Appropriate Technologies

ECHO 17391 Durrance Road North Fort Myers, FL 33917, USA 239-543-3246 [email protected] www.echocommunity.org

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

A-Frame Level

A-Frame Level Made from 3 sticks, a string and a rock, the A-Frame Level is a simple, accurate tool for marking level contours on a slope. Level contours on a slope reduce erosion, increase water infiltration, protect slopes and facilitate reclamation of degraded hillsides.

Aquaponics

Aquaponics This Aquaponics system produces fish, vegetables and some fish food. It has 4 components: fish tanks, sedimentation filter (removes solids), bio filter (changes NH3 & NO2 to nitrates), and growbeds (plants & fish food). The fish water fertilizes the plants and the plants clean the water. The water flows by gravity through each component and is then pumped back into the fish tanks.

Bamboo Boards

Bamboo Boards Bamboo can be flattened into “boards” by making small splits around each node and then slicing the culm lengthwise. The bamboo can be treated (using borax or by soaking in water or other methods) so that it will last longer. The flattened bamboo boards can be used as flooring or walls or other construction material.

1

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Bamboo Bicycle

Bamboo Bicycle The frame of this bicycle is made of bamboo tubes joined together with hemp fiber and epoxy resin. The joints have metal inside for the bearings to ride on, but the tubes are only bamboo. Bamboo is a lightweight, renewable resource that is very strong, yet flexible.

Bicycle Trailer

Bicycle Trailer Bicycles are a common method of transport around the world and there are many designs for trailers that can enhance the carrying capacity of a bicycle. This lightweight model is made mostly from bamboo, does not require welding or many tools, and can also be used as a hand cart.

Biogas

Biogas

Biogas is a mixture of methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen (H) and other gases that is formed when a slurry of organic matter (manure, plant residue, etc) and water is decomposed anaerobically. Biogas can be used as a fuel for cooking, heating, lighting or running a motor. After using the biogas, the remaining slurry can be used as an excellent fertilizer.

2

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Biogas Collectors

Biogas Collectors Gas collectors are main components of biogas digesters. A collector should provide a means of capturing and storing biogas as well as the pressure needed to force the gas into a cookstove. Biogas Collector designs include: large inner tube, floating drum, specialized bladder, tubular plastic sheeting, etc.

Biogas Digesters

Biogas Digesters This Flow-Thru Biogas Digester is made from 3 drums welded together. The digester is filled with a slurry of manure and water that is “digested” by microorganisms to produce biogas. Each week 10 gallons of fresh slurry is added and the same amount of used slurry is removed. A 3-drum flow-thru digester can meet the cooking fuel needs for a family of 4-6. [A separate gas collection chamber is required for this model.]

Biogas Digesters

Biogas Digesters This Batch Biogas Digester is made from a barrel filled with a slurry of manure and water and then sealed. It will produce biogas for about 3 months and can then be emptied and re-started. One barrel digester can provide fuel to cook one meal a day and heat water. A second barrel can be started 4 weeks after the first to provide a constant supply of biogas. [A separate gas collection chamber is required for this model.]

3

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Block Press

Block Press Pressed Earth Blocks cost less than a penny per block and can be made using most types of soil. A stabilizer, such as cement or lime, is mixed with the soil for strength and durability (1 bag cement can make over 100 blocks), a small amount of water is added and the mixture is pressed. Four workers can produce around 500 blocks per day.

Briquette Presses

Briquette Presses Briquette Presses produce fuel briquettes from leaves, stalks, grass, sawdust, wood shavings, plant wastes, newspaper, scrap paper, etc. The materials are shredded and soaked in water then a small quantity is placed in a perforated PVC and compacted with a wooden ramming post using either a lever action or hydraulic action. The resulting briquette is removed and air dried and makes a good alternative fuel for charcoal or wood.

Butter Churn

Butter Churn Typical Butter Churns can be improved by the addition of a paddle-wheel agitator. The paddle-wheel agitator reduces churning time, improves efficiency, and produces a better butter.

4

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Cane Kettle

Cane Kettle This kettle was made to process sugar cane juice into molasses. To make molasses, the sugar cane is harvested and squeezed to extract the juice which is boiled in the kettle to concentrate it. Blackstrap molasses (boiled till majority of sucrose is crystallized) is a source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, & iron; 1 Tbs provides up to 20% of the daily value of each of those nutrients.

