michael beyer

Benny Jenn wrote:Hi, is there supposed to be a "Click Here to Download" at the bottom (for free e-book access, as a [url]GMC KS - Full Status of All The Things member)?  I've found this below the purchase section at the bottom of several other linked items in the GMC KS - Full Status list (see attachment).

Yes, there is! You have to make sure you are logged in to see it. I sometimes realize I am not logged in when viewing these things. Also, the download button only appears after you purchase it (or win it from a Kickstarter).

With a regular toilet bowl setup, it seems obvious cloth wipes would be more sustainable. But what about with a compost toilet setup?

We use old blankets, clothes, and cut them into squares to wipe our behinds. Then we soak them in vinegar, wash, and re-use. Sometimes we use a washing machine. Sometimes hand wash. We never use a dryer and instead hang dry. Although one day we hope to construct a spinning mesh sphere powered by solar energy (or some other form) to remove some of the tediousness of drying them on the line.

Water is required to wash cloth wipes which is not required for toilet paper, but I imagine the life cycle analysis would show that the manufacturing of toilet paper would be much more resource-intensive than re-using cloth wipes?

Is there such thing as sustainable toilet paper that biodegrades easily like made from renewable bamboo or something like that?

What do y’all think? What is the clear winner in the debate of what we use to wipe our behinds? Cloth wipes or some kind of sustainable toilet paper?

Any update on an airtable version?

I suppose Tom doesn't have online resources somewhere? 😂

Do you have any sources or links or whatever to help me find my "tom" or some guides/instructionals I could use to guide my process of learning and building?

Thank you for the in depth reply you already gave

It looks like all the walls are enclosed in this photo. Where does the airflow come from?

What if the carport had walls on all four sides? Wouldn't that block the wind enough so that nothing blew away?

Thekla McDaniels wrote:
Sorry, Michael, I am not contradicting you, but the institution that put the idea out trying to distinguish lime from cement.  This kind of green washing is all too common.  The idea put forth that hempcrete is "sustainable" that it uses "lime", which as noted is produced the same way as portland cement.  

It is so exhausting to have to fact check everything, isn't it?

This seems to be the most comprehensive scientific paper studying life cycle analyses of 36 different formulations of hempcrete. It seems their conclusion is that many formulations of hempcrete are carbon negative, especially the formulations which do not include Portland cement.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S095965262031893X

You can find other less comprehensive life cycle analyses through a search like this as well...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=life+cycle+analysis+of+concrete+vs+hempcrete&t=iphone&ia=web

I would love to know the negative ecological consequences of mining limestone and producing limebinders outside of the context of just calculating carbon-score and embodied energy. Are these types of considerations taken into account in life cycle analyses or do I need to start an organization that takes some of these other factors into account? xD

Thekla McDaniels wrote:
Sorry, Michael, I am not contradicting you, but the institution that put the idea out trying to distinguish lime from cement.  This kind of green washing is all too common.  The idea put forth that hempcrete is "sustainable" that it uses "lime", which as noted is produced the same way as portland cement.  

It is so exhausting to have to fact check everything, isn't it?

This article also claims the ability to source lime binder components locally. How they define "locally" and how the process of mining effects the overall ecology is not clear though.

https://www.greenbuildermedia.com/buildingscience/hempcrete-keeping-it-local

Thekla McDaniels wrote:

Sorry, Michael, I am not contradicting you, but the institution that put the idea out trying to distinguish lime from cement.  This kind of green washing is all too common.  The idea put forth that hempcrete is "sustainable" that it uses "lime", which as noted is produced the same way as portland cement.  

It is so exhausting to have to fact check everything, isn't it?

I've researched further and you are correct. It seems limestone or "lime" is a main ingredient in Portland cement as well. Perhaps hempcrete is more sustainable in that it doesn't have to go through as many industrial processes to produce it? It especially doesn't need to be heated to such a high temperature. Also, there are claims it is carbon negative after some time as it sequesters carbon. I don't know if these claims are true or not, but in some senses, it may be considered more sustainable than Portland cement but it still has the ecological consequences of mining limestone whatever those are. What do you think about this?

Stir Fry Recipe

2 cups : Green/Red Rice
3 ct : peppers (yellow - red - orange)
1 ct : yellow onion
1/4 ct : red onion
1 lb : ground beef
1 lb : fresh mushrooms (maitake, shiitake, oyster)
1/8 cup : coconut aminos
1/8 cup : store bought organic general tso sauce
1 ct : baby bok choy