I am a small business owner operating from home in Paarl in the Western Cape in South Africa. I specialise in vintage electronics, especially vacuum tubes. I sell tube amplifiers, custom build them, sell kits and do workshops where people build their own amplifiers.

Apart from my passion for audio and amateur music, I have a special affinity for plants and a passion for health and natural living.

I have been noting the alarming deteriotation of the biosphere around me. The increasing toxicity of urban culture has also fueled a urge to change my lifestyle and prepare for unexpected economic and climate changes. I would like us as a family to be more self sufficient and would like to help spread the knowledge of these alternative technologies.

I want to build my own home and develop a food garden around it, particularly within a small community structure of equal and like minded individuals. Currently I have a gray water fed urban garden in which I plan to integrate aquaponics and possibly small scale composting and building a bio-digester. I'll be doing the Permaculture Design Course with my wife and educate myself on earth house building.