Cane Press

Cane Press There are many styles of Cane Presses that facilitate pressing juice from sugar cane or sorghum cane. This is an antique cane press normally powered by a draft animal. Cane juice can be consumed fresh or boiled down to produce molasses, syrup, or further refined into sugar.

Cane Press

Cane Press This portable hand-powered cane press is from Cambodia. Fresh sugar cane is peeled and squeezed through the press by turning the wheel. The fresh juice is poured into small bags of ice and sold. Composted bagasse (leftover cane) is an excellent source of organic matter and nutrients for the garden.

5

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Charcoal

Charcoal Charcoal is the residue of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile substances from organic material. Wood charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis (heating in the absence of oxygen) and has various uses: fuel, soil amendment, water treatment, medicine, art, etc. As a fuel, charcoal has a higher energy value than wood and burns cleaner.

Charcoal: Kiln

Charcoal: Kiln

This kiln is made from a metal barrel placed within a frame and covered by sand to serve as an insulator. The drum is packed with large wood pieces (or other organic material) and it is lit and then sealed to produce charcoal or bio-char. This design also includes a chimney which allows wood vinegar to be captured from the condensed smoke.

Charcoal: T-LUD Kiln

Charcoal: T-LUD Kiln This Top-Lit Up Draft (TLUD) Kiln is made from 2 metal barrels and some additional metal pieces. It converts biomass into combustible gasses (smoke) and then burns these gases leaving behind charcoal or biochar. This TLUD Kiln works very fast but is less efficient and works best for small sticks.

6

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Coconut Husker

Coconut Husker This sharp device is mounted securely and then coconuts can be hit against it to facilitate the removal of the husk.

Coconut Shredder

Coconut Shredder This electric shredder from Cambodia is used to shred coconut meat from the shell for eating, selling or further processing.

Composting Latrine

Composting Latrine

Composting toilets provide a sanitary method to recycle human waste while conserving water and protecting the environment. Dry Composting Toilets separate urine from feces. The urine can be mixed with water and used as a Nitrogen fertilizer. The solids are allowed to compost for a year and can then be used as a fertilizer.

7

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Cookstove: Barrel Oven

Cookstove: Barrel Oven The Barrel Oven is made from two 55 gallon drums. One drum is used as the oven and has a door cut into one end. The ends are cut out of the second drum and it is split and fitted over the top of the oven drum allowing +/- 25cm of air space between the two. A fire is built underneath at the back and the chimney, placed at the front of the oven, draws the heat around the entire oven.

Cookstove: Ceramic Jiko

Cookstove: Ceramic Jiko The Ceramic Jiko is an improved cookstove from Kenya with an insulated firebox and an air-flow control door. This improved design reduces fuel consumption, reduces smoke, reduces danger of burns from open flame, does not tip over easily, and provides a mechanism for basic temperature control.

Cookstove: Fireless

Cookstove: Fireless Fireless cookers use insulation to trap heat inside of a pot thereby decreasing fuel consumption up to 70%. Food is boiled by any method for 5-10 minutes and then placed quickly in the Fireless Cooker for 1-5 hours to complete cooking. Fireless cookers reduce fuel usage; reduce burns & smoke inhalation; prevent food from burning or boiling over; and are easy to construct.

8

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Cookstove: Justa

Cookstove: Justa This metal Justa Stove from Nicaragua is designed for cooking tortillas, cooking with multiple pots and cooking indoors. The stove can be built from a variety of materials (cement, clay, brick, metal, etc) then fitted with a chimney, filled with insulating material and topped with a cooking surface. Some characteristics of this cookstove: • Average fuel savings of 40% in Central America • Removes 100% of wood smoke from the house • Costs approx $50 with life expectancy of 10 years

Cookstove: Justa

Cookstove: Justa This Justa stove is constructed from bricks and cob (mixture of clay, sand, straw, and water; similar to adobe). It is based on the “rocket stove” design with the improved fuel chamber and the insulated heat path and it also includes a chimney to vent the smoke. The insulated heat path is made from wood ash filling the space beneath the griddle so when the fire is started in the fuel chamber the heat is kept within the stove and directed beneath the metal griddle.

Cookstove: Open Fire

Cookstove: Open Fire

More than half of the world’s population cook their food and heat their homes using open fires or rudimentary stoves. WHO estimates that 1.5 million people die prematurely each year from exposure to indoor smoke. In addition to being harmful and dangerous, open fires have very low heat transfer efficiency; they can, however, have good combustion efficiency.

