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| =Introduction= | | =Introduction= |
| The [[Factor e Farm]] '''(FeF)''' experiment aims to take everything that civilization has learned to date, to create communities that work - starting from raw land. Is this sufficient to create advanced civilization, free from compromise? | | The [[Factor e Farm]] '''(FeF)''' experiment aims to take everything that civilization has learned to date, to create a working blueprint for communities that work. Starting with 30 acres of raw land in rural Missouri, we are building a path to [[Evolve to freedom]]. |
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| Factor e Farm is the land-based facility where we put the ''theory'' of Open Source Ecology '''''into practice'''''. Factor e Farm is not a [http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/factoryfarming/ factory farm]. Why [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_(mathematical_constant) e]? It is a transcendental number. We aim to transcend. We push towards open source. Factor 10 reduction in price. Or at least e. Ten times cheaper means ten times the freedom. It is Factor e improvement in quality of life. It is technology for ecology.
| | '''Name''' |
| | Factor e Farm is not a [http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/factoryfarming/ factory farm]. But a place where we create the technology for ecology. |
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| We started with 30 acres of raw land in rural Missouri - a former soybean field. We paid our last electricity bill three years ago. We are getting our power from waste vegetable oil and the sun. We drink pure free rain water. We grow most of our food. We are free. Welcome to our life. We want to help others do the same. Decentralization. Regain control of your life. Be your own boss. [[Evolve_to_freedom|Evolve to freedom.]]
| | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factor Factor] => Enabling action. |
| | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_(mathematical_constant) e] => The transcendental number. |
| | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farm Farm] => Where we begin. |
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| [[Factor E Farm Site Plan]] | | ==Infrastructure== |
| | [[Image:Cordwood_Structure.jpg|thumb|Cordwood structure]] |
| | [[image:Outside_Hexayurt.JPG|thumb|Hexayurt]] |
| | [[image:Hexacube1.jpg|thumb|Hexacube]] |
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| | *Shelter |
| | **Workshop |
| | **Tents |
| | **[[Hexayurt]] |
| | **[[Earthbag hut]] |
| | **[[Cordwood hut]] |
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| [http://www.youtube.com/p/FF0B396794CE6CDE&hl=en]
| | *Workshops |
| Click the arrows to see another video.
| | **Main Workshop |
| | **Lathe Workshop |
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| The Factor e [[Distillations]] are a review of Factor e Farm in 2008.
| | *[[Greenhouse]] |
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| [http://www.youtube.com/p/8222E33C29B683CE&hl=en] | | *''In progress'' |
| | **[[Hab Lab]] |
| | **[[Shop]] |
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| See a slide show presentation about the [[First Year at Factor e Farm]], 2007.
| | *Utilities |
| | *Water |
| | **Rainwater catchment |
| | **1000 Gallon tank |
| | **Pressurized tank. |
| | **Shower |
| | *Sanitation |
| | *[[Composting Toilet|composting toilets]] |
| | *3 compost bins |
| | *Heating/Cooling |
| | **Wood stoves |
| | **Thermal mass earth roofs. |
| | *Kitchen |
| | **Stove |
| | **Sink |
| | *Electricity |
| | **[[Solar Panels at Factor e Farm|Solar Panels]] - 1.4 kW peak |
| | **Generators |
| | **[[Power Cubes]] - 20 kW |
| | **Inverter Chargers |
| | **Forklift Battery |
| | *Communications |
| | **3 bar cell phone signal |
| | **Wireless Internet |
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| [http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-710075551990473235&hl=en&fs=true] | | *Food |
| | **400 tree fruit, nut, and berry orchard (still growing) |
| | **Grapes, tomatoes |
| | **Free-range chickens - [[Incubator | eggs]]; |
| | **We buy food that we don't grow on the farm |
| | **We try to eat together |
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| [[Image:oekonuxtalk.jpg]]
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| [http://openfarmtech.org/weblog/?p=611 See the latest presentation from 2009, given at the Oekonux 4 Conference in Manchester, UK.] | | ==Policies== |
| | [[Rules of Conduct]] |
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| =More Information= | | ==Finances== |
| | *Finances and food are handled individually. |
| | *[[1000 True Fans]] campaign provides ongoing funding. |
| | **We have 360 supporters as of May 2011. |
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| See the [http://openfarmtech.org/weblog/ weblog] for the latest updates.
| | ==Governance== |
| | *Priorities of the [[Global Village Construction Set]] determine direction, time investment and funding allocation. |
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| You can view videos from Factor e Farm on our [http://www.youtube.com/user/marcinose Youtube Channel.]
