Cocreator of Aleiha's parabolic solar cooker. See my other contributions as well.

Nombre: ALEIHA Wayman

it was a festive x-mas
Teléfono en Parras: 422-0486
Ubicación en Parras: 80-A Ramos Arizpe

Intereses en Tecnología Apropiada[edit | edit source]

Experencia en Tecnología Apropiada[edit | edit source]

  • built a parabolic solar cooker and oven.
  • many appropriate tech classes - so a little of everything, from cobb benches to compost bins to organic gardening.

Propiedades de Tecnología Apropiada[edit | edit source]

  • Sustainability | sostener
  • Simplicity | que es sencillez
  • Low ecological impact | mayor impacto en el medio ambiente
  • Systems thinking | piensen sistema
  • Utilizes nature’s inherent ability to sustain life | utilizan el capacidad del medio ambiente a sostene vida
  • A return to local, native knowledge | conocimiento local, nativo
  • Waste from one industry feeds another | basura de un indistria es el crudo materiale por un otro industria
  • Utilizes physics | utilizan fisica
  • Involves a restructuring of knowledge (e.g. Necessities vs. desires) | reestructuan conocimiento

Tres Palabras[edit | edit source]

Semana 5[edit | edit source]

martes[edit | edit source]
  • resorte - "spring." Hoy, Matteo y yo fuimos a una tienda de construccion por un "piece" de pipa se nombre, "check valve." It has a sping in it and we had to ask the guy in the store how to say spring by drawing a picture.
  • Con permiso - "pardon, as in walking through." i kept saying "pardon" to people as i walked by, and this guy in a candy shop told me the correct way to say it.
  • Estoy caliente - it does not mean "i am hot," but rather, "i am sexy." Tengo calor is the proper way to say it if you´re hot. My sister had to correct Robyn of that the other day. She laughed... well, we all laughed.

Ejemplos de Tecnología Apropiada en Parras[edit | edit source]

Casas de Adobe[edit | edit source]

Adobe Casa during renovation in Parras
  • charatristicas: Earthen casas that are durable and have high thermal mass. They keep cool in the summer, and trap the heat in the winter. Many adobe casas these days are reinforced with cement in the corners and parts of the roof.
  • impacto ecologico: Minimal, mostly made from water, dirt, and fiber.
  • relevencia cultural: People have been building with adobe longer than evidence suggests. Many casas around here are made from adobe. There are buildings made of adobe over 300 years old still standing in Parras.
  • contexto socio-politico: People are leaning towards building with wood and plaster because it represents a status to people here. They see how Americans are living and wish to do the same. However, adobe is much more appropriate considering the location and has a long history with the people in this area.
  • usa materiales nativos o locales: Native and local materials.
  • fuerza laboral local: All local labor.
  • reparable localmente: Yes.

Bicicletas[edit | edit source]

  • charatristicas: Using body power to get you around.
  • impacto ecologico: Less than that of driving for sure. But the manufactuing process surely has a negative impact, considering the nature of factories.
  • relevencia cultural: ?
  • contexto socio-politico: Cars are also a status around here, but riding bikes is more understandable for just getting around town.
  • usa materiales nativos o locales: No, built in a factory somewhere else.
  • fuerza laboral local: Some, in terms of upkeep and repair.
  • reparable localmente: Yes, there are quite a few bike repair shops in town.

Tenedero (Clotheslines)[edit | edit source]

  • charatristicas: Drying your clothes with the sun, which is very strong here.
  • impacto ecologico: Pretty much none.
  • relevencia cultural: ?
  • contexto socio-politico: Why use a dryer when the sun can do it for you in about 2 hours? Dryers just are not necessary here.
  • usa materiales nativos o locales: Yes, reclaimed rope or wire does just fine.
  • fuerza laboral local: Yes, you wash your own clothes and dry them.
  • reparable localmente: Yes, it would be quite simple.

Vidrio en las Bardas[edit | edit source]

  • charatristicas: Lining the tops of walls with broken glass instead of barbed wire.
  • impacto ecologico: Minimal.
  • relevencia cultural: ?
  • contexto socio-politico: ?
  • usa materiales nativos o locales: Not native, but surely local. Reclaimed waste materials put to use.
  • fuerza laboral local: Yes.
  • reparable localmente: Yes.

Los Estanques y los Canales[edit | edit source]

  • charatristicas: Huge tanks of water around town used for agriculture and swimming. Canals through roads and houses to agricultural fields.
  • impacto ecologico: Positive and Negative. Removes water from its natural path, yet makes possible the distribution of water throughout the town. They make Parras greener.
  • relevencia cultural: Wine is big here in Parras, hence the name, "Grapevines." Without the distribution of water, the grape agriculture would not be so successful.
  • contexto socio-politico: The people of Parras own the water here, the estanques y canales make it possible to have access to that water.
  • usa materiales nativos o locales: Not really. Concrete in itself is not an appropriate technology. However, some of the canals are just dug right in to the earth.
  • fuerza laboral local: Yes.
  • reparable localmente: Yes.

