See a list of workshops being held.

2009

Workshop Schedule for March and April, 2009

• March 21, 2009 - Heavy Hoe workshop - learn to fabricate a heavy hoe
• April 4, 2009 - Chicken Incubator workshop - learn to build an incubator for hatching your own chicks
• April 11, 2009 - Metal Lathe Workshop - learn to build a heavy duty metal lathe
• April 18, 2009 - MicroTrac Workshop - learn to build walk-behind tractor
• April 25, 2009 - Plant Out Party- learn to build raised beds and help plant out Factor E Farm's garden

August 2009

Open Solar 2

Open Solar 2 is the Second Solar Power Generator Convergenece at Factor e Farm - to be held August 1-31, 2009. Hi, Marcin--it is so exciting, what you're doing. We've been talking to University folk and it looks like we can make something happen, but not till fall, the semester being almost over. I have a comment about the heavy hoe, which sounds like a tool we'd love to have except for one thing: the metal handle. They may last forever, but they will conspire to cripple the user, sending shock waves upward till they reach the first yielding material they encounter--your tissues. Though subject to periodic breakage, a wooden handle mutes these shock waves considerably. As my friend James--a construction supervisor of many years--said upon seeing my metal-handled hammer: "put that thing in the bottom of your toolbox and forget you have it."

Open Ecotech 1

First World Conference on Open Source Ecology - Open Ecotech 1 - the First World Conference on Open Source Ecology

Open Ecotech 1 is the first worldwide, working conference on Open Source Ecology. It is being held at Factor e Farm – in the Kansas City area of central USA. This is the longest-lasting conference in the world. It has officially begun with the inception of the 1000 True Fans - 1000 Global Villages campaign - and it lasts until the end of 2010. We aim to complete the entire basic Global Village Construction Set (GVCS) as an outcome of the conference.

Open Ecotech 1 is a working conference, where interested participants submit a proposal for 1 month long projects, to be carried out at Factor e Farm. These projects develop individual components of the GVCS – by completing prototype and testing cycles – until product release. You can see the Status of active projects here. You may view a theoretical background for the project in our proposal from early 2008.

We are seeking those who are committed deeply to making a better world. We have proposed a campaign for developing the technology and ecology tools for a new civilization. See the 1000 True Fans - 1000 Global Villages campaign on the blog - and view all the supporting videos here.