| | ==Legal== |
| | *Legal structure and land tenure is discussed at [[Transparency]] |
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| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/11113094@N03/ Pictures] from Factor e Farm.
| | ==Learning== |
| | *We are a learning community, and we are all expected to help each other grow in practical, mental, emotional, and spiritual techniques. |
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| See [http://factorefarm.org/ Factor e Farm.org] for discussion forums.
| | ==Tool Use== |
| | *Tools |
| | **Bring your own |
| | **demonstrate proficiency in using Factor e Farm tools. |
| | **[[OSE Spec | Build new tools]] and teach others to use them! |
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| The core team members are the people at Factor e Farm who are engaged actively in the reserach and development program for the [[Global Village Construction Set]].
| | ==Location== |
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| =What it's like at Factor e Farm=
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| Definitions: ''Core Team'' or ''Factor e Farm Core Team'' or ''Factor e Core Team'' refers to the full time people at Factor e Farm, who are also involved in the research and development program.
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| Learn about what it's like at [[Factor e Farm]] before you come.
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| Current as of April 25, 2009.
| | ==What to Bring== |
| | Think "Camping with Power Tools". |
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| We are on 30 acres in rural Missouri.
| | *Safety |
| | **Safety Glasses |
| | **Ear Plugs |
| | **Workshop clothing (jeans, long sleeves, steel-toed boots) |
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| ==Shelter==
| | *Clothing |
| [[image:Solar_cell.jpg|thumb]]
| | **Pack appropriately for the season. |
| [[Image:Cordwood_Structure.jpg|thumb|Cordwood structure]] | | ***Temperatures [http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KMOMAYSV2 can vary wildly], |
| [[image:Outside_Hexayurt.JPG|thumb|Hexayurt]]
| | ***Summers are hot and humid. |
| [[image:Hexacube1.jpg|thumb|Hexacube]]
| | ***Winters are freezing. |
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| *We are totally off-grid with [[Solar_Panels_at_Factor_e_Farm|solar panels]] that charge a forklift battery. Buildings are wired, including the new CEB workshop addition. We need to wire the two workshop silos, and install an electric fence charger for the goat pen. | | *Electronics |
| *We have wood stoves in the cordwood, earthbag, and CEB workshop buildings. We have 4 acres of wooded area, but this is not sufficient to sustain all stoves without upgrading to efficient stoves, proper solar design, Babington burner option, and central hydronic heating. We aim to address these points by end of 2009.
| | **Camera |
| *[[Solar Cubicle]]s are insulated, the CEB workshop is partly insulated, while earthbag and cordwood structures feature only thermal mass.
| | **Laptop (low-power if possible) |
| *Buildings:
| | **Flashlight |
| **[[Earthbag hut]]
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| **[[Cordwood hut]] - Usual visitor area.
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| **[[Hexayurt]] - uninsulated | |
| **2 [[Solar Cubicle]]s - $380 insulated housing unit built in one day | |
| **[[CEB building]] and [[greenhouse]] - thermal mass retains heat
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| **Army tent
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| **[http://openfarmtech.org/weblog/?p=632 Solar Village] planned for 2009. | |
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| ==Water==
| | *Tools |
| *Hand pumped water well | |
| *Roof rain water catchment system on greenhouse, with about 1000 gallon storage capacity. Pressure tank provides water to sink in earthbag structure, CEB addition sink and shower, plus greenhouse irrigation. Hose can be extended to water the garden. Well pumping can be automated via 3" submersible pump (not available) or a manual-to-motorized handpump converter (available). On-demand electric heater is installed for kitchen sink and shower.
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| *Next improvement will be a deep well - beneath bedrock at 100 feet - after we build an open source [[Well Rig]]
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| ==Electricity, Internet, and Fuel==
| | *Food |
| *We presently have 1.4 kW of solar panels installed. See [[Solar Panels at Factor e Farm]]. This is sufficient to run lights, internet, appliances, and workshop tools without problems. It is ''not'' sufficient for extensive electricity usage, such as electric heaters, welders, or items left on when not needed. As such, people need to be conscious of energy usage. Battery voltage should be checked regularly (readout on inverter) to make sure there is no unaccounted energy usage or leakage. As a general rule, voltage should not go below 12.0 volts, and charging should not exceed 14.0 volts. The inverter shuts off automatically below 11 volts and above 15 volts. The overcharge condition can degrade the battery rapidly from its 20 year rated life. | | **Favor stove-cooked, dry goods, and non-GMO organic. |
| *Higher power items, such as welder, are run off the tractor generator, which can produce 20 kW of electric power. | | **2011, hiring full time chef and a farmer! |
| *Internet is provided. It can be supported easily all day by our available power, but it should be turned off whenever not in use. | |
| *We make our own biodiesel for the [[LifeTrac]] tractor and Suburban farm truck.
