Donations

A-SPI is a 501-3(c) Non-Profit

ASPI Technical Series: Each paper brings a wealth of information and resources together on an important appropriate technology subject, into a concise, understandable report. Most papers include diagrams, references, and helpful illustrations. Spanish (SP) and French (FR) translations available where indicated.

Feel free to view the free online condensed TEXT ONLY version of the papers. To help us with our operating costs, you can make a tax-deductable donation online with Paypal by clicking the link at right.

 

Solar Box Cooker
Ever wonder how to construct a very low cost food cooker using materials at hand? Heres how. Cook with the sun! (SP, FR) TP1

Compost Toilets
Diagrams and describes four models of dry composting toilets, and the rationale for building them. (SP, FR) TP2

Cisterns
Compact information on building and maintaining these low-cost water systems in an age of water scarcity. (SP, FR) TP3

Solar Greenhouses
A descriptive narrative on how to construct and best utilize this environmentally sound source of domestic food and supplemental solar heat. (SP, FR) TP4

Cordwood Buildings
Succinctly describes why and how to build these beautiful, simple and energy efficient structures from local materials. (SP) TP5

Solar Food Dryer
ASPI’s Food Dryer plans in a compact, handy flyer with basic solar food drying information. (SP, FR) TP6

Year-Round Gardening
Tips from our experience, including methods to extend the growing season on both ends and useful hints for all gardeners. TP7

The Yurt: An Excellent Low-Cost Home
You can adapt this versatile structure to your surroundings. We tell you why. With references for additional information. (FR) TP8

Breadbox Solar Water Heaters
A must for energy savers with small expenditure of money and effort! Illustrates and discusses three models. TP9

Nature Trails (PDF Version)
How to plan, build, and maintain trails for private or public use. TP10

Composting for Gardens
For the beginner who wants to improve the soil using organic wastes. TP11

Contraflow Masonry Heaters/Ovens
Time-tested technology; now available for low-cost and efficient home heating. TP12

Organic and Intensive Gardening (PDF Version)
Chemical pesticides and fertilizers are unnecessary with these organic techniques. TP13

Rural Solar Photovoltaic Use (PDF Version)
Power buildings and pathway lights, electric fencing, exhaust fans, and more using Photovoltaics. TP14

Appropriate Technology
Information Systems (PDF Version)
AT resources demystified: information sources, computer networking, library setup, and more. TP15

Forest Preservation Techniques (PDF Version)
Limited use programs, tree plantings and diversification, advocacy, organizing, and monitoring. TP16

Coexisting with Wildlife (PDF Version)
Bio-regional assessment, "off-limits"/controlled hunting areas, feeding/habitation areas, and garden protection. TP17

Rural Waste Recovery (PDF Version)
Ways to collect, sort and reuse all rural waste materials to minimize landfilling. TP18

Water Purification Techniques
Examines commercial/homemade filter systems and testing for water purity. TP19

Aquaculture (PDF Version)
Raising fish in ponds, tanks and cages for domestic use and markets. TP20

Quilted Insulated Shades
Step-by-step instructions for creating a beautiful, energy-saving window cover. TP21

How Much Do You Mulch?
The what, why and how of successful mulching practices. TP22

Appalachian Edible Wild Plants
Gather wild herbs and greens, and cultivate native Appalachian species for food. TP.23

Root Cellars
Create a space for quality preservation of food at the lowest cost. TP.24

Drip Irrigation Systems
Advantages and disadvantages of drip irrigation systems, equipment, and ethical considerations. References. 6 pp. TP.25

Alternative Pest Control
Rick Besson outlines successful pest control, properties of desirable insecticide (biological and botanical). References. 7 pp. TP.26

Soils - An Overview
Demetrio P. Zourarakis examines the genesis and evolution of soils, morphology, organic matter, plant nutrients, and nutrient cycles. Extensive references. 12 pp. TP.27

Alternative Forest Products
Forest products overview by Deborah Hill; Wild greens and medicinal plants by Lucille Stewart; and gathering wild seeds by Flo and Maynard Hacker. References. 8 pp. TP.28

Seed Saving
Describes plant reproduction (plus breeding - business considerations), and seed saving tips in harvesting; isolation distances for common cultivars. References/ resources. 5 pp. TP.29

Artificial or Constructed Wetlands
Details the building of the ASPI’s demonstration wetlands, giving current State regulations, and plant listing for wetlands. 6 pp. TP.30

Pollination
Ernie Muhly discusses the delicate and necessary balance between flowers and insects; with a listing of notable American nectar and pollen plants, rural and urban. 13 pp. TP.31

The Practice of Ecoforestry. by Paul Kalisz
Part 1. Inventory and Description
Simple and effective tools and techniques for collecting data required to ecologically restore and manage hardwood forest ecosystems; introduction to principles and jargon used in forest and ecosystem inventories. TP.32

Part 2. Ecological Restoration
Practical concepts and techniques to restore and protect the health and biodiversity of native forest ecosystems; illustrates inventory data use in field practices; and principles and jargon used in ecological restoration. TP. 33

Part 3. Tending and Harvest
Practical concepts and techniques used to tend forests, and grow/harvest forest products, when biodiversity, restoration, and forest health protection come first; inventory data in field practices, and principles and jargon of forest tending, or silviculture. TP.34

