purpose'''
 
Mainstream industry avoids the problem of complexity through specialization and mass production. But most products—and most systems—are mediocre at best. Sturgeon’s Law applies to civilization. It also applies to us.
 
Our answer is the OSE apprenticeship program - now re-branded as the '''Future Builders Academy'''. It's a bootstrapped engine of deep learning and production, combining build skills, collaborative design, and entrepreneurial training to liberate productive potential. We embrace the paradox of rapid learning and lifelong growth.
 
Because I believe: we can scale this.
 
'''The Roadmap: A Timeline for Transformation'''
 
Here’s what we’re doing:
#We’ve created a financing model—through a combination of education, production, and homebuilding.
#We aim to generate $50 million in revenue by 2028 from home sales, other open source products we release, and some assistance from the nonprofit sector - funding the full development of the GVCS and unlocking $11 trillion in potential productive power.
#We will seed '''experimental prototype communities of tomorrow''', built around GVCS infrastructure.
#By 2036, we aim to open source the entire technosphere and its institutions.
 
This leads to the ultimate goal: an abundance-based economy rooted in distributed production and collaborative literacy.
 
'''All Hands on Deck'''
 
This effort requires '''everyone'''. Every house build funds the school. Every cohort fuels the GVCS. Every machine open-sourced distributes power—real, productive power—to the people. Swarm collaborative development events fuel expertise and execution into the program. This would be the success of Linux - on steroids.
 
This is how we build a world where nobody is left behind—a future where freedom, collaboration, and prosperity are not the exception, but the rule.
 
Paradise at scale. Not just for the few.

Revision as of 23:36, 24 July 2025

Builder Crash Course

The course focus on providing the most complete and comprehensive introduction and practical experience required for any builder to build their own home. Because our techniques apply to DIY and production housing - the techniques can also be used to start a business in affordable, ecological housing construction. We will build an absolutely complete home, 800 square feet in size, with interior and exterior finishing in only 2 weeks (pending a minimum of 24 workshop registrations). The focus is on homes that can be built on the human scale and flexibly so: either in the field or in a workshop, either in a DIY or industrial setting, using either off-the shelf or self-produced or natural materials, and either fully manually or with the assistance of heavy lifting machines, automation, and digital fabrication. Over the years, we have developed flexible, modular, and optimized construction techniques that allow an individual to build a home at about 30% lower cost - while including significant quality improvements in construction compared to standard production homes, and eco features not found in typical homes. This translates to starter homes of around 1000 square feet that can be built at $40k in materials, which include 6 kW of photovoltaics and ecological features. The intent is for anyone to build their own home at $40k in materials instead of paying the average price of $400k for a turnkey house in a subdivision.

And to make this absolutely real, we are launching a limited-time opportunity called the Financial Independence Package.

We are inviting 6 individuals or groups to stay for an additional 6 weeks following the Builder Crash Course to build their own 700-1200 square foot starter home - the same interior design as the Core Module of 800 square feet built in the Builder Crash Course. The extended size comes from further extension of the living room space of the basic model. The build takes place on-site, using our modular construction techniques. Participants will cover only the cost of materials—ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 depending on selected features and size. Lower-cost builds may include basic finishing and no solar, while the higher end includes full interior finishing and a 6 kW photovoltaic system.

To qualify, participants are asked to contribute a modest amount of sweat equity: 6 days of build time assisting on Seed Eco-Home projects. This provides additional hands-on experience while supporting the broader learning community.

This is the first and only time we are offering the Financial Independence Package completely free of tuition to Builder Crash Course participants, as we launch this program and refine it for future cohorts.

On-site and off-site accommodations are available. Please inquire for lodging options and rates through our network of collaborating partners.

Financial Independence Package

To be considered, we are accepting groups of 2 people (or more) who must meet the following requirements. 1 person teams are also possible, but the person would need to be able to work by themselves - which is possible for people with more stamina and grit.

