Conceptual Manifesto
In trying to write a second blog entry I struggled with the idea of what this blog should focus on. You see writing is probably the greatest disconnect from my personal creative process and harder still when expressing so many of my ideas. The question was do I talk about my dream or all of the experiences I am having while traveling. The answer really is, I will talk about both but let me try to focus on how I see the dream for this post.
To me, the dream is but a physical manifestation of all I have seen and wish to see in the world. In my short existence on this earth have personally witnessed the devastation to tens of thousands of lives at the hands of natural and man-made disasters. During one of Haiti’s mass exoduses in 2003, hundreds of people would stuff themselves into handmade sailboats no longer than 30 feet. Some of them had been severely burned as they fled their homes and villages, only to be rescued at sea by the US Coast Guard and returned to Port Au Prince. At the time my sympathy for the plight of these people was not always so great since being out numbered on your own ship 3-1 by a potentially hostile force does not lead to restful nights; though we were very skilled at being prepared and separating any agitators. Another example was coming back to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The city I had lived in for the past year was pitch black except for some fires in the distance with the occasional sound of explosions and gunfire cutting through the eerie quiet of what once was. Launching our small boats from the same interstate exit ramp I use to take to work was another mind trip as we were briefed on the worst case scenario of what could’ve been. Thankfully the toll of lives lost was much less than that briefing but my unit still saved 6,000 people in that city and the Coast Guard around 32,000 in total over the coming weeks. I’ve watched countless more atrocities via television and read about the personal stories of so many others through print. The stories of people similar to the ones I have met on my journey who are seeking help despite feeling like no one cares to help only to add to their suffering. I’m not saying my dream will solve these problems; however, it is my dream to offer help or guidance through the fog that comes after such great personal loss. These personal experiences have lead to a greater amount of compassion when I read about or see examples of the similar atrocities around the world. These where just two things that affected a great number of people that I witnessed while serving and doesn’t come close to explaining how heavy my heart gets when I feel for the plight of others who just happened to be born in another place. Nor does this share the heartache that comes with seeing friends lost or injured in the wars our country seems to be so determined to fight.
I believe it is with a giving heart that we will save humanity from its own destruction. That with a sustainable living model we will overcome the violence and greed that plagues our world’s current economic system. That when we work together greater things are possible than with each man out for himself. Through my eyes there are a great number of challenges ahead. Not just for me personally in building my dream, but for humanity and its continued growth.
For me it came down to I can either sit around watching TV and wish to do something greater or I can act and hope to inspire others to do the same. My dream like any project will take time and a ton of effort to complete. This dream has evolved slowly over the last four years and will continue to evolve while I continue to study and experiment with my ideas. Most of this evolution will take place before I even think of purchasing a bus, as I build experiments on a much smaller scale with my Jeep. In the end, I believe it is worth it for 100 lifetimes even if it takes the rest of mine to do solely on my own. The bus could be powered in several different ways but it is my goal to reach for the stars, so I will take some time in testing my ideas before sharing the proprietary specifics.
Another part of the bus’s evolution will be whether I build the entire project myself or if people and corporations see fit to sponsor the dream. I see this as a way for others to pledge to a sustainable future, a way to give back once the bus lives and can do the educational and humanitarian work I see as its purpose. As a crowd funded endeavor I see celebrations happening all across the country where the donors are the VIPs and could find their names on the bus. This is just one of the incentives I thought of when pondering this path.
At the highest levels of my imagination, the dream would be sponsored by Tesla and Google, taking my simple plans and launching them to the top of technology. In this version the bus would be a showcase for all the world of what is possible while living with a nearly zero footprint. The bus would control a handful of different climate controlled areas; such as, water quality and other systems while consolidating data so more progress could be made in efficiency, as well as monitoring the outside climate. Every system would be monitored and controlled through the technology bringing a continuity of systems that I see as paramount in efficient design. Allowing for a better understanding of all the various systems and more efficiency in their use would allow for easier duplication in a variety of future applications. In this format the bus would be capable of autonomous drive and able to charge its batteries while traveling. Making it a first of its kind in endless driving and renewable energy power. This power production goal I hope to achieve on my own though a proprietary invention that I am developing. However, even without such an investment the dream could still be achieved though it may have some limitations and I wouldn’t be as satisfied. The technology for autonomous drive and the advancements these companies could bring would really boost the efficiency of my aspirations and help to speed up some of the work.