Sustainable Logging and
Lumber Production
Gary Anderson explores forest management philosophy and it's practical aspects, such as skidding with horses, solar kiln drying, selling lumber vs. logs, and start-up costs of sustainable logging operations. TP.35

Mushroom Culturing
in Appalachia
Ernie Muhly examines mushroom ecology, their potential for cultivation and harvest in the wild, and mushrooms as an alternative woodland cash crop. TP.36

Pressed Earth Blocks: An
Inexpensive Building Material
Thom Price discusses pros and cons of PEB's and techniques for testing soil to make, cure, and build with them. 8 pp. (SP) TP.37

Ginseng in Appalachia
David Cole surveys the growing and marketing of ginseng, and the wild or virtually wild variety in Appalachia; good hints for better production and sales. TP.38

"Elbow Torch"
Efficient Wood Cooker
Mark Schimmoeller shows how to build a small, low-cost and highly efficient wood-burning cooking stove; diagrams. (SP) TP.39

ASPI Solar House
Joshua Bills looks at our solar-powered home, built in 1979, examining space and water heating, compost toilets, solar greenhouse, design, cost, building materials and modifications, and advantages and disadvantages. 6 pp. TP.40

Humanure
Jack Kieffer, SJ shares results of research on humanure and composting products at ASPI, discussing efforts to make human compost safe for garden use; table and references. TP.41

Guide to Use of Non-Timber Products
Harvesting a wide variety of forest products grows popular, but many should not be taken for ecological reasons. TP.42

Small Town Appropriate Technology Demonstration Project
Describes in detail the development of the Mount Vernon demonstration center over the past 50 months. TP. 43

American Chestnuts
Paul Gallimore shares information & resources about the American Chestnut. (6 pp.) TP 44

Mobile and Manufactured Homes in Kentucky
Mary Davis investigates economic and ecological pros and cons of these homes. TP.45

Backyard Gardens: The Last Frontier
Al Fritsch distills decades of gardening experience into steps for making an excellent backyard garden; compiles timely advantages of such garden plots. TP. 46

Wood Waste Utilization
Lists the common wood harvesting, processing, construction, storage and razing of wastes and novel ways of utilizing them. TP. 47

Domestic Wildscape
Al Fritsch & Gene Wilhelm give reasons for a home wildscape, suggestions on installing and expanding these resource efficient areas and hints on how to obtain wildscape acceptance within a town or neighborhood. TP. 48

Solar Photovoltaics
Joshua Bills updates (TP14) with entries in the fast-moving field of solar photovoltaics with emphasis on costs and new technologies. TP 49

Heirloom Apples in Central Appalachia
Heirloom grower Paul Gallimore lists some tasty apple varieties, along with hints on raising them at home. TP 50

ASPI Energy Policy Statement
An energy policy that emphasizes local and renewable energy sources, conservation, health and environmental dangers from fossil fuels and nuclear power, and affordable energy for the poor. TP. 51

Chip Mills in Appalachia
Casey Sterr examines chip mills in Appalachia: What they are, what they do, and what we can do about them. TP. 52

Establishing a Floral-Vegetable Garden
This latest technical paper describes the ASPI intensive garden plot at Mount Vernon and gives suggestions for converting purely vegetable gardens into mixtures of flowers and vegetables without compromising quality or quantity of edible produce. TP.53

Perspectives on Promoting Appropriate Technology
Mark Schimmoeller writes, "Appropriate technology, which is becoming more and more clear to us, is not a static thing, but rather a relationship with a number of factors that include the place and people’s needs. In disseminating appropriate technology in another country, you are, in effect, entering a relationship.". TP. 54

Kudzu in Appalachia
Amanda Allen examines the phenomena of the Kudzu vine in Appalachia: it's history, various uses and the major issues surrounding it, what we can do to control it, and even a kudzu jelly recipe. TP. 55

Exotic Plant Species in Central Appalachia
Exotic plant species are plants that have escaped or been introduced to a habitat that is not within a native range. Amanda Allen examines such exotic species in Appalachia. TP. 56

Moratorium on Wild American Ginseng Exports
Greg Williams weighs the current attitudes and legislation determining whether export of wild American ginseng is detrimental to the survival of that species. He provides evidence that a moratorium is indeed needed if this species is to survive. TP. 57

Compost Toilets & Constructed Wetlands
as a Solution for Appalachian Water Problems
Emily Bedwell guides the selection, building & maintainance of “CT’s & CW’s.” TP.58

Twelve Ways to Conserve Water in Appalachia
Al Fritsch lists familiar & unfamiliar ways ASPI conserves it’s domestic water. TP.59

Nine ORV Control Options (PDF Version)
Individual, community and National approaches for controlling recreational off-road vehicles. T.P. 64

Economic Analysis & Safety of ORV Riding (PDF Version)
Is ORV riding a form of tourism we can affoard? T.P. 65

GIS/GPS Utilization in Ginseng Siting (PDF Version)
Modern instrumentation and its use in siting virtually wild ginseng. T.P. 66

Hermitages in Appalachia (PDF Version)
Construction, site-selection and practices for retreat cabin providers. T.P. 68

The Straw Bale House: Not for the Eastern United States (PDF Version)
Is Straw Bale the right construction method for Appalachia? T.P. 70

High Performance Buildings (PDF Version)
Bringing environmentally sound building practices into the mainstream in Kentucky. T.P. 71