Elegant Experiments
This letter is the 8 th episode of my 🔭 Laboratory Logbook , a monthly newsletter where I share my explorations. Since the last episode of my laboratory logbook, a lot of water has flowed in the river, insects have been foraging, rootlets have been expanding, and countless experiments have been born. To sum it all up, here’s some visual news, in 3 videos. Table of Content Why an agroforestry…
This letter is the 7 th episode of my 🔭 Laboratory Logbook , a monthly newsletter where I share my explorations. Hsiao and I are honored to announce to you the arrival of Clémentine and Coussolline into the family! These little beings are neither newborn twins, nor dogs, but two farmlands! Two plots of grassland that we just acquired last month. We feel very grateful to be able to adopt and take…
This letter is the 6 th episode of my 🔭 Laboratory Logbook , a monthly newsletter where I share my explorations. One day, I read an interview of the Dalaï-Lama where he was explaining that he had never felt lonely. I was surprised. A human being who never feels lonely? Not even just a little bit from time to time? Was this really possible? Until, for me too, the feeling of loneliness gradually…
This letter is the 5 th episode of my 🔭 Laboratory Logbook , a monthly newsletter where I share my explorations. For a few weeks now, for breakfast, I like to drink a large glass of self-picked wild blackberry juice. It’s a bit like swallowing a full jar of blackberry jam — without the refined sugar! Without sugar, blackberry juice turns out to have a more subtle taste. But I like its intense…
This letter is the 4 th episode of my 🔭 Laboratory Logbook , a monthly newsletter where I share my explorations. Last year, a practitioner of Western medicine told me: “eczema has nothing to do with food”. Later, while I was still trying to improve my skin condition, a naturopath told me: “eczema has everything to do with food”. In my quest for knowledge and better health, I often encounter such…
This letter is the 3 rd episode of my 🔭 Laboratory Logbook , a monthly newsletter where I share my explorations. In order to start preparing our future experimental food forest , before we settle on a piece of land, I have been experimenting at my parents’ place. I am exploring different ways of growing plants with as little inputs as possible, growing vegetables along trees and hens,…
This letter is the 2 nd episode of my 🔭 Laboratory Logbook , a monthly newsletter where I share my explorations. As you know, I have many ideas and projects. Most of the time, they never really get mature enough to be shared. I launch so many experiments in parallel, that, a moment comes when I feel too overwhelmed. Or, I start to get perfectionist about one detail, my passion decreases, and I…
I originally published this article in French on the webzine Vibre Magazine . It is the 4 th episode of a series of 4 articles on planting a tiny food forest on the balcony. A balcony planter is so small that we can sometimes give up on the idea of turning it into a micro food forest, thinking that we’ll only be able to produce a tiny fraction of our food there anyway. And yet, despite its small…
I originally published this article in French on the webzine Vibre Magazine . It is the 3 rd episode of a series of 4 articles on planting a tiny food forest on the balcony. I often lack patience when gardening. I design my micro-forest eagerly, following natural principles, as in the 1 st episode . I prepare my soil with passion, installing plants without hesitation, as in the 2 nd episode . Step…
I originally published this article in French on the webzine Vibre Magazine . It is the 2 nd episode of a series of 4 articles on planting a tiny forest garden on the balcony. In the previous article , I present four principles that characterize natural forests. Then I suggested a combination of six plants to start experimenting with the concept of an edible forest, on a very small scale, on your…
I originally published this article in French on the webzine Vibre Magazine . It is the 1 st episode of a series of 4 articles on planting a tiny food forest on the balcony. A food forest, or forest garden, is a forest where trees and plants produce leaves, roots, fruits, and nuts that can be eaten. In fact, such a forest garden mimics what works so well in natural forests, but with the plant…
This letter is the first episode of my 🔭 Laboratory Logbook , my monthly newsletter where I share my explorations. Since April, I have resumed work in Paññā, our experimental tiny house . After a month of work, it’s time to take a break and invite you for a little tour of the construction site! We’ll make the visit in the form of a video where I’ll show you all the “rooms” of this tiny wooden…
