Mark J Norton

From Open Source Ecology

Jump to: navigation, search
Mark J. Norton

Contents

[edit] Team Culturing Information

See also User:Mjn
Last updated: Sept. 16, 2011


Ose-badge-true-fan.png Ose-badge-project-manager.png Ose-badge-steam-team.png Ose-badge-wiki-curator.png

(see OSE Badges)


[edit] WHO are you?

Email: markjnorton (at) earthlink (dot) net
Land: 607-236-4098
Mobile: 781-698-9314
AIM: mjnsakai
Skype: nolaria
OSE User Name: User:Mjn

(video goes here)

[edit] WHY are you motivated to support/develop this work?

Yes, I have been a supporter and participant in open source projects for many years - mostly software. I believe that it can be the basis for a non-consumer based economy in which everyone can live a healthy, happy life. It is very encouraging to me to see the rise of hardware-based open source efforts like OSE, though I've been following other efforts (OS telephones, I own an Android phone, cars, component based computer platforms, etc.). Past and current work in open source includes the Sakai Project [1] and the Kuali Project [2]].

Well, my reasons are both selfish and selfless. Selfish because I think that some of the GVGS tools would be quite appropriate for my farm and the life I am trying to build. Selfless because I'd really like to see this project succeed. I think that many, many people can potentially benefit from it - in many parts of the world.

Yes. As part of my software business I deliver customized technical training on the open source projects that I've participated in, especially the Sakai learning management system. See [3] for the curriculum that I developed and have been giving to dozens of developers all over the world.

I would like to see a training program developed that focuses on team building in support of establishing OSE villages. The creation of the initial village team will be critical to it's success, I believe. Having a training program that is focused on leadership, teaming, and work coordination will go a long way to setting up a new village for success. See also Karmic Debt for OSE Villages.

I strongly believe that local communities are essential for the future of economic prosperity in the country. My wife and I already participate in the local homesteading, canning, and permaculture groups in the Ithaca area. Ithaca (about a 15 minute drive north of our village) is a hot bed of localism, alternative energy, green culture, slow food, and more. It also is a great center for learning with both Ithaca College and Cornell University. I am also working towards creating a local OSE chapter in the area.

Yes, in particular the LifeTrac and the Steam Engine. I need some kind of tractor on my farm which is appropriate to it's size (15 acres). While we could probably afford to buy a used tractor (there are many for sale locally), I really like the idea of combined tractor/skid-loader work horse. Likely, my first GVCS project will be a power cube, since it will be needed for the LifeTrac and can be used for many other GVCS tools, such as the saw mill, log splitter, honey separator, etc.

I view having a wood fired steam engine as a means to move use more off-grid. We live between two hills which shelters us from the prevailing winds. While that makes a nicer micro-climate, it prevents us from using wind turbines. PV panels are a possibility, but I view it is a large expense in a very high technology. Micro-hydro is a possibility, but would require damming our small creek.
Given the desire, I recognize that there are many skills that I'd need to learn. I have some small experience with brazing and welding which I think I could ramp up to what is needed to build these devices. I have many of the tools, but would need to buy more. I am not afraid of learning new skills or tackling big jobs. For example, we are building our own house this year with the aid of some local contractors. While we contracted out the basement and framing, my wife and I will be doing the siding, plumbing, electrical, flooring, and wall boarding. For the record - she does plumbing, wallboarding, and painting. I do electric and heavy lifting.  :)

I'm not personally interested in starting up a business to build GVCS products or parts. I have my own business to run and just do not have the time to start and run another one. However, I am interested in supporting the creating of local fabrication shops that could benefit from GVCS technologies. I have had at least one conversation with a local fabricator who expressed a great deal of interest. In addition to helping locals get started, I'm also interested in the organization aspects of how OSE will encourage, register, and support commercial affiliates.

