We Deserve Better - Wandering Farmers co-op

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Planning to build a renewable energy co-op

Renewable energy solutions can be tailored to the unique characteristics of each location. By maximizing the use of rooftop solar panels, facade-integrated solar, small wind turbines, and micro-hydro systems, we can create sustainable and energy-efficient designs for Oregon, Western Accra, and Jinja.

In Oregon, prioritize south-facing roofs for solar panels and utilize the open landscape for wind turbines. For Accra and Jinja, consider solar shading structures, facade-integrated solar, and smaller wind turbines that suit the urban and natural settings. Micro-hydro systems near the Nile in Jinja, and rainwater harvesting systems in the tropical climates of Accra and Jinja, will further enhance the renewable energy capabilities of these locations.

By carefully incorporating these renewable energy solutions, we can develop comprehensive and convincing design guides that address the specific needs and characteristics of each region, ultimately leading to a more sustainable future.

2nd set of renderings

Accra\Wa Ghana Render

Oregon, WI proposal

Interior Design Concept for a Renewable Energy Condo:

  1. General Layout:
    • Open-Plan Living and Dining Area: Modern, spacious, with large windows for natural light. Integrated storage solutions, including built-in shelving and hidden storage compartments.
    • Three Bedrooms:
      • Master Bedroom: Includes a large walk-in closet with ample shelving and hanging space, plus an en-suite bathroom.
      • Two Additional Bedrooms: Each with generous built-in closets that include both hanging and shelving options. Flexible-use rooms can also incorporate additional storage solutions such as under-bed storage or wall-mounted units.
    • Modern Kitchen: Energy-efficient appliances, sustainable materials like recycled glass countertops, and abundant cabinet space, including a large pantry for food storage.
    • Bathrooms: Eco-friendly fixtures, with storage cabinets under sinks and built-in shelves for towels and toiletries. The master bath features dual sinks and a walk-in shower.
  2. Common Room:
    • Spacious with Large Windows: Maximizes natural light, includes a kitchenette, seating area, and children’s play zone.
    • Flexible Space: Multipurpose furniture for gatherings, entertainment, and activities, with integrated storage units for games, books, and supplies.
  3. Sustainable Features:
    • Eco-Friendly Materials: Reclaimed wood floors, low-VOC paints, and recycled tiles.
    • Energy-Efficient Systems: Smart thermostats, underfloor heating, LED lighting, and energy-efficient HVAC.
    • Water Efficiency: Low-flow fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens.
  4. Aesthetic Design:
    • Coastal Location: Soft blues, sandy neutrals, ocean-inspired decor with built-in storage solutions that blend with the décor.
    • Mountainous Location: Earthy tones, rich wood finishes, nature-inspired decor, and ample storage areas designed to blend with the natural aesthetics.
    • Urban Location: Sleek, modern grays and whites with bold accents, contemporary art, and smart storage solutions like hidden closets and multi-functional furniture.
  5. Special Features:
    • Community Garden: Rooftop or ground-level garden space with raised beds, seating, and storage sheds for gardening tools.
    • Workspaces: Small workstations in common rooms, equipped for remote work with storage cabinets for supplies.
    • Fitness Room (optional): Energy-generating exercise equipment, yoga space, with built-in storage for mats and equipment.

Renewable energy solutions can be tailored to the unique characteristics of each location.

By maximizing the use of rooftop solar panels, facade-integrated solar, small wind turbines, and micro-hydro systems, we can create sustainable and energy-efficient designs for Oregon, Western Accra, and Jinja.

Interior Design Concept for a 3-site Renewable Energy Condo:

