Community Needs Assessment - February 2012 - Results
Questions
- "What's needed most in the project, and what are you willing to commit to the project to address this need? What relevant experience do you have that qualifies you to take on this task?"
- Are you currently affiliated with OSE in any way? How?
- "What challenges do you face in your life that could be addressed by the results of our work, in the short term (<1 year), and in the long term (5+ years from now)?"
- "What are you most concerned about regarding the success of the project, and what solution do you propose?"
- "What unique talents can you offer to the project, and how much commitment can you provide either as a volunteer or for pay?"
- List 3 ways that you can start getting involved in the project.
- "Can you recommend someone else who could join the project, and what relevant skills do they have?"
- "Can you recommend any foundations that we should write grants to? Who do you know, if anyone, at the listed foundation that we can talk to?" #Can you recommend any on-contingency grant writers that we can recruit to the project?
- Can you recommend a pro-bono lawyer that would like to help us file for tax-exempt status?
- "City, State/Country"
- Put a 1 in the text box to show up on our map.
Marcin Jakubowski
opensourceecology@gmail.com "Most needed at this point is a more rigorous procedure for technical development and management of this procedure. This is necessary if the project is to deliver stated results on predictable timelines. As the project scales, it is difficult to keep the quality control on the results. A better platform would assure better results, as the project scales into a general Open Source Product Development Pipeline. My learning to date is that it is difficult to run a complex, integrated project solely on volunteers and random contributions. While such contributions are essential to open source development, and are the backbone of our current operations - more structure is needed to take the project to the next level. To this end, I am taking 2 weeks right now away from the project to define the methodology, and to recruit a team to implement this procedure. I am personally buried right now and trying to surface, due to our tremendous growth. My relevant experience that qualifies me to take on this role is 5 years of on-the-ground experience with prototyping on a crowdsource budget, and my ability to solve a problem from basic principles - to create the necessary management structure for a Learning Organization that is destined to change the world. This is an interesting challenge: a mix of proven enterprise practices, infused with iconoclastic, open source innovation." I am the Founding Director. "Society is cracking at the seams, as we rely on the modern equivalent of slavery and colonialism to provide the lifestyles that we lead - and at the same time, we are alienated from our true interests and higher purpose. In the short term, I would like to demonstrate at Factor e Farm that we can generate a resilient economy by providing healthy local food, renewable energy, natural housing, and robust economic production at Factor e Farm. In 5 years, I would like to see the global economy start converting itself to an open source economy - where open source unleashes productive power of individuals and communities - to finally put an end to all forms of corruption and geopolitial compromises." I am most concerned about the lack of the proper organizational infrastructure to take the project to the next level. "I offer the unique talent of generalist thinking and practice, and an ability to focus in a way aligned with passionate pursuit of a goal. I am an integrator who sees a clear goal, and who is taking concrete steps by addressing the material needs of civilization as a prerequisite to further human evolution." "I would recommend Peter Senge's group, which offers critical insights to the management of a learning organization." "Maysville, Missouri" 1
LennStar
pirat@lennstar.de "More reports about OSE national and international. Especially in the related movements - Open Source software, makers, 3rd world developement organisations (Fair Trade?) I could write about it in my Pirate Party Germany. (Nice psychological question btw.)" interested reader myself nothing I would think cost of prototypes money + time - - - - - - "Bernburg, Germany" 1
Benjamin Kirkup
bckirkup@gmail.com
