Oracle Beater: Bike-Powered Paper Mill Turns Invasive Plants Into Paper in Ghana

What does paper-making have to do with design beyond the obvious? When the whole process is done thoughtfully, it can have a profound impact on all those involved. At this year’s <a href="http://www.abetterworldbydesign.com/">A Better World by Design conference</a>, <a href="http://www.maryhark.com/">Mary Hark</a>, professor at the <a href="http://www.sohe.wisc.edu/etd/index.html">Design Studies Department</a> at the <a href="http://www.wisc.edu/">University of Wisconsin-Madison</a> and founder of <a href="http://maryhark.blogspot.com/">HARK! Handmade Paper Studio</a>, presented her latest paper-making venture. She has implemented a program in Ghana that promises to bring amazing change to the Asante region. With the help of the bicycle-powered Oracle Beater, designed by <a href="http://www.toolsforpaper.com/">Lee McDonald</a>, fine art papers are produced from an invasive plant species making the process ecologically sound and allowing production to be unaffected by regular power outages.

Mary Hark's interest in Kumasi, Ghana began with a year-long Fulbright grant that allowed her to get to know the local community.

The kozo fiber commonly used in Japanese paper making is derived from the same plant and gives the paper excellent strength.

Noting the booming textile industry, Hark decided to also incorporate recycled textile scraps into the process.

Native plants such as avocado, plantain cashew and papyrus were also processed and added to papers allowing for a wider range of options.

With the help of Lee McDonald's bicycle powered pulp refining machine, fine papers can now be produced locally.

The Oracle Beater was developed in 2009 and consists of a bike connected to the beater.

The vacuum formed plastic fits over the roll to prevent spitting.

What makes the beater superior to processing the pulp in a conventional blender is that it is much more powerful and has a controllable gap between the roll and blades that makes the fibers much more uniform allowing for the production of very fine papers.

The contraption can be dismounted and transported to wherever paper production is taking place. It weighs about 100 pounds.

Mark Hark has helped produce numerous books. This one addresses the use of plants for paper making.

With the establishment of Take Time Press, Hark, Atta Kwami and Pamela Clarkson have produced the book Listen, Listen that can be found in the library collections of the Metropolitan Museum, Brooklyn Museum and Smithsonian among others.

The limited edition book honors the life and musical work of Koonimo and includes a CD with his music.

Prepared pulp is ready to be transformed into paper.

Workshop attendees at the A Better World by Design Conference had the chance to try their hands at paper-making.

Lee McDonald makes a range of paper-making equipment including this beautiful, hand-crafted screen.