Swiss Family Treehouse ingenious watering at Tokyo Disneyland

Cecilia in the 25 year old gardens of Tokyo Disneyland, Autumn 2008

All you need to make this 100 percent natural rainwatering system for your outdoor room is a very big tree, forest foraging, and a 19th century shipwreck.
If you are really into Permaculture, you may find yourself stuck for a long time in this six-story high tree, pondering and marveling at how it really, really might work (if only the mosquito excluding net was finer!)

It all starts with a flowing stream under the tree, which both powers the whole contraption, and supplies the fresh water to be scooped up to the top of the canopy.
A rope-ladder of bobbing bamboo vessels carries the water up, letting them swing over at the top of their circuit, and splash their water into the bamboo pipe aquaduct.

Which then carries water as desired to all the 'rooms' of the tree house.

Here is the grow-it-yourself kitchen, with ingenious food storage, a coolgardie safe, and everything you would need to whip up a tropical dinner.
A washing up sink to make everyone happy. Except maybe the Clam.
An imagination-inducing study would be quite necessary, for thinking up such impressive inventions.

And good sturdy vessels for holding everything up and together.


At the very very top of the tree, with a dizzying view of Tokyo bay, is where the Robinson boys sleep and dream the usual dreams: the pleasures of love and family and resourcefulness, the terrors of the dark, the unknown, the future (weak and alone?) The aspirations to one day go somewhere far, far away.

We are all frightened, life-loving, resourceful castaways. With everything we need already around us.