Designing Ecological Habitats - Gaia Education

getting tHe worD out on sustainability innovations – via amateur raDio 155
• Reduced costs of equipment, building of “homebrew” equipment
using available local materials, and developing cooperative
financial support systems and bulk purchases through community
organizations and clubs to distribute costs and minimize individual
burdens;
• Reduced(renewable) energy usage in operation and using durable,
repairable equipment longer;
• Communication systems designed via permaculture principles –
single communication elements perform multiple functions and
multiple elements form resilient “communication guilds”, allowing
for system integrity to sustain in face of disruptions or critical need.
Revealing a Long History of Community Service
In 2012, the AR community will celebrate 100-years of contributions to
international relations, communications, technological innovation and
community service. Amateur radio’s roots with topics of sustainable living
and community resilience are not new. In the 1970s through the early ‘80s,
Copthorne McDonald, VY2CM, wrote the popular series on New Radio
Directions in Mother Earth News. And, around the same time, residents
of The Farm near Summertown, Tennessee published books on radio
communications and used AR to connect with others around the world as
part of their PLENTY international development and restoration projects.
This occurred because radio hams operate on many bands, facilitating
connections that can span a few miles or a few thousand miles, across local
communities, regions, countries and around the world. Utilizing tools for
‘line of sight’ communications and atmospheric ‘skip’ effects, operators learn
when and how to use their radio systems for optimal performance and benefit.
From my home in West Seattle, Washington, I recently made contacts
with AR operators in Tokyo, Japan; Kona, Hawaii; Portland, Oregon; and
Palmer, Alaska – as well as with folks around Puget Sound.
This also allows for operators to engage in important public service
activities around the world, including international disaster relief efforts
following earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and other emergencies. To do so,
they train continuously and learn how to effectively establish and maintain
emergency communication (EMCOMM) systems with local, regional and
national community leaders, health and medical professionals and others.
Getting Started
Blending old technologies with new, AR operators are well positioned to
join permaculture designers in building durable and resilient communication
systems in service of sustainable communities. Indeed, one of the hallmarks
of AR operators (like most permaculture designers) is their savvy at deploying
inexpensive, reliable stations. By understanding the types of radios, antennas,
and accessories which comprise their stations, operators can minimize