Jul. 13th, 2022

ecosophia: (Default)
domeI'm very pleased to say that I have a publisher interested in republishing out-of-print books from the appropriate technology movement of the 1970s. It's a good time for that; with petroleum well over $100 a barrel, inflation out of control, and a cascade of other economic and political crises making the current scene seem rather remarkably reminiscent of the 1970s, this is a good time for such a project. During the energy crises of that era, plenty of work went into constructive responses to the shortage of concentrated energy, and -- unlike most of what we've seen recently -- much of it focused on things you could build, make, or do yourself, rather than the sort of grandiose fantasy that only gargantuan corporations can do. 

I already have a list of books I plan on recommending for this project, but I figured I'd throw the question to my readers as well. I know a fair number of people who read me have already done the smart thing and ransacked their local used book stores for old appropriate-tech books from back in the day. What are the out of print titles that you found useful, inspiring, exciting? What books on energy conservation, green living, small-scale gardening, and related topics do you think people need to have handy right now, and in the years immediately ahead? 

Integral Urban HouseSome of the subjects I have in mind are these: 

Energy conservation (insulation, weatherizing, non-electric ways of doing things)
Homescale energy production (sun, wind, water, you name it)
Organic gardening
Small-scale hydroponics
Backyard animal raising
Practical handicrafts
Solar greenhouses
Skills for living cheaply
Ecological thinking

But of course there's much more and I'm open to stretching the boundaries at least a little. 

So there you are. We've got an opportunity -- help me make the most of it. 
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