These two corporate entities are just the two I am most familiar with and being a fan of them I can see the role they could play if my dream reaches these levels. On my own the project will utilize more repurposed parts that can be quite the fun endeavor so I am not opposed to this model in any way as it would still push the sustainability, recycling and repurposing model.
In any version the top level of the bus will be mostly greenhouse with a multifunctional master bedroom in the front portion. The greenhouse would maximize natural lighting and have supplemental LED lighting for a wider range of climate, layouts and growing seasons. The top of the greenhouse would open to allow for pollinating insects when stationary as well as acting as a large catch basin for rainwater collection. With the greenhouse acting as a large catch basin the floor would ideally be a thin pool of water. This pool would be set up to grow duckweed as the small plant is an excellent fish food. Also, the pool could grow the smallest of the species of water meal as this tiny plant is used in cooking throughout Asia. Of course this set up would need grated walkways for a person to get around and access the plants. This idea could be achieved through stacking with supplemental lighting however this would limit room further than desired. The typical RV awning could also be modified to collect rain water and covered in flexible solar panels so it might be of even more use when stationary.
The Aquaponics portion of the growing would ideally be vertical to maximize space. These columns would also allow for movement when the greenhouse is open to allow for easier access and tighter configurations when closed. I believe it would even be possible to have the opening of the roof configured so it moves these columns as it opens or closes, but I would need to test this theory. Either way the move is relatively simple but the automatic way allows for the computer to control the environment inside the greenhouse without human interaction.
Not everything one would want to grow is suited for aquaponics so some soil growing and other means of production would be utilized. An example of this would be the straw barrel method for growing potatoes. The straw would not be produced on the bus so one would hope to trade other produce or fish for these types of small items, even still the impact to the environment is minimal.
Also, to suit my personal taste, I would devote a small climate controlled space for the cultivation of mushrooms. The fungi have come to be a staple to me in my diet and the medicinal properties of some have helped to affirm my conviction towards all natural remedies.
A small avocado tree and a small lemon tree may also find their place perhaps by a less conventional staircase. Other trees or less conventional plants may be grown in place of some US stables since part of the purpose of the bus is to open the mind to other possibilities and diversify the food system. Not everything would be grown solely in the greenhouse area; for instance, herbs would be better suited in the kitchen and some other plants might do well in other spaces. I would say a coconut tree would be awesome but unless that somehow grows up through the levels of the bus it wouldn’t fit or would quickly outgrow the space. I never said I wasn’t a dreamer at times who couldn’t get carried away with my ideas but generally I am very practical.
All of the water needed could not be solely sustained by rainwater collection as the only source. At least not without huge reserve tanks that would weigh the bus down even more than already planned. This is why I am working on a system that will condense water from the air while moving and will work alongside the energy production design I believe is key to the endless charging capacity while in transit. Collecting atmospheric moisture is nothing new but the energy used in most systems makes them less than desirable. I will hopefully sidestep that issue as the invention will only generate power and not use any in its moisture collection process.
With all this water moving about the bus it might as well play the main role of environmental regulator in the living spaces. Since tilapia or trout would be the best suited fish for production in my opinion, the water would do well at 68 to 70°F. The water that is already being pumped around the bus would act as the heating and cooling system for the living spaces just as it did in the old radiator designed houses of the past. Only these systems would be regulated and controlled through technology to maximize efficiency while keeping things simple and easy to use. Auxiliary electric systems would be needed for more extreme climates but it is my goal to rarely need to use those systems.
Fish tanks would be best suited for the basement level or what is normally storage compartments on a bus. This would help keep the center of gravity low while also allowing for access through the lower living space. The tanks would be baffled to help prevent the movement of water and a fish trapping area might be used to more readily catch fish for food preparation. If possible, in a more luxurious model the floor might be a thick sheet of plexiglass in one area so you might look down and see the fish that you will someday enjoy. I believe that having this more intimate relationship with your food leads to greater appreciation for its life and the nourishment you receive.