"I'm not sure what's needed most. I would presume that complete set of all 50 technologies, up and running, would be the most serious immediate priority, with at least two communities using them actively as the next priority. I don't have experience that make me qualified to achieve these goals. " "I am a minor, but not completely marginal, donor. " "I'm hoping that I have no short term challenges riding on this project. I live in a small community of ~7 adults and 5 children, with a 1000 sq ft communal garden. We are in the suburbs, not off the grid, and reasonably affluent. In the long term, I'm not sure what will happen, but I would like local fabrication to be available to the children, in 10 or 15 years." "Well, I'm concerned that all the plans will be made, a few copies generated, and then it will stall. I suggest that critical mass of adoption, forking, and so on, will be the most important piece. Farmers in America are too few and too idiosyncratic to make it to critical mass. However, by partnering with religious charities that operate routinely in the developing world, there might be room to create a sustainable foment." "Well, I'm a microbiologist, a microbial ecologist. I'll assist when that specialty is needed. At one point, someone was working on a fermenter to produce energy from waste and manure. I was happy enough to try to help, though that effort stalled before I could contribute much at all. I don't see much in OSE that requires microbiology; most seems to be mechanical engineering, with some electrical, etc. " "I already keep tabs on it, and I donated a little money, and spread the word a bit. I guess I need to wait until fermentations, cheese making, soil microbiology, or something else like that comes up in the project. Microbes are very powerful and hard to control." Not off hand. I'd suggest talking to Rick Warren once you have enough of the technologies together to consider spreading them in Africa. No. I didn't realize people did this. No. "Silver Spring, Maryland" 1
Joseph Post
12tone@gmail.com I can help organize local lectures and provide free music for videos. I am a professional composer and audio engineer. "I helped Marcin out when I lived in King City, MO and I provided some music for a CNC torch table video." "In the short term, I'm always interested in ways I can live more sustainably. For example, technology relating to plant food production. Within 10 years I plan to be living sustainably off the grid, utilizing several OSE developed technologies to build my home and produce what I need. " "Currently I don't have any concerns, I'm really excited to see how quickly everything is developing. " "I can provide music for videos and help set up local lectures. I can help if hands are needed on a work day. I fluctuate in-between a heavy workload and little work, so it would be during the slow months I could help out most." "Overland Park, Kansas" 1
Quintin de Lima
quintindelima@yahoo.com "Proper documentation, clear step by step build plans. This is key to the goal of success. I am prepared to build prototypes and test the build plans on GVCS prior to full release. I am a hands on kind of person and i'm keen on buildings a number of GVCS for my home." i'm a truefan "South Africa has an occasional power supply problem. the costs for electricity are projected to increase 30% in the next 2 years. i've already converted my water heaters to solar evacuated tube technology to save money. i'm extremely interested in the gasifier and its potential development path that can lead to home biofuel creation. also i am interested in the solar concentrator, steam engine, battery and inverter. Deep cycle batteries are extremely expensive here and make the cost to convert to photovoltaic un economical. i like the idea of making them myself. my goal is to build the OSE car, if it meets my daily transport needs." "To keep the team motivated and focused on the original scope, i see negative statements often in the forums. These are generally from people who have never had vision or run a large project comprising of many different individuals. Proper documentation and build instructions are paramount. I understand how the BOM is seen as important, but to be fair, costs are relative to your geographical region. The costs to build these machines are going to be significantly cheaper where i live." "I've signed up as a true fan, as time progresses and if the project lives up to its potential i will contribute more financially. also i want to replicate these machines and use them, i've been researching some of them for years but have struggled to find freely available build instructions. this is what sets OSE apart. " "true fan seems the most important, it will provide funding for people to do this full time. review work and attempt to replicate machines and provide feedback." "i have already. engineer, inventor. they have built and operated some of the GVCS before." "Johannesburg, South Africa" 1
James Slade
jamesslade@creationflame.org Prototype testing. Verifying that the equipment is capable of doing its job time and time again in a variety of situations to see what it can and cannot do. 7 years of QA and QC experience. Yes. Replication of the CEB. Testing of the LifeTrac and likely future prototypes. "Building our homestead and fabrication work. Long term would be building our community up. We're a part of a larger picture involving many homes and families coming together." Safety. That we keep safety in the foreground of the designs. Even when prototyping and of course fully covering safety on completed projects. "DIYer, community organizer, PR. We work on OSE as much as we can here to implement it into our projects and show that it works.
