# Solarpunk Automation: Building Local Tech Infrastructure with Meshtastic **Turn old devices and low-power radios into the resilient digital nervous system of a solarpunk community.** --- ## Course Overview Build offline-first, solar-powered, low-energy, community-based tools that meaningfully support a commune, eco-village, neighborhood resilience hub, or solarpunk garden collective. Learn to create resilient local infrastructure that works without internet, cell towers, or cloud services. **The Throughline:** By the end of the day, you'll have a working Meshtastic mesh network, a local WiFi information hub running on a repurposed phone, a solar-powered field node prototype, and a blueprint for scaling from garden to neighborhood to commune. **Duration:** 6 hours (plus 1-hour lunch) **Format:** Hands-on workshop with live builds **Prerequisites:** Basic comfort with phones/tablets, curiosity about resilient tech **Target Audience:** Solarpunks, preppers, commune organizers, community resilience advocates, degrowth technologists > **Supporting CyberPony Express:** 100% of proceeds from this workshop are donated to [CyberPony Express](https://themultiverse.school/x/cyberpony), a free, encrypted, public mesh network providing disaster response infrastructure and decentralized communications for intentional communities. A partnership between The Multiverse School, High Desert Institute, and Burners Without Borders. --- ## Who This Is For - **Solarpunk community organizers** - Build the communication backbone for autonomous communities - **Resilience hub coordinators** - Create offline-first emergency systems - **Eco-village residents** - Deploy low-power local infrastructure - **Degrowth technologists** - Practical low-tech solutions for post-growth futures - **Anyone skeptical of Big Tech** - Reclaim agency with decentralized, community-owned tools > **A note on technology ethics:** This course teaches you to build infrastructure that works *without* surveillance capitalism, *without* corporate intermediaries, and *without* extractive cloud dependencies. You'll use repurposed devices, open protocols, and solar power to create truly community-owned systems. --- ## The Mindset: Resilient, Local, Offline-First Before we start, let's establish core principles: **This isn't about high-tech solutions. It's about appropriate technology:** - Repurpose old devices instead of buying new - Solar-powered instead of grid-dependent - Mesh networks instead of centralized infrastructure - Local-first instead of cloud-dependent - Community-owned instead of corporate-controlled **Your philosophy today:** "What would work if the grid went down? What would work if the internet disappeared? What can we build with what we already have?" --- ## What Makes This Different Traditional tech assumes: - Constant internet connectivity - Abundant power from the grid - Corporate cloud services - Disposable devices Solarpunk tech challenges the paradigm: - **Offline-first:** Works without internet, cell towers, or ISPs - **Solar-powered:** Runs on renewable energy, batteries, and power banks - **Repurposed:** Old phones and tablets become infrastructure nodes - **Mesh networking:** Device-to-device communication, no centralized control - **Local data:** Everything stored locally, community-controlled > **The Commune Analogy:** Every functioning commune needs communication, wayfinding, coordination, emergency signaling, shared knowledge, and resource tracking. This course teaches you to build those systems with tech that can't be shut off remotely. --- ## Schedule: 5 Workshops + Lunch ### Morning Session | Time | Block | Workshop | |------|-------|----------| | 10:00-10:30 | **Workshop 1** (30 min) | Solarpunk Infrastructure 101 | | 10:30-12:00 | **Workshop 2** (90 min) | Build #1: The Commune Information Node | **12:00-1:00 LUNCH** - Reflection on resilience, decentralization, and appropriate technology ### Afternoon Session | Time | Block | Workshop | |------|-------|----------| | 1:00-2:15 | **Workshop 3** (75 min) | Build #2: Meshtastic Community Tools | | 2:15-3:30 | **Workshop 4** (75 min) | Build #3: Solar-Powered Field Nodes | | 3:30-4:00 | **Workshop 5** (30 min) | Commune Systems Showcase & Next Steps | --- ## Workshop 1 (10:00-10:30): Solarpunk Infrastructure 101 **Learning Objectives:** - Understand what every functioning commune needs for resilience - Grasp why Meshtastic matters for decentralized communication - See working examples of offline-first infrastructure - Identify failure points in centralized tech - Embrace the "appropriate technology" mindset **What You'll See (Live Demos):** - A phone broadcasting a local website over WiFi (no internet) - A Meshtastic node sending location + SOS messages - A solar-powered microserver