I think the Blue Ribbon for Best Gravity Powered Gate Opener should go to Alvin E Gandy for his ingenious system that can still be seen in some parts of Texas and New Mexico.

The patent was issued in the 1960's and might be a good starting point for someone who wants to make a more simplified version. A solar powered electric opener would be easier, but only last as long as the life of the battery and motor before it would need to be fixed. This mechanical beauty might still be functional a hundred years from now with some periodic lubrication.

Image credit goes to Google Patents and Michael Lubke.

Temple Grandin human powered gate opener.
Unpowered gate opening part 2.

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About us: Anna Hess and Mark Hamilton spent over a decade living self-sufficiently in the mountains of Virginia before moving north to start over from scratch in the foothills of Ohio. They've experimented with permaculture, no-till gardening, trailersteading, home-based microbusinesses and much more, writing about their adventures in both blogs and books.



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