As funds allow, I do it full time." "Fabrication locally - Offers another site to build prototypes and relay info with FeF. Allows for more hands to help by having another location. We can host a lot of folks from our region here. Testing - Putting each piece through real life testing. Education - Bringing the GVCS to the public around Texas, showing how it works and its robustness for DIY." Dan Schellenberg - Fabrication and a DIYer "Cedar Creek, Texas" 1
Craig Ambrose
craig@craigambrose.com true fan "We're building an ecovillage, at the moment largely based on closed source machinery. I see a lot of opportunity here to replicate GVCS designs and also build a local economy around the idea of open source hardware." "Probably a human resources bottleneck and Factor-E farm. I know you guys are aware of this and I'm not terribly concerned. As you know, greater parellisation, presumably involving a lot of sites and project teams, will be needed to get things done quickly." Not much I'm afraid. Ruby on rails development at reduced rates. I'm not able to offer volunteer help at the moment. "Motueka, New Zealand" 1
Mike
mikew1231@gmail.com "I 'm wondering how you will get the ""blue prints"" so to speak to your intended customer. I don't think that your customer will have ready access to a wireless connection. Maybe what I'm saying too, is that you will need to identify who your perfect customer is, and work towards meeting their need(s). You must have a business plan, I would like to read it, maybe I could be of help defining your perfect customer and help brainstorm on how to reach them." No None. "What I'm seeing so far is that the people who I think that you want to help, won't have the skills to build the items that are proposed. They will need training, and access to the raw materials. My solution would be to incorporate existing resources that people might have, and to help develop the equipment along side the people that are manufacturing the device. Just thinking, but maybe have a kit (with detailed instructions i.e. lots of pictures) and look for volunteers to travel with the kit to assist with fabrication as needed and start-up advice." "I might be able to help with instructions, that is break down the steps of the device fabrication to as easy as steps as needed, again, I would say that it would be a case by case approach." "I could read any instructions and ad any needed steps. Fabricate parts of a device to see if it works as intended. Moral support! Good Job!! "Ruthton, Minnesota" 1
Brian Beck
"San Angelo, Texas" 1
A.J. Tarnas
alextarnas@gmail.com "Marcin is the wrong person to lead OSE, and he has chosen the wrong location to accomplish his goals. I will do what I can over the next 3 years to start a separate OSE location in Pittsburgh PA, growing from a membership-based tool-lending library. I will make it pay, rather than relying on donations." "No, just as a frequent internet visitor of the project and poster on the forums, and a booster of the project IN REAL LIFE." "I want a world of abundance. OSE will bring the rough-and-ready mechanical power of machinery circa 1920 to the home and farm-scale producer, at long last. The GVCS will not accomplish much more than this -- free plans for motivated individuals to build and sell at a profit, and the first ecomomy of scale for standardized parts in a robust mechanical toolkit since the 1920s." "OSE will not learn from the best of the past. It needs competent mechanics and engineers, and open-book financial know-how. Learn from Jack Stack at Springfield Remanufacturing, and in the ag world, Darren Doherty, Alan Savory, Willie Smits, Sepp Holzer, and Joel Salatin. Learn from the mistakes of Gaviotas, and recruit the former engineers of Gaviotas. Immediately seek out chemists and physicists who can make nanomaterials (filtration, catalysts) and biomimicry-based low-power devices (Benyus, Gunter Pauli). Give up the fixation on using metal for everything and start using wood for rapid prototyping (via Woodgears). " "Last year I made $7k. I lived on $4k. This year I own a home and land in Pittsburgh that cost me $4k. I have projected livings costs of $3k. My talent is living frugally. I am completely directed toward the sort of bootstrap research for the benefit of the poor that Marcin and OSE embrace. I am not a chemist, programmer, mechanic, or engineer, so I have almost nothing to contribute at a technical level. But I am very widely read, a handy person, and motivated. I want to make a living at this, but I would happily volunteer years of my life to get it done, though I will not donate money to it." "- Start another GVCS project site in Pittsburgh. - Port designs to a wood- rather than metal-centric material basis. - Demonstrate geopolymer and nanomaterial formulas." "- Jorge Zapp of Bogota, Colombia -- bootstrap engineer. - Jack Stack of Springfield, MO -- machine shop foreman and bootstrap businessman. - Matthias Wandel of Woodgears -- engineer and maker-extraordinaire. No personal references." N/A No. No. "Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania" 1
Ederieux
I can do this. "Gladewater, Texas" 1
Jacob Dalton
jacobrdalton@gmail.com "I see two goals as most important: 1) delivering on the promise of scrap metal to useful complex machinery and 2) demonstrating these machines can be used to create a viable business or sustainable farm. Crossing these lines of uncertainty would give the project the pragmatic viability to change it's base from dreamers to early adopters (or perhaps going from Stallman to Torvalds as a GNU/Linux analogy). As for my own contribution in this regard--currently I'm a true fan. Also I'm moving back home with my parents this summer. They own a former dairy farm on 280 acres of land in north western Wisconsin. My father owns a small landscaping business that installs lawns, and I would like to incorporate GVCS principles into our business and machinery. I'm thinking of building a hydroseeder (or retro-fitting our hydroseeder) with a powercube design to make it more maintainable and technically robust. I would also like to build a micro-tractor and fit it with a small harley rake to increase automation for use-cases in between tractor and manual labor. I've done landscaping with my father for a period of about 7 years, and as a stake holder in small business I'm well qualified to evaluate the utility of any GVCS technology we incorporate in our business. I'm a pretty good interface between the cultures of internet enthusiasts/entrepreneurs (who help promote and support OSE) and blue collar entrepeneurs who have experience running businesses and running machinery in their every day lives. "As stated above, I'm a true fan. In the passive sense, I check the blog and Marcin's youtube channel daily." "I'm a young man (26 years old) with a lifetime ahead of him. In the short term, I think the GVCS could help our family business gain some advantages over our competitors by lowering the capital load we have invested in machinery and building out our own solutions to in between use cases that can lower our labor inputs while increasing efficiency.