running on a battery bank - The difference between "cloud-first" and "local-first" architectures **Key Concepts:** - **Commune infrastructure needs:** Communication, wayfinding, coordination, emergency signaling, shared knowledge, resource tracking - **Meshtastic:** Device-to-device radio communication (LoRa protocol) - no SIM card, no ISP, no centralized control - **Offline-first:** Data stored locally, works without internet - **Appropriate technology:** Right-sized tech for the context (not "the latest," but "what actually works") **The Failure Point Analysis:** ``` Centralized Tech Solarpunk Alternative ───────────────── ───────────────────── Cell tower down? Mesh keeps working Internet outage? Local-first still functions ISP shuts you down? No ISP needed Grid power fails? Solar + batteries Cloud service dies? Data stored locally Phone breaks? Any device can join mesh ``` **Time Breakdown:** - Framing & Philosophy: 10 min - Live Demos: 15 min - Q&A: 5 min --- ## Workshop 2 (10:30-12:00): Build #1: The Commune Information Node **Learning Objectives:** - Turn an old Android phone/tablet into a local knowledge kiosk - Host static websites without internet or cloud services - Create WiFi hotspots for device-to-device connections - Design community information architectures - Use QR codes for easy device connection **What You'll Build:** A local information hub (running on a repurposed phone) containing: - Community resources & contacts - Emergency protocols (local & national) - Offline maps (pre-rendered, stored locally) - Skill-sharing directory (who can teach/fix/build what) - Tool library / shared resource inventory - Mutual aid protocols **Technical Stack:** - **Device:** Old Android phone or tablet - **Server:** Termux + lightweight HTTP server (Python SimpleHTTPServer or Node.js http-server) - **Hotspot:** Phone configured as WiFi access point (no internet, just local network) - **Content:** Static HTML site (we'll provide a template) - **Access:** QR codes for easy connection **Step-by-Step Build:** 1. Install Termux on Android device 2. Set up basic web server 3. Load community information template (HTML bundle provided) 4. Customize for your community (resources, contacts, maps) 5. Configure phone as WiFi hotspot (SSID: "CommuneHub" or similar) 6. Generate QR code for connection 7. Test: Connect another device, browse local site **Customization Options:** - Add your own community contacts - Upload local maps (OpenStreetMap exports) - Create skill-sharing directory - Add tool library inventory - Include emergency protocols **Stretch Goals:** - Add a local-first note-dropbox ("Post a need / offer help") - Add a shared "Commune Calendar" (static file, manually updated) - Create multiple "rooms" for different topics (governance, garden, workshops, etc.) **What You Leave Workshop 2 With:** - Working local information kiosk - Understanding of static site hosting - Knowledge of local-first architectures - Template you can replicate for other nodes **Time Breakdown:** - Termux setup & server installation: 20 min - Load and customize community template: 25 min - WiFi hotspot configuration: 15 min - Testing & troubleshooting: 15 min **Key Insight:** This is your community's digital bulletin board. No internet required. No corporate intermediary. Community-owned information. --- ## Lunch (12:00-1:00): Reflection **This is your most important reflection of the day.** While you eat, work through these prompts: ### Reflection Prompts 1. **"What does my ideal self-sufficient tech ecosystem look like?"** - What devices? What power sources? What communication methods? 2. **"What information needs to remain available during outages?"** - Emergency contacts? Maps? Repair guides? Community knowledge? 3. **"Where am I most vulnerable to centralized failure?"** - Internet outage? Power grid? Cell towers? Corporate platform shutdown? 4. **"What skills does my community have that tech should amplify?"** - Who can repair, build, teach, heal, grow, organize? ### Write It Down Use your AI assistant (ChatGPT/Claude) to process these reflections: - Brainstorm what your resilient infrastructure would look like - Identify gaps in your current setup - Plan what you'd build next after this workshop **After lunch, we'll briefly share (5 min):** What surprised you about your vulnerabilities? What resilient system are you most excited to build? --- ## Workshop 3 (1:00-2:15): Build #2: Meshtastic Community Tools **Learning Objectives:** - Set up Meshtastic hardware (ESP32 or T-Beam devices) - Configure mesh channels for different purposes - Create emergency dispatch systems - Build offline mapping systems - Design skill-sharing and resource exchange tools **The Challenge:** Three "commune modules" - pick one to build, or cycle through all three