GUEM- MISSION 8 ACT: INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE

My apologies for being so late on this. I took some time off to just refresh my brain. This part of this mission was hard for me. However, I think I have something, at least I believe I do. I hope i did this correctly.

It was hard to come up with something that represented indigenous knowledge. Upon doing research, and reading links, I came across a unique topic that dealt with farming. In Bolivia, farmers in the Amazon have a difficult time dealing with floods during the wet season. The floods wash away their crops every year. Thusly, making it difficult to grow foods, etc. The Farmers turned to an ancient means of irrigation called Camellones ( which means Canals): http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8187866.stm.

I was impressed with the technique in which they would make canal near their crops so when it floods the water will only help the plants not destroy them ( see BBC link for detail explanations): http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8187866.stm#map. The idea was using the excessive water from the floods to their advantage where as the flood water would leave vital nutrients that help plants grow. (Please refer to the link, they describe much better than i do.) :)

I loved the idea of sustainability, and the fact that our ancestors ( they really had no other choice being as they were not advanced) used their creativity and ingenuity to make use of the earth. I would love for us to explore these older ways and go back to the purest forms of nurturing ourselves and the earth. Although, I couldn't replicate the camellones, I decided to take the idea of sustainability, and build a good old rain catcher. I know there are tons of rain catchers now a days, or rain barrels, but i made a smaller one out of milk carton, and few old pieces of fabric.

My idea is not beautiful, and perhaps not intricate, but It just came very quickly to me.

The very simple rain catcher:






I took a milk carton and cut a h*** on the top and two at the bottom. The water can just flow throw it. One can use them for anything from gardening or for everyday things. You can also close off one h*** and attach a hose to another for more controlled water management. You can also close off both h***s to store water if you would like. Just some ideas.

Secondly, I took an old t-shirt and lined the top of opening of the milk carton. This fabric will be used to catch any debris from falling into the water. I figured it would be best to keep the water as clean as possible. The water will soak through the t-shirt. It may make the water fill slowly in the carton.






Again, this is probably not the most beautiful looking thing I've created. I am not an artist in any fashion, but i just simply wanted to represent this idea and how to use what mother nature gives us.