It is Getting to the Final Countdown…

By admin on June 7th, 2011, 11:07 pm 0 Comments

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Tech Team costs the GC an arm but not a leg

By admin on June 7th, 2011, 11:05 pm 0 Comments

The Tech Team had another productive work period and we are ratcheting up the pace as the end of the semester draws near. We focused on 3 major areas today:

1) Taking down the wooden mirror arm on the Poet’s Blox

2) Testing the freshly painted G scale train

3) Testing newly received parts for the Mobile Garden

The Poet’s Blox is equipped with a camera that feeds live footage of the Green Corridor online. (Live Stream). This camera is aimed at a mirror that reflects the Poet’s Blox. This mirror was mounted on a wooden arm and we have been working to replace this arm with a permanent metal arm.

Don’t worry, it’s made out of wood…real sturdy.

We have designed the replacement arm and received the metal to complete the design. The first task in the final installation of this arm was the removal of the old arm. The nature of the installation made this task incredibly difficult. The Tech Team knows that safety comes first and we worked very carefully to remove the arm without causing harm to ourselves or the arm itself.

You may take the Poet’s Blox’s arm but you will never take its…freedom?

After rigorous planning and an hour of work the arm and mirror were safely removed. The site is now prepared for the installation of the metal arm.

The G scale train set was painted over the weekend. The new look train features a less cartoonish looking grey paint. The new paint job makes the train look less like a toy and more like a functional garden on rails. We had to test the train to ensure that it was damaged during the painting process. The train ran wonderfully in our test runs and it looks ready to have some flowers pots installed on it.

Parts for the light seeking mobile garden arrived on Monday. The parts list includes wheels and motors that are capable of carry the weight of a large flower part. We needed to perform a few tests on the motors before we mounted them to the chassis of the prototype. The full size prototype is moving forward at a good pace and it should be partially functional by the final showcase.

 

 

Mapping Out the Details

By admin on June 7th, 2011, 10:46 pm 0 Comments

Kristen suggests ideas about final presentations.

Today, the media team went around to each group to discuss what we would like each group to have ready for Thursday, June 9th. We gave each group ideas of what we would like to see on the day of the exhibition. Each group will provide the media team with photographs of their prototypes and the work that has been done over the course of the semester.

Kristen gave each group a list of things they need to have done by Thursday. We are on a strict deadline which means we have to double and triple check to ensure things run smoothly.

Media Team examines the gallery space and dimensions.

A walk through the gallery gave the team an idea of the space we would be working with. We went over ideas of how we would arrange things and move walls. We also drew out a site map and jotted down additional notes.

The Media Team goes over additional ideas.

There will be enlarged photos, working prototypes, and interactive demonstrations.

Flagstones and Milestones

By admin on June 7th, 2011, 9:47 pm 0 Comments

The Greening Team continues in our new theme of “productivity” today, despite the 32 degree weather. One of our team actually finally managed to get onto the roof of Macdonald Hall to see what is up there for herself. To our surprise, the planters up there are fully functional, the irrigation system is working, and there are plants growing. There is English Ivy, a few scrawny Poplar trees, Crabgrass, and moss and mushrooms all growing mainly on the less windy side of the roof. The plants on the other side were less successful dur to the high winds blowing away the soil and exposing the roots.

Green things growing on Mac!

Ivy is already climbing the walls of the roof. There are supports in place for it to latch on to.

There also appear to be plants growing in the planters on Laurier Hall.

Down on the ground at the Ecohouse we arrived to the 2,000 lbs of rocks that were donated to us that a couple of our group members picked up over the weekend. These rocks were a beautiful addition to our garden and make everything look much nicer. The garden is really coming along!

Rocks! We like rocks.

We make this look good!

The nucleus!

The birdfeeders on the post in the center of the plot were also filled (as per Noel’s request), we hope to see some new friends soon!

Here, birdie, birdie, birdies!

We encountered a problem while inside the house itself when we noticed a strange buring rubber or plastic scent coming from the window farm. The water had been dripping slower for days and now was at almost a standstill. We ended up turing it off for a little while to examine what was wrong. One of us unattached the hose that was pumping water to the top and cleaned it out with a pressurized garden hose as best we could until it was mostly clear again, it had managed to become so filthy that it was a dark blue-green colour. Then the water in the bottom reservoir was topped up, and the water system was working much better. Some of the smaller tubes in the planters still need to be cleaned out next day.

I fixed it!

Chair Designs Made Public!

By admin on June 7th, 2011, 8:13 pm 0 Comments

Our week of hard work building furniture that would grab attention, paid off when we ventured out on our second day of chair bombing.

 

Strategic Location 1) The University of Windsor Stadium. There was a track meet going on, and we arrived at the location exactly when everyone was leaving. The paper maché couch and the high couch received a lot of attention from the elementary school kids. Despite the paper maché couch looking wet because of the gloss, the sense of touch appealed to them and they began asking questions like, “what is it made out of?”

Improvements: The tall couch was a little bit wobbly. A Boy in seventh grade suggested we add triangles for stability. We sense a future engineer!

Strategic Location 2) Bus stop across from the University of Windsor Book Store. Many Students will be walking by that will be intrigued by the furniture and the course.

Back at Lebel, Nick and Mussa continued to work on the tire swing; slowly giving it more of an aesthetic look as well as deciding on it’s location: Behind the Tourist Center. Iris, Richard and Rita worked on the mobile bus station model and incorporated a solar powered lighting. They will have it finished by this Thursday. Mussa finished a portable and very comfortable chair.

For next class: Find locations closer to Downtown Windsor, make tire swing public, finish model of mobile bus station.

As our public experiments continue, we also want to focus on getting more attention from the Windsor Star or A Channel News. If our city is looking to improve the core of our downtown, we want to show that it should also be important through recycling. What better way than to influence recycled infrastructure.

