Summary Pages 46-70

The chapters I will summarize are; “the ram,” “the missing refrigerator” and lastly “the sounds of silence.” The first chapter talks about a device called a “Ram,” which works by sending water down a hill, and the power generated is used to pump water in a house. It spends some time mentioning the Miller’s trying to get this device installed, but it ultimately ends up being underpowered. A lot of this chapter talks about how the community determines whether a device is considered too technologically advanced or if it will fit into their communities plan. It says “technology itself is not taboo, only technologies that interfere with this plain sects aim.” They are willing to use the minimum technology necessary to maximize their needs. For example a local blacksmith took the main parts out of a John Deere tractor and engineered it for a horse powered hay bailer. Another is the example of the water mill that powered a rotary saw.
“The missing refrigerator,” talks about the couple really missing the convenience of the refrigerator. They find themselves wasting leftovers because there is no way to preserve them and they find themselves cooking more than needed. They understand how well canning works, but it doesn’t cut it for cooling leftovers. This chapter mentions the different types of methods used for refrigerators in their community. For example, propane refrigerators, caves, and even harvesting winter ice and insulating it to preserve the leftover food. The couple comes up with their own method by noticing many water pails sitting around the house. They figure out the water is around 55 degrees and could easily chill the leftovers long enough to last a day. Their technique consisted of putting the food in sealed jars and submerging them in the water. They planned to hold the jars down with rocks, and felt it would make the food last. This was a brilliant idea, by using the resources around them and not having to revert back to technology to prosper.
And finally, the last chapter focuses on the down time the couple has after every day. It pretty much just points out how rewarding every night is after a hard day of work, and how great it is to relax in their house and focus on nature. It mentions the absence of radio, phones, alarm clocks, tv’s and other things. This couple now lives a more slow paced and relaxing life. I like the last quote of the chapter that states ‘leisure doesn’t end when work begins, but pervades every moment of the day.” It may try to suggest that the people in this type of community don’t wake up every morning and consider going to work as a non leisure activity but rather as a chance to enjoy nature and everything around them.