A few days ago, a small multicolored tit ( mésange , in French) landed right in front of the door of the tiny house in which I was doing some construction. To remind me to send the last episode of the Mésange series? Table of Content The first season of Mésange is over! Thank you :) My newsletter becomes my monthly “🔭 Laboratory Logbook” Future series of letters like Mésange — but shorter, more…
Publication check-list - EN --> This post is from my [weekly newsletter.](/en/newsletter) --> In September 2019, I was spending a couple of weeks in Japan with Hsiao. Among a few visits and activities, one afternoon tea touched me particularly. It was one of these ordinary moments that unexpectedly turn into memorable ones, perhaps because of the combination of a few random parameters. From the…
Lacto-fermentation is an ancient method of food preservation that doesn’t need cooking or sterilizing. By storing food in a container with about 2.5% salt and no oxygen, lactic acid bacteria spontaneously start to develop. This bacterial activity increases acidity up to pH 2-3. At this point, the lacto-fermented mixture is too acidic for further microbial activity and can be kept for months or…
Which kind of tool can I use to drill bamboo? How to mark and immobilize the bamboo? How to use carving tools to drill a hole? Here is a short tutorial based on a video review of 9 highly skilled bamboo craftsmen from around the world. This tutorial is part of my bamboo craft project where I share tutorials, prototypes and resources for designing and building bamboo objects with simple tools.…
Which kind of tool can I use to split bamboo? How to immobilize the bamboo when splitting it? How to split? And how to obtain slats of the same width? To answer these questions, I carefully reviewed the gestures of more than 18 highly skilled bamboo craftswomen and craftsmen from around the world! Then I summarized this review into a 8 min movie and this tutorial. This tutorial is part of my…
This post is part of my project about bamboo craft . While we were visiting the East Coast of Taiwan during Chinese New Year, we stopped by a museum where we discovered a traditional bamboo house. I observed the details of this house, which reproduces the traditional construction techniques of the Amis people, and I took many pictures. I found interesting construction tips, and the floor…
This post is part of my project about agroecology . Over the years, through my studies in agronomy, my travel observations, my scientific and esoteric readings, I came across numerous unusual gardening and farming techniques that I found elegant and inspiring. I would like to try implementing them in our future experimental food forest , and I have already started to experiment with some of them.…
ˬ˯vᐯ˅ˇ⌣ᘁ᥎ᨆ⏝ࡍ⩗ᨆ⌣˘ ˬ ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is part of my project about the Digestive System . What is the surface area of the entire human digestive system? What is the area of the small intestine? From lips to anus, our digestive tract is about 32 m 2 (38 yards 2 ). And about 94% of this area corresponds to the small intestine alone! Estimating the actual area of the gastrointestinal tract is…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ˯vᐯ˅ˇ⌣ᘁ᥎ᨆ⏝ࡍ⩗ᨆ⌣ ˘ ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > One of the greatest things in Taiwan is food! It is the country with the widest array of food styles I have ever visited. From local Taiwanese dishes to Chinese and Japanese food, it includes other Asian flavors, adds a bunch of…
Publication check-list - EN --> What does it mean to be sensitive? Is it a problem, a weakness? How can I tame my hypersensitivity and turn it into a strength? I asked myself these questions for a very long time! Then, through reading, analysis, and observation, I came to better understand the hidden mechanisms behind my sensitivity, and to be able to simply enjoy the fabulous assets it offers! I…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ˯vᐯ˅ˇ⌣ᘁ᥎ᨆ⏝ࡍ⩗ᨆ ⌣ ˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > When I started to suspect that I was electro-hypersensitive, I borrowed an electromagnetic field meter — an EMF meter — and I measured everywhere. I checked if my symptoms indeed appeared when I was exposed, I investigated how…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ˯vᐯ˅ˇ⌣ᘁ᥎ᨆ⏝ࡍ⩗ ᨆ ⌣˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > As I plan to develop an experimental food forest, I collect ideas and start to experiment on a small scale (on my parents’ land). Recently, I investigated pollard trees , an ancient farming technique (or, maybe, a branch of land…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ˯vᐯ˅ˇ⌣ᘁ᥎ᨆ⏝ࡍ ⩗ ᨆ⌣˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > A couple of years ago, in Taiwan, Hsiao found an alternative