Dan Adams' online sustainable living social network has grown from an independent study project into an emerging part of the U.S. self-sufficiency community, with more than 11,000 members and 350,000 monthly page views.
Adams, a
Northern Kentucky University graduate student, launched
Earthineer.com in late 2010. The Covington software consultant's interest in sustainable living practices was stoked by his home garden. The self-satisfaction that came from growing some of his own food led Adams to learn how to can, preserve and pickle.
Earthineer.com is for people with the same interests as its creator. It's for people looking for tips on living more in tune with nature, creating a healthier home environment and creating less waste. Much of the site's content centers on food: preparing it, growing it and storing it.
The site has a spot for blog posts for sustainable living "experiments" like different composting, canning or wine-making methods. It also has typical social networking features, including personal profiles, news feeds and status updates. The site should host a trading section by early next year.
"If there's a bee keeper producing extra honey and wants to trade for something else, they can do it there," Adams says.
Adams spent the summer updating the site, and received some expert mentoring in NKU's inaugural
INKUBATOR program. The new 12-week program is for entrepreneurial NKU students looking to start businesses. The program ended with a Demo Day where participants pitched their products and services to a group of investors, entrepreneurs and advisors.
Earthineer received $5,000 in seed funding.
"I had great access to mentors and more networking opportunities," Adams says. "We had mentors from Queen City Angels and Mindbox Studios. They spoke on different topics like fine tuning your value proposition and business model."
Adams has also been spreading the Earthineer gospel, talking about
DIY Solar Panels at the Mother Earth News Fair and in an
Edible Ohio Valley article on keeping backyard chickens.
The site has a sizable following from Kentucky and Ohio. Adams' Mother Earth talks have upped the representation from Pennsylvania as well as the west coast, with members joining from California, Oregon and Washington State.
By Feoshia H. Davis
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