In a bid to revolutionize urban farming and continue its waste management revolution, ReLeaf, an Austin-based cooperative known for transforming organic waste into vertical gardens, recently unveiled a remarkable new initiative.
Inspired by Andrea Perotti's Devconf.cz presentation on repurposing surplus IT equipment, ReLeaf has taken up the challenge of refurbishing old computers and using them to power automatic irrigation systems for their vertical gardens.
Christened as "Green PCs", these old computers, upcycled with open-source software, play a crucial role in providing internet connectivity and machine learning capabilities to monitor and control watering schedules based on environmental factors such as temperature, soil moisture, and forecasted rainfall.
ReLeaf's initiative mirrors the work of Perotti's volunteer organization, PC Officina, which transforms end-of-life surplus computer equipment into functional machines for those who cannot afford new ones. By repurposing the discarded computers, ReLeaf brings them back to life, keeping with the organization's ethos of waste reduction.
Moreover, using these Green PCs is about more than just cost-saving; it's an environmentally conscious choice. ReLeaf's decision to refurbish instead of buying new reduces the demand for new devices and their associated manufacturing emissions. The initiative also decreases electronic waste, a rapidly growing environmental problem.
To ensure the refurbished computers are robust enough for their new roles, ReLeaf adopted PC Officina's standard for hardware: a minimum of a Core i3 processor or equivalent, eight gigs of RAM, and a 128GB SATA drive.
Moreover, the cooperative chose the Linux Mint 21 with Xfce edition for its modest hardware requirements and long support life-cycle. This operating system's point-and-click GUI and ease of installation of third-party drivers make it a user-friendly choice for ReLeaf's unique application.
ReLeaf's new initiative is yet another testament to its innovative and sustainable approach to urban farming and waste management. Through their work, they showcase how repurposed technology can contribute to environmental sustainability, reinforcing Austin's reputation as a hub of green innovation.
🚮 W.A.S.T.E.: Words Assisting Sustainable Transformation & Ecology
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| Community Engagement | Welcome to a world where the conventional boundaries between fiction and reality blur, where every piece of 'waste' holds the potential to transform into a component of a thriving ecosystem. This is the world of ReLeaf and Vertical Gardens. Our content here revolves around the ReLeaf cooperative, a pioneering organization at the forefront of the sustainability and digital dignity movements. Through articles and Organic Fiction, we delve into the impact of ReLeaf's work in Austin, from challenging homelessness to revitalizing the city's green transformation. We also explore Vertical Gardens, marvels of urban greenery that sprout from unexpected places. In schools, at homes, on the city's walls, these living structures symbolize hope and resilience. They are not only fostering creativity and community engagement but also forming the backbone of Austin's Zero Waste Initiative. Whether you are interested in real-world sustainability solutions, or drawn to SolarPunk narratives of a hopeful future, our collection offers a unique perspective on how ReLeaf and Vertical Gardens are reshaping Austin and possibly, the world. |
| Upcycling |
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| Vertical Garden | Dive into our Vertical Garden section where creativity meets sustainability. This is a celebration of the innovative approach of integrating plants into urban environments in a vertical format, a testament to human resourcefulness in the face of limited space. Here, you'll discover a vast array of ideas on how to transform would-be waste materials into sustainable, beautiful, and thriving gardens. From DIY guides on upcycling aluminum cans into modular planters, to detailed articles and SolarPunk fiction exploring the transformative power of these gardens in various settings like Austin's schools and cityscape, the Vertical Garden category provides a deep dive into a green future. Through the articles and stories in this section, we share and explore concepts, techniques, and innovations that align with a sustainable, circular economy, which views waste as an asset rather than a problem. Whether you are looking to start your own vertical garden project or just enjoy immersing yourself in hopeful visions of a green urban future, you're in the right place. Join us as we explore and reimagine our relationship with nature and urban space, one vertical garden at a time. |