9

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Cookstove: Rice Hull

Cookstove: Rice Hull This cookstove uses rice hulls for fuel. It is filled with rice hulls and then lit in the center. As it burns, the rice hulls continue to feed into the center chamber and the burned hulls fall to the bottom. It can be fueled by various other by-products such as peanut shells, millet husks, and sawdust. It boils 1 liter of water in around 6-8 minutes. From IRRI, Philippines

Cookstove: Rice Hull Gasifier

Cookstove: Rice Hull Gasifier This stove is fueled by the gases released from the process of charring or carbonizing rice hulls which are packed into the main chamber. When the rice hulls are charred, gasses are released that are ignited to serve as the fuel. The remaining charred rice hulls can be used as bio-char, in potting mix, etc.

Cookstove: Rocket

Cookstove: Rocket

The Rocket Stove is an efficient stove with a flexible design that emits virtually no smoke and uses very little fuel. Rocket Stoves feature improved combustion efficiency with the “elbow” fuel magazine that allows for complete combustion and also feature improved heat transfer efficiency with the insulated combustion chamber that minimizes heat loss.

10

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Cookstove: Rocket Barrel

Cookstove: Rocket Barrel This large cookstove made from a barrel incorporates some “rocket stove” principles for increased efficiency making it possible to cook large quantities of food with very little fuelwood.

Cookstove: Sawdust

Cookstove: Sawdust

Dry materials such as sawdust, rice hulls, straw, etc. are tamped tightly into a frame around two sticks. The sticks are then removed to create a tunnel from the top out the base. The stove is lit on top and draft is controlled by a brick in front of the opening at the base. If packed tightly, this stove will burn up to 5 hours and can boil 1 liter of water in 5-7 minutes.

Cookstove: Soda Can

Cookstove: Soda Can The Soda Can Stove is made from 2 soda can bottoms and some perlite. The resulting small, lightweight stove can boil 2 cups of water in 5 minutes with 2 tablespoons of fuel. It can be fueled by de-natured alcohol or isopropyl alcohol and works best for heating small amounts of liquid or food.

11

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Cookstove: T-LUD

Cookstove: T-LUD The Top-Lit Up Draft stove is a gasifier stove that burns from the top down. Gasifiers burn the biomass which releases combustible gasses (smoke) and then they burn these gases for complete combustion with very little smoke escaping. TLUDs can use small sticks, wood chips, briquettes, peanut hulls, or many other by-products as biomass fuel.

Cookstove: Traditional Metal

Cookstove: Traditional Metal

Traditional Metal Stoves are an improvement over an open fire and can help reduce indoor air pollution. However, they are not as efficient as insulated cookstoves and can be dangerous (tip easily and can produce carbon monoxide). [The stove in this picture was made in about 1 hour from various pieces of scrap metal by a craftsman in Haiti.]

Cookstove: Two-can

Cookstove: Two-can Two cans are put together to form a cylinder which is packed with fuel: sawdust, rice hulls, etc. The fuel is packed tightly into the cans around a stick and the stick is then removed to create a tunnel from the top out the base. The fuel is lit on top and air is drawn up from the base. This cookstove can burn up to 3 hours and can boil 1 litre of water in 6-8 minutes.

12

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Cook Pot Skirt

Cook Pot Skirt A pot skirt can greatly increase the efficiency of a cookstove. It works by forcing the heat from the cookstove to travel around the sides of the pot utilizing more of the available heat and reducing cooking time and fuel requirements.

Cultivator

Cultivator This manual cultivator is fitted with adjustable tines and can be pushed between crop rows to dig up weeds or can be used to loosen soil in a row for planting.

Drip Irrigation

Drip Irrigation Drip irrigation technology helps to decrease water usage, reduce labor, increase yields, control weeds, reduce plant disease, and produce vegetables during the dry season. A gravity-fed Bucket Kit comes with 30m (100ft) of drip tape and can irrigate 100 plants using approximately 30lt (8 gal) of water per day. Drip tape lasts 5-7 years in field conditions.

13

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Drying Fan

Drying Fan This hand-cranked fan from IITA, Nigeria, can be used for drying produce or seeds or for winnowing seeds.

Ferrocement Tank

Ferrocement Tank

Ferrocement is a construction method using mortar made from cement, sand and water, reinforced with layers of wire mesh for added strength. Ferrocement tanks are usually inexpensive to build, do not require skilled labor, are durable (due to the wire reinforcing), and can be made to various shapes and sizes to suit needs.

