Co.Future Mealworm Production

Today was the final day of the first week of our mealworm production site for food and manufacturing prototype products using the insects in the process.

The work redesigned how the production of insects as food when located on the high street could present a more sustainable way to produce protein rich food as an alternative to beef, pork and lamb. Importantly mealworms can be produced in the city without the need for large areas of countryside unlike cows, for instance, and they emit fewer greenhouse gases.

Introducing insects into our diets isn't a new idea, but within the Co.Futures project we were keen to investigate the full potential when farming mealworms in our city centres. Therefore we employ the mealworms in a manufacturing process of products to also be sold on the high street.

For us, it was important to begin by getting to know the mealworms, which unlike their name suggests, are in fact larvae that become darking beetles through the process of metamorphosis. A major inspiration for us was this seemingly magical process of metamorphosis. We wanted to create a process that wondered and captured the life-cycle.  We started by involving the insect larvae in creating their own tableware to be used in serving them as food.

In the casting process the mealworms are fed by the prototype model of the product which is made out of a flour modelling dough. As they go through their  metamorphosis from larvae to beetle, the objects they help create follow a similar process of metamorphosis of matter transforming into new forms as well as becoming a souvenir of the mealworms life-cycle.

Here are some images of the event and piece.

Michael showing visitors close-ups of the mealworms at work under the microscope
Image: Ed (thanks)

Mealworms making the moulds whilst they feed.  After they clear the moulds we then cast the prototype product.  As you can see, the mealworms love this dish/chop-stick stand made by one of our first visitors.

Thanks to all the visitors who made a prototype product with us and who helped feed the mealworms. We look forward to sharing the results of the process once the insects have finished their work.

Knowledge banking, session3

Had historic session with Steve and Barry for over the last two days. It was a deep learning curve in such a short time.

Thank you so much for your time and looking forward to further collaboration for walks and maps...!

We interviewed

Launch of Metamorphosis factory

 We have set up the metamorphosis factory at the back of hub for this week's workshop!

Our generous first customer  being creative...! Thanks for your time!

Knowledge banking-session1

Knowledge banking is an alternative banking system to re-value the currency, financial system, knowledge and people. Within Co.Futures world your local knowledge is counted as a valuable currency therefore more knowledge you share with wider public, richer you get. For example, I am an artist who might be valueless in this capitalist society ( not much earning) but I might become rich in Co.Futures world because I am rich in my mind. With this project, we would like to inspire audience with a hint of an alternative value system we might be able to create for our future.   

We are currently going around in the SEE3 area interviewing local residence to get as much knowledge as we can - these knowledge will be available on the local spot through knowledge map&online. 

We started first session with Annabel on Knowledge banking at Blue Mountain cafe.

It was surely enriching experience...! 

If you are interested in contributing your knowledge to us, please contact by sending email to burtonnitta@gmail.com. The interview will take up to 30minutes, and as a thank you gift for your time we will offer you 5Co money to spend on any forth coming events we are organising. Your  Co money  will increase as people view your shared story - more interesting knowledge you have, richer you get!

Meanwhile in the hub, we have been busy setting up metamorphosis factory workshop for next week!

Products of our Co.Futures - Our invitation development

You &Co. make the future!

We would love to hear from people who want to share their skills:

Are you an artist or designer?

Can sharing knowledge change the world?

We want to hear from creative people from Forest Hill, Kirkdale and Sydenham who would like to try out a new way of working.

Co.Futures will create collaborations between artists/designers/makers/writers and people with business knowledge, life-experiences or stories to share. We will supply a micro-seed fund, to get your collaboration started and ask you to produce a product as a result of your partnership.

The project aims to mobilise the weatlh of knowledge that exists in our neighbourhoods. As we progress through life we gather lots of knowledge and experience, yet we live in streets where we might not know our neighbours, let alone form collaborations. However, what if, someone you meet in the street gives you an inspiring piece of information or shares a tale that transforms your thoughts. What if you use this to create something new which in turn changes our world.

The Co.Futures project strives to reconsider how people's skills and experience are passed-on to others. So rather than knowledge being owned and lost, Co.Futures wants to reimagine knowledge as a currency to be shared between people who might not naturally meet each other.

As a first experiment, our enquiry explores whether we can create a collection of artifacts that might include apps, objects, writings, performances, etc that capture and mobilise knowledge.

If you would like to take part, please send a brief outline and image of your work to the following address:

Please email: burtonnitta@gmail.com

Do you have business skills or life experiences to share?

Have you got knowledge, experience or tales to share? Maybe you've travelled the world and gathered many insights you want to pass on. Are you a business or entrepreneurial professional? Perhaps you’ve retired from a City career? Or maybe you’re a craftsperson with honed skills or have dedicated your career to becoming an expert in a specific subject.

If so, we would like to hear from you. As part of the Co.Futures project we will team you up with an artist, designer, wrtier or entrepreneur who will share their knowledge/skills to create a new product from your collaboration.

If you would like further information or to share your interest, please email:
burtonnitta@gmail.com
or drop-by the SEE3 hub on Sydenham High Street.

Future Florist - Co.Wonder

We thought we would share some developments from our work/research/prototypes on the services we might find on the high street of the future. We begin with a visit to the florists.

Pictured above is our first prototype of an example of the transgenic plants we may encounter. This rose is engineered to create a hormone similar to oxytocin, the bond-forming chemical found to naturally strengthen relationships, such as between mother and child.

Unlike the florist now, a visit in the future may be similar to entering a lab full of enhanced plant-life that perform roles in society. These may span from strengthening community cohesion, a rare sight of nature in the city, bio-haking, a place to enhance your love-life or to get your medical supplies.

We'll continue to share our process, much like opening-up our sketch-book, as we develop works from Co.Futures.