Derek Markham

I dig singlespeed bicycles, simple living, organic gardening, sustainable lifestyle design, slacklining, bouldering, and baking with sourdough. My blog about fatherhood and natural living can be found at Natural Papa. We just finished our own family experiment in lifestyle design, living for almost six years in one 8 by 15 foot room. We hauled all of our water, used a sawdust toilet, had a solar shower for washing up, and we had two unassisted births during that time (one under the stars, and one in a tipi). Don’t try it. (Just kidding- you’ll never truly understand cabin fever until you’ve experienced 2 adults, two kids, and a cat in 120 square feet, during single digit temps in January!) I love good food; Colorado peaches are my all-time favorite. I really enjoy conversations with three year olds. I love being in the wilderness with my family; it feels like home. I love positive thinking and big audacious dreams. I like to skip rope, and yes, I do have a tiny rubber chicken (vegan) that lives with my flash drive.

Derek's articles:

Hyperlocavores, Yardsharing, and Distributed Urban CSA Farms

Posted on April 25, 2009 by Derek Markham .

I’ve heard the cliché recently that “Local is the new organic.” In response to that, a buddy of mine said “No, local is the original organic.” And he’s right. In the last 100 years, our food system has gone from a local farm, kitchen garden, and green grocer model, to a globalized heavily travelled agri-industrial [...]

Newbury Film Series Launches “Waste?” Documentaries

Posted on April 23, 2009 by Derek Markham .

A non-profit from Boston, the Newbury Film Series, launched a series of documentaries this Earth Day. The series is comprised of web vignettes profiling people who derive innovation from excess, who are redefining what we consider waste – recyclers, architects, musicians, retailers, and artists.
“When we started this project, we knew it would be interesting – [...]

Veggie Trader: Trade, Buy, or Sell Local Homegrown Produce

Posted on April 18, 2009 by Derek Markham .

So you’ve harvested more apples than you could possibly eat, but you really want a bunch of tomatoes to put up for the winter. Or all of a sudden you have oodles of cucumbers in your garden, but no peppers. Maybe you want to sell your garden surplus to other local folks, but don’t have a way to get the word out. A new online community, Veggie Trader, could help you to make all of the local garden connections you need this summer.

Seasteading: Homesteading the High Seas

Posted on April 16, 2009 by Derek Markham .

Seasteading is a movement to begin homesteading on the high seas, building permanent dwellings on the ocean. It’s one of the most innovative ideas that I’ve seen that addresses many of the issues that arise with building on land, within a particular political system.
“We believe that current political systems are outdated and work poorly, for [...]

Rainwater HOG: Discrete and Functional Rainwater Catchment

Posted on April 11, 2009 by Derek Markham .

This summer, give your local water supply a break by catching rainwater for watering your yard and garden. It’s low-tech, passive, and the yield of water from one rainfall can be phenomenal. A barrel or two under your gutter downspouts is the quick and easy solution, but if you’re looking for a better looking rainwater [...]

Recycled Fruit Juice Pouch Bicycle Pannier

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Derek Markham .

If you’re trying to green up your lifestyle, riding a bike whenever you can is a no-brainer. But hauling groceries or work stuff or your lunch can be problematic, even awkward, without a good set of panniers. The Toocan Juicy is a great way to support recycling and a grassroots women’s cooperative business.

10 Great Resources for Organic and Heirloom Garden Seeds

Posted on April 2, 2009 by Derek Markham .

It’s time to get some seeds in the ground for this year’s garden, and if you want to ensure the very best quality organic produce, you need to start with organic or heirloom seeds. If you purchase from a reputable seed merchant, you can be confident that you aren’t planting GMO seeds or any hybrids [...]

Organic Soup + Bicycle Delivery = SoupCycle

Posted on March 28, 2009 by Derek Markham .

Two enterprising Portlanders are fueling their passion for organic food, local agriculture, and bicycles with a soup-er business: SoupCycle. Jed and Shauna, self-proclaimed Soupetarians, delivery fresh, homemade soup, bread, and salad direct to homes and offices by bicycle. It’s almost enough to make me want to move to Portland…

National Landscape Conservation System Approved by Congress

Posted on March 26, 2009 by Derek Markham .

The permanent establishment of the National Landscape Conservation System was approved by Congress yesterday, helping to restore and protect some of America’s most ecologically important lands. This system, which covers Wilderness Areas, National Monuments, National Scenic and Historic Trails, and National Conservation Areas, is the first of its kind in 50 years.

Practical Solar Heliostat System: Solar Thermal Heating with Mirrors

Posted on March 21, 2009 by Derek Markham .

Direct sunlight exactly where you want it, for heating, lighting, or whatever purpose you like. The world’s first computer-controlled heliostat system from Practical Solar reflects the sun’s energy into your house for heating and lighting, taking advantage of solar energy that doesn’t even directly reach your house. The system can be installed using just hand tools, but the high-tech tracking technology software does the hard work for you, controlling the angle and the focus as the sun moves through the sky, making for an efficient, practical thermal heating setup.

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