Ian McLeod, a 95-year-old farmer from Australia, is quietly revolutionizing the way his home and farm operate by harnessing the power of waste vegetable oil. As you may know, McLeod’s history is one of creativity, innovation, and a roll-up-your-sleeves work ethic. He developed his own personal power system that runs his farmhouse and powers his new blue farm ute for only a few dollars a week. McLeod’s impressive dedication to sustainable farming practices is representative of what growing a farm future means. He does this impressive trick entirely by gathering and purifying waste vegetable oil from area restaurants.
McLeod’s fascination with engines started at a young age. His father gave him his first taste of engineering when he took him to see a steam engine on their farm just outside Melbourne. By the time he was eight years old, McLeod had already constructed his first steam engine. He ingeniously constructed the turbine out of a Malt Extract tin which he had borrowed from his mother’s pantry. This early bird exposure to mechanics was a catalyst for my career interests in engineering and innovation.
A Legacy of Innovation
Throughout the years, McLeod has remained a progressive farmer, constantly experimenting and challenging the status quo of traditional farming practices. Recently, he rented a post-hole digger for the first time. With the assistance of his trusty local mates, he even managed to knock-in five irrigation bores in a single day! This extraordinary feat is a testament to his leadership and vision for advancing and improving his agricultural practices while still staying true to his roots.
Above all, McLeod’s creativity shines through his creation of a self-propelled stationary irrigator. He’s helped to turn it into one of the first smart devices of its kind in the country. His willingness to bend the rules and think outside the box has earned him the attention of everyone from voters to other elected officials. His wife, Shirley McLeod, reflected on their early years, stating:
“Some of our happiest years were when we first started on our own at Dorodong with a shed, two young children and second-hand tractors that Ian rebuilt.” – Shirley McLeod
Even with such challenges as limited financial resources, McLeod explained that enthusiasm was the key factor that really made them successful.
“We had very little money, but lots of enthusiasm.” – Ian McLeod
Sustainable Solutions
McLeod’s innovations have all been focused on his powerful machine. So far, it has filtered around 15 liters of used vegetable oil each hour. He has ingeniously fashioned a centrifuge from an old electric separator’s inner bowl, allowing him to clean the oil efficiently. The business case for sustainability has major upside. All of the local restaurants are happy to donate their used oil.
“Nine times out of ten, when I go to a restaurant, they say, ‘Just take the oil’. They don’t want it. All I have to do is clean it.” – Ian McLeod
This dirty water treatment approach saves our environment and taxpayers millions in costs. McLeod bragged that the engine in his separator runs on the same oil that he’s recycling. This leaves the operation highly productive and cost-effective.
“It costs me peanuts because the engine driving the separator is running on the same oil anyway.” – Ian McLeod
His commitment to sustainability really does shine brightly. It is a return to the very principles espoused by Rudolf Diesel, who originally invented diesel engines to run on vegetable oil. Drawing on this ancestral link for inspiration, McLeod looked for a ute to convert that had a pre-combustion diesel engine.
“But when Rudolf Diesel first made the diesel engine, he used vegetable oil. I thought to myself, ‘I could do that,’ so I set about finding a ute with a pre-combustion diesel engine and converting it.” – Ian McLeod
Community Recognition and Personal Fulfillment
MC McLeod has done some really great, innovative stuff over the years. Yet he has, at times, languished in relative obscurity within his own community. That’s changing in recent years as people start to realize what he’s done and his legacy continues to grow.
“Up until the past four or five years, people had virtually ignored Ian … now they realise he’s worth knowing and a lot of people are pests now!” – Shirley McLeod
Today McLeod’s work has completely changed his own farm. More than that, they have inspired people in his community to reimagine their approaches to farming and sustainability. It is fitting that his accomplishments call to mind a philosophy that approaches challenges as an invitation to imagine a more innovative future.
“When things go wrong, that’s an opportunity to find a way around it. When things go smoothly, I get bored.” – Ian McLeod