Flywheel

Flywheel This flywheel helps to power a grinder with a bicycle. Human power fluctuates throughout the stroke or cycle of the pedal. A flywheel helps even out and store the pedal power, and thus is able to deliver a consistent torque to the grinder.

14

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Forage Cutter

Forage Cutter The Forage Cutter provides a mechanism to chop tough grasses or other forages to make them more palatable and digestible for livestock. This results in more efficient food conversion for animals and encourages consumption so less is wasted. It can also be used to chop materials for compost, silage, vermiculture, etc.

Forage Chopper

Forage Chopper

This forage chopper is made specifically for chopping banana stalks. It is from World Vision in Thailand and runs on 220v electricity, quickly and quietly slicing banana stalks into small pieces. Chopped banana stalk can be used directly as animal feed, or fermented into silage and stored for later.

Grain Moisture Test

Grain Moisture Test To store maize, the moisture content should be less than 15%. To test the moisture, put a sample of the maize in a clean, dry glass container then add 2-3 Tbs of dry salt. Close the container and shake it vigorously. Let it rest for 15 minutes and shake again. If the salt sticks to the sides or the kernels, the moisture is greater than 15% and the maize should be further dried before storing.

15

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Grain Storage: Metal Silos

Grain Storage: Metal Silos Locally produced metal silos can assist in the reduction of post harvest losses. These silos can be manufactured by local tinsmiths out of galvanized flat iron sheets using simple tools and can last up to 20 years. Plans are available for 5 silo sizes (holding between 180 kg and 1360 kg of grains). Production cost is $30-$100, depending on silo size, cost of materials, and cost of labor.

Grinder: Burr

Grinder: Burr Compatible Technologies International produce burr mills that are multi-purpose, sturdy grinders designed for family use in rural areas of developing countries. They can make fine or coarse flour from various grains, dehull seeds, make peanut butter, coffee, Moringa leaf powder, etc. The grinders can be powdered with a hand crank, pedals, or with a motor.

Grinder: Golden Grain

Grinder: Golden Grain This small, heavy duty, stone mill can grind any dry grain: maize, wheat, millet, oats, rice, etc. It can be adjusted to provide fine flour or coarse cereal. It has a quiet ¾ hp motor, no bushings to wear out, and will grind 50-60 pounds of flour per hour. It can also be hand powered with an attachable handle.

16

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Grinder: Wheel

Grinder: Wheel This grinder has a metal burr fixed to a cement wheel. It can be used for transforming grains or tubers into flour, dehulling seeds, and wet or dry grinding of vegetables. It is very useful for processing produce.

Hand Tools

Hand Tools Simple garden hand tools can be made from scrap wood and metal and nails. For metal hand trowels and forks, use a pattern to mark the proper shape from a piece of 1mm metal then cut out using a chisel and hammer into the proper shape. For tools made from nails, fashion wooden handles, hammer the nails into place, cut the nail heads off with a chisel and hammer cut ends into desired shape.

Handicap Cart

Handicap Cart This hand-powered cart is called a PET (Personal Energy Transportation). It was designed by 2 pastors for people in developing countries who have lost the use of their legs due to polio, land mines, injury or other causes. It is simple to construct, easy to maintain, low-cost, and sturdy.

17

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Hay Baler

Hay Baler The Hay Baler allows grass to be harvested during times when it is abundant and stored for use when availability of animal feed is low. Place twine in box (using slits on sides) then fill with cut, dried grass and compress; continue filling with dried grass and compressing until bale is desired size then tie up with string.

Microscope

Microscope This microscope uses a lens from a laser pointer and a smart-phone camera. The focus lens is removed from a laser pointer and embedded in plexiglass so that a smart-phone camera can be placed over it converting it into a digital microscope providing up to 175x magnification.

Mortar & Pestle

Mortar & Pestle

The mortar & pestle is a basic tool used to grind or crush. They are made in various sizes from various materials. This ancient tool is still used for basic food processing needs, such as transforming grain into flour, as well as crushing herbs or preparing medicines.

18

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Oil Expeller

Oil Expeller An Oil Expeller is screw-type machine that uses friction and continuous pressure to move and compress the raw material and thereby expel the oil. Typical raw materials are nuts, oil seeds, and even algae. This model comes from Thailand and is used for extracting Moringa oil.

