Centre for Appropriate Rural Technology

The Centre for Appropriate Rural Technology (CART) is a community-driven sustainable development project located in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

The Eastern Cape is South Africa's poorest region and has for many years been a victim of massive skill loss due to the migration of workers to the larger cities in seek of work.

Having accrued 15 years of experience working in several African Countries, building communities with the homeless, CART was formed as a centre to tackle poverty in a more holistic way.

CART's primary goal is to complete the self sustainable model, serving as the epicentre to the surrounding village of over four hundred families.

CART ensures that any technology implemented can be replicated in other rural environments, allowing this sustainable village to become a living example to other communities around South Africa and Globally.

The aerated, raised beds can be implemented anywhere but are ideally suited to areas that have high clay content in the soil structure.

The garden resembles a compost heap with green matter placed on the very bottom of the structure, which is made from lengths of thin poles (latte).

The incorrect disposal of animal and human waste can lead to the poisoning of waterways, render land un-farmable and cause numerous fatal diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid and Diphtheria.

After much research it was decided that a Biodigester could provide the solution to this problem, however no design existed that could be cheaply replicated in rural areas – so CART made one.