Assuming I pay off my student debt during the summer, I would be available to a) work on site at FeF as a fabricator, prototyper, programmer, or documentor or b) extend the facilities at my parents' farm to create another fab-lab and independently pursue the same goals (assuming I have enough capital and/or a business plan that makes this viable). We have a pretty good array of dormant resources on the farm having converted from a dairy farm to a crop farm. In the long term, I would like to start or be a part of an OSE village in the United States or abroad." "Efficiency and Usability. By efficiency I mean creating machines that are capable of running a small business or sustainable farm operated by people of average ability. Creating machines that are feature complete is not necessarily good enough if they don't sufficiently meet the needs of users. I see the goal of reaching a feature complete GVCS 50 as a reachable within the next 1-2 years which would be outstanding in itself, but the goal of high adoption of sustainable farms and small enterprise as a much more difficult target to hit. I see a tension between efficiency and usability and I think the example of open source software is telling. The difference between the developer perspective and the user perspective often goes unresolved and small nagging problems for everyday users persist when they don't affect the developers. There's a cognitive problem here too--engineers think in a way that's amenable to a remote collaborative process because objective means of success can be agreed upon. However designers typically work in an individualist mode that's highly dependent on intuition and eschews active collaboration. Very very few developers are good designers since the super skill of development is analyzing unintuitive abstract information while the super skill of design is connecting intuitions to information in a concise and simple way that's relevant to the maximum number of people. Some version of this problem is certain to manifest itself in OSE. I think that resolving the tension between making machines that are easy to build and understand and making machines that are efficient and economically viable doesn't likely have objective means of resolution. Personally I would focus maximum effort on getting a rock solid tool chain to bootstrap production and perhaps sacrifice feature completeness for high standards of quality and efficiency--obviously the machines must be viable before they're accessible. Upon reaching some sufficient threshold of proven viability, I would swing efforts strong and hard towards the problem of accessible/usable design that anyone can use. I'm sure OSE already already has a wealth of experience addressing these problems, and I don't think the strategy I outlined is in any way novel. I just think that the example of desktop Linux and its lack of mainstream adoption (despite great success with early adopters, engineers, and enthusiasts) is illuminating. Furthermore I think the success of the open source process in engineering and its weakness in design is the fundamental institutional problem facing open source and the wider DIY movement." "The quick version: programming, shooting and editing video, web development, and product testing. I have experience farming--operating machinery and caring for livestock. I have some experience welding and using a lathe. I can probably learn or be taught to fabricate in a short period of time. I'm interested in working full time onsite or remotely for OSE and should be available in this capacity at the end of October. I can devote some of my time to the project during the spring and summer but will be busy helping run a small business, so I don't think it would be wise for me to offer a consistent allotment of time for that period. More detail: I had an extremely diverse university experience (I graduated from UW-Madison where Marcin got his PhD) which I studied variously: mathematics, computer science, creative writing, and video production. I graduated with a double major in Math and English with a certificate (ie Minor) in Computer Science. I also grew up on a dairy farm, and I've been involved in my father's small business projects which include: tree transplanting, landscaping (mainly lawn installation), and general contracting (residential home construction). For the last 2 years I've been teaching English in South Korea (in large part to pay off student debt and also for the experience of being abroad) and will return home to Wisconsin on March 1st. During the summer I hope to pay off my remaining student debt after which I can work as a volunteer or for pay so long as my basic needs of food, shelter, and perhaps health insurance can be provided for." "1) Build a micro-tractor, report results 2) Visit FeF 3) Build a powercube based hydroseeder 4) Field test useful prototypes 5) Become a fabricator at FeF" Nope. I've lived in South Korea for two years and my social circled is quite limited here. n/a n/a n/a "New Richmond, Wisconsin" 1
