{"id":3259,"date":"2016-07-19T13:28:27","date_gmt":"2016-07-19T11:28:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.notechmagazine.com\/?p=3259"},"modified":"2016-07-19T13:33:41","modified_gmt":"2016-07-19T11:33:41","slug":"adapted-tools-for-organic-farming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.notechmagazine.com\/2016\/07\/adapted-tools-for-organic-farming.html","title":{"rendered":"Adapted Tools for Organic Farming"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"horse<\/a><\/p>\n

L’Atelier Paysan is a French-speaking collective of small-scale farmers, employees and agricultural development organisations who design open source farm tools.<\/p>\n

Based on the principle that farmers are themselves innovators, they have been collaboratively developing methods and practices to reclaim farming skills and achieve self-sufficiency in relation to the tools and machinery used in organic farming.<\/p>\n

They have an English language website<\/a>, which includes about a dozen tool descriptions with technical drawings<\/a>. All tools can be appropriated and modified by farmers.<\/p>\n

Self-Built Machinery<\/h3>\n

In France, as in other “developed” nations, technological practices in agriculture are mainly driven by the agro-industry, and correspond to its particular needs. L’Atelier Paysan wants to reassert ownership of the system-wide design of farms.<\/p>\n

According to the collaborative, the development of tools and self-built machinery adapted to small-scale farming can provide a significant impact on the growth of organic farming and contribute to improving organic farming practices.<\/p>\n

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Collectively validated designs<\/a> are available for — among others — a wheel hoe (used for weeding between rows of crops), a bed ridger (which can be used instead of a plough to incorporate crop residue and green manures into the soil), a tilter (for cultivation), and a roller (for flattening land or breaking up large clumps of soil).<\/p>\n

\"plans<\/a><\/p>\n

Most tools are aimed for use with small tractors<\/a> (using the quick hitch triangle<\/a> that replaces the traditional three point linkage system), while others are developed for use with animal draught power.<\/p>\n

About a dozen other open-source designs are in progress. One of these is the Aggrozouk<\/a>, a light pedal-powered tool carrier. Tools are hitched onto the underside of the frame through an electrically powered assistance system.<\/p>\n

Via Farm Hack<\/a>, which is a similar collective of DIY farmers in the USA.<\/p>\n

Previously<\/strong>:<\/p>\n