Skylights[edit | edit source]

  • charatristicas: Holes in the roofs covered with glass that allow light and heat in.
  • impacto ecologico: Positive, considering the amount of energy you would save by not having to use lights in the house so early.
  • relevencia cultural: ?
  • contexto socio-politico: ?
  • usa materiales nativos o locales: The Glass - Native? not really. Local? perhaps, but not likely.
  • fuerza laboral local: Yes.
  • reparable localmente: Yes.


Calabacilla[edit | edit source]

  • charatristicas: A plant used to wash clothes, dishes, etc.
  • impacto ecologico: None, other than its removal from nature.
  • relevencia cultural: Native people used it for centuries until the alternative detergents became available.
  • contexto socio-politico: People do not use it much anymore. Either because they like the synthetic detergents more or they have forgotten that calabacilla exists.
  • usa materiales nativos o locales: Native and local.
  • fuerza laboral local: Yes.
  • reparable localmente: Yes.

Reclaimed cans and plastic containers[edit | edit source]

  • charatristicas: i have seen these implemented all over town, from potting plants to making rain gutters.
  • impacto ecologico: Positive, as you are taking materials out of the waste stream.
  • relevencia cultural: ?
  • contexto socio-politico: ?
  • usa materiales nativos o locales: Not native but surely local.
  • fuerza laboral local: Yes.
  • reparable localmente: Yes.

Fabrica de Mezclilla[edit | edit source]

  • charatristicas: Denim that is locally made in factories around town.
  • impacto ecologico: Negative, the machinery runs off of electricity.
  • relevencia cultural: People here have been making fabrics for a long time. Thier methods have changed with technological advances.
  • contexto socio-politico: Most of the fabric is shipped off to the U.S. but it provides work for the people here.
  • usa materiales nativos o locales: No.
  • fuerza laboral local: Yes.
  • reparable localmente: Yes.

Arboles de frutas a nuez[edit | edit source]

  • charatristicas: It seems everywhere i go, there is an avocado, pomegranite, lime, or pecan tree. Many people have these trees in their back yards.
  • impacto ecologico: Positive, trees provide food, shade, and release oxygen into the atmosphere.
  • relevencia cultural: People seem to respect the trees around here. They understand the relationship between the trees and their well-being because they have lived side-by-side for centuries.
  • contexto socio-politico: Well, chopping them down would be only a detriment.
  • usa materiales nativos o locales: Yes.
  • fuerza laboral local: Yes.
  • reparable localmente: Yes.

Reclaimed potato and onion bag awnings[edit | edit source]

  • charatristicas: Use of waste materials for shade and greenhouses.
  • impacto ecologico: Positive because of the removal of these things from the waste stream.
  • relevencia cultural: ?
  • contexto socio-politico: ?
  • usa materiales nativos o locales: Native? no, Local? yes.
  • fuerza laboral local: Yes.
  • reparable localmente: Yes.

Mercado Local y Tiendas Locales[edit | edit source]

A local Thrift Store.
  • charatristicas: Family-owned and operated businesses that sell many locally-grown agricultural products. From food to medicinal herbs. Other stores sell locally made clothes from jackets to jeans.
  • impacto ecologico: Positive and negative. Life springs from the earth and feeds and clothes the people, however, pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are always a detriment to the natural environment. The thing about Parras is that the people here are resourceful. They will find ways to re-use things because it would cost too much not to, and to buy some ind of replacement.
  • relevencia cultural: Promotes local farming practices and personal relationships between people.
  • contexto socio-politico: Creates wealth for the local economy, keeps the money circualting within the community.
  • usa materiales nativos o locales: Mostly, however, there are non-native species planted as well. Herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers are probably not local.
  • fuerza laboral local: Yes.
  • reparable localmente: Yes.

Lechuguilla[edit | edit source]

The prepared fibers ready to be made into rope or whatever else is needed.
  • charatristicas: Fibers derived from the lechuguilla cacti that are used to make rope, dish squeegies, and other useful items.
  • impacto ecologico: Minimal. Only that it is removed from nature. But there is A LOT of lechuguilla plants in Parras.
  • relevencia cultural: People have been using these fibers for longer than we can determine. The natives even used to make clothes out of them because the woven fibers are so strong and durable.
  • contexto socio-politico: Not so popular these days with plastic ropes and sponges readily available.
  • usa materiales nativos o locales: Yes.
  • fuerza laboral local: Yes.
  • reparable localmente: Yes.

Ejemplo[edit | edit source]

  • charatristicas:
  • impacto ecologico:
  • relevencia cultural:
  • contexto socio-politico:
  • usa materiales nativos o locales:
  • fuerza laboral local:
  • reparable localmente:

Ejemplo[edit | edit source]

  • charatristicas:
  • impacto ecologico:
  • relevencia cultural:
  • contexto socio-politico:
  • usa materiales nativos o locales:
  • fuerza laboral local:
  • reparable localmente:

Ejemplo[edit | edit source]

  • charatristicas:
  • impacto ecologico:
  • relevencia cultural:
  • contexto socio-politico:
  • usa materiales nativos o locales:
  • fuerza laboral local:
  • reparable localmente:
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