(Anonymous)
I hope in the next 5yrs to but some land and use OSE to help me live simpler and closer to the land. I would hate to see the project sputter out. Continue doing what you have been doing and I believe it will keep going. I am an IT person by trade. I been trying to think of what I can do to be of use on a volunteer basis. "Longmont, Colorado" 1
Graham Kelly
gkelly@fastmail.fm I have networker skill sets.. "Yes, I donate monthly to Marcin" "The ONLY challenge I have is US government regulations, and the upcoming revolution." "The OSE needs to go offshore. I am a permanent traveler, so I can give you guys some offshore solutions." "I'll volunteer, but I'm not sure what you need." "1. Financially 2. Financially 3. Financially" "I have 125,000 customers, half of whom I cannot deal with any more, due to US regulations. Shame. See my website for details. www.GoldNow.St" "I don't circulate in those areas. Most folks I know are in survival mode (the 99.9%), which I why I'm interested in OSE." sorry sorry "Wellington, New Zealand" 1
elaine
esantore@hotmail.com "New York City, New York" 1
Ferd Irizarry
Modelers...guys who can help visualize different outcomes in struggling areas. No. "ST: providing low cost options to people in the very worst regions of the world. LT: same focus but working on strategic options and concepts and operating within principle of ""do no harm""." Don't know enough th have an opinion. None at this time. Reading the blogs and websites. TIDES at the national defense university. "Fayetteville, North Carolina" 1
Anna Dawson
annadawson@berk.com Producing healthy frozen and vacuum packaged whole food plant based meal kits. no I want to share my ten years of research on creating locally produced healthy frozen whole foods for all at a reasonable price. "see www.hometownfoods.harvestkitchens.net. I want to share a simple kitchen design for tray freezing, packaging and distributing healthy locally sourced foods from small farmers and gardeners and mid scale diversified farmers." "I have spent 50 years teaching foods and growing farm crops. At 70 yrs. of age, I can develop a series of video clips to teach people what I do. I am busy learning how to do power points for teaching on line. However, I could use some computer geek help." "1. Learn more about you. I just heard a short radio blip about your organization. 2. I have a 1400 sq. ft. Harvest Processing Kitchen that can develop new products, do nutrition analysis, create video clips etc. 3. I want to support the set up of Harvest Processing Kitchens while mentoring cooks at my place or online. I have created a floor plan for a mobile kitchen that would focus on processing vegetables, fruits, grains and dry beans. This goose neck trailer can be built ten miles from me for transport anywhere in the country. Tray freezers are built nearby too." USDA Rural Development may be interested in funding this idea. NESARE might fund the creation of educational materials. I believe these organizations are all over the country. no no "Kinderhook, New York" 1
Ahmad Faramarzi
ahmad.faramarzi@noblis.org "Bought a farm a year ago and have finally moved and live there. I have many projects ranging from building eco friendly structures (small homes) to water managemengt and pond expansion on the farm. No specific project at this time but more info will be provided soon. I have an engineering background in various fields (mechanical, nuclear, aerospace) but theoretical. The past year on the farm I have been forced to learn some basic mechanical skills. I also have a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and always ready for a challange." No "We have a very bad soil that is mostly clay. It is called ""black jack"" with a very high shrink/swell characteristics and lousy perculation. Since we have 30 acres of relatively flat land, flooding and water management is an issue. I'm doing my own research but additional brain power would be good. " TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD "Culpeper, Virginia" 1
Elaine Bearden
elaineintransition@gmail.com "Just heard about you on NPR's Sunday edition.
