Open Knowledge
Contribute Knowledge
Knowledge is the only thing that cannot be destroyed.
But it can be lost — slowly, through the erosion of specialisation and the assumption that someone else is keeping it. If you know something that belongs in this archive, we need you.
What we're looking for
Practitioners, researchers, and generalists who can write clearly about what they know. We are not looking for academic papers — we are looking for knowledge that a survivor could use.
Food & Agriculture
Soil science, seed saving, traditional farming methods, food preservation, animal husbandry
Energy
Wood gasification, water wheels, biogas systems, solar thermal, electrical generation from scratch
Water & Sanitation
Well construction, gravity systems, sanitation engineering, watershed management
Medicine & Health
Wilderness medicine, herbal pharmacology, surgery protocols, epidemic control, childbirth
Shelter & Construction
Earth construction, timber framing, structural engineering, traditional insulation
Tools & Manufacturing
Blacksmithing, pottery, glassmaking, textile production, woodworking
Communication & Knowledge
Document preservation, printing, education design, chemistry, mathematics
Governance & Society
Governance models, conflict resolution, trade systems, historical case studies
Standards for inclusion
This archive will be judged by what it gets right when stakes are high. We hold everything to these standards.
Accurate above all
Every claim should be verifiable. Cite sources. Where there is uncertainty, say so explicitly.
Practical, not theoretical
The test: could a person with no background follow this and succeed? If not, add more steps.
From first principles
Assume the reader has no access to modern supply chains, internet, or specialists.
No jargon without definition
Technical terms are fine — but define them the first time they appear.
Difficulty is honest
Beginner means a layperson can do it. Advanced means it requires practice or training. Don't label dangerous procedures as beginner.
How to contribute
Write it down. Send it in. We handle the rest.
Send your contribution
Write your contribution in any format — plain text, a Word document, a rough draft. Include your sources and any practical notes. We'll verify, format, and credit you (or publish anonymously, your choice).
contribute@rebuildthecivilization.comA note on dangerous knowledge
Some domains — medicine, chemistry, electrical work — involve real risk if done incorrectly. We include this knowledge because the alternative (ignorance in an emergency) is more dangerous. Contributors in these areas must be explicit about risks, contraindications, and when a technique should NOT be attempted by a layperson.
Credit and attribution
Contributors are credited in the article unless they prefer anonymity. All content is published under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 — free to share and adapt, with attribution, for any purpose.