Challenge Idea

Greenhouse nearing completion

Associated Challenge:

After a month of intensive collaboration between the Jefferson Public Citizens program at the University of Virginia, Professor Bob Swap from the University of Virginia, M-CAM, Mongolia Innovation Commons Partners (M-ICP), The Mongolian Academy of Sciences, The Economic Policy and Competitiveness Research Center of Mongolia, Elbegdorj Institute (EBI) Think Tank, Hasu Shivert Resort, and Mongolian National Business Incubator Federation (MNBIF), we are happy to report that the greenhouse is nearing completion.

Submitted by KAD on Fri, 2011-07-15 03:51

Raised Gardens in St. Louis

Associated Challenge:

Integral Urban Ecovillage Challenge

In a partnership coordinated by Tom and Carol Braford, M∙CAM is partnering with the communities in St. Louis on a project that we’re calling ‘Hopeville Gardens’ in honor of those displaced members of the community who have chosen to find a means to live in economic times which increasingly marginalize people in St. Louis and across the country.

Commodity:

St Louis has a surfeit of abandoned houses with doors, windows, brick, timbers, etc. in abundance. Land (space) in the form of empty lots, paved lots, rooftops, etc. is also in abundance. Water is in abundance. The challenge is to utilize these commodities for the production of food crops.

Custom & Culture:

Gardening is a popular concept even in settings where there is little knowledge of the practical needs. Trusts, coops and other structures can be employed to provide the means to relate people to people and people to community structures.

Knowledge:

Community gardening is a well developed field and knowledge of gardening in an urban setting abounds. Transferring this knowledge to people who want to produce their own food is the goal. Demolition skills and utilization of materials to make marketable products are also transferrable.

Money:

The productivity of urban gardens will support the minimal amounts of credit needed to buy seeds and supplies that cannot otherwise be found through garden or community initiatives. Money can also be earned from the creation of cottage industries that convert abandoned materials into useful products.

Technology:

Stationary and portable systems for raised bed gardens can be built adapting available materials. The means to extract materials and convert them to usable products involves the use of a variety of technologies.

Well-being:

Better nutrition, gainful activity, and community spirit will all improve with the addition of community gardens. People better able to meet their own needs will experience improved well being. Neighbors will feel more secure in an environment where people are enjoying the fruits of their labor.

Submitted by Fusion Enterprise on Wed, 2011-06-29 17:05

Renovate NYC's Pier 40 and the Village Community Boathouse as an Abundant Community Facility

Pier 40 and the Village Community Boathouse have been serving New York City for X amount of years.

The rise in price of rents, creeping private real estate developers, and a crumbling national infrastructure have contributed to the cacophony of bureaucratic questions surrounding the facility and a planned solar panel renovation.

Pier 40 and VCB is a public mixed use facility.

Public Rowing, Non-profits and other local businesses

Commodity:

Landfills full of raw materials. Skilled, willing, and resilient human resources with strong interpersonal skills, who are focused on efficiency AND preservation of self, to avoid bodily harm. Communitas

Custom & Culture:

Many humans adhering to spiritual virtues, major and minor, within their own perceived limitations against the city and irresponsible wealth.

Knowledge:

GIC

Money:

An integral part of the this challenge, money can be accumulated by increasing design efficiency and decreasing materials cost. Labor cost can remain consistent with the existing NYC ethic for commensurate work.

Technology:

GIC

Well-being:

Cardiovascular Health, Knowledge Exchange, Community Service, Communitas, Freedom of Expression

Links:

Pier 40 on Yelp!

Village Community Boathouse

Submitted by DmitryAGurvits on Wed, 2011-05-18 13:17

Woodfired Kiln - Alternative to Electricity

Associated Challenge:

Arkhangai Greenhouse

According to regional expert, kilns can be built into hillsides. These kilns must be lined with fire bricks, i.e. bricks that can withstand temperatures over 2376F. These kilns can reach this temperature being fired with wood and hold thermal mass for 4-5 days. This style is popular in Korea, Japan and China. Here are some local example links. This post will be enhanced upon further research.

Commodity:

Firebrick (brick that can withstand high temperature), hillsides, wood

Custom & Culture:

Use of natural materials vs. electricity

Knowledge:

Building the fire appropriately

Money:

market price of firebrick

Technology:

structuring the kiln and brick configuration

Well-being:

Use land and natural resources for fired outcomes, clay, glass, etc.