Bootstrapping The Planet

Hi, you're no doubt wondering where I've been, since I was supposed to restart the podcast six months ago.  The short explanation is that without a car, I lack the necessary free time to be able to do the show.  And while I'm doing my best to get a car, or find a job closer to home, if you'd like to help me with this, so I can get back to releasing regular episodes, please consider donating to help support me. You can find a donate button by going to the show notes page here:  http://bootstrappingtheplanet.blogspot.com/2016/06/progress-report.html

I know I'd promised to put out a second episode this month, but I unfortunately came down with pneumonia and just don't have the stamina to record an episode.  I'll almost certainly be able to record two episodes next month.  My apologies, but I think you can understand.

Show notes are here:  http://bootstrappingtheplanet.blogspot.com/2015/10/episode-0008-sea-powered-lamp.html   Topics covered in this episode include:  Salt powered lamp, solar powered "classroom in a box," washing machine for sanitary napkins, buy one give one wood stove, "telephone" farmers, and more!

Show notes for the episode are here: http://bootstrappingtheplanet.blogspot.com/2015/09/episode-0007-pedal-power-and-more.html   In this episode I cover a bike powered centrifuge, rugged bicycles for Africa, rammed earth school design for Mali, bottle lights, talking books, and more!

Show notes for this episode are here.  In this episode, I tell you how to build a small foundry capable of melting aluminum.  You'll need the information from the show notes to be able to build your own.  I also cover a low-cost dome home in a Kenyan orphanage, a new design for a simple, but effective water filtration system, and better cook stoves for the developing world.

Show notes for this episode can be found here.  A short episode this month as the interview with the children from the Exodus Rescue Education Centre didn't last very long due to internet problems.  The news stories I cover are: A building program in Haiti, an easy to repair toilet funded by the Gates Foundation, using satellite antennas as billboards, and crowdfunding comes to Africa. Thanks for listening!

Show notes can be found here.  Topics in this episode include school gardens in Argentina, sack gardens in Kenya, IV fluids not being given to sick children, selling solar lights in Africa, why an "ugly" phone is so popular in Ghana, and more!

In this episode I cover an online reference library of mechanical movements, artificial islands which purify water made from recycled materials, a solar powered toilet, a family who grows 6,000 lbs of food on less than an acre, a combination greenhouse/dew collector developed for Africa, solar power for shanty towns in South Africa, crowdfunding solar power, "groundfridge" a new take on root cellars, zeer pots, cheap solar energy for the developing world, a compact communication device for aid workers which doesn't require cell networks, and the skatergirls of Afghanistan.

Reasons why I wasn't able to put out a second episode in April, and when you can expect the next episode to post.

My apologies for the long delay, but I've had a number of issues which have kept me from recording a new episode.  Topics in this episode include: An improved design for saw horses which is easy to build An emergency shelter which can be made from umbrellas and trash bags Earth homes for Pakistan Ecological latrines in Cuba "Green toilets" for Africa Floating toilets in Cambodia 65% of Africa's land too damaged for food production Solar furnace can melt metal 3D printers made from "ewaste" African built cars New uses for old tires Afghan women seek economic opportunities thanks to sewing classes

I haven't forgotten about you, but I've had some personal issues which have kept me away.  I'm sorry about that, and I'm going to try to get out an extra episode in April to make up for that.  I will have an episode out in April where I explain everything.  Thanks for listening.

Welcome to the first episode of Bootstrapping the Planet, the monthly podcast dedicated to projects and technologies helping those in the developing world live a better life. The shownotes and links for this episode can be found here. You can email your comments and suggestions to bootstrapplanet@gmail.com Stories covered in this episode include: Orphanage built using low-cost construction methods. Ikea designs houses for refugees. Low-cost pre-fab house in Vietnam. Providing toilets for people in India. Lifestraw campaign to provide clean water in Kenya. MIT's pine branch water filter. And many more.