Oil Press: Hydraulic

Oil Press: Hydraulic A Hydraulic Oil Press can be used to extract oil from a number of fruits, nuts, and seeds such as: groundnuts, palm nuts, shea nuts, coconut, okra seeds, avocado, Moringa seeds, etc. Raw materials are treated (dried, decorticated, ground, heated) then placed in the perforated PVC and the hydraulic jack is used to press out the oil.

Oil Press: Ram

Oil Press: Ram The Ram Press is used for extracting oil from oilseeds. Oilseeds are placed in the funnel and pressed, at a rate of 15 strokes per minute, to produce cooking oil. Can be used with oilseeds such as: sunflower, sesame, groundnut, coconut, etc. There are various uses for leftover seedcake, depending on oilseed used.

19

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Oil Press: Screw

Oil Press: Screw A Screw Press can be used for: - Oil extraction (groundnut, palm, etc) - Starch pressing (cassava, maize) - Dewatering pulp (cassava, soybean) - Soy milk extraction

Pedal Power

Pedal Power

Many devices that are hand-cranked or motorized can be modified to run on a bicycle. This typically makes hand-cranked devices more efficient and can make motorized devices cheaper to operate or allow them to be used if the motor has broken. This photo shows a corn sheller, a grindstone, a table saw, a drill, and a grain grinder all powered by a multi-purpose bike.

Pedal Power: Bike

Pedal Power: Bike Using bicycles to power devices can be an effective way to make them more efficient. However, bicycles are also very useful for transport. By adding a gear and a stand, a bicycle can be converted to do both activities.

20

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Plastic Handicrafts

Plastic Handicrafts Handbags and other handicrafts can be made using discarded plastic bags. Each bag is cut to form one long string and that is used to crochet the handicrafts.

Pump: In-Line

Pump: In-Line This small water pump powered by a 12 volt battery provides pressurized water from the nearby rain-water tank to the sink.

Pump: Pitcher

Pump: Pitcher Historically used throughout rural America, cast metal hand pumps help to provide water from shallow wells. The design uses two simple foot valves. The picture also shows a pump that is similar in design and function to the metal hand pump but is hand made from PVC.

21

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Pump: PVC

Pump: PVC Many simple water pumps can be made from PVC. Cylinders, pistons, foot valves, head seals, inlets, outlets, and handles can be crafted using mainly PVC and inner tube rubber. PVC Pump designs include: rower pumps, pressure pumps, suction pumps, inertia pumps, treadle pumps, pitcher pumps, etc.

Pump: PVC & Marble

Pump: PVC & Marble PVC Hand Pumps can be made from 2 sizes of PVC, some fittings, an o-ring, a piece of hose and 2 marbles. Each piece of PVC is fitted with a foot valve made from a marble and a piece of hose. The small PVC is placed inside the large PVC with an o-ring seal to form the pump.

Pump: Ram

Pump: Ram Ram pumps use two valves and the force of a large volume of moving water to pump a small amount of water uphill. As water flows into the pump it gains momentum and forces the 1st valve to seal this creates pressure to open the 2nd valve and force the water uphill. As the water flows out the pressure is reduced so the 1st valve opens again, the 2nd valve closes and the process repeats.

22

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Pump: Rope & Washer

Pump: Rope & Washer The Rope & Washer Pump is made from a tire, a length of PVC and some rope. Washers are cut from the tire and threaded onto the rope. The rope is tied in a circle and goes around the top axle (made from the tire sides) and the bottom axle and pulls the water up the PVC to the outlet. Rope & Washer pumps work to a depth of 40 meters and have a flow rate of 40 liters per minute.

Pump: Rower

Pump: Rower The rower pump is a simple model of the common piston pump. The design uses a “rowing” motion to move the piston and draw water from the source. If the piston is positioned above the water (as in this photo), the pump works on a suction action and therefore can only pull water from a depth of 7 meters (23 feet). This pump has a flow rate of 38 liters per minute.

Pump: Solar

Pump: Solar The solar energy transferred through a solar array powers this pump which pumps 12gpm of water to the top of ECHO’s Mountain for a solar powered waterfall. There are no batteries in this system so it only works when the sun is shining.

23

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Pump: Treadle

Pump: Treadle Treadle Pumps can lift 5-7m3 of water per hour from wells or boreholes up to 7m deep or from surface water sources such as lakes and rivers. Pressurized treadle pump models can pump water up to an elevated tank. Treadle pumps are less expensive than motor-pumps, less tiring than most manual pumps, have a high output capacity and can be made locally.