YES! That would be a HUGE time saver and I wouldn't have to buy so many specialized tools. Actually, I have a friend who lives about 45 minutes from were I live who is a machinist. He has many high end tools like CNC lasers, Bridgeport, plasma welder, die presses, etc. I don't think he has a 3D printer. I have discussed starting an OSE fabrication line with him and he is interested. Details need to be worked out.

In theory, yes. In practice, time is a limiting factor. Running my own business and keeping up the farm is a more than full time effort.

I would be interested in supporting such an effort locally. I could see myself as a backer, part time maker, organizer, etc. See also above.

Oh yes, starting with my own farm. After two years of ramp up, we are about 60% self sufficient in food. With the future addition of grain crops, that number will move up closer to 80%. We anticipate adding small livestock in the new few years as well (poultry, rabbits, perhaps a cow).

We are active participants in Ithacan [4] - a local community of food preservationists that practice canning, drying, fermentation, salting, pickling, and other techniques.
Ithaca has a very active local farmer's market, an organic food co-op, and many locavore restaurants. Small stores like The Piggery are popping up everywhere these days. The GVCS would be a great way to encourage scale appropriate technology for local agriculture.

I am interested in contributing to the quality of documentation such as instructions, diagrams, 3D graphics, photographs, videos, and the like. I have done a fair bit of research on steam technologies and have captured it into the OSE Wiki. I have also done some analysis of steam engines, valves, and problem points.

Perhaps. It would depend on the opportunity.

I have seen and participated in several approaches to sustainable open source development activities. Some of them work, many don't. I've had a look at the economic sustainability methods being attempted by OSE. My guess is that they will work as long as the buzz is loud. Other methods may be needed in the longer term (endowments, trust funds, grants, commercial arms, etc.).

Yes, particularly biomass power generators since we have 13 acres of trees on our land and access to many more. I am an advocate of sustainable forestry (and also the concept of food forests) and look forward to putting those beliefs into practice. I mentioned micro-hydro as a possibility above. Solar collectors might be possible, but isn't as optimal as other things. Our house has been designed with passive solar heat in mind.

Yes, but I am aware that in many ways, social engineering is MUCH more difficult than physical engineering. Among my diverse educational experiences, I had the chance to participate in an intensive program on life coaching. I am certified by the Newfield Group in Ontological Coaching, which gives me some insight into how to build communities and social structures. I have served as a trained meeting moderator, project coordinator, and project documentation specialist. I have also had several flavors of leadership training - some through past activities with Scouting.

A great deal of initial work will be needed to insure the success of OSE villages. I believe that OSE will have the technology side well in hand within the next two years, but the social engineering aspects will be MUCH harder to develop. I am interested in applying my experience, training, and skills to improving our changes of social success.

My long-term survival is directly related to the health of my local community. While I am taking steps towards being self-sufficient in food and energy, I have no intention of "bugging out", in part because I believe that, while we are in for hard times, society itself is unlikely the crash. OTOH, the Zombie Apocalypse might make a bug-out hut essential. I'm taking a "wait and see" attitude on that one.

I believe that our global and national economies are fundamentally broken. We have become a consumer based and debt driven mass of people controlled by very sophisticated marketing techniques. Helping people to become self sufficient will enable them to weather the economic turmoils that are very likely to come (post peak oil, for starters). I believe that the GVCS is a wonderful way to create local communities that are self sufficient without returning to the middle ages. If people can get what they need locally, grow it themselves, or make it from local resources, they are less dependent on the global monetary system. I think of it as a grass roots damper for the wild chaos being promulgated by corporations, big ag, big pharma, big [insert your monopoly here].

Enabling a transition from a scarcity based economy to and abundance based economy is part of what OSE is trying to accomplish. I believe this is possible, but will require some deep thought into social engineering. Just building the GVCS-50 will not do it, because almost everyone is bound to the existing economic structure. Breaking free from those ties requires a radical change in mind-set and will require a support network to enable the transition.

