Human-Scale Tools for a Sustainable World

Posted on December 22nd, 2009 by admin

Peak Moment 67: At Smith and Speed Mercantile on Orcas Island, hand tools line the walls and tables along with organic wool comforters and non-toxic paints. It’s an extension of Kathleen Smith and Errol Speed’s off-grid homestead where they work at “the speed of living,” using hand tools that reconnect them to the earth.

Duration : 0:27:55


[youtube kKAwFCEC7UU]

25 Responses

  1. vallonia2000 Says:

    Hi I left school …
    Hi I left school in 1963 aged 15 trained as a carpenter at that time we had no power on site not even a cabin to brew tea in, we brewed on an open fire. We loved the American Diston saw it was far superior to any British saw, oh yes and the Estwing hammer.We built every thing by hand , nothing was to hard, or to heavy. There were no fat people in my youth.The pubs were closed all day and night on Sunday, and closed at 10 30 pm the remainder.This video makes sense.

  2. seemeenvymee Says:

    granny is such a …
    granny is such a sweetheart!!

  3. smithandspeed Says:

    Please come visit . …
    Please come visit … our store is open tues- sat… 10:30 – 5:30…

  4. offtheurbangrid Says:

    P.S. Do you have an …
    P.S. Do you have an online shop?

  5. offtheurbangrid Says:

    Awesome guys! What …
    Awesome guys! What a cool idea for a business. I live in Lake Stevens, so I’ll have to come up and visit your shop sometime. I just ordered a reel mower, so I’ll have to check out that scythe next. ;)

  6. the1of0 Says:

    What can a man who …
    What can a man who is living in poverty in the city of Los Angeles do to move out and start living on their own?

    Are there any eco villages nearby who will accept someone who has no money and will work for food and shelter?

  7. tuco98245 Says:

    Kathleen and Errol …
    Kathleen and Errol are the nicest people, and the best neighbors. They genuinely believe in what they are doing and it is almost impossible to go into their shop and not be inspired. I would hope that the local community and tourists alike support this couple and their quest.

  8. ariz9996 Says:

    its kinda weird,in …
    its kinda weird,in my country (indonesia), we really try to change all our work tools to machinery. people buy tractors, hand tractors,cultivator, chemical fertilizer and pesticide. i had a company producing bokasi and business not soo good round here. anyway.. try to do abit for the world. peace

  9. tokyogopop Says:

    Peakmoment is such …
    Peakmoment is such an invaluable resource! Inspiring AND educational. I have slowly worked my way through many of the episodes. I loved this one in particular. Goes to show that we as humans still have the ability to look back (and forward at the same time) and realize that we CAN survive without fossil fuels. Soon, we may not have a choice……

  10. postpeakman Says:

    I think people are …
    I think people are beginning to question the viability of living in cities, that’s all…

  11. 888zzz Says:

    love this program
    love this program

  12. freewithfire Says:

    ive watched a lot …
    ive watched a lot of these videos and this is my favorite so far. It makes me want to visit their island and learn everything i can from them!

  13. NicholasJBrown Says:

    Thanks! I’ll keep …
    Thanks! I’ll keep that in mind :D

  14. peakmoment Says:

    Plenty more to come …
    Plenty more to come…we’ve just produced our 89th program, so take a look at past programs. You can subscribe to our occasional e-newsletter at peakmoment (dot) tv. Shows are also on a couple dozen community access TV stations…contact us if you want to put programs on your station. info (at) peakmoment (dot) tv.

  15. NicholasJBrown Says:

    I especially like …
    I especially like this one, the peak oil and mostly the Alcohol episodes. I hope there are more to come because I am subscribed!

  16. peakmoment Says:

    Our goal is to …
    Our goal is to bring forward stories of people working towards sustainability, wherever they are, in whatever forms they’re trying. Many of our programs so far are set in rural areas because we traveled to such places in the Pacific Northwest in 2006. Our vision is to tape more in cities and suburbs. We welcome ideas for guests and projects, esp. in N. America. –Janaia (host)

  17. arvadajohn Says:

    Are you concerned …
    Are you concerned with groups such as the Sierra Club attacking your movement. It seems to me that you are attracting people from the cities into areas that were once populated by few families. I, however, am a big fan of you postings and look forward to my many more. Thankyou so much.

  18. VarinaFred Says:

    Excellent. I just …
    Excellent. I just subscribed. What a wonderful series of productions! Great resource.

  19. vudumojo Says:

    THANK YOU!!!!
    THANK YOU!!!!

  20. oldhacks Says:

    you might like my …
    you might like my blog. it’s a little more radical then you guys though.

    oldhacks blogspot com

  21. peakmoment Says:

    Thanks for the …
    Thanks for the support! Perhaps we’ll have more programming like this as people increasingly see the necessity for sustainability. Maybe our guests are the real heroes and heroines and celebrities of our world.

  22. oldhacks Says:

    yea you guys should …
    yea you guys should have your own tv network instead of a “history” channel that glorifies war…

  23. jphwacheski Says:

    I want to move to …
    I want to move to orcas island :( these guys roc!
    tools that work with the land and the bodies that work them! organic wool insilation,. conections to the production of things we use and eat.

  24. fleshsniper1 Says:

    this is so eye …
    this is so eye opening, you guys are the future for a better future

  25. slilov Says:

    Watching every …
    Watching every episode and still can’t get enough.
    Keep up the great work. We love you.

Leave a Comment

Please note: Comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment. There is no need to resubmit your comment.

Filed under hand tools | 25 Comments »

|
  • Categories

  • Pages

  • Tags

  • Archives

  • Meta

  •