 

 

Earthship Architecture: A Journey Far Away

By admin on June 3rd, 2011, 12:12 am 0 Comments

Edition 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the 8th day of Green Corridor Noel brought to us…

By admin on June 2nd, 2011, 11:00 pm 0 Comments

Christmas came early for the Tech Group today as we received the  long awaited G scale train set. We tore open the boxes like greedy children on Christmas morning and assembled the train. With the combined engineering might of our team we were able to quickly assemble the train set.

Ages 14 and up? That must be a mistake…

Once the train was properly assembled we couldn’t help but play with test it.

Now that we are sure of the trains functionality it was time to test its hauling ability. We need each of the train cars to carry a small flower garden. We used 5 lb bricks as test weights and ran the train. The train struggled to haul this weight at first but we soon realized it was due to the engines being too light. After we added weight to the engines (thus increasing the friction between train and track) the train ran beautifully.

The next steps for the train are to beautify it, add permanent weights to the engines and integrate renewable power sources to the system. To do this we need to attach the generator to the wind turbine.

There are two major obstacles to overcome with attaching the generator to the turbine

1) Physically attaching the generator to the frame

2) Welding on the gearing wheel to increase power generation

Today we successfully attached the wheel to the frame by adding a coupling to the turbine’s axel and then welding the wheel to the coupling.

We thought we had completed a major step towards getting a generator on the turbine but the coupling proved ineffective and the wheel was not stable enough for effective power generation. We went back to the drawing board and tried to find a new way to get the generator on the turbine.

Ultimately we found a workable solution for our problem. We are going to install the generator on the top of the turbine and avoid the use of a coupling. We are putting the final touches on the mounting device this weekend and by next week the turbine should be full operational.

We also loosened the purse strings and made several key purchases for our other projects. The motors, wheels and electronics for the Mobile Garden are on their way and the steel for the Poet’s Blox arm is ready to be delivered. The team is planning to meet this weekend. If everything goes to plan we should complete all of our projects by next week…and Green Corridor loves it when a plan comes together.

 

Herbs and Flowers and Holes, oh, my.

By admin on June 2nd, 2011, 10:45 pm 0 Comments

Skipping our group meeting this morning (as it was unnecessary), the Greening team today ran out to the field immediately and began digging, shoveling, planting and raking! We completed another three gardens today, bringing our total up to a whopping six, with a seventh prepped and ready for soil, should we ever receive it (we’re still waiting on word from the University about the soil they said they would donate).

We also planted some Garlic

The boys did a fantastic job of cleaning up the back yard. The paved area is much more presentable than it was, even despite the weeds back there. They also broke up a few more of the pallets laying back there.

The backyard: the "after" photo.

Other than that, some of our group spent some time helping the Earthship group fill in the hole at the back of the lot. They worked really hard with the help of a few others and filled in the hole in record time! Good job, guys!

HOLE!

Before leaving for the day, we discussed the possibility of renting a Uhaul to move the ton of rocks donated to us to the Ecohouse. Some of us are rather excited by the prospect of so many large rocks and look forward to finally getting them there.

Water them before you go!

Getting it Done

By admin on June 2nd, 2011, 10:24 pm 0 Comments

Today our ‘out and about’ chair bomb was rescheduled for a meeting, that ended up falling through. But we used the extra time to get a lot of work done on our pieces.

Richard, Iris and Rita got the main structure for the mobile bus station miniature prototype finished. This included the transparent walls, mobile base and green roof (made of a grass plantation). The prototype is well on its way to being ready to showcase for the final class, with its research of course.

Above Rita and Iris make miniature models of what furniture inside the station will look like. These models are made from stacked recycled newspaper with an inner wire component for structure.

Mussa worked on another portable design but left us after lunch break to give the Greening team a hand in the trenches.

Nick struggled with his tire swing concept, but eventually made headway getting it together. Only one more tire needs to be added. The next step is to find a location to hang it from and calculate the amount of chain needed for that location. Then to go out and get the chain. If all goes well, the swing will be installed on Tuesday.

Nicole and Spencer worked on their respective couches. Nicole added finishing touches, more paper mache and enhanced the readability of the text by placing it on a white background. Spencer attached the legs and spray painted the logos onto his couch. All it needs now is a few crossbeams for added stability. A spray sealer proved not effective so both couches need to be finished with a varathane to withstand mother nature. Having this done by the weekend will allow us to get these pieces out on Tuesday.

Jude cut into her two shopping carts with some heavy duty bolt cutters, allowing the base structure of her chairs to take shape. Some bending, welding and a lot grinding sharp edges still needs to be done, but with no to little surface finishing needed these babies will be out in the wild by thursday.

On the still to do list, is organizing the legacy report, who’s writing what, and choreographing the documentation of Tuesdays and Thursdays installations/chair bombs.

Eco-Wash @ 19 Amycroft Dr. Tecumseh, ON

By admin on June 2nd, 2011, 9:41 pm 0 Comments

Eco-Wash

On Sunday, June 5th the Media team will host their very first Eco-Wash at 19 Amycroft Dr. Tecumseh, ON. Sobey’s has agreed to let us use their parking lot for the event. They will also provide us with hoses so that we will have water at our disposal.

The difference between our Eco-Wash and a normal Car Wash is that we will use a greener product “Simple Green Car Wash Solution” and minimal water. An average Car Wash would use soap and hoses to clean the cars which result in excessive amounts of water being wasted.We will use this event to spread the word about the Green Corridor and its student initiatives. We will provide the public with information about greener ways to wash their cars at home and other green tips.

 

 

This is your personal invite to our first ever Eco-Wash.

See You Sunday!