No Tech Magazine

Self-Watering Planter From Porous Earthenware

Industrial designer Joey Roth developed a self-watering planter for use indoors or out. It is made from porous unglazed earthenware:

"Soil and plants are placed in the outer donut-shaped chamber, and the center chamber is filled with water. The unglazed terracotta's natural porosity allows the water to move from the center chamber and into the soil, based on the soil's moisture (and thus the plant's need for water). The terracotta wall both regulates and filters the water. A simple lid on the top of the water chamber prevents evaporation."

The design is based on the Olla, a terracotta pot for irrigation that has been in use for 4,000 years. See also:

• Botijo's: how to keep beverages cool outside the refrigerator
• Ceramic food steamer with central chimney
• The poor man's refrigerator
• How to make your own low-tech vertical farm

The European Railways Network 1870 - 2000

These five maps, based on GIS data and made by the Department of Geography and Sociology of the University of Lleida (Spain), show the evolution of the European railways infrastructure in the 19th and 20th centuries. 

The Poor Man's Refrigerator

"A fridge for the common man that does not require electricity and keeps food fresh too. With this basic parameter in mind Mansukhbhai came up with Mitticool, a fridge made of clay.

It works on the principle of evaporation.  Water from the upper chambers drips down the side, and gets evaporated taking away heat from the inside , leaving the chambers cool.

The top upper chamber is used to store water. A small lid made from clay is provided on top. A small faucet tap is also provided at the front lower end of chamber to tap out the water for drinking use.

In the lower chamber, two shelves are provided to store the food material. The first shelf can be used for storing vegetables, fruits etc. and the second shelf can be used for storing milk etc.  Cool and affordable, this clay refrigerator is a very good option to keep food, vegetables and even milk naturally fresh for days."

MittiCool Refrigerator. Thanks for the tip, Joseph. See also:

• How to keep beverages cool outside the refrigerator
• Storing fruits and vegetables outside the refrigerator