therapy practitioner, to try to help me with my many and growing number of allergies. An interesting experience, that I am going to tell you…! Article content First…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ˯vᐯ˅ˇ⌣ᘁ᥎ᨆ⏝ ࡍ ⩗ᨆ⌣˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > I started to build the wood skeleton of Paññā , our tiny house lab, using standard Douglas fir studs of 5 × 10 cm (2 × 4 in). But I quickly realized that such a wood frame was too heavy. Here I tell you my adventures to make the…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ˯vᐯ˅ˇ⌣ᘁ᥎ᨆ ⏝ ࡍ⩗ᨆ⌣˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > Last week, passing by Montpellier, while we were discussing with Hsiao about my uncertain and wacky future, I remembered this little text written 7 years ago. A useless text, which describes a moment when nothing happened. But a…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ˯vᐯ˅ˇ⌣ᘁ᥎ ᨆ ⏝ࡍ⩗ᨆ⌣˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > Last week I was telling you that acorns have been eaten by humans for thousands of years, using several strategies to reduce the content of their main antinutrient — tannins. As you may know, fermentation is also an effective…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ˯vᐯ˅ˇ⌣ᘁ ᥎ ᨆ⏝ࡍ⩗ᨆ⌣˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > Throughout History, humans have been eating acorns. Indeed, they are a nutritionally rich food. But acorns contain tannins that are harmful in high quantities. How were humans dealing with acorn tannins? How do we know when it…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ˯vᐯ˅ˇ⌣ ᘁ ᥎ᨆ⏝ࡍ⩗ᨆ⌣˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > For some unknown reason, I’ve been interested in acorns for a few weeks now. Maybe a little because I saw them accumulating under an oak tree not far from the tiny house, on my parents’ land. As I studied this topic, I realized…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ˯vᐯ˅ˇ ⌣ ᘁ᥎ᨆ⏝ࡍ⩗ᨆ⌣˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > I think it was around 1998 when I discovered “the desert fridge”, in the first issue of Jonas, an ecology magazine. There was only one issue of this magazine. The ecological urge was already known for a long time, but it was…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ˯vᐯ˅ ˇ ⌣ᘁ᥎ᨆ⏝ࡍ⩗ᨆ⌣˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > Two weeks ago, I received an invitation to review a scientific paper about ‘invasive plants’. The authors of this article report that more and more studies are actually assessing the potential benefits of invasive plants .…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ˯vᐯ ˅ ˇ⌣ᘁ᥎ᨆ⏝ࡍ⩗ᨆ⌣˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > As you probably noticed, since the start of October, I have started to send you one letter per week, each Sunday. If you missed them, you can find them in the online archive. I will send you more short stories like these, until…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ˯v ᐯ ˅ˇ⌣ᘁ᥎ᨆ⏝ࡍ⩗ᨆ⌣˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > A bit more than a year ago, I started to study electromagnetic fields, after I started to suspect that I was electro-hypersensitive. We were still living in a small flat in Taipei, Taiwan. I discovered I was surrounded by a lot…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ˯ v ᐯ˅ˇ⌣ᘁ᥎ᨆ⏝ࡍ⩗ᨆ⌣˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > Sometimes, observing nature helps me to understand myself better. Here, by observing a dog, I understand one way to channel strong emotions. I tell this story through my voice, through my pen, and through a visual summary.…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ ˯ vᐯ˅ˇ⌣ᘁ᥎ᨆ⏝ࡍ⩗ᨆ⌣˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. < Previous | Next > The other day, I realized we needed lids for our 5 pans. I started to design them. I ended up with only 1 wood lid, which works for all pans. It is a 5-function minimalist drop lid (9-function for super-minimalist people, as you…
Publication check-list - EN --> ˬ ˯vᐯ˅ˇ⌣ᘁ᥎ᨆ⏝ࡍ⩗ᨆ⌣˘ˬ᥎ᐯᨆ⌣ᘁ⩗ᨆࡍ˯ This post is from Mésange , my weekly ‘popup’ newsletter, from October 2022 to March 2023. Next > As you may know, with Hsiao, we wanted to build a tiny house on wheels. So, I started . I made drawings, models, I visited material shops, I bought tools, I built a wood workshop with my father. Then, to experiment with a few innovative…
Publication check-list - EN --> Editing --> At the end of June 2022, on the day of my birthday, Hsiao and I visited a 1.8 ha forest plot for sale in the Gard district, South of France. Following this visit, the owner, who would become our neighbor if the sale was concluded, invited me to describe more precisely our project if we settled on this land so that she could better understand what we had…
