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Food and Farming

Water Johads: A Low-Tech Alternative to Mega-Dams in India

Before the British arrived, people on the subcontinent used traditional low-cost, low-tech engineering to collect rainwater for thousands of years.

Burning the Bones of the Earth: Lime Kilns

Lime burning is a now-forgotten industry that sustained many agrarian communities before energy became cheap.

Boat Mills: Water Powered, Floating Factories

Boat mills, bridge mills and hanging mills were almost as widespread as windmills.

Recycling Animal and Human Dung is the Key to Sustainable Farming

Flushing the water closet wreaks ecological havoc, deprives agricultural soils of essential nutrients and makes food production dependent on fossil fuels.

Wind Powered Factories: History (and Future) of Industrial Windmills

Would it make sense to revive the industrial windmill and again convert kinetic energy directly into mechanical energy?

Bring Back the Horses

Replacing tractors with real horse power could be the revolution that agriculture needs.

Why bottled water is good for the environment

Drinking bottled water is a more ecological choice than consuming soft drinks, coffee, fruit juice or beer.