Green fingers of magic
JOBURG NORTH – An eco-fundi with more than 10 years of experience in various eco-projects, from sandbag building to permaculture, bio-food machines and water conversions, is living the eco-friendly way.
Alosha Lynov is changing the face of ecosystem design for himself and for the community.
The need for a sustainable urban eco-culture has become ever more urgent with the country’s worst drought since 1992. Here enters a green hero, Lynov, who was born in Uzbekistan in Russia and came to Johannesburg in 1995.
His passion is to co-create a bio-geometrically designed city which utilises all if its waste for energy and food production. A city that is designed to store water in the ground, grow fruit trees and treat its own waste.
Lynov has created his own self-sustaining, near completely off the grid wetland at his home in Johannesburg. The house itself is a marvel to experience with multifaceted components all working together to create its own ecosystem.
“Recycling water is easy, it is hard work in the beginning, but can start with something as simple as recycling your grey water from your bath or kitchen sink.” He added that no one should be using harsh chemicals such as bleach.
He has a wealth of knowledge regarding eco-living and attended multiple courses all over the world in 2007. It is these courses that have kept alive his thirst for eco-food, clean water and shelter. He has studied sandbag building in United States, food forestry creation and sustainable living in Australia, water treatment in Thailand, flying concrete in Mexico and various other courses in Johannesburg.
Lynov believes in design and, if one is to use all of the natural goodness that is available, clever and logical design is key to success. “Making your home more eco-friendly can be easy and inexpensive, most of the material I use around my house are second-hand items like pool pumps or nets,” added Lynov.
He explained that something as simple as planting tree in the wrong place can negatively impact the growth of vegetation.
One of Lynov’s most important tips is mulching which consists of grass, leaves, wood chippings and various garden cut-offs.
“Using mulch can reduce your water consumption by three times and if you keep it loose, the stuff retains tons of water.”
