Welcome to The Change Underground System Mechanics Page!

The Mechanics

This energy flow chart gives an underlying view of the exchanges involved in the System.  What is not shown is the input energy. This can be either be in the form of inorganic chemicals and sunlight or simply just sunlight. [See Fractional Farming.]  By just using sunlight we have a lead in time of two to four years for full production. This moving slowly allows the same increase in production as throwing chemicals at soil but does so in a manner that allows for slow spending of cash and a healthy soil structure that will sustain both the system manager, their families, communities and the system itself with minimal maintenance for perpetuity.

The Change Underground System relies on certain assumptions. From these flow the mechanics of the System. These assumptions are:

1. Garden beds: 15m x 0.6m = 9m²  Total Area per bed is 15m x 0.9 m = 13.5m²  

2. 1 bed = feed for 1 rabbit unit for six months

3. 1 bed = feed for 5 hens for six months

4. 1 bed = worm production of 30kg per annum =15m x 0.6m = 9m²

5. 1 rabbit unit (Buck cage + 2 doe cages + 2 grower cages) = 4.5m x 0.6 = 2.7m² 

6. 1 Chicken run (6 hens) = 15m x 0.6m = 9m²  

7. 1 Goat run (2 does) = 6m x 15m = 90m²

8. 1 Kid run (up to 6 kids) = 3m x 15m = 45m²  

9. 1 Buck run (1 Buck) = 3m x 15m = 45m²

These assumptions then become the basic building units for each area of land. The animal units are essential. They provide the means for trapping and recycling sunlight through the system.

In addition you'll some tools: Wheelbarrow, fork or shovel and a sickle or scythe. In addition to these physical tools you'll need an exceptionally shape mind. (This cannot be purchased!) In reality I have a fork and a shovel. These are used for shovelling goat droppings into the worm beds and for laying out garden beds. The rabbit units sit over the worms and the droppings and urine fall straight into the next phase of their travel. The chicken runs also sit directly on the garden beds. The wheelbarrow takes deep litter from stock to new or refreshed garden beds. The sickle is used for harvesting. Keep it sharp and it will last generations. These can be a little hard to source given hardware and garden centre's obsession with the internal combustion engine. eBay was where I found mind. it was already several generations old when it came to me.

To create a garden bed: Soak cardboard and/or newspapers overnight in water. Slash any lawn and say goodbye to it forever. Lay the cardboard/newspapers out in the 15 m x 0.6 m pattern. Cover to a height of 20 cm with deep litter. Add worms at dusk. Water. Next morning plant out with seedlings. If you wish to add borders of stone, wood, brick etc that is up to you. I don't.

Space the plants on an hexagonal grid. So for say corn, 50 plants 15 cm in from a long edge, 50 from the other edge and 25 in the gap down the middle. The first season will be good but not spectacular. Once a year, each bed to topped up to at least 20 cm height and more worms are added. Over time this creates more soil each year.

Within one year of planting out a series of beds over yellow clay and sand the soil had turned a deep rich black to a depth of 30 cm with a huge worm population.

Don't dig! Don't weed! Keep the soil covered!

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