Eric Jaymes

Rick Deckard wrote:We have the large. We got it primarily for selling FD candy at Farmers Markets and events. After an Escape from WA this year, we're going to start producing our own stuff and also maybe for neighbors/church. We also had a glitch off the bat with needing to replace the motherboard but they sent it to us and an easy swap. The horror story we missed out that some have experienced was the system arriving looking like it was air dropped. Great community online with recipes, suggestions and *Don't Do This* (the photos are quite amusing). There a couple 'new kids on the block' trying to get in on the action which happens. Some have improvements and others clearly show they were rushed out the door. Always fun at events hearing people saying "I have a freezer and a dehydrator. I can do that too." Ok... good luck with that.
Best of success!

If you don't mind, how is the Farmers Market candy biz doing for you? Is it doing well enough to recoup the cost or is it more of an add-on, supplemental income thing? My friend has the smaller version and recommended going with a large; I'm just not sure I have enough growing to gain the benefit.

Johanna Messer wrote:isn't the simple solution to have a generator as backup?

Or perhaps either a wood gasifier or a Stirling engine (no not the toy, a full size one: https://seftonmotors.com/)

I think it would help to start looking for a godfather today. In addition to having a home when you can't care for your pets, finding a surrogate parent would give you a pet sitter if needed and especially important is the idea of building a relationship between the pet and the godparent before the need to adopt full time and it makes it less likely to be interpreted as a burden.

When I was a kid there was an elderly neighbor who used to babysit me. She had an orange cat who decided he lived at my house and I became its surrogate parent. The cat passed away before my neighbor but my family would have adopted the cat if it were the other way around.

Its easier said than done but if you don't have someone ready to care for your pet, now is the time to start looking.

No backsies!

Arrrgh! So frustrating! There were so many freebies that were available that I signed up for but only a few ever came through on my messages yet when I attempt to access the freebie, all but one is expired -always.

Hi-

I've been following permies for some time but only recently opened an account. Hi permies!

There is a nearly perfect property with over 60 useable acres of flat/hilly farmland and forest that has nearly unlimited permaculture potential located in North Plains/Hillsboro Oregon. close to Portland but still in farm country.

It's a little out of my range pricewise and acreagewise alone but it would have unlimited potential with a partnership. The problem is that in order to build, the lender needs 20% money down. The cost of land and building is pretty huge alone but reasonable if the burden is shared across two or more families. Its an arduous process to subdivide zoned farm/forest land in Oregon. I'm looking for anyone who is financially stable enough to buy a house who is willing to consider a joint ownership on the property with me.

I put an ad on ic.org but frankly I've haven't received very many productive queries. Regardless of our enthusiasm, ideas of an alternative economy, willingness to to WFF, etc. Nothing will be built here (aside from a mcmansion for someone with a million in liquid assets-not me) unless there is someone else willing to invest actual money to build a permaculture farm/community.

Anyone else interested in building a community?