IndieGoGo is go!

The crowdfunding project is now live, and can be found here: http://www.indiegogo.com/The-SolarFlower-World-Tour-Europe

The aim is to raise €2000 by the first of July to cover any and all costs of the festival trip. There will also be a €100 salary per participant, for the duration.

So just to sum up: if you want, you can join us touring a bunch of festivals and communities, building and supporting the Solarflower project and other interesting stuff, it will all be completely free, and you be paid for your time.

If you are psychologically capable of perceiving anything more awesome, or have something better to do with your time, I envy you.

An important note about the crowdfunding thing; if we don't reach the target I'll be making up any shortfall from the Solarflower kitty, which is my pocket. This is so that you can rest assured that this trip is definitely happening, regardless. (But doing so will eat in to my funds and probably cut short The Solarflower World Tour, after I leave Europe.)

SolarFlower is seeking collaborators for a free European festival roadtrip.

The SolarFlower is a free and open source solar device which tracks the sun during the day and collects energy in the form of heat, which can then be used to run various applications such as water heating and purification, electricity, cooking, biochar, biodiesel, etc.
It can be made from recycled materials and common household items using very basic tools and skills, and there will be detailed animated tutorials on how to construct and use the device and its applications.
Over the next few years I plan to travel with the project, working with local communities and NGOs, giving free workshops and working in with people on how to build and develop this technology and others.

More information at http://www.solarflower.blogspot.com/
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_184038684971498&ap=1
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=166441523415416
First though I want to spend the summer touring festivals and eco-communities around Europe, and I need three people to join me, as well as a van or other transportation.

The plan is this:
~Touch down in Europe around mid June.
~Hold a free workshop constructing one or two of the device, as well as a basic shower unit.
~Load it all onto a trailer.
~Tour the whole thing around any festival that will offer us admission in exchange for free hot showers for their patrons and supporting the project.

What you need to bring:

Technical requirements:
None. If you can physically hold a hammer you are fully equipped to help construct the device.
Being able to drive would be helpful.

Financial requirements:

UPDATE:
We now have a crowd funding project through Indiegogo.com ( http://www.indiegogo.com/The-SolarFlower-World-Tour-Europe ) to pay for this whole trip, as well as a €100 salary per participant for the duration. If this goal is not met I'll be topping up the difference from the Solarflower travelling fund, ie my pocket.

So not only will all this cost you nothing, you'll actually be paid to do it.

Practical requirements:
Tent, sleeping bag, etc. Whatever you'd normally take on a roadtrip. One person will need to supply the van /station wagon /car. Preferably something comfortable with good mileage and that won't break down. You will need to make your own way to the initial meeting point, probably at this stage northern Germany.
Also, I'll be too busy to do the work of approaching festivals etc for free entry, so someone else(s) will need to take on this task.

Personal requirements:
Must be a nice, easy going person who likes roadtrips, festivals and summer. Prior experience with social / environmental / energy projects is not required.

What you need to do to apply:

Send an email to solarflower.org@gmail.com with some information about yourself and a quick basic video. I know self promotion is difficult, but so is trying to choose three people you haven't met to share the summer with.

Any and all finer details will be arranged by the group.

And please forward this on to anyone you think might be interested. There's now less than a month to arrange all this, so the more people I can reach the better.

Thanks,

Daniel.