if you're fast. ### Module A: Emergency Dispatch + Status Board **What You'll Build:** - Meshtastic channel for emergency use - SOS button or quick-macro messages ("Need help here") - Shared roles (Medic, Fire Response, Security, Tools) - Status board (hosted on your local phone server) where emergency messages get logged **Technical Stack:** - Meshtastic device with emergency channel configured - Python or Node.js script listening to Meshtastic API - Simple HTML status board with emergency log - Auto-refresh or manual update of status board **Simulation Exercise:** Send emergency message → See it appear on status board → Test response workflow **Use Cases:** - Medical emergencies in remote garden plots - Fire alerts from solar arrays or workshops - Security incidents (trespassers, wildlife, etc.) - Tool/equipment failures needing immediate repair ### Module B: Local Maps + Wayfinding **What You'll Build:** - Offline map tiles for your community (trails, water lines, solar arrays, gardens, fire zones, rally points) - Stored on local phone server - Distributed via local WiFi or Meshtastic broadcast (for map updates) **Technical Stack:** - OpenStreetMap tile exports (pre-downloaded) - Leaflet.js or similar for interactive offline maps - Custom markers for community infrastructure - Hosted on local information node **Customization:** - Mark trails, garden plots, water sources - Identify solar panel locations - Note fire risk zones and rally points - Add tool sheds, workshops, greenhouses **Stretch:** - Layer system (toggle trails/water/solar/etc.) - GPS integration (if phones have location access) - Export map as PDF for printing ### Module C: Commune Skill Sharing + Resource Exchange **What You'll Build:** - "Library of Skills" browsable via local phone server - Resource barter system (borrow tools, swap materials, list surplus) - Offline, community-managed database (JSON file + simple CRUD interface) **Technical Stack:** - Static JSON file storing skills/resources - Simple HTML form for adding entries - Browsable interface (search by skill/resource type) - No database needed - just file read/write **Examples:** **Skills Directory:** - "Alex - Solar panel repair, bike maintenance" - "Jordan - Foraging expert, mushroom cultivation" - "Sam - Welding, metalwork, tool repair" **Resource Exchange:** - "Borrow: Circular saw (return by Friday)" - "Swap: 10 lbs tomatoes for zucchini" - "Free: Extra lumber from shed teardown" **What You Leave Workshop 3 With:** - Working Meshtastic network (at minimum, emergency channel) - One of three modules fully functional - Understanding of mesh + local server architecture - Template for building other modules later **Time Breakdown:** - Meshtastic hardware setup: 25 min - Choose and build one module: 40 min - Testing and simulation: 10 min --- ## Workshop 4 (2:15-3:30): Build #3: Solar-Powered Field Nodes **Learning Objectives:** - Assemble a solar-powered outdoor node - Understand power budgets for low-energy devices - Deploy nodes in real-world outdoor scenarios - Create resilient, weather-resistant enclosures **The Challenge:** Build a "field node" that a solarpunk garden or commune could deploy outdoors. ### Field Node Options Choose one to build: #### Option 1: Solar-Powered Meshtastic Repeater - **Purpose:** Extend mesh range across large properties - **Hardware:** ESP32 + LoRa module, solar panel (5-10W), LiPo battery + charge controller - **Placement:** High point, tree mount, pole mount - **Range:** 1-10 km depending on terrain - **Power Budget:** ~100mA continuous = 2.4Ah/day = 10Ah battery for 4 days autonomy #### Option 2: Solar-Powered Local Resource Kiosk - **Purpose:** Garden or workshop area information terminal - **Hardware:** Old phone/tablet, solar panel (10-20W), USB battery bank - **Content:** Garden tasks, crop rotation notes, soil readings, water guidelines, tool checkout - **Placement:** Greenhouse, workshop, trailhead - **Power Budget:** Phone on standby ~200mA = 4.8Ah/day = 20Ah battery bank for 4 days #### Option 3: Trail Beacon - **Purpose:** Broadcast local map snippets or trail markers via Meshtastic - **Hardware:** ESP32 + LoRa, tiny solar panel (2-5W), small battery - **Function:** "You are at Trailhead B, 2.3km from Lodge, water source 400m north" - **Placement:** Trail intersections, remote locations - **Power Budget:** Broadcast every 5 min = ~50mA average = 1.2Ah/day = 5Ah battery for 4 days ### Build Steps (Using Option 1 as example) 1. **Hardware assembly:** - ESP32 + LoRa module - Solar panel connection - LiPo battery + charge controller - Weatherproof enclosure (IP65+ rated) 2. **Software configuration:** - Flash Meshtastic firmware - Configure as repeater (router mode) - Set channel, region, power settings 3. **Power testing:** - Measure idle