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| ==Food==
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| *400 tree fruit, nut, and berry orchard
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| *Garden with many raised beds planted out in 2009
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| *Asparagus and raspberries are presently available in abundance
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| *Orchard was planted 2 years ago from small trees.
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| *Chickens - eggs; [[Incubator]] recently open-sourced, and in testing. Abundant eggs and chicken meat expected later in 2009.
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| *Goats - milk; meat reserve if needed; present population of 7, with 2 males.
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| *We buy food that we don't grow on the farm
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| *Agricultural Permaculture tasks, landscaping, taking care of plants
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| *We try to eat together
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| ==Waste==
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| *2 [[Composting Toilet|composting toilets]]
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| *3 compost bins
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| *Need to reestablish redworm population for vermiposting, as these have died out over winter.
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| ==Sanitation== | | ==See also== |
| [[Image:molly_sink.jpg|thumb]] | | [[Factor E Farm Site Plan]] |
| *Installed hot water, dish washing sink, and shower in CEB addition
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| *We have an indoors sink in the earthbag structure; pressure tank froze last winter, and this winter we aim to have the pressure tank in a heated space.
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| ==Finances == | | Embed |
| (last updated March, 2010)
| | http://www.youtube.com/p/FF0B396794CE6CDE&hl=en |
| | http://www.youtube.com/p/8222E33C29B683CE&hl=en |
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| *Finances are handled individually. Factor e Farm provides electricity, internet, and Core Team members are responsible for their food. See [[Transparency]]
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| *[[1000 True Fans]] campaign provides ongoing funding. We have 360 supporters as of May 2011. True fan funding totals about $4000 month
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| *Project-based crowd funding is deployed via ChipIn and PayPal.
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| *Need to set up donation handling via Revolution Money Exchange.
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| *We (by Core Team principled consensus) will negotiate the level of financial responsibility and joining costs for prospective Core Team members based on the interests and resources of the applicant
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| ==Governance== | | =More Information= |
| *Priorities of the [[Global Village Construction Set]] determine direction and funding allocation. Director of Research and Development is responsible for setting research and development priorities, as well as for determining necessary infrastructure improvements.
| | See the [http://openfarmtech.org/weblog/ weblog] for the latest updates. |
| *Council of Elders settles disputes by mediation. Council of Elders is presently being recruited. Core Team selects Councils of Elders by ''principled consensus''. Anyone may bring up a topic for mediation, and in case of any objections, the decision to enter mediation will be determined by 'principled consensus' of all core team members.
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| *Board of Academic Advisors is currently being recruited.
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| *[[Rules of Conduct]]
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| *Core Team members are required to study consensus techniques and conflict resolution techniques. We expect all participants to accept the responsibility for effective conflict resolution.
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| ==Legal==
| | You can view videos from Factor e Farm on our [http://www.youtube.com/user/marcinose Youtube Channel.] |
| *Legal structure and land tenure is discussed at [[Transparency]]
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| ==Learning==
| | [http://www.flickr.com/photos/11113094@N03/ Pictures] from Factor e Farm. |
| *DSL internet connection
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| *Wireless router
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| *We are not set up well for training Core Team members in various skills for living, research, and development work. We typically require prospective members to come with skills, and this point is negotiable.
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| *We are a learning community, and we are all expected to help each other grow in practical, mental, emotional, and spiritual techniques.
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| ==Tool Use==
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| *People may use tools either:
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| **by bringing their own
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| **demonstrating proficiency in using and maintaining Factor e Farm tools
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| *We are also building various tools, and whoever builds one may also use it and teach others to use it
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| Build technology for ecology to easily provide the above and replicate it at low cost for others
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| *The [[Global Village Construction Set]]
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| We are seeking interns for our research and development program to help develop open source technology for building resilient communities. This includes designing and building "permanent agriculture," agricultural machines, infrastructure buildings, and metalworking products. We don't just make diagrams or theory, we make machines that help people achieve their dreams. Please consider [[volunteer]]ing at Factor e Farm.
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| [[Category: FeF]] | | [[Category: FeF]] |
| [[Category: Resilient Communities]] | | [[Category: Resilient Communities]] |
