As the Earth's resources are being depleted, a paradigm shift is taking place around the globe. The availability of information coupled with a need for self sufficiency is encouraging a new way of looking at human habitation.

Relying on the current centralized system of food, water and energy production is not only extremely wasteful but fraught with uncertainty. These systems are unsustainable for those who have access to them, and unattainable for most, as supplies dwindle.

Information and technology will play a vital role in this new paradigm. From solar cells and LED's to laptops and other low power devices, current advances offer great promise to the new pioneer. Rather then a step backward, nature often demonstrates advancements in design and efficiency. Nanotechnology also poses great potential for self empowerment and community development.

In many cases the pioneer is in fact exploring his/her own roots. By returning to the cycles of nature and providing needs locally, we reconnect to the world that holds us up.

Alpha Spore is both a permaculture farm and an online demonstration studio. By employing permaculture techniques both ancient and modern, our goal is to sustain the lives of our land's inhabitants, while providing viewers with instruction and discourse on sustainable strategies.

Even with catastrophic disruptions in resource distribution, our planet will remain littered with the remnants of mass production. Landfills are full of discarded circuit boards, tiny motors, etc.. As Alpha Spore develops, research will include many do-it-yourself projects using commonly found objects. The internet is blooming with information relative to sustainability and self-reliance.

Along with duties such as gardening, earth building and technological exploration, Alpha Spore will participate in video and media production, sharing projects and receiving input from the online community.

Alpha Spore is divided into three main stages, representing various levels of development:

Stage I – spore germination(current stage)
The goal of this stage is simple but not easy -- S U R V I V A L

Key components include:

Basic nutrition:
Crops will be selected to achieve a full protein profile and well rounded diet. Drying and canning will be used extensively for storage during winter months. Local foraging and plant use will also be incorporated.

Hydration:
Water is life. Each person requires 1-2 gallons of clean water per day. This will be accomplished by rain catchment and storage during stage I (see water).

Shelter:
Protection from the elements is important for both survival and basic comfort. The climate at Alpha Spore is hot during the summer and mild during winter(weather link).
Initial structures will be built from local earth and stone and designed for speed of construction(see capsule design) Passive solar and thermal mass strategies will be used extensively.

Stage II – Spawn Run
Having gained a foothold, this stage will see the increase of food, water and energy supplies as well as developing additional sectors such as biofuels and electronics.
Previous structures will be expanded using modular design.

Stage III -- Fruition
At this stage many of the projects and sectors will be in full swing. While this is by no means the end of development, it will represent a coming together of vision and design.

The land where Alpha Spore comes to rest is a five acre plot of New Mexican desert at an altitude of about 4500 ft.

Choosing this site was based on several criteria:

Availability: Undeveloped and inexpensive, this land is both beautiful and attainable.

Solar exposure: New Mexico provides abundant sunshine for electricity and passive solar design.

Remote: Being far from centralized lines of resource distribution provides a blank canvas by which to explore sustainable strategies

Challenges: Being a desert, by far the biggest challenge is water. In light of climate change and world population growth, it is our belief that water acquisition and efficient usage wil be an increasingly important skill set to develop in the decades to come.

the laptop
The laptop represents an important technological capability that is very important to Alpha Spore. With uses ranging from information collection to entertainment, this marvel of human achievement uses as much electricity as a single light bulb.

the network
In addition to internet access, members will be connected to a LAN(local area network). This will provide scheduling, weather monitoring, automated irrigation, etc..

the database
The database is a large collection of information stored locally in digital format. This cache includes various forms of media, from video to text, and covers many topics including building, gardening, maps, weather patterns, basic biology/sciences, astronomy etc.. All members will have access to this database and new information is continuously added. In case of disruptions to the internet, the database will ensure valuable knowledge is maintained for the settlement.

Feedback from viewers will be a valuable asset to Alpha Spore.
As the settlement comes into full swing, a period of work time will be devoted to online community projects, allowing observers to guide the hands of our members.

The FuTurE:
As new methods and technologies are developed, Alpha Spore will continue to assess and incorporate useful strategies. New members and feedback from the online community will have a large impact on the direction of the settlement.