We, as a whole civilization must realize that the age of oil has peaked and soon there will be no more. We missed our best chance to develop alternative energy techniques back in the 1970's, but it's not too late to mitigate the impact of a decline in petrochemical use (fuel, transportation, food production, plastics, waxes, etc, etc, etc). GVCS and a maker ethic will enable us to develop local alternatives that make sense for the local climate and culture.

I also love the re-use, fixable, durability aspects of the OSE charter document. I hate our throw away culture and the fact that simple things break for no reason and are unfixable.Grrr. Don't get me started on that.

Hmm. Interesting question. Here is what I belive: we will likely see periods of population die off over the next 20 - 50 years. Some will be based on food crises, many on war, some due to lack of water, and (sadly) rampant disease. Some of these events will be episodic, others difficult to discern trends like starvation based on the ever increasing cost of food globally.
The GVCS could be the basis for pockets of stability in afflicted areas (and I include the first world countries in that statement). Also, I believe that economic prosperity is tied to population growth - though the sub-ZPG numbers of countries like Japan and Germany are a counter to that argument. The GVCS is more likely to have a local impact on population, than a global one, if it creates economic stability. On the other hand, such stability might be attractive to people in non-stable areas.

Where possible, we should re-use things. By making them maintainable and repairable, we are more likely to keep things than tossing them out. Using the waste stream is another way to improve my local environment. Permaculture says that waste or pollution is just an unused resource. I see the GVCS tools as a way to reduce our need for resources, improve the local environment and help us shift away from consumerism.

OSE as an organization and community is faced with the results of it's own success. Our biggest challenge this year and next will be dealing with growth. If we cannot find ways to accommodate new interest and new members, we will lose them and hence momentum on our projects. Somehow, we need to strike a balance between enough organization and too much organization.

[edit] WHAT

(technical contributions, blogging about us, financial support, organizing events, translations, interviews, video editing, publications, publicity work, behind-the-scenes work, CAD work, wiki contributions, computer support, etc) Initially I did some internet research looking for sources of piston rings and stepper motor controllers. As of the start of May 2011, I've taken the lead on the Steam Engine project. Working with Marcin, we have updated the 2009 design and have started floating it out for comment. As of June 2011, my team has completed initial detailed specifications, technical drawings and some CAD drawings, see Steam Engine/Index.

In June 2011, I have been developing a series of wiki pages on Starting an OSE Project, Managing an OSE Project, OSE Project Stages]], OSE Local Chapters, and OSE Member Organizations. It is my hope that this material will help organize OSE projects and facilitate the establishment of local OSE chapters.

Communications

Organizational

Computer Support

Finances

Sociology

Home Economics

Design

Building

Electronics and Magnetics

Automation

Metallurgy

Engineering

[edit] HOW can you help?

I am serving as the project manager of the OSE Steam Engine project.
I am helping to guide the growth of OSE in organization structures, leadership, team building, and project management.
I'm interested in building some of the GVCS tools for my own use. In doing so, I would be willing to document the building process and share my experiences.
I'm interested in helping to manage development and prototyping efforts, researching new tools, existing technologies, etc.
I'd like to help to improve the overall quality of documentation and how it is communicated to the world.

I would estimate that I am contributing 12-15 hours a week to OSE at this time. This is likely to change (reduce) as my wife and I start getting seriously involved with the interior work on our house.

I am interested in exploring part time positions with OSE.

Yes, depending on what it is and how much.

I am interested in bidding on consulting and design services. I am not equipped to bid on prototyping or fabrication at this time.

Yes, proud to be a True Fan. I encourage anyone who has event a small bit of money to contribute via this program.

No, I don't think so. My software business is doing quite well. In many ways, I am better able to contribute to OSE if I continue that work.

Yes. See above.

Not as an on-site participant. Remotely is a possibility. I have a farm and business to run. That said, I think the OSE Village Experiment is a very interesting idea and I am interested in designing training and social structures that would ensure its success.

Retrieved from "http://opensourceecology.org/wiki/Mark_J_Norton"
Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Open Source Ecology
Toolbox
Topics