<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=windows-1252">
<TITLE>Broadwell Hill Learning Center</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY TEXT="#000000" LINK="#0000ff" VLINK="#800080" BGCOLOR="#87cefa">
<I><H1 ALIGN="CENTER">Broadwell Hill Learning Center<br>
and Resiliency Initiative</H1></I>
</P>
<center>
| <a href="index.htm">Home</a>
| About
| <a href="contact.htm">Contact Us</a>
| <a href="events/index.htm">Events</a>
| <a href="renewable/index.htm">
Renewable Energy</a>
| <a href="photos/index.htm">Photos</a>
| <a href="links.htm">Links</a>
|
</center>
<center> </center>
<center><H2><b>Facilities and Systems Overview:</b></H2></center>
<font size=4>
<P>The Broadwell Hill Learning Center and Resiliency Initiative is located deep in the Appalachian Hills of Southeast Ohio. It is a 65-acre stewardship project, certified family forest and a member of the American Tree Farm System. </P>
<P> It is a sustainable woodland product farm, a learning center, retreat center and primitive campground. The beautiful, complex and dynamic systems of nature never cease to remind one that there is always more to learn. The Holistic Management Decision Making Framework is utilized for land management and other activities. </P>
<P> The Steward, Kathy Jacobson, was called to this land in 2000. She lived in a rock shelter as she got to know the land over the seasons. Great attention was given to the selection of the homestead site. A careful forest assessment was conducted prior to opening the woods for the pond and the motherhouse. Lumber was milled from the trees that were removed, materials were scavenged and local workers were employed for the construction of the motherhouse. </P>
<P> The Broadwell Hill Motherhouse emerged from the seeds of energy conservation and common sense that were planted as the Steward was growing up in the early 1970s. These visions and models were then adapted based upon the available resources. </P>
<P> The owner-built, well-insulated, passive solar motherhouse, which is still in creation, was custom-designed with respect for the land and the utilization of local materials and construction industry excesses. The off-grid photovoltaic system provides 100% of the electricity needed and consists of a 2 kW array with an Outback MX60 charge controller, VFX3648 inverter, related equipment and eight
546 Amp-hour Surrette batteries. The 74 kBtu/day
solar thermal hot water system consists of 2 Gobi collectors, a Heliodyne exchanger and a 119 gallon insulated water tank. </P>
<P> There are also numerous trails, big rocks and the pond to explore. The 20 ft yurt-dome is available for meetings, Community Conversations and Counsels. Numerous opportunities for learning exist here including in the arena of off-grid systems, potable rainwater and living machine sanitary systems, intensive gardening, composting, vermiculture, woodland plants and wildlife. In general, it is a place to reconnect with oneself, each other, natural systems and to experience how easy and comfortable it is to live simply. </P>
<P> Come experience how we don’t have to give up modern amenities and go back to the dark ages to live in balance with life, reduce carbon emissions and prepare for a post-oil civilization. </P>
</FONT>
</BODY>
</HTML>