NYC

Reconstructing old buildings for communal housing, urban farming, and alternative systems using many salvaged materials from the city’s abundant waste stream. Huge project range with over a decade of work including; an acre rooftop farming project in Long Island City built with volunteers, a large capacity rainwater capture system to water a small urban farm without municipal water, solar thermal and green roof systems, integrating chickens for egg production and compost processing for small community in Astoria, pollination and honey production with rooftop bee hives at several locations in partnership with Wilk Apiary, and the gambit of construction projects from residential to commercial with salvaged and natural materials.

Canaan, NY

The Hitchcock House was originally built in 1797 as an offshoot of the Shaker settlement; the modern-era retrofits have been experimenting with sustainable building practices since the 80s with a ground mount photovoltaic system, rooftop solar thermal system, and passive solar addition while honoring the history of the main building with restored original fireplaces and wood features. Ecology is supported by a series of four ponds and sustainable forest management. Decentralize NOW is elevating things by eliminating propane use for heat and hot water by switching to a solar thermal system supplemented by an outdoor wood boiler, eliminating the need for the electrical grid by adding a large photovoltaic array (and will be able to back feed into the grid and disconnect from the grid), and creating a culture of regenerative practices and healthy living for both short term renters and long term tenants.

Dreamtime Mountain, Canaan, NY

Earthworks, water, and power systems to provide infrastructure for an organic permaculture farm and market garden to flourish under challenging conditions (non-agricultural soils, heavy slopes, no grid for electricity, no consistent fossil fuel inputs, no tractors). This project is an example of commercial farming infrastructure as well as shelters that can be constructed with alternative building methods and maintained without fossil fuel inputs; we have partnered with Hellgate Forest Farm which is the commercial operator of the space and has experience with low and no tech solutions from 10 years+ of organic urban farming in NYC.