The Rules

Bylaws of the Sustainable Living Plan:

Article I: Permissible Non-sustainable objects:
1. Pots and pans
2. String, fishing line
3. Machetes, Spears, Knives, et al.
4. Electricity
5. Refrigeration and Freezing

Article Ib: A Note on Refrigeration
We have decided to allow refrigeration for the following reasons. 1) We are very used to eating un-refrigerated items here. Mayonnaise, eggs, and other “refrigerables” generally are not refrigerated in Kosrae. Fish sits out for a day or two before it’s cooked, then may remain sitting out for a day or two after that.

Because of this patent lack of refrigeration, we’ve often found ourselves sick. Nate, particularly, got a tapeworm, either from unclean food or from unclean water. Nate’s tapeworm affected his ability to teach, so we are going to guard against health-related issues wherever possible. We are first and foremost volunteer teachers, and our first duty is to our students. Moreover, we feel that we could do without refrigeration, as our host families generally do without.

Thus, we will maintain refrigeration rights in attempt to stay healthy.

Article II: Water Collection
All water will be collected from one of two rain catchments, located at Tyler’s house and Nate’s house. Water will be boiled, since Tyler’s catchment, in particular, is fohkfohk, the Kosraean word for dirty. We consider rain catchments the most sustainable way to get water, as the fresh water sources are generally considered to be private property here on the island.

Article III: Cultural Activities
We will be responsible to complete the following cultural activities, to enhance our knowledge of traditional Kosraean methods of subsistence and ethnobotanical practices.

1. The making of two traditional ums. (A ceremonial oven made with palm fronds, rocks, and coconut husks)
2. One palm-frond basket weaving session (see picture at right)
3. [Optional] Brewing of tuba, a local homemade alcohol.
4. [Optional] Killing and cleaning of a pig
5. Special Surprise Hallowe'en Sustainability Event entitled "Betwixt the Birthdays" TBA

Article IV: Fish
The following types of fishing will be permitted:
1. Spear fishing
2. Machete fishing
3. Rod fishing
4. Hand-line fishing
We will be permitted to use a fishing rod, but the bait must be either hunted or gathered. As there are few worms on this island, we will likely be using hermit crabs, fish heads, and chicken fat.

Article V: Fowl
The island has one type of fowl, known scientifically as “Red Jungle Fowl”. Basically, it is a type of wild chicken. The wild chicken are the property of whoever’s land they find themselves on, and Tyler and I have prepared by feeding a few mature hens at his place. They will be allowed to be eaten, but they must be caught using a homemade chicken trap, using only permissible, sustainable objects. It is exceedingly difficult to create said traps, and all attempts to even understand these traps have been met with bewilderment. Attempts to trap jungle fowl will be recorded for your enjoyment.

Article VI: Swine
Each family has livestock and normally slaughters pigs for major island celebrations. Fortunately, on Nov. 6th, the Lelu Congregational Church celebrates its 50th anniversary. Nate’s host family will be killing three or four pigs for the event. As Nate has helped feed, kill, and clean pigs in the past, the pigs slaughtered for the Lelu celebration will be permissible, provided that both Tyler and Nate assist in the killing, cleaning, and butchering of the pigs. Total amount of pork is not to exceed two (2) dinner portions.

Article VII: Outside Help
Outside help will be permissible at certain times. For example, when spearfishing, we may spearfish with other, more competent individuals, but we may only harvest what we ourselves spear. If a local consents to take us on his fishing boat, we may go, but we may not use any artificial lures, making it nearly impossible to land any sizeable fish, such as tuna.
We may not accept food as a gift, under any circumstances, from any person. We may not under any circumstances barter with our catches (for example, a freshwater eel for a reef fish of comparable size/quality), and no gifts are allowed.

Article VIII: Fruits
Fruits and vegetables may be harvested from Tyler’s place, Tyler’s landlord’s place, and places to be named later. We cannot take food that is cultivated, such as taro or basil, if we did not ourselves plant or care for said plants. We can only eat wild fruits and vegetables.

Article IX: Completion
Upon completion we will be showered with gifts and given a party by our friends here on the island. The party will be financed by said friends. Wine will flow as water, and the nourishment will be succulent and filling.

Article X: Dates
The sustainability project will run uninterrupted from October 12th to November 12th. Both Tyler and Nate will be celebrating our birthdays within the month. Birthdays are not exemptions, and will be approached just as every other day.