Justin Hitt

Welcome to the neighborhood. A few of us are in Ridgeway, VA, and Fieldale, VA. If you need anything, I'm a private message away. There are some awesome resources in this region.

Hey Permies,

My small marketing agency is looking at feasibility of starting a marketing cooperative. The focus will be among Eco-tourism, permaculture, and homesteading skills educators. Classes on meditation, outdoor skills, natural building, and hobby farming are welcome.

The goal is to help locations in the Mid-Atlantic (US) region fill on-site classes at your location. Meanwhile, providing lead generation, course registration, and support for direct response marketing. This would include internet and email marketing.

A cooperative model would pool resources, editorial staff, and publishing services to reduce costs for each cooperative member. You'd get highly specialized marketing skills done for you so you can focus on holding classes.

Clients agree that it is hard to run a successful destination and programs while doing all the office administration. What do you think? What would such a coop need to make your next on-site class more fulfilling to  your attendees?

Best,

Justin

P. s. Our experience includes running a permaculture oriented newsletter and podcast. Plus publishing books and information products. I've also done seminar promotion for myself and clients. The agency focus is the technical side of marketing online and off.

This thread is refreshing. Sounds like I'm not the only one collecting food preservation suitable jars. A quality canning jar is an investment in comfort, well-being, and health. With inflation how it is, good canning jars pay measurable dividends for years to come.

Thanks for asking,

The project was going well until the city shut me down. Now I put all my effort into a local non-profit farm and educational center in the region.  We're doing great things there, and I feature some of those videos on this playlist, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9VsCNHDrpVTbczwFYOfu-VvkiMvxQRmK

I'm also helping to develop other properties in the area.  My blog is at https://www.prosperityhomestead.org/, and the farm I'm working on is here http://www.sustainablehomestead.com/

The property in this thread still has a small garden. Still, the two-acre market garden at the other location is unencumbered by the bureaucracy of those who only want to be environmental in words rather than deeds. There are bees, rabbits, chickens, and lots of permaculture at the farm site.  If you are in the region, tours, classes, and events are available periodically.

Sincerely,

Justin

Jan,

Thanks for this.  I just bought your last four SC10 cone-tainers from eBay.  Had to drill down on some listings.

If you've got more and a willingness to significantly discount used containers, then drop me a note.

My son and I are building up a nitrogen fixing tree nursery before they timber and terrace the property.

Nitrogen fixing trees are also great for live pegs when addressing erosion problems.  Can't grow enough of them.

Best,

Justin

I posted this a few months back, now offering a move-in bonus ... quick update.

House for rent, the beginnings of an eco-house, at 1102 Cherokee Court, Martinsville VA.  You'll live in the middle of what is becoming a permaculture demonstration center.  Behind you will be a victory garden and small nursery.

Now I'm offering a $150 move-in bonus which I'd rather give to a Permies member.  If you are into blogging your permaculture experience, then I'd even extend the wi-fi for free (2mb/2mb) -- that will save you about $99/month.

In this area there are also 36,000 job openings paying $50k or more.  The city is upgrading its 1GB service to accommodate the high-tech and cybersecurity positions coming on-line.  Other positions are trade and nursing related.

There is also volunteer land management opportunities and a nature preserve in the works.  You'll be living right up against green space (your zone 5) on a quiet court in a rural community.

The lake and nearby country club are considering permaculture style management options.  You'll be close to the action if you desire.  If not, you'll benefit from the lifestyle available in this up-coming community.

Write if you have questions.

Best,

Justin

Nina,

Nina Turner wrote:I have come to terms with the fact that a move to Virginia would mean no more chicken breeding or dairy goat, but quail and rabbits would be more suitable for urban density.

Not necessarily.  Animal opportunities are available nearby.  I work with the Sustainable Homestead Institute out in the county -- they have goats, cows, and chickens.

There is a non-profit therapy farm nearby who has lama and milk goats, plus a collection of petty zoo of animals who are friendly with children.  Some opportunities to work with duck habitat at the lake.

Qual and rabbits fit in really well -- they are on my list.  I think they changed the rules on chickens, I'm checking into that.  Until I know for sure I'm expanding the worm farming.

Google maps didn't zoom in too much but I get the concept.  Anyone ecologically minded would be a delight, it would help projects come along, but is not required.