  • Completed participation in the Builder Crash Course
  • Commitment to participate on-site for 6 additional weeks following the completion of the Builder Crash Course.
  • Ability to fund your own material costs ($20k–$50k, depending on chosen features and number of people working for the level of finish desired). We lalidate your chosen bill of materials to conform with an admissible part list, and we source all the materials collaboratively with you from ready, off-the-shelf sources such as Menards or Home Depot.
  • Willingness to contribute 1 day of labor each week (6 days total) to Seed Eco-Home community builds
  • Demonstrated alignment with the open source, collaborative, and ecological mission of the program
  • Strong interest in achieving financial independence through hands-on building and entrepreneurship
  • Readiness to participate in documentation, feedback, and exit interviews to help improve the program. Participants are expected to keep an open build log and data collection throughout their build.
  • Acceptance through a short application process including a personal statement and basic build intent and materials selection particular to your build.
  • Willingness to participate in video/photo documentation for educational and promotional purposes
  • A deposit (e.g., $1,200 refundable upon completion) to confirm your commitment and secure your spot. If you decide to leave early without completing your house, or do not show up at all, you forfeit your deposit.

How it Works

Is it even possible to Build Your Own Starter Home in 6 Weeks

As part of the Future Builders’ Academy, participants in the Financial Independence Package will construct their own full-sized, modular starter home (800 square feet) over a 6-week period. There are several practical considerations:

Site & Foundation Requirements Participants must have a prepared site where the completed house can be delivered. This includes a simple foundation, ready to receive the house modules. While OSE will provide guidance on the type of foundation to construct, it is ultimately the participant’s responsibility to build or arrange for the foundation in advance.

Transportation of the finished modules can be handled by a 40-foot trailer capable of 21000 lb cargo. The participant may choose to work with OSE on logistics - or to hire another transport provider.

Build Timeline and Scope

Over the 6-week period, participants will complete approximately 300 hours of hands-on build time—a conservative estimate equivalent to building 300 modular components at roughly one hour per component. There are approximately 118 structural modules in the house. Complete novices can build one per hour, beginning production-level people can build 2 per hour - and skilled craftspeople can build about 4-6 per hour. This is for a one person team.

The entire build process is really a game of the mind . Paying attention to build procedure and build ergonomics produces drastically different results depending on the level of site and mental preparation. That means one needs to prepare their build environment (tools, materials, jigs access) and study the build - ideally playing out the build process in their mind just like a peak performance athlete plays out their every move in their mind.

Based on our build data, 300 hours is more than enough time to complete the structural shell—including floors, walls, roof, siding, and all utilities. We have optimized designs, and we can do builds of modules in a controlled environment. We have developed extremely efficient ways to install utilities. For example, we can build the entire service entrance for water in about 1 hour, while this could easily be a full day job for a professional plumber [1]. The level of interior finishing (trim, paint, cabinetry, etc.) will depend on the participant’s efficiency - and if they are working solo or with a partner. We encourage you to bring friends, family, eager helpers, or other volunteers to the build to help you. OSE can help arrange accommodations for visitors if needed.

Home Size & Configuration

Each participant will build two 10’x20’ structural modules—typically the kitchen, bathroom, and utility areas. These are the most complex parts of the house, and we aim to complete all structural, electrical, and plumbing work within these modules during the 6 weeks, yielding a fully functional 400 sq ft core unit.

To expand to a full 800 sq ft starter home, participants will also build additional wall and structural modules that can be assembled on-site after delivery. Alternatively, participants may choose to construct more 10'x20' modules at our facility—though this would require multiple trailer loads for transport.

'Transportation & Weight Considerations'

We will use a telehandler to load modules onto a 40’ trailer. Each 10’x20’ module weighs approximately 6,000 lb, with the total house weight around 21,000 lb. Kitchen and bathroom modules are heavier due to utility systems, while living room modules are lighter. If any heavy materials are to be used - such as bricks, pavers, or landscaping materials - or if you want to build a larger structure - materials are best ordered and delivered directly to your site

Final Completion & Timeline

The participant is ultimately responsible for completing their home, including any final finishing work. The build window is strictly limited to 6 weeks, as a new cohort of builders will begin immediately after.

The Bigger Picture of OSE

See The Bigger Picture of OSE

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