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2023 PTJ: Flowforms

posted 2 years ago

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This page is to share and discuss the design of flowforms!

At the 2023 PTJ, we can design and create flowforms for Wheaton Labs with non-gicky diy cement! Flowforms are intended to give the water rhythm and a pulse. They oxygenate the water, which in turn helps break down organic matter. They also bring beneficial structure to the water.

Apparently, they were developed by John Wilke's in the 1970s.

Flowform fountains use a figure eight flow pattern to gently fold oxygen into the circulating water and encourage beneficial activity to help organisms break down contaminants. The agriculture business uses Flowforms to efficiently treat effluent and waste water for composting, fertilizer teas, pond health, and biodynamic crop treatments, popularizing their scientific applications. Flowform treated water boosts plant development and irrigates gardens and landscapes with little volume and greatest efficiency.

Have you ever made or used flowforms? Are they woo-woo or a logical scientific approach?

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https://permies.com/t/17846/Flowforms

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COMMENTS:

Stephen Molnar

Posts: 4

posted 2 years ago

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I’ve been looking at these on and off for years. They seem to originate from the work of Viktor Schauberger. I am admittedly a mediocre web sleuth but I’ve repeatedly tried and failed to find any DIY info online. Seems like some Aussies have cornered the market on this knowledge somehow. The best I’ve been able to find so far is that the shape comes a cardioid curve. And one suggestion that sitting in wet concrete makes a suitable impression.
I haven’t tried either yet but both seem readily achievable.

Adam Klaus

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Location: Appalachian Rainforest of NC, 2200' elevation, 85" precip, Zn 7

posted 2 years ago

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Happy to see this here getting attention!
I've been wondering for years about a simple system to build flowforms, but haven't seen a prototype I could replicate.
The best ones I've seen came from cut and heat-molded PVC pipe fittings.

Let's get this figured out Permies! I'm excited to collaborate with y'all.

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Cécile Stelzer Johnson

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Posts: 1601

Location: zone 4b, sandy, Continental D

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posted 2 years ago

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I'm wondering about the consistency and composition of this concrete. I have a roof that was poorly designed, so I've been messing with ways of capturing that water at the corner of the house and have some sort of a set of flow forms, with a pump recycling it so it could turn into a pretty fountain, and maybe grow some cress there.
At this point, the only negative I can think of is that in zone 4b, WI, the whole contraption would have to be emptied and maybe moved?
The best thing I found in the way of fake cement is very light and cheap to make, so if it broke, I would not be out hundreds of dollars! They call it papercrete. you can make it look quite natural.
https://youtu.be/OErc8AbqyaQ
I'm sure there is a limit on the size and thickness of the flow forms as water is heavy, but it really looks like stone...

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Joan Dealande

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posted 2 years ago

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Look for the work of Theodore Schwenk . His book Sensitive Chaos in particular. Also The Nature Institute in upstate New York will have information as well.

Cécile Stelzer Johnson

pollinator

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Location: zone 4b, sandy, Continental D

433

posted 2 years ago

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Joan Dealande wrote:Look for the work of Theodore Schwenk . His book Sensitive Chaos in particular. Also The Nature Institute in upstate New York will have information as well.

Wow. This is fascinating. No wonder these forms are naturally pleasing: they seem to be in everything that is good.

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Ellen Lewis

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Posts: 211

Location: SF bay area zone 10a

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posted 2 years ago

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I've been brainstorming for years about running the graywater from my upstairs bathtub down a set of flowforms before watering my trees with it.
I also have had no success finding molds or patterns, and even if I did, I don't think I'd be capable of making them and setting them up for myself.
Have also researched papercrete but have neither the space (small urban lot) nor the mechanical aptitude to make one of those cool papercrete mixers. http://www.livinginpaper.com/mixers.htm
My single foray into concrete was decades ago, I lined a pond with rags dipped in cement slurry. Worked great until an acorn sprouted nearby, and I chose the oak tree over the pond, which cracked from root growth.
Anyway, I'd be very interested to hear if anyone develops molds that could be used to shape the forms. I could probably shape them out of concrete-maché or some such thing and get my neighbor to make an armature to put them up. Ha! Another harebrained art project, but it would be cool!

Andrew Rule

Posts: 24

Location: New Haven County, Connecticut

posted 2 years ago

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These flow forms are based on the work of Viktor and (his son) Walter Schauberger. An example of them is said to be in the front yard of their PYTHAGORAS KEPLER SCHOOL (PKS) housed at Villa Rothstein near Bad Ischl, Oberösterreich (Austria).

This is their site:
https://pks.or.at/en/introduction/

Dana Martin

Posts: 28

Location: North Dakota

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posted 2 years ago

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I was going to purchase a some flowforms from a place in California. It was over a thousand dollars for 3 or 4 flowforms and just under a thousand to ship them! That was also PRE covid prices. I couldn't imagine how much it is now.

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James Bowen

Posts: 7

posted 2 years ago

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So many people have made knock off versions of designs by John Wilkes. His designs are based on specific mathematical equations. A DIY situation may result in water splashing out or the form may fall apart or crack. Here is the legit website for all things related to flow forms! http://flowform.info

Cécile Stelzer Johnson

pollinator

Posts: 1601

Location: zone 4b, sandy, Continental D

433

posted 2 years ago

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James Bowen wrote:So many people have made knock off versions of designs by John Wilkes. His designs are based on specific mathematical equations. A DIY situation may result in water splashing out or the form may fall apart or crack. Here is the legit website for all things related to flow forms! http://flowform.info

Thanks, James. They look beautiful.

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