The Appropriate Technology Course is a live course filmed at Wheaton Labs. This course is currently only available to those who have purchased the PermaEthos PDC.

The Appropriate Technology Course, led by Tim Barker, takes the permaculture principles to the next level by applying some crafty science and engineering to basic life essentials like hot water and water catchment. With this course, you'll cover a wide range of topics and get real life experience building the systems you'll need to live comfortably and sustainable.

What topics do we discuss in the ATC?

1. Solar - (passive, heating, cookers, ovens, dryers. Panels, charging, storage, lighting, mobile powered units).

2. Heating Temperate shelters - rocket stoves ( dimensions, materials, uses (hotwater, oven, cooking, mass heating). wood stoves, solar, thermal mass, insulation, floors, composting. Thermal mass greenhouses

3. Cooling Tropical shelters - shade, wind, ground cooling ducts, orientation, thermal mass, roofs

4. Water - filtering, purity, potibility, design, pumps, swales, ponds, air wells, drilled wells, collection systems, storage, IBC's, Grey water (recycling, uses, low cost methods, legal, productive uses)

5. Sustainability - energy audits, home, farm, food security - measurement

6. BioChar - production and use

7. Compost Toilets - Types, designs, Humanure, urine, safety, regulation, reality.

Energy concepts

The aim of the Appropriate technology course is to give students a more fundamental understanding of Energy so that they can make informed choices about the technologies they use

Solar thermal strategies and techniques

Students will learn about solar passive design including natural building concepts, solar cookers, solar dryers, and solar cooling

Combustion

Students will learn about rocket stoves and pyrolysis stoves

Human powered devices

Small scale electrical generation

Students will learn about solar photovoltaic, hydro, and wind

Biotechnology

Students will learn about composting toilet systems, grey water, and bio filtration.

Tool use

Students will be taught how to use a range of hand and power tools. This includes an introduction to welding.

Meet your Instructor

Tim Barker

Tim has come a long way since his days as a diesel fitter mechanic, and now spends his time between Australia and New Zealand (and sometimes the US) as a semi professional pyromaniac and mad scientist teaching people how to burn stuff and make really cool machines and devices for low carbon living. He currently teaches Appropriate technology for the Koanga institute in New Zealand and Very Edible Gardens (VEG) in Melbourne, to name a few.

He has previously been farm manager for the Permaculture research Institute of Australia, power station operator/mechanic, adventure guide and professional turtle wrestler. His rocket stove and char making powered hot water systems, ovens and cookers reflect his passion for elegant simple and durable combustion technologies. Other projects include gravity powered water pumps, solar thermal cookers and dryers, pedal powered washing machines, cargo bikes, hovercraft, wooden boats and aquaponics, to name a few. When he is not tinkering he can be found on Macleay Island off the coast of Queensland Australia, where he and his family live and are currently in the process of building a rammed earth house (with maybe a little sailing thrown in).

He is particularly well known for his safe and effective rocket hot water heating system.He brings practical, hands on experience with some truly fascinating projects to the table - this from the Koanga institute:

"He has the practical knowledge and skills to construct almost any project with limited resources."