The Rejuicynator Trike and Trailer
Design 1
My aim was to create a project that demonstrated permaculture ethics and practices in as many ways as possible, to get people thinking about growing their own food, how they deal with their waste, what they put into their bodies, how we treat our environment and each other.
Permaculture points covered in this project are...
Designing from pattern to detailRough sketches were made before building the trike,different ideas considered.
Use and value diversityThe project was aimed at EVERYONE, rich or not, whatever background or culture or age range or physical or mental ability. Everyone could get something from the Rejuicynator, even if you couldn't physically use the machine you could still drink the drinks or watch the seeds you plant grow.
Catch and store energy
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Applying patterns from natureCycling energy-Fruit-peelings to compost-compost to cups to plant seeds-veg to eat-peelings to compost.....
Fruit pulp was often used in fruit winders and cakes. Storing energy- Solar power stored in battery. Producing no waste- All packaging from fruit recycled as seed trays or composted. Cups used as plant pots. Use edges and value the marginal
The Rejuicynator is made up of mostly reclaimed parts pulled from recycled bikes and skips. Things that people would normally throw away have been put together to create a great learning tool.
Creatively use and respond to changeChanges in weather and location would change the way we would run each session can't use solar panels inside!
Single element performs many functionsThe net back trailer was designed to be multi functional, a work horse to carry fruit and veg from the van, to collect deliveries at festivals (often there is no vehicle movement once the festival has started.)
The net back would also be used as a festival taxi for luggage, punters and of course, kids. |
Problems we encountered
- Seat uncomfortable, temporary sponge slips out too easily.
- Chains slipped off regularly.
- Pedel edges were very sharp.-
- Children kept trying to put their fingers in the chains.
- The customer seat needed moving forwards so small children could reach the pedels properly,and backwards for the adults. heavy and hard to manoeuvre through the frame.
- The work top edges were still sharp so we covered them with foam pipe insulation,but then the juice stuck under the foam piping.
- The work surface was hard to clean becausae of the join in the middle and the dents in it.
- The height of the van ment a bad position for loading and unloading the trike.
- The spring on the trailer got stretched making the trailer unpredictable in it's movements and had to manouver.
- The van is only just big enough to fit the Trike in.
- we lost the manual for the brains.
Changes made
(Click to enlarge)
Ideas and visions for the future
- New work surface.
- Find a way to hold up the solar panels off the ground ie a bow top construction to fit onto the trike frame with the panels stuck on top (maybe a problem if the wind picks up, it might act like a sail.)Maybe big poles to hoist them into the air with the Rejuicynator banner above them? Good for advertising.
- New spelling of Rejuice-inator to Rejuicynator.
- Make more fruit winders-the kids loved them!
- Travel the world with the Rejuicynator!
- Go into schools and get kids excited about permaculture!