Corporate Records

Narrative Description of Activities

Narrative of Activities

Living Systems Institute is engaged in researching, developing and promoting integrated closed loop production systems. A closed loop production system produces all inputs as a part of the system process, reducing the cost of inputs to zero. An integrated production system uses the byproducts of each process as feed stock for other processes reducing waste to zero. An integrated closed loop production system produces multiple products with reduced waste as a function of its integration and with reduced cost as a function of closing the process loops. This approach holds promise for the production of food and other basic necessities for people of limited means without deterioration of natural systems. It has the potential to heal nature and produce abundance.  It can operate as a social safety net that is not a tax burden on the economy.

At present, the staff is unpaid and activities are primarily conducted on a volunteer basis by staff and others collaborating on various aspects of the work. To date, we have only been able to pay a small amount for outside expertise. In the future a larger staff and more complex projects could be funded by soliciting specific grants, from general contributions, or from fees charged for design, teaching and facilitation. The Institute has been engaged in this activity since its inception and intends to continue this pursuit including the specific activities described below. The staff spends about equal time on researching, designing, prototyping, testing and teaching these systems, or about 20% of staff time for each activity. The next step in the organization's development will be facilitating the implementation of these systems by groups of people around the world. We expect a corresponding increase in grants, general contributions and fees charged for project related services.

Research

The organization researches the interactions within living systems. For each species to be integrated into the production system, research is conducted on how the needs of the species are provided in natural systems, how the needs are provided in industrial systems and how the byproducts are processed in each system. Research is conducted by review of available literature and through social networking with people and organizations working in related fields. Research is conducted at the head quarters in Golden, Colorado and through communication with others around the world. This research allows us to improve on the designs we have developed. More extensive research could be funded in the future by soliciting specific grants, from general contributions or from fees charged for teaching and facilitation.

Design

The organization designs facilities to house integrated closed loop production systems that can be built and operated by ordinary people using readily available materials. These designs are documented and published on the organization's web site by staff. To date the designs include those for gardens hosting whole soil ecosystems, bees, chickens, fish, worms and year round greenhouse production. The design challenge is to produce enough of each product to meet the needs of the humans integrated into the system, without waste or operating cost, for an investment within the means of those humans. The design process is conducted at the headquarters in Golden, Colorado and through collaboration with other people and organizations located in the greater Denver area and around the world. The design work allows us to test our assumptions, directs our research and attracts participation in prototyping and testing the designs. In the future, more complex designs could be funded by soliciting specific grants, from general contributions, or from fees.

Prototyping

The organization builds prototypes of the facilities it has designed. The prototypes are constructed at the facility leased in Golden, Colorado and at properties owned by others collaborating in the research and design work, primarily in the Denver metro area so far. Building the prototypes allows us to test our designs, refocus the research and experiment with the interactions in complex living systems. The Institute has been able to pay small amounts to collaborators for expertise. The funds came from general contributions.

Testing

The organization tests its prototypes and compares different ways to integrate resources into the systems it has designed. The testing allows us to refocus our research, refine our designs and improve our prototypes. Testing is conducted by the staff and collaborators at the sites where gardens and facilities are built around the greater Denver area.

Teaching

The organization holds events to teach people to build and operate integrated closed loop production systems using the resources they already possess. Classes are advertised through social media including the Greater Denver Urban Homesteading Meet Up Group. Our executive director is the organizer for that group and the organization sponsors the group. Teaching helps us understand how to integrate humans into integrated closed loop production systems, refine our designs and improve our ability to facilitate adoption of the systems we design. Teaching is conducted at facilities constructed throughout the greater Denver area. Most classes are offered at a nominal fee and free for people actively engaged in the process. More in depth instruction may be offered in the future and could be funded by charging a fee, soliciting specific grants or from general contributions.

Facilitating 

The organization plans to develop the capacity to facilitate the adoption of integrated closed loop production systems developed through its research, design, prototyping, and testing activities by neighborhoods around the world. That facilitation will take the form of teaching members of the neighborhood to build and operate the required facilities and providing organizational, design and consulting assistance. Some of these neighborhoods will qualify for charitable funding of the investment to build the facilities. In those cases, Living Systems Institute will be able to manage the funds for the project.

It is anticipated that this step will allow the organization to fund an expanded staff able to develop expertise in the ongoing research, design, prototyping, testing and teaching work. We anticipate that this expansion will be funded by general contributions, fees paid by those using the organization's services, and grants for specific projects.