In July 2021, shortly after arriving in France, we decided to build a tiny house! We thought a small house would be an affordable way to own our home. And we quickly concluded that we needed our house to be on wheels, to move more easily before finding a place to settle at some point. In this video, we introduce our project, and some key steps that we have achieved so far. Table of content Watch…
Publication check-list - EN --> Unconditional love is loving the other person as she or he is. It is loving the other without conditions, like a child. Unconditional love is not the desire, the attraction, or the attachment, even though all these can exist at the same time. Unconditional love, that curious phenomenon, reveals unexpected surprises: if you love unconditionally, your love does not…
Publication check-list - EN --> Editing --> Last week I was invited to a fermentation course in Taipei to teach how to make chickpea tempeh. I took the opportunity to review the scientific knowledge and the online recipes about this tempeh variation! Here is the result of my research, where I synthesized 5 scientific papers and 11 food blog articles. At the end, you can find the list of references…
Publication check-list - EN --> Editing --> Over 36 years, I have been trying almost 30 techniques to address my health issues related to allergies, eczema, asthma, and so on. In February and March 2021, I focused on Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET) . I wrote a short story to tell how the 1 st NAET session occurred . In this post, I present the results of the NAET treatments. I…
Publication check-list - EN --> Editing --> Here I describe the series of activities we perform to grow and maintain our tiny rooftop garden of 3.5 m 2 . Our key objectives are to maximize biomass production, maximize ecological diversity while using techniques and knowledge as simple as possible. As it turns out, our practice more or less falls into the category of bio-intensive gardening ,…
Publication check-list - EN --> Editing --> I started to be interested in understanding the essence of tai chi after practicing tai chi quan for some months. Tai chi quan is a movement sequence (practice) following the principles of tai chi (philosophy). But nowadays we usually use the word tai chi to refer to the physical practice tai chi quan . Tai chi writes 太極 in Chinese. 太 ( pinyin : tài)…
Publication check-list - EN --> Editing --> At the age of 6 months, I had an asthmatic bronchitis. This was the first expression of the dysfunction of my immune system in a series that would manifest over many years. As a child, I developed eczema and respiratory allergies. As a teenager, chronic back pain. A few years ago I found myself with new food sensitivities and intolerances. To the point…
Publication check-list - EN --> Editing --> Which container should you use to make your fermentations? I present a variety of containers and how to choose the one you need for your specific fermentation project. Fermenting food is letting specific micro-organisms transform your food into a tastier, healthier, and better-preserved food. To achieve a good fermentation, you need to select these…
A couple of years ago, I started to develop gluten intolerance. And this was followed by a series of other digestive and health issues like bloating, constipation, belly pain, gastroesophageal reflux, indigestion, and more. As a crazy scientist, I took this as an opportunity to dive into my gut, to understand better how it works, and try to fix all these problems by myself! Here you can follow me…
Hsiao-Hang and I like very much the fine Japanese bamboo crafts and the minimalism and modulability of Japanese furniture and architecture. So, in the spring of 2018, when I saw that bamboo was growing naturally in the land and the forest surrounding our new house in Taiwan, I was very excited by the idea of harvesting bamboo poles to build our own furniture! What we love about bamboo are its…
Publication check-list - EN --> Editing --> amino acids, with arrow and question mark --> This post is part of my project about the Digestive System . How does protein digestion occur in the human body? In this post, I integrate visuals with text to explain how proteins are digested along your digestive tract, from mouth to anus. Proteins are chains of hundreds or thousands of amino acids linked…
This post is part of my project about the Digestive System . What is the length of the entire human digestive system? What is the length of the intestine? From lips to anus, our digestive tract is about 5.5 meters long (18 feet). That is, your own digestive tract is about 3 times your height! And more than half of this corresponds to the small intestine! Estimating the actual length of the…