Pump: Yoke

Pump: Yoke The Yoke Pump is a portable pump made from PVC, fittings and 2 valves. It pumps water on both the upstroke and downstroke. It must be primed for each use and has a fairly high output. It is suited to pump water from a pond or stream for direct irrigation or into containers for household use. It is a suction pump so it is limited to shallow wells no deeper than 7m/23ft.

Rain Chains

Rain Chains Chain or similar material can serve as a substitute for downspouts to direct the flow of water from a gutter into a collection tank or drainage area.

24

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Rain Water Catchment

Rain Water Catchment

Rain Water Catchment tanks can be used as a water source for household use, irrigation or livestock watering. One mm of rain provides 1 liter of water per square meter of catchment area. One inch of rain provides 0.625 gallons of water per square foot of catchment area. One inch of rain on a 12’x24’ roof would provide 180 gallons of water.

Rice Mill / Hammer Mill

Rice Mill / Hammer Mill This is a dual function rice and hammer mill from Thailand that runs on 220v electricity. A hammer mill allows for the processing of grains at the community level. For rice processing, the rice is de-hulled and cleaned and the hulls and bran are ejected separately.

Rice Mill

Rice Mill This gasoline powdered rice mill from the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines allows for the processing of rice at the community level. The threshed rice goes through the huller and whitener producing clean, milled rice. Rice by-products of hulls, fine bran and coarse bran are ejected separately.

25

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Rice Seeder

Rice Seeder This Drum Rice Seeder from IRRI in the Philippines is used for direct seeding rice into recently drained, well-puddled seedbeds or into rice fields with standing water. Best results are obtained using pregerminated rice: soak rice for 24 hours, drain, then cover for 24 hours.

Rice Thresher

Rice Thresher This is a treadle powered rice thresher from the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. Mature rice is harvested and then bundles are placed on the thresher as it is rotating to remove the rice grains from the heads.

Rice Weeder

Rice Weeder This rotary weeder or rotating hoe from Thailand is designed to be pushed between rows of rice in a muddy or flooded rice paddy to uproot and bury emerging young weeds. Direct-seeded rice can be weeded at 20 days, 30 days and 40 days. Transplanted rice should be weeded after 10 days, 20 days and 30 days.

26

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Rope Maker

Rope Maker Make rope from cord or string or recycled plastic sacks: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Seed Planters

Tie end of cord to base hook Wrap cord around on hook on spindle and then back around base hook 3 times Cut cord and tie remaining end to base hook. Anchor base securely Rotate spindle clockwise until rope is complete then rotate base hook counter-clockwise to tighten. Remove rope and tie off ends.

Seed Planter These antique seed planters make the manual process of planting large fields more efficient. The top box is filled with seed and as the base is struck in the soil the seeds are planted. It can be adjusted for different seed sizes and planting rates and homemade versions can be constructed with PCV.

Seed Cleaner

Seed Cleaner Amaranth is a nutritious grain but difficult to clean due to the small seed size. This device, designed by Calvin College engineering students, provides a way to process small seeds. Seed heads are fed in at the top; turning the crank strips the seed from the heads and blows off the chaff allowing the cleaned seed to fall through a screen into a catch pan.

27

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Seed Treater

Seed Treater A Seed Treatment drum can be made of many types/sizes of containers and provides a way to coat seed with various products: •Coat with cooking oil to control beetles in stored grains •Coat with fungicides or insecticides •Coat with water gel crystals

Sheller

Sheller This seed sheller is made using the blade mechanism from a rotary push mower. It is useful for assistance in shelling seeds or opening nuts or hard seed pods such as Mucuna (velvet bean).

Sheller: Nut

Sheller: Nut The Universal Nut Sheller is a simple, adjustable machine that works with groundnuts, coffee, jatropha and shea nuts and can last around 25 years. Hand operated, it is capable of shelling 50kgs (110lbs) of raw, sun-dried nuts per hour so that one machine can be shared by an entire village.

28

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Shellers: Maize

Shellers: Maize Numerous maize shellers exist to facilitate the process of removing maize kernels from the cob. Some designs can be made locally while others must be purchased. The goal of each is to reduce the time and labor and increase the efficiency of the process.

