Michael Janzen

Just kidding… ok I’m not kidding… and yes I am a nut, thanks for asking… but in all seriousness this is a great website for learning to fix your bike. I learned to do a lot with my bike when I was a kid by taking them apart and putting some of them back together. I first saw this on Early Retirement Extreme. Visit Bicycle Totor

A reader on Tiny House Design posted a comment with a link to Bart Orlando’s pedal powered innovations up near Humboldt State University. This website is definitely worth spending some time if you was some post peak oil transportation solutions.

Pedal Powered Innovations

also see CARazed.com for electric cars and other post peak oil transportation possibilities.

I was looking for indoor/outdoor solar powered thermometers last night and noticed that John Well’s at the field lab uses a weather station from Oregon Scientific. They also sell a lot of different options for clocks, radios, and thermometers. I’ve seen these in stores before and it seems to be a good brand.

Oregon Scientific

I’ve been researching different ways of collecting rainwater for garden and home use. I ran across this article on a simple down-spout fed rain barrel on Crafting a Green World.

DIY Gardening: Build a Rain Barrel

Great site for ultralight backpacking equipment. I’m not an ultralight backpacker but I look to these people for great simple living ideas like tiny alcohol stoves made from beer cans.

• Mini Bull Design
• Instructable: Ultralight Backpack Stove
• Penny Stove
  

This is not the first time I’ve seen someone turn human waste, yes poop, into methane but this is the first commercially viable solution. I don’t think any composting toilets on the market do what this composting toilet does.

The Gardiner CH4 and EXCREXTRA

I just ran across this website from a solar still article (water purification)  on Make. Built it Solar is a do it yourself solar energy website. They offer hundreds of articles on renewable energy projects you can do at home to save money and generate your own energy.

Built it Solar

I learned of this through the small house society Yahoo group. It looks like a reasonably priced composting toilet. It’s not for everyone though. It has a liquid separation tank for pee and I can see a lot of people being a little grossed out having to deal with a jug of pee. Guys would need to sit to pee too. See Natures Head for more information.

It seems some things havn’t changed much in a few thousand years. This is a link to a recreation of the oldest known olive oil press which ironically resembles modern equiptment. It makes me think I should be sure to plant some olive trees on my future sustsinable homestead and learn to make olive oil in the mean time.

The Vast Paver is totally cool. A paver made from 75-95% recycled scrap tire rubber and plastics. Not sure how much it costs but definitely something to consider for a future patio. Saw it on Jetson Green.