Bike-Powered Flour Demo in Montana Next Weekend!

 

Bikes and bakers unite! The impressive people at Prairie Heritage Farm are hosting a Tour de Flour at the second annual Red Ants Pants Music Festival in White Spring, Montana on Sunday, July 29. Join the farmers for a demo of bike-powered flour, plus a discussion on the history of grain and why ancient and heritage grains–and fresh flour–are on the rise. There will be bike-powered flour time trials: If you grind the fastest, you win!

Great music and pedal-powered heritage grains?  It can’t get much better than that.

 

Inexpensive hand washing station from recycled materials

 

To promote handwashing in rural areas without running water, the makers of the Tippy Tap created a simple, effective technology and a targeted outreach campaign to change behaviors.  The tippy tap uses a very simple, DIY technology that is made from found materials.  Hand washing with soap can prevent millions of deaths per year from diarrhea – more than TB, AIDS and malaria combined.  It is also key to reducing microbial contamination in post-harvest operations!

This project is a great example of how appropriate technologies combined with creative, well-planned outreach can effectively solve problems posed by lack of infrastructure and awareness.  It is really easy to build with few to no purchased materials, and is water efficient.  

View the construction manual here.

FarmHack comes to New Hampshire November 19+20

FarmHack New Hampshire will be the next in our series of all-day events bringing farmers together with inventors, engineers, designers and other specialists, to brainstorm + build together.  This event will focus in on harvesting, handling,  processing, and adding value to farm products.  

On Saturday, November 19th and Sunday, November 20th we will converge in Lee, NH.  First we will see some new tools in action at Tuckaway Farm, and deconstruct some older technologies to get at the heart of engineering ag tools.  Then we will work in teams to develop new project and tool ideas, with the goal of getting some working prototypes on our farms next season.  

More info is here, and RSVP is necessary!

Produce washing table at Full Plate Farm: farm built, ergonomic and under $30

Danny Percich runs Full Plate Farm, just across the Washington State border from Portland, OR.  In this video he shows us his farm-built wash table, built of 2 x 4′s and wood lath.  Total cost for brand new wood and fasteners:  less than $30.