current draw - Calculate daily power budget - Size battery for desired autonomy 4. **Deployment planning:** - Identify optimal placement (line-of-sight, sun exposure) - Test signal range - Document installation **What You Leave Workshop 4 With:** - Working solar-powered field node prototype - Understanding of power budgets and autonomy - Deployment strategy for your community - Shopping list for scaling to multiple nodes **Time Breakdown:** - Hardware assembly: 30 min - Software configuration: 20 min - Power testing and calculations: 15 min - Deployment planning: 10 min **Key Insight:** Once you build one, you can replicate 10 more. This is your template for resilient outdoor infrastructure. --- ## Workshop 5 (3:30-4:00): Commune Systems Showcase & Next Steps **Learning Objectives:** - Present your builds to the group - Identify what to build next for your community - Create a 30-day off-grid resilience roadmap - Connect with other solarpunk builders **Showcase Format:** Each participant (or small team) demos: 1. **Their local information hub** (everyone connects via WiFi) 2. **Their Meshtastic emergency dispatch/maps/skills module** 3. **Their solar-powered field node prototype** **The Big Question:** "If we had to run a commune's digital systems for 30 days off-grid, what would we add next?" ### Brainstorm Session Work with your AI assistant to create your buildout plan: **Week 1 Priorities:** - What critical infrastructure first? - What communication channels? - What information must be available offline? **Week 2-4 Expansion:** - Additional field nodes? - More Meshtastic devices for coverage? - Specialized kiosks (medical, workshop, garden)? **Scaling Beyond One Commune:** - Neighborhood mesh network? - Multi-site coordination? - Regional resilience hubs? **What You Leave Workshop 5 With:** - Showcase-tested builds - 30-day resilience roadmap - Community of solarpunk builders - Actionable next steps **Time Breakdown:** - Individual showcases: 20 min (2-3 min each) - Big Question brainstorm: 10 min --- ## What You'll Leave With ### Concrete Deliverables 1. **A functional Meshtastic network** - At least one emergency channel - Location broadcasting capability - SOS systems - Role-based quick messages 2. **A local WiFi-hosted information hub** - Running from a repurposed device - Emergency contacts - Offline maps - Skill-sharing directory - Resource library - Community protocols 3. **A solar-powered field node prototype** - Repeater, bulletin node, trail marker, or garden kiosk - Fully functional and deployment-ready 4. **A resilience blueprint** - What infrastructure to build next - Where to position nodes - What to decentralize - What to solar-power - How to scale from garden → commune → neighborhood ### Skills and Knowledge - ✅ Offline-first architecture design - ✅ Meshtastic mesh networking - ✅ Static site hosting on repurposed devices - ✅ Solar power budgeting and sizing - ✅ Local-first data management - ✅ Emergency communication systems - ✅ Community infrastructure planning - ✅ Appropriate technology assessment --- ## Before the Workshop: Pre-Work ### Required Materials | Item | Notes | Where to Get | |------|-------|--------------| | **Old Android phone or tablet** | Android 7+ preferred | Drawer, friends, eBay, Craigslist | | **Meshtastic device** | ESP32 LoRa board OR Heltec/TTGO T-Beam | Amazon, AliExpress ($20-40) | | **USB battery bank** | 10,000+ mAh | You probably have one | | **Small solar panel** | 5-20W, USB output | Amazon ($15-30) | | **Laptop** | For configuration and testing | Bring what you have | ### Optional But Recommended | Item | Notes | |------|-------| | **Second phone/tablet** | For testing connections | | **Weatherproof enclosure** | For outdoor field node (IP65+) | | **USB cables and adapters** | Bring extras | | **SD card** | For storing maps offline | ### Software to Install (Before Workshop) 1. **On your laptop:** - [Meshtastic Flasher](https://flasher.meshtastic.org/) (web-based, no install) - Text editor (VS Code, Sublime, or similar) 2. **On your Android device:** - [Termux](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.termux/) (from F-Droid, NOT Google Play) - [Meshtastic Android App](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.geeksville.mesh) 3. **On your AI assistant (ChatGPT/Claude):** - Tell it you're taking a Solarpunk Automation workshop - Ask it to remember: "I'm interested in offline-first, solar-powered, community infrastructure" ### Also Bring - **Community context:** What kind of community are you building for? (Commune, neighborhood, eco-village, etc.) - **Curiosity about resilience:** What would you build if the grid went down tomorrow? ### Multiverse Meshtastic Network & CyberPony Express We'll be configuring all workshop participants to join