Smoker

Smoker Cold smoking is the process of applying smoke flavor to foods without cooking them (temperatures should be less than 32.2C / 90F). This is used with foods such as bacon, sausage, ham, fish, cheese and chipotle peppers. Heat is applied to damp wood in the lower container to produce smoke which travels through the pipe to the upper container and coats the food; 1-2 hours.

Solar Cooker

Solar Cooker Many models of solar cookers are available ranging from expensive models to models that can be made easily out of locally available materials. Simple solar cookers reach temperatures of 82C-135C (180F275F). Solar cookers are clean, convenient, economical, environmentally friendly, healthy, save labor, and can also pasteurize water or other liquids.

29

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Solar Dehydrator

Solar Dehydrator

A Solar Dehydrator is used to preserve fruits, vegetables and other produce for future consumption or sale. Air enters the dehydrator from the black solar collector at the base and rises through the trays and out the chimney. This continuous flow of hot air absorbs moisture and dehydrates produce.

Solar Liter Light

Solar Liter Light The Solar Liter Light, devised in the Philippines, uses a 2 liter bottle full of water and a bit of chlorine to magnify the sun’s rays and produce the equivalent of a 50 watt light bulb.

Solar Panels

Solar Panels Solar Panels are used to capture solar energy and convert it into a usable form. They can be connected directly to run water pumps or other devices when the sun is shining. They can also be connected to batteries which store the energy and provide a continual source of electricity.

30

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Solar Wax Melter

Solar Wax Melter Beeswax is a valuable commodity which can be used for many products. It melts around 145⁰ F which can be easily achieved with solar energy. The comb is placed on the slanted metal surface, as it melts, the impurities can be separated, and the pure wax drips into a mold which makes storage and further processing simpler.

Tippy-Tap

Tippy-Tap Proper hand-washing can reduce diarrhea and the resulting health problems by 47%. Designed in Zimbabwe, “Tippy Taps” are simple hand-washing stations made from locally available materials. They are not dependent on piped water and require a tenth of the water normally used to wash hands.

Treadle Grindstone

Treadle Grindstone This is a grindstone mounted on a rear wheel bike axel with an old bike tire used as the drive belt. To turn the grindstone, a treadle board is attached at the base with a bike chain that runs from one end of the treadle board up and over the bike sprocket and back down to the base where it is attached with a bungee cord or equivalent to provide the chain return mechanism.

31

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Tuber Shredder

Tuber Shredder This tool is used for chipping or shredding root and tuber crops (cassava, yam, potato, sweet potato, etc). It produces a uniform size of chips making drying or further processing easier. Different blades can be attached to produce the desired product. Processes up to 200kg per hour.

Turbidity Tube

Turbidity Tube A Turbidity Tube provides a way to measure water turbidity (cloudiness due to suspended solids and/or organic matter). If turbidity is too high many water treatments are not effective: drinking water should be < 5 NTU; chlorination < 5 NTU (preferably < 1 NTU); SODIS/UV < 5 NTU; Sand Filters < 25 NTU; 1 Moringa Seed > 150 NTU; 2 Moringa Seeds > 250 NTU.

Water Disinfection: Chlorine

Water Disinfection: Chlorine A Chlorine Generator produces chlorine gas by passing direct current through a salt (NaCl) solution. The process also produces hydrogen gas and leaves sodium and hydroxide ions in the water. Chlorine gas can be used as a disinfectant to remove bacteria from drinking water.

32

Appropriate Technologies at ECHO

Water Disinfection: Pasteurization

Water Disinfection: Pasteurization Heating water to 66C (151F) provides enough heat to pasteurize water and kill disease causing microbes. This can easily be achieved with a solar cooker. In addition, the reusable “WAPI” tube contains soybean fat which melts at 69C (156F) indicating the water has reached sufficient temperatures for pasteurization.

Water Disinfection: SODIS

Water Disinfection: SODIS Solar Water Disinfection is a method of purifying drinking water. Plastic bottles are filled with contaminated water and exposed to full sunlight for 6 hours. The solar radiation and increased water temperatures destroy bacteria, viruses, protozoan, and other pathogens. SODIS requires relatively clear water and sunlight.

Water Disinfection: UV

Water Disinfection: UV Contaminated water can be disinfected by radiation from ultraviolet light. An 8 watt germicidal UV lamp can treat 4lt (1gal) per minute with 15 seconds of exposure per liter; 30,000 microwatts of UV radiation are needed to inactivate bacteria and most viruses. UV treatment requires clear water, warm temp, and iron