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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On May 15, 2008, at 9:29 PM, Marie McHarry wrote:

> In a biological system, which the earth is, perpetual growth is cancer
> and kills the organism. Earth is just a really, really big organism
> and therefore will take longer to kill than most. We seem to be making
> every effort to get there.

Gaia will survive. The question is, how long will homo sapiens survive.

The only optimistic answer I see, likely a couple centuries out, is  
for our species to migrate to other planets.

'Sustainable growth' is an oxymoron.
--Garrett Hardin
> From genegerue AT ruralize.com  Fri May 16 09:45:14 2008
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From: Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
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Subject: Re: [Homestead] the homestead kitchen-what would you design?
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On May 16, 2008, at 7:08 AM, Roy Morgan wrote:

> Has anyone read a book (from the 50's and revised in the early 70's)
> called "Your Engineered House" by Rex Roberts?  He takes a very
> functional/practical approach to house layout.  For example:
>
> Situation: You just arrived from the grocery store, have both muddy
> boots and two arms full of heavy bags. How should the house make life
> easy for you?
>
> Response:  The car should be under a car port, doors should open IN
> with latches you can work with one finger or a knee, you go through
> the mud room first, with places to put some things down, then you get
> to the kitchen where most of the stuff will end up. Oh, and there is
> one step up maximum from the car to the kitchen.

My kinda guy. I would add that the one step up is inferior to a ramp,  
a concrete ramp where one may stomp one's boots loose of much of the  
mud, and which will later be hosed off, the water running down to  
nourish one's favorite flowers. Some lady put out a fine book on  
housekeeping a few years back; she said that a concrete ramp that is  
fourteen feet long will rid the shoes of most typical dirt (not mud)  
before entering the house.

The carport should be drive-through, so the choice may be made which  
door will be positioned closest to the house to make moving things  
from car to house easier. Between carport and house should be the ramp  
with a proper roof over for protection from rain, ice and snow, for  
personal comfort and safety. Door handles should be levers, not knobs.  
At any difficult door there should be a shelf onto which heavy bags  
may be temporarily placed.

My fantasy design for house entry is an automatic door as in a grocery  
store. Whether carrying firewood or two buckets of tomatoes, it would  
sure make life easier and safer. Best for firewood is a box filled  
from outside. Best for tomatoes is a summer kitchen.

Mr. Roberts was correct about door swing for ease of entry; he was  
incorrect about door swing for safety. Doors should swing out in case  
inhabitants need to get away from fire or collapse. The reason most  
doors swing in is so screen doors may be on the outside.