the **Multiverse Meshtastic Network** - a top-level group channel for the entire Multiverse community, and connecting you to the **CyberPony Express** mesh network. **Multiverse Mesh Channel Key:** ``` [To be provided at workshop - encrypted channel for Multiverse community members] ``` **About CyberPony Express:** CyberPony Express is a free, encrypted, public mesh network built on Meshtastic - essentially a "digital postal service for the people." It's a partnership between The Multiverse School, High Desert Institute, and Burners Without Borders. **Key Features:** - 20+ mile range between nodes - End-to-end encrypted communications - **CyberPony BBS** - bulletin board system with on-device LLM chat - Vital disaster response infrastructure - No internet or cell towers required **Get Involved:** - Apply for a free node: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeDi69xAjjioV7fpNDTQ1NjADD5NGbUDB_bIRRbZ9tbOSvoQ/viewform - Volunteer opportunities: https://forms.gle/1XLujwdtiXX4vFQk6 - Contact for volunteering: [email protected] - Support the network: https://www.gofundme.com/f/cyberpony-express-free-and-offgrid-communications **Workshop Connection:** This allows you to: - Connect with other Multiverse students and alumni - Join the broader CyberPony Express network - Test your mesh network with a larger community - Participate in distributed resilience experiments - Contribute to disaster preparedness infrastructure - Share learnings and builds across the network **Note:** You'll configure this as a secondary channel alongside your local/private channels. --- ## High Desert Institute Projects The Solarpunk Automation workshop connects directly to several ongoing projects at the **High Desert Institute** - our partner organization focused on resilient, off-grid living and community infrastructure. ### Projects Directly Related to This Workshop **Pathfinders' Guild (Communications & Logistics):** - **CyberPony Express** - The free mesh network your workshop builds toward - **CyberPony Express BBS** - Store-and-forward messaging (workshop Module A teaches this!) - **Meshtastic-LLM** - Connect local AI to mesh (advanced topic, volunteer opportunity) - **Flying Robots** - Mesh-coordinated drones for disaster response **Lorekeepers' Guild (Knowledge & Infrastructure):** - **Librarian** - Open-source digital librarian running locally (similar to your community node!) - **LocalNet** - Resilient off-grid application stack (what you're building today) - **The Library** - Library-in-a-Box for off-grid knowledge preservation - **PubSub** - RSS/Atom feed reader with mesh integration **Astromancers' Guild (Advanced Tech):** - **Very Small Array** - Portable SDR for visualizing radio frequencies in AR ### Volunteer Opportunities **Contribute your workshop skills to HDI projects:** 1. **BBS Software Development** - The bulletin board you build today could become part of CyberPony BBS 2. **Repeater Node Deployment** - Help extend the mesh network 3. **LocalNet Development** - Build on the community node scripts 4. **Librarian Integration** - Connect your information hub to the digital librarian 5. **Meshtastic-LLM** - Integrate on-device AI with mesh networking **Get involved:** - CyberPony Express volunteering: https://forms.gle/1XLujwdtiXX4vFQk6 - Contact: [email protected] - HDI Main site: https://highdesertinstitute.org/ - Subscribe to newsletter: https://highdesertinstitute.substack.com/ **Support HDI:** - CyberPony Express donations: https://www.gofundme.com/f/cyberpony-express-free-and-offgrid-communications - General support: https://highdesertinstitute.org/ (merchandise, donations) --- ## After the Workshop: Next Steps ### Immediate Actions (Week 1) 1. **Deploy your builds in a real context** - Set up information node in a community space - Test Meshtastic range in your actual terrain - Install solar field node in target location 2. **Expand your mesh network** - Add 2-3 more Meshtastic devices - Test range and coverage gaps - Document dead zones 3. **Populate your information hub** - Add real community contacts and resources - Upload actual local maps - Create real skill directory ### Scaling (Month 1) 1. **Build redundancy:** - Second information node (backup) - Multiple Meshtastic devices for coverage - Solar charging stations at key locations 2. **Specialized modules:** - Medical kiosk with first aid info - Workshop kiosk with repair guides - Garden kiosk with growing calendars 3. **Community integration:** - Train others to use the systems - Create QR code flyers for connection - Document everything for replication ### Long-Term Vision (6-12 Months) - **Neighborhood mesh network** (50+ devices) - **Multi-site coordination** (link multiple communes/gardens) - **Regional resilience hubs** (disaster