  1. General Layout:
    • Open-Plan Living and Dining Area: Modern, spacious, with large windows for natural light. Integrated storage solutions, including built-in shelving and hidden storage compartments.
    • Three Bedrooms:
      • Master Bedroom: Includes a large walk-in closet with ample shelving and hanging space, plus an en-suite bathroom.
      • Two Additional Bedrooms: Each with generous built-in closets that include both hanging and shelving options. Flexible-use rooms can also incorporate additional storage solutions such as under-bed storage or wall-mounted units.
    • Modern Kitchen: Energy-efficient appliances, sustainable materials like recycled glass countertops, and abundant cabinet space, including a large pantry for food storage.
    • Bathrooms: Eco-friendly fixtures, with storage cabinets under sinks and built-in shelves for towels and toiletries. The master bath features dual sinks and a walk-in shower.
  2. Common Room:
    • Spacious with Large Windows: Maximizes natural light, includes a kitchenette, seating area, and children’s play zone.
    • Flexible Space: Multipurpose furniture for gatherings, entertainment, and activities, with integrated storage units for games, books, and supplies.
  3. Sustainable Features:
    • Eco-Friendly Materials: Reclaimed wood floors, low-VOC paints, and recycled tiles.
    • Energy-Efficient Systems: Smart thermostats, underfloor heating, LED lighting, and energy-efficient HVAC.
    • Water Efficiency and Management:
      • Dehumidification Technologies: Utilize local climate conditions to extract clean water from the air, providing a sustainable source of drinking water and irrigation for plants.
      • Greywater Harvesting: Implement greywater recycling systems to reuse water locally for non-potable purposes, enhancing water management on-site.
    • Renewable Energy Solutions: Tailored to the unique characteristics of each location:
      • Oregon: Maximize the use of rooftop solar panels, facade-integrated solar, and small wind turbines to harness abundant renewable resources.
      • Western Accra: Utilize solar panels and wind turbines to capture energy efficiently in a tropical climate, incorporating technologies that withstand high humidity and salt exposure.
      • Jinja: Combine solar panels with micro-hydro systems, especially if close to water bodies, to leverage both solar and hydro energy for sustainable power generation.
  4. Aesthetic Design:
    • Coastal Location (Western Accra): Soft blues, sandy neutrals, ocean-inspired decor with built-in storage solutions that blend with the décor. Emphasize corrosion-resistant materials.
    • Mountainous Location (Oregon): Earthy tones, rich wood finishes, nature-inspired decor, and ample storage areas designed to blend with the natural aesthetics. High-performance insulation and energy-efficient windows.
    • Urban Location (Jinja): Sleek, modern grays and whites with bold accents, contemporary art, and smart storage solutions like hidden closets and multi-functional furniture. Emphasize green roofs and vertical gardens for urban cooling.
  5. Special Features:
    • Community Garden: Rooftop or ground-level garden space with raised beds, seating, and storage sheds for gardening tools. Watered using recycled greywater.
    • Workspaces: Small workstations in common rooms, equipped for remote work with storage cabinets for supplies.
    • Fitness Room (optional): Energy-generating exercise equipment, yoga space, with built-in storage for mats and equipment.

Jinja Uganda render

Objectives

Dear Review Committee,

Our organization is seeking a grant of $2,000,000 to support a project that aims to improve food security in West, East, and Southern Africa by using technology and open source solutions to revamp the agricultural industry. This project will focus on providing small-scale farmers with access to resources such as vertical farms, renewable energy, and open source ecological solutions in order to increase crop yields and improve food security. The project will also involve building a platform that allows communities to explore and test technology options, and providing local employment and training to ensure that the project is sustainable in the long-term.

The target communities for this project are small, rural communities in West, East, and Southern Africa that are isolated and have limited access to technology and resources. To connect with these communities and ensure that the project meets their needs, we will work with local businesses and farmers, and involve members of the community in the innovation process. Our goal is to shift the use of land from large surface areas to more sustainable and efficient vertical farming solutions, and to develop an energy efficient infrastructure for processing and delivering farm products to end consumers.

In the next 1-2 years, we hope to accomplish the following outcomes:

Shift the use of land from large surface areas to vertical farming solutions that are open to the environment and can reduce the impact of pests.

Involve rural designers in the innovation process and help them feel a part of the technology ecosystem.

Develop a marketing network to connect farm products to end consumers at a competitive price, and create an energy efficient solution for processing food on site.

Develop energy efficient water extraction and cleaning solutions, and generate clean water and energy as byproducts of the farming process.

Provide local employment and training to ensure the sustainability of the project.

Increase crop yields and improve food security for small-scale farmers.

Contribute to the long-term development

Our organization addresses the issues of limited access to technology and resources, and low productivity in the agricultural industry in rural communities. To address these issues, we plan to use the internet to connect farmers with customers and provide them with access to technology and resources that can improve their productivity and safety. We will educate farmers on the technologies we introduce and provide them with a lease-to-own option, which will allow them to try out the technology before committing to it. We will also involve the community in the development process through a voting system that allows them to request specific features and functions in open source designs.

The intersection of technology and digital rights movements with these issues is twofold. First, by providing rural communities with access to technology and resources, we can help them improve their livelihoods and become more self-sufficient. Second, by involving the community in the development process and using open source designs, we can ensure that the technology meets their needs and is developed in a more democratic manner. We also plan to use wireless local and bridged services to deliver asset tracking and system management to facilities and logistics solutions, which will help improve efficiency and transparency in the supply chain.