Off the grid resources applicable in Cambodia

[jeffdkennel]

I'm helping building a family house off the grid in New Mexico (Datil) and am constantly looking into various low-tech options that will help facilitate the survival of me and the family. Would love to start a discussion/database focussed on appropriate technology that might be applicable with some of PEPY's projects.

I recently was helping document PEPY's work in Chanleas Dai (up near Siam Reap) and noticed a lot of people using wood stoves. I came across this Rocket Stove that looks like it might be an interesting low tech solution to try out up there. Anyone have any experience with these? Or any comments about it being feasible or not?

[Maryann Bylander]

Very interesting---will have to check it out! The only work I know of being done here around this is with GERES, a group creating cermamic stoves that are more fuel efficient. I haven't seen too many of these around SiemReap....definitely one option to look into! Other folks have ideas? We can definitely use them!

[Travis Welch]

This is funny... Jeff, I am in New Mexico (Black Lake) right now helping my family build a house that is not off the grid but is built by natural building techniques. I think that NM has the right kind of social environment for crazy hippies.

I am curious what kinds of construction are used in Cambodia? I am slightly tied into the natural building movement here in the states and think that we can probably learn a lot from places like Cambodia that have been doing it the whole time.

I like that rocket stove, going to have to propose that to my family here and maybe save us some resources.

[jeffdkennel]

That's interesting Travis.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 'natural building techniques,' something like using straw-bale, rammed earth, berms, passive solar-heating/cooling, etc.?

I've only been here for 2 months, so take this with a grain of salt, but Cambodians are lucky in the fact that they only need to think about staying cool and rain (monsoons and occasional flooding) when constructing houses. So wooden houses on stilts are the norm...sometimes with thatched roofs and walls, but most people have wooden planked walls and a tin roof. Not sure if it fits as a 'natural building technique.' Not worrying about insulation, heating, etc. makes it a lot easier.
Of course, here in the city most houses are brick and concrete.

I would really hesitate to say that there is a lot to learn from Cambodia when it comes to building techniques, unless you lived in a similar climate with the same natural resources. Some PEPY people who've been here longer could offer some better insight than I about that no doubt.

I once did an article about Micheal Reynolds and Earthship Biotechture up in Taos, New Mexico. Fascinating guy building sustainable eco-houses out of used tires, rammed earth, bottles, cans, and a whole lot of other 'natural resources.' Might be useful for what you're doing.

Here you can see a couple of houses up in Chanleas Dai in rural northwestern Cambodia. I don't see too many houses with the thatched walls like the 2nd photo there, most of them are exactly like the houses in the top photo (nearly all with a huge bamboo pole for the TV antenna!).

[Daniela Papi]

Very cool! We should have sent you home with a GERES stove. Also, have you looked into solar ovens? I know a woman here who has had some made and makes yummy cakes with only the rays of the sun as the cooking energy.

How do we apply to come live in said New Mexican house? :-)

[jeffdkennel]

The GERES stove sounds very cool. Wish I could have seen it in action. A solar oven would be perfect in NM. I bet it's not very popular in Cambodia as I don't remember seeing too much baking going on, no? Is there such a thing as a solar stove top?

The Kennel Ranch in New Mexico is open to all PEPY People...especially if they are interested in helping build the house! Otherwise, once it's finished in November or so, you're more than welcome to come. We'll have a guest bedroom and a 30' Airstream so you'll no doubt have a place to crash.