APPENDIX 1
Tools
One of Ecology Action's goals has been to develop
Biointensive techniques that use as few procedures as
possible, and as few tools as possible, preferably manual
ones. Our philosophy has been to encourage the use of
what we describe as sophisticated low-technology tools
—tools that are inexpensive, simple, easy to build, yet
highly functional. We wanted to avoid high initial capital
investment and the high cost of running, maintaining,
and repairing complex mechanical equipment.
Cars have important purposes, but consider the true
cost of running one, not to mention the pollution it
creates. Ivan Illich, author of Tools for Conviviality and
advocate of a simpler life, one remarked that if everyone
added up all the time spent earning the money to
purchase, maintain, fuel, and drive an automobile, they
would see that each person is really only traveling at
four miles per hour in a car—the speed of the common