Behind this house here will be a large victory garden demonstration with a food forest below it.  Plenty of room for gardens, cut flowers, and hundreds of plants going in all the time.  

I'm getting a nursery license to start gathering trees for an food forest style orchard area.  Right now there are nursery beds being built, hugelkultur, and fish culture coming soon.

While I'm working on a certain curb appeal with cut and wild flowers, grass areas are slowly receding. If you have questions about the property, simply write.

Best,

Justin

Okay, so my wife thinks it's rural.  To me it is an urban space right up from Lake Lanier and around the corner from the Forest Park Country Club.  Seeking permaculture minded individuals to tenant on property for ridiculously low rent.
You get a 3 bedroom, 1 bath, single level home in Martinsville, VA.  Here's the Zillow listing … https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1102-Cherokee-Ct-Martinsville-VA-24112/108124840_zpid/
And, I'll pay for the permaculture projects.  This includes converting the 1958 brick home into an energy efficient eco-house.  There is work in the area, jobs paying fair wages.  However, if you fit one of two descriptions, then this place is perfect for you:

1) You  are a blogger or podcasters.  The city has 1GB internet, this location can have 150MB/s if desired.  All the better if you write on a permaculture topic, sustainable living, or homesteading.
2) You have a Permaculture Design Certification.  There are a number of opportunities to work on paid projects doing permaculture design -- even outside the property.

The first floor of this home is ready to move in.  You will be next several permaculture inspired gardens.  Landscaping and general maintenance is provided for you.  Your participation in other projects is desired, but not required.
In the works is a large victory garden with chickens behind the property.  It is pending the removal of several large trees and permitting from the city for the chickens.  I am arranging soil and equipment to terrace the space.
There is a market cut flower garden, rainwater capture, solar roofing, and insect habitat demonstration areas.  It is not a perfect home, and there will be trees in/out, ponds being dug, plus other exciting projects.
A large empty in-ground pool is across the street for a possible aquaculture project.  While the possibilities are endless, I'm very methodical about getting projects done.  Gardens left of the house produces a volume of food.
Here are the projects currently in full swing:
• Organics recycling, including composting.  There are 8 to 10 cubic yards of leaves and materials turned into about 8 cubic yards of compost each year.
• Insect habitat.  Large wildflower beds and insect hotels are stationed across the nearby properties.  More hotels will go up as materials come available.
• Small bird habitat.  From a few bird species to now more than 25 now.  A purple martin house is going up as of this morning.  Several birdhouses are going up too.
• Market flower beds.  The first market flower bed was a success, hundreds of flowers.  Looking to expand this to several other beds then a large market area.
• Worm castings.  Every week in season I get several totes of worm castings.  These worms are great for fishing and building the soil.  Would like to go bigger.
• Hugelkultur, hugelkultur, hugelkultur.  Several beds have been in for more than a year.  Great climate for this design and I'm building them everywhere.
My objective is to grow enough, in partnership for several other farms, to demonstrate food sustainability and resilience.  There are other permaculture and naturalist  certified individuals in the area to work with on projects too.
The house was recently acquired for this eco-house project.  You must be comfortable with possible publicity around projects of a permaculture nature.  I've got a PDC from Geoff Lawton, years of experience, live nearby, and intend the house to be part of an urban permaculture demonstration center.
Write with questions.  
Sincerely,
Justin

Adam,

Put a ping pong ball in your funnel if you are using it dry. Periodically dump a cup of ice in it after use.

The light ping pong ball will seal the hole between use, yet float in small amounts of liquid.

Ice lowers the temperature which keeps down ammonia. As the ice melts it washes the bowl.

A small amount of ice over the ping pong ball is okay as water from ice will leak down the drain.

Best,

Justin

Klorinth,

The right paths in your garden can be a great win, however, be careful about mulching in paths for both your comfort and to reduce disease vectors. Since 2012 I’ve used shredded wood chips as mulch paths in the garden.

Anything that could be chop-n-drop stayed on the raised beds, all else went through composting cycles. Large amounts of woody mass, ideal for walking paths, don’t always play nice with nitrogen as touched on previously.

Here’s a recent post on the topic of “Mulch path magic” (just because you inspire me.

Best,

Justin