Q.SOCIETY FIELD NODE: BOXWOOD.MK-I
Meow Meow City Starter Pack // Build Your Own Grid // Drop the State
CONTEXT: Reclaiming Autonomy
So, the Grid has ghosted you? Excellent. This is your invitation to construct a new reality, a city forged from scavenged materials, accessible technology, and unwavering determination. This is the essence of a Boxwood Node: proactive, self-reliant, and independent.
Forget waiting for permission. Forget asking for handouts. It's time to build.
HOW TO BUILD A CITY IN A CLEARING
SHELTER – Sanctuary for Revolution
Objective: Keep out the elements. Keep in the spirit of change.
Materials (Scavenge Only - Resourcefulness is Key):
- Shipping pallets, plywood, tarpaulins, discarded IKEA components
- Large cardboard boxes (reinforce with waterproof sealant)
- Sheds can be used too
- Window plastic, old shower curtains (for waterproofing and light)
- Screws, nails, and wire salvaged from waste (for structural fastening)
- Spray foam (to seal gaps and deter pests)
- Use spray foam/tarps/etc to form a base to put a rug or something on for a floor that both looks decent and deters insects. Consider building on a shipping pallet base to keep water out, but make sure to waterproof them.
- Insulation: fabric scraps, egg cartons, newspapers, anything that traps air
Architectural Style: Unapologetically functional, "ugly but sacred." Prioritize low-profile structures that blend with the surroundings.
Pro Tip: A slanted roof ensures rainwater runoff. For earth floors, create a barrier against moisture and insects using layers of rugs, mats, or salvaged "trash carpets" over a groundsheet if possible.
POWER – The Eternal Juice: Off-Grid Solar
Objective: Sustainable, independent energy.
The Rig:
- Solar Panels: 20W–60W panels (affordable options on AliExpress, Temu - expect $20–$40)
- Charge Controller: A basic PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) controller is sufficient.
- Battery Bank: 12V gel battery or, ideally, a LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) bank for longevity.
- Output Hub: USB and DC output hub for charging tablets, mobile hotspots, and other nodes.
Mounting Solutions: Get creative. Utilize trees, sturdy trash poles, or even a repurposed shopping cart as a mobile mast.
Pro Tip: For maximum efficiency, always orient solar panels towards the south (in the Northern Hemisphere). Ambitious builders might experiment with mirrors to concentrate sunlight.
THE LIBRARY – All Fire, No Dewey: Decentralized Knowledge
Objective: Freely accessible information and tools.
Core Devices: Amazon Fire Tablets (Models 7 or 8 are robust and cheap; typically $15–$40 on eBay).
Configuration:
- Ensure user sign-up/access is open and unrestricted.
- Pre-load with a wealth of resources: PDFs, anarcho-syndicalist manuals, AI-generated zines, public domain media (books, films, music), open-source games, and esoteric digital tools. And of course, include the Meow Meow app.
Spicy Option: For the technically inclined, attempt a local installation of a lightweight LLM like GPT-2.
Deployment Strategy: Place one tablet in each shelter. Establish a central solar-powered charging hub.
COMMS – Mesh the Signal, Become the Packet: Resilient Communication
Objective: Maintain communication lines, independent of conventional infrastructure.
Primary System: LilyGO T-Deck Plus devices running Meshtastic firmware.
- Range: Impressive 2–10km per node, extendable with more nodes.
- Uses: Secure text messaging, GPS location sharing, alert dissemination.
Stealth & Sustainability: Power nodes via solar USB. Conceal them in trees, hollowed-out logs, or DIY fake rocks.
Backup System: Basic flip phones for SMS-based communication trees or burner group texts for wider, less secure broadcasts.
FOOD CORE – Grow. Scavenge. Share: Sustenance and Solidarity
Objective: Community-based food production and distribution.
Setup:
- Cultivation: Planters made from upcycled tubs, buckets, or wooden crates for raised garden beds.
- Protein Source: Mushrooms are a relatively easy and nutritious option to cultivate.
- Pantry: Establish a cache of dry goods (rice, lentils, beans).
- Communal Kitchen: A rocket stove (efficient and uses minimal fuel) and found/scavenged pans.
Foraging Strategy: Implement a foraging rotation system. Identify and sustainably harvest local wild edibles like onions, dandelions, and fruit from untended city trees.
Meow Meow Integration: Display a QR code linking to a system (e.g., a simple shared document or a dedicated channel) where Meow Meow users can contribute to or request food supplies.
NETWORK – MeowNet: The People's Hotspot
Objective: Provide open internet access, powered by the community.
The Rig:
- Internet Source: A mobile phone with an unlimited data plan (e.g., Visible at $25/mo).
- Host Device: Tether the phone to a low-power mini PC (Raspberry Pi 4, old thin client, or a junked laptop).
- Broadcast: Use a standard Wi-Fi router or an open repeater to broadcast the signal.
- Power: Integrate with the primary solar rig.
Uptime Enhancement:
- Implement an auto-restart script on the host device to handle crashes.
- Set up a battery alert system with a kill-switch to prevent deep discharge of your power bank.
Stealth Antenna: Conceal the Wi-Fi antenna within a fake birdhouse or other innocuous disguise.
SECURITY & DISAPPEARANCE – The Unseen City
Objective: If they can’t find it, they can’t evict it. Maintain a low profile.
- Camouflage: Utilize camo netting, strategically placed logs, and encourage natural overgrowth.
- Layout: Adopt a scatter pattern for structures. Avoid grid-like formations that are easily identifiable from above.
- Misdirection: Leave decoy trash piles or signs of a "failed" attempt to mislead observers.
- Early Warning: Use wind chimes or other subtle auditory alerts to detect intruders.
- Light Discipline: At night, use only red LEDs (which preserve night vision and are less visible from a distance) or, preferably, no artificial light at all.
Crucial Naming Convention: Never refer to it as a "city." Use terms like "retreat," "repair site," "node," or simply "a whisper." Words have power.
FINAL DIRECTIVE:
Remember to continue engaging with tasks from the Meow Meow app (available on Internet Archive and itch.io). Venture into nearby cities. Perform the tasks. Expand the network. Be the change.