Since this water will have to be pumped up two levels to reach the greenhouse the return would be collected in a manner that allows for some recuperation of that energy expenditure. This principle of offsetting the energy usage with a small return is one of the core philosophies of the dream and will be utilized in design whenever possible to maximize efficiency. Another method of energy conservation, to cycle the pumps for the aquaponics as a constant flow of water, would not be necessary.
Fish will be the main animal protein source from my perspective; however, they will not be the only source. I am also a fan of eggs, but chickens take up too much space to be a good option; so, other small birds like quail or game hens could be well-suited for production on board the bus. This would allow for another source of protein both from the eggs and from the birds. It is also my intention to raise crickets as another feed for the other animals and for possible human use. Crickets do not take much water or space to raise, but need a sterile environment for human consumption so I have some ideas on how they might be grown above the fish and how an automated feeder could blow them out into the fish tanks. This same system could deposit them into an enclosure for bird or human consumption. Also, duckweed would be easily piped down to the fish tanks so one would not have to scoop it up and carry it through living areas. In the aquaponics system I built using repurposed items, I had a basic design that allowed the duckweed to flow right to the fish, and they would quickly learn where the good food came from. Ideally the birds would eat vegetable scraps and the crickets raised on the bus but more research is needed on this topic, since I have never raised birds other than feeding chickens on some of the farms I’ve worked on.
To ease the woes of all the fellow animal lovers it is not my intention to have tons of death on board the bus but while I can be vegetarian I prefer some meat and will do my best to raise all these creatures in a humane environment, certainly better than any factory or conventional farm does. Also, the vision of the bus is to inspire others and you can’t do that while simultaneously challenging everything about the status quo of how one lives. I tend to do that enough with my views, ideas and diet, so if you’re a vegan who looks down upon any killing all I can say is I’m sorry but rest assured every life I take is not wasted nor taken for granted. I am also not convinced that I would be able to produce nearly everything I would need to be vegetarian or vegan since I am allergic to wheat and see this as one of the main downfalls in those diets. Not just because of my allergy but because of the toxins conventionally used to produce it and how poorly the human gut processes wheat. I could also never be a true vegan as I do not think I could give up Manuka Honey not only for the occasional sweetener but also for it’s antibiotic properties. If bee’s could be raised on board a traveling home without losing them or getting stung I would attempt it. Any animals raised on board the bus would fit my model of two generation labeling, that is to say anyone who ate a fish would know not only what the fish ate but what was used to raise or grow any of that fish’s food.
To deal with all the waste produced by the animals and humans we must continue the process of breaking down to the least impactful and utilizing what we can. It is for this reason that I believe a compost toilet and gasifier combination will be utilized. The waste of animals and plant matter gives off combustible gases during decomposition these gases should be collected in the gasifier for use. The combustible gas could be utilized in a variety of ways from energy production to heat. As these products are broken down they become inert and will be able to be used as fertilizer in the various soil grown products or become safe to dispose of in the environment. The disposal of or use of these products will depend on upon keeping the system pure and organic so every part of the system must maintain its role.
Greywater will be another typical waste product that will be recycled and reused in the system. After treatment or filtration the greywater could be further processed in the aquaponics system. Soaps or chemicals used would have to adhere to the organic standard to not disrupt the cycle while urine could easily be scrubbed through biofiltration processes similar to what will be at work in the aquaponics system. Perhaps even in the system directly if computer controlled and monitored as to not cause an ammonia spike.
Supplemental nutrients will be added into the system over time to offset the usage of everything living in this closed loop utilizing the elements and minerals contained within. This goes beyond what most conventional farmers worry about as NPK is only three elements and I believe trace minerals are part of having an abundant food source and a healthy life.
All of these ideas and others not mentioned are just a general overview of the bigger picture that is my dream. I have left some things out, both on purpose as an attempt to keep this post short and to keep my ideas for my own development. I hope as my journey continues I can start to share more of the experiences from my life and this adventure. Also giving more insight into the role I hope my dream will play in the future of this world or even other worlds as I see this as a crucial first step in changing the way we interact with our environment before becoming a multi planetary species.