I've been a community organizer/advocate for many years; rec'd permaculture design certification from Peter Bane and have taught basic permaculture principles through the TransitionUS movement here in the southern Blue Ridge region of the Appalachians.
Many of the ideas generated through a community forum I started here in the Upstate of SC in 2005 have come to fruition, including a local farmers' market and the evolution of similar conversation groups on essential community resources like food and water. " "Must review and think about this, but I see and believe in what you are doing. " "Would love to come for a week and offer helping hands in whatever way I can, to participate in/support the vision." "I know that Transition may have funding opportunities; have you contacted any UN/USAID orgs for sources re: low-cost, low-energy strategies for developing areas? " "Travelers Rest, South Carolina" 1
robert terhune
tjoe204@sbcglobal.net non carcinogenic oil refining /in expensive waste purification unit...single family/water purificatin just learned about the program on npr lack of work/time on my hands liability issues "ibew electrician,hands on design build " pay attention "my father russell terhune old school slide rule engineer...retired high school teacher...82 yrs old...needs a legacy larry howard electronic circuit cabnet builder,sound stage reinforcement co. peculiar sound ibew local 124 816 942 7500" "coffman,kcmo" hensley law office raymore mo. "Belton, Missouri" 1
Chris Kleps
chriskleps@yahoo.com "I own a 33 acre woodlot in Clackamas County, Oregon. I have done most of the work myself since 1982. I am a retired veterinarian. I have taken and support the Clackamas County Extension ""Master Woodland Manager"" program. My nephew in Christian Shearer, who is involved in Permaculture. He has property in Missouri. I wonder if you know of him?" no "I am pushing 70. I am looking at winding down and passing the farm along to the next generation. I am hoping that it will be my children." "I am a life-long gearhead, and a former Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador. I have had a life-long commitment to self-sufficiency. Tell me how I can help." "Estacada, Oregon" 1
wolf
wuf@toast.net Build mining equipment and heavy equipment repair. "No, but exploring" "AZ desert dweller and 30 miles from nearest city... Make do with what we have or build.. Recycle maniac... (lol).. Hope to move further out in next 5 years. Not off the grid yet, but working on it." Self reliance "Machine and equipment design, inventor/experimenter, welder, electrical/electronic, hydraulic, mechanical background." Look at project and see where I might possibly be able to fit in "Gladen, Arizona" 1
Gedan
"Enthusiasm and awareness are the greatest needs. The open source model needs people who are inspired contributors in terms of thinking, trying, promoting, and resourcing, and these are enlisted through recruiting. I'm willing to keep learning and promoting, at this point.
The project seems perfect for community college innovation and learning grant funding. They involve a wide array of skills in interdisciplinary departments. An inspired CC leader/dean could pull this off. A tech school could be a great partner, too. Small engine, welding, milling, programming, marketing, business, organizational leadership, etc.
If I were in the public system, I would be that leader.
The other source of leadership and volunteers would be a community of retired engineers. I live in such a community and am thinking about how to mobilize a chapter." Interested observer wondering about the best way to participate given time limitations. "What appeals most are personally meaningful contributions to economic and food resiliency, social justice, the cool factor. I've got 25 good years left and am searching for a way to leverage what I know to leave a lasting contribution to the world." "The technical side is fascinating and progressing through the genius of your volunteers. There's a people/organizational side that is about the adoption.
What's the economic/business model that creates a sustainable model that meets stakeholder needs? Do we know stakeholders' needs? Do we need more than one experiment of the 200/200 or various sized x/x projects?
What are the right structures organizationally? What roles are needed? I saw your org chart for the eFarm.
What's the right legal structure to ensure shared prosperity and proper governance? How do people participate at different levels (stock-holder, remote volunteer, present volunteer). How are assets held?" "I am a university administrator thinking about early retirement. I also have software, grant writing, writing, social community/networking, construction talents.
Tied up right now, but looking to get more time." "Awareness of what your doing. Critical friend offering advice. Promotion of your work." I'm contacting a famer/electrical engineer and a farmer/software engineer of like mindset. No. No. But I am considering contributing my own efforts. No. "Monument, Colorado" 1