The New Alchemy Institute was a research center that did pioneering investigation into organic agriculture, aquaculture and bioshelter design between 1969 and 1991. It was founded by John Todd, Nancy Jack Todd, and William McLarney. Its purpose was to research human support systems of food, water, and shelter and to completely rethink how these systems were designed.[1]
The New Alchemy Institute was founded on a 12-acre (49,000 m2), former dairy farm in Hatchville, part of Falmouth, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. Their stated aim was to do research on behalf of the planet:
"Among our major tasks is the creation of ecologically derived human support systems - renewable energy, agriculture, aquaculture, housing and landscapes. The strategies we research emphasize a minimal reliance on fossil fuels and operate on a scale accessible to individuals, families and small groups. It is our belief that ecological and social transformations must take place at the lowest functional levels of society if humankind is to direct its course towards a greener, saner world.
Our programs are geared to produce not riches, but rich and stable lives, independent of world fashion and the vagaries of international economics. The New Alchemists work at the lowest functional level of society on the premise that society, like the planet itself, can be no healthier than the components of which it is constructed. The urgency of our efforts is based on our belief that the industrial societies which now dominate the world are in the process of destroying it." (Fall 1970, Bulletin of the New Alchemists. )
Areas of researchedit
Biosheltersedit
A bioshelter is a solar greenhouse that is managed as a self-contained ecosystem. The groupings of plants, animals, soil and insects are selected so that closed loops of life cycles, materials, water, and energy are created, and require minimal inputs from outside the system. They emulate natural rhythms of growth and cycling of nutrients.
New Alchemy investigated the practices of organic agriculture for both field crops, and greenhouse growing. They researched intensive gardening, biological pest control, cover cropping, irrigation using fish pond water, perennial food crops, and tree crops.
Aquacultureedit
New Alchemy experimented with growing edible fish in ponds in the bioshelters. The solar aquaculture ponds were above-ground, translucent tanks. The fertile pond water was used for irrigating the crops in the greenhouses. This proved to be a successful way to raise edible fish, floating hydroponic crops, and irrigated greenhouse food crops.
Ideological basisedit
The scientists working at New Alchemy were determined to rethink how human support systems were designed. They looked to nature as the ultimate designer, using careful observation of natural cycles and processes as the template for creating truly sustainable systems.
Publicationsedit
The research conducted at New Alchemy was documented in a series of journals and technical bulletins. A complete list is available at: New Alchemy Institute
Referencesedit
^Gordon, Alastair (12 April 2018). "Remembering Jay Baldwin, experimental geodesic dome champion - Archpaper.com". archpaper.com. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
alchemy, institute, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citati. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations September 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral Please help improve it by replacing them with more appropriate citations to reliable independent third party sources September 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message The New Alchemy Institute was a research center that did pioneering investigation into organic agriculture aquaculture and bioshelter design between 1969 and 1991 It was founded by John Todd Nancy Jack Todd and William McLarney Its purpose was to research human support systems of food water and shelter and to completely rethink how these systems were designed 1 Contents 1 Purpose of the Institute 2 Areas of research 2 1 Bioshelters 2 2 Organic agriculture 2 3 Aquaculture 3 Ideological basis 4 Publications 5 References 6 External linksPurpose of the Institute editThe New Alchemy Institute was founded on a 12 acre 49 000 m2 former dairy farm in Hatchville part of Falmouth Massachusetts on Cape Cod Their stated aim was to do research on behalf of the planet Among our major tasks is the creation of ecologically derived human support systems renewable energy agriculture aquaculture housing and landscapes The strategies we research emphasize a minimal reliance on fossil fuels and operate on a scale accessible to individuals families and small groups It is our belief that ecological and social transformations must take place at the lowest functional levels of society if humankind is to direct its course towards a greener saner world Our programs are geared to produce not riches but rich and stable lives independent of world fashion and the vagaries of international economics The New Alchemists work at the lowest functional level of society on the premise that society like the planet itself can be no healthier than the components of which it is constructed The urgency of our efforts is based on our belief that the industrial societies which now dominate the world are in the process of destroying it Fall 1970 Bulletin of the New Alchemists 1 Areas of research editBioshelters edit A bioshelter is a solar greenhouse that is managed as a self contained ecosystem The groupings of plants animals soil and insects are selected so that closed loops of life cycles materials water and energy are created and require minimal inputs from outside the system They emulate natural rhythms of growth and cycling of nutrients New Alchemy built several bioshelters The Ark located at the property in Hatchville Massachusetts United States The Ark located at Spry Point Prince Edward Island Canada othersOrganic agriculture edit New Alchemy investigated the practices of organic agriculture for both field crops and greenhouse growing They researched intensive gardening biological pest control cover cropping irrigation using fish pond water perennial food crops and tree crops Aquaculture edit New Alchemy experimented with growing edible fish in ponds in the bioshelters The solar aquaculture ponds were above ground translucent tanks The fertile pond water was used for irrigating the crops in the greenhouses This proved to be a successful way to raise edible fish floating hydroponic crops and irrigated greenhouse food crops Ideological basis editThe scientists working at New Alchemy were determined to rethink how human support systems were designed They looked to nature as the ultimate designer using careful observation of natural cycles and processes as the template for creating truly sustainable systems Publications editThe research conducted at New Alchemy was documented in a series of journals and technical bulletins A complete list is available at New Alchemy InstituteReferences edit Gordon Alastair 12 April 2018 Remembering Jay Baldwin experimental geodesic dome champion Archpaper com archpaper com Retrieved 18 May 2018 External links editNew Alchemy Institute Ocean Arks International41 36 49 8 N 70 34 34 6 W 41 613833 N 70 576278 W 41 613833 70 576278 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title New Alchemy Institute amp oldid 1142908518, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
