Comments for Sustainable Montreal

Comment on Newly Minted – Sacred Economics Book by Douglas Ou-ee-ii-jay-ii Jack

Douglas Ou-ee-ii-jay-ii Jack — Sun, 06 May 2012 02:57:03 +0000

Sacred Economics will do well to learn from humanity’s worldwide ‘indigenous’ (Latin = ‘self-generating’) ancestors. Money is a fragment in our ‘exogenous’ (L = ‘other-generated’) colonial imperial world of a once integrated system of community ‘values’. The string-shell was used in various forms by Production Societies and Multihome communities (Longhouse are like apartment blocks and Pueblo are like townhouse complexes) on every continent and ocean. Indigenous peoples integrated accounting, decision-making, compensation, security, education, progressive ownership and affiliation through String-shell mediated: ‘capital’ (L ‘cap’ = ‘head’ meaning ‘wisdom’), ‘currency’ (‘flow’), ‘condolence’ (‘social-security’), diplomatic-conveyance (shared resource harvesting), collegial-education (apprenticeship / mentors / progressive ownership), costume (affiliation) and other values. All of the values we hold dear today are necessary but must be seen as part of a whole system of Economic Democracy. Everyone’s mind has a role to play. https://sites.google.com/site/indigenecommunity/relational-economy

Comment on Newly Minted – Sacred Economics Book by Douglas Ou-ee-ii-jay-ii Jack

Douglas Ou-ee-ii-jay-ii Jack — Sun, 06 May 2012 02:39:15 +0000

Mark Berger, This Monday 7th May, 14 – 15h30 (2 – 3:30 pm), Indigene Community and a number of faculties (Engineering, Environment, First Peoples etc) at McGill are holding a conference on developing formal inter-disciplinary dialogues, ‘debates’ (French ‘de’ = ‘undo’ + ‘bate’ = ‘the fight’) around the Quebec Plan Nord but more permanently over all social-economic issues at McGill First Peoples House, 3505 Peel south of Dr. Penfield, north of Sherbrooke West. It would be great to connect with Permaculture and Sustainability through people in your group. 514-365-9594 https://sites.google.com/site/indigenecommunity/structure/1-both-sides-now-article

Comment on Geodesic Greenhouses by elizabeth hanulak

elizabeth hanulak — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:37:59 +0000

water in relationship to any kind of man-made structure is always the enemy. as sasha says, because these structures are for generating plant life, some seepage isn’t going to harm much.

as you state pefder, “the entire history” of the geodome…geodomes have been around for quite some time and there is a good reason for that. integrity in construction is key. as technology and materials progress, therefore will the geodome but as it stands now, the benefits far outweigh the negatives when it comes sustainable greenhouse alternatives. it is a solid viable solution.

Comment on Geodesic Greenhouses by Sasha

Sasha — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 05:29:00 +0000

Sorry to hear that you haven’t had good dome experiences PM.

There are many domes out here on the wet coast of Canada both greenhouse and house domes. They are almost all built from wood and covered with some form of traditional roof system. Greenhouse domes don’t mind a bit of leakage but done properly they are proof against the wildest storms.

Comment on Geodesic Greenhouses by Mark Berger

Mark Berger — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:06:17 +0000

Pefder,
These domes are not designed to be habitable for humans – just for growing plants. And for that, they have a very good track record. Have you ever built one?

Comment on Geodesic Greenhouses by Pefder magfrok

Pefder magfrok — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:25:56 +0000

The dome is impracticality at its worst. And don’t get me started on the notion of buildings with windows that catch fire!

The entire history of the geodesic dome experience is a rainy leakfest at best. Sure, looks nice from a distance, but sustainable, or even habitable they are not.

Sorry, but get real!

Comment on Geodesic Greenhouses by Sasha

Sasha — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:39:04 +0000

Unfortunately I haven’t actually been able to start cutting wood for a 3v dome.

My friend (with no real previous carpentry skills mind you) built two domes out of wood.

He used standard lumber from Home Depot and had found some space age insulating double wall cold weather greenhouse material for it. By the time the dust settled he figured the 40ft 3V frame cost around $2K
including cement, lumber, fasteners, stain and tools.

Since then he has moved to warmer climates and has started building domes with steel struts.

He wrote an ebook about his techniques that a number of people have since used to build similar domes.

So… I guess I will start with wood and follow his cutting plans when I build my dome.

However I will for sure build a small one first! The kids can always use it as a play structure.

Comment on Geodesic Greenhouses by Mark Berger

Mark Berger — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:05:48 +0000

Sasha,
We are exploring the options now. Wood seems the way to go: light, flexible and organic. What is your experience? The kit seems to be the easy way to go, but it would be educational (or frustrating) to build one from the many plans that exist on the Internet already.

Comment on Geodesic Greenhouses by Sasha

Sasha — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:45:24 +0000

P.S. We are out in BC so at least the winters aren’t so cold, though they are rainy and grey!

Comment on Geodesic Greenhouses by Sasha

Sasha — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:44:28 +0000

Thanks for pointing out how the geodesic greenhouse is actually a platonic solid! I hadn’t even though of it that way. However the profound sense of peace that one feels when inside a geodome is amazing! And then it gets even better if you add living things to the inside of the dome, like plants, flowers and fish.

I love the fact that domes are so amazingly strong and yet feel so open an airy. What kind of kit did you buy? One of the growing spaces ones? When I finally build one here on our 18 acre permaculture farm I am trying to decide if we will go with the pipe and bolt method or the crazy compound angles out of wood method. Both have advantages but I think I am leaning toward wood at this point as it seems much easier to fit panels to afterward.

I also agree with Elizabeth’s post that now is the time for growing ones own food or at least starting the process. Michael Pollen says we should, my farmer parents say we should and when we do grow our own food it is such an amazing connection with the earth and the food.

Thanks again for the post and I will be following this site now to hear about your progress!