preparedness) - **Open-source templates** (share your builds) --- ## Technical Deep Dives (Self-Paced Resources) ### Meshtastic Deep Dive - [Official Meshtastic Documentation](https://meshtastic.org/) - [Meshtastic Discourse Forum](https://meshtastic.discourse.group/) - Range testing and optimization guides - Antenna selection and placement ### Solar Power Systems - Power budget calculators - Battery sizing for multi-day autonomy - Charge controller selection - Weather-resistant enclosures ### Offline-First Web Development - Static site generators (Jekyll, Hugo) - Offline map tools (OpenStreetMap exports) - Local-first databases (PouchDB, SQLite) ### Community Organizing - Consensus decision-making for tech governance - Community ownership models - Maintenance and sustainability planning --- ## Related Courses - [[../Agentic SDLC/Agentic SDLC Syllabus|Agentic SDLC]] - Use AI agents to build automation scripts for your commune systems - [[../Creative Automation/Creative Automation Syllabus|Creative Automation]] - Build storytelling and documentation systems for your community - [[Prompt Engineering Syllabus|Prompt Engineering]] - Advanced AI techniques for community knowledge bases --- ## Philosophy: Why Solarpunk? **Solarpunk isn't just solar panels and green aesthetics. It's a framework for building resilient, equitable, community-owned futures.** ### Core Principles 1. **Appropriate Technology** - Right-sized, not high-tech for its own sake 2. **Decentralization** - No single point of failure, no corporate control 3. **Community Ownership** - Built by us, for us, governed by us 4. **Resilience** - Works when the grid doesn't, when the internet doesn't 5. **Repurpose, Don't Replace** - Use what we have, extend device lifespans 6. **Solar-Powered** - Renewable energy, off-grid capable 7. **Local-First** - Data sovereignty, community control ### What We're Building Against - **Surveillance capitalism** - Your data sold without consent - **Planned obsolescence** - Devices designed to fail - **Centralized control** - Platforms that can shut you down - **Cloud dependency** - Can't access your own data offline - **Grid dependency** - Vulnerable to power outages - **Corporate intermediaries** - Rent-seeking, extraction ### What We're Building Toward - **Community resilience** - Works when systems fail - **Data sovereignty** - You control your information - **Energy independence** - Solar-powered, off-grid capable - **Device longevity** - Repurpose, repair, extend lifespans - **Mesh networks** - Decentralized, community-owned communication - **Local knowledge** - Preserved, accessible, community-managed **This course is practice for that future.** --- ## Facilitator Notes ### Pacing - **Workshop 1** - Keep philosophy tight but inspiring; demos create energy - **Workshop 2** - Most will finish basic node; customization is stretch - **Lunch** - Reflection is critical for internalizing the "why" - **Workshop 3** - Module choice lets people follow their interests - **Workshop 4** - Solar assembly can be fiddly; have backup devices ready - **Workshop 5** - Showcase creates community; celebrate every build ### Common Issues - **Termux won't install from Google Play** - Must use F-Droid (Google removed it) - **Meshtastic device won't flash** - Check USB cable (data, not just charging) - **WiFi hotspot won't work** - Some carriers block it; use airplane mode + WiFi - **Solar panel not charging** - Check polarity, use multimeter to verify voltage - **Mesh messages not sending** - Check region settings, frequency match ### Energy Management - **Morning:** Philosophy + hands-on builds = high energy - **Pre-lunch:** Workshop 2 Meshtastic bridge demo teases afternoon, maintains momentum - **Post-lunch:** Resilience reflections create bonding - **Workshop 3:** Module choice lets people dive deep into their passion - **Workshop 5:** Showcase creates "we built this!" collective pride ### Inspiration (If Someone is Stuck on Use Cases) - "Off-grid eco-village needs emergency communication" - "Community garden needs soil/water tracking kiosk" - "Neighborhood disaster prep team needs offline coordination" - "Intentional community needs skill-sharing and tool library" - "Mutual aid network needs offline resource coordination" --- ## The Key Insight **You don't need the internet. You don't need the grid. You don't need Big Tech.** **What you need:** - Old devices (you already have) - Solar panels (getting cheaper every year) - Mesh radios ($30 each) - Community knowledge (you have this too) - The will to build resilient systems **This course shows you how to combine them into infrastructure that can't be shut down, can't be censored, and can't be sold to advertisers.** **Welcome to the solarpunk future. Let's build it.** --- *Last Updated: December 2024*