Thomas Levesque

I did notice a suggestion that  each item on the list, if chosen, should have at least 10,000 calories for each crop.  Does anyone know how many calories per pound you get out of lettuce?  The other thing I noticed is that there aren't any (or maybe many) actual perennial or tree crops listed, so in my mind this is not a permaculture experiment, but a gardening experiment.  In 5 years, no new plantings of chestnuts or other crops would be yielding any "calories" yet, but in 15 years, chestnuts properly spaced, fertilized and pollinated,  may well produce an abundant amounts of calories beyond any annual cropping attempts.

]I don't really see that this experiment is about establishing anything much like a long term permaculture growing operation, especially when it is only set up as a 5 year experiment.  If it was a  25 year permaculture experiment, the crop choices would be heavier on cane and vine crops as well as tree crops, especially chestnuts, which should really be the backbone of any permaculture operation.  It seems more like a 5 year gardening experiment, and basing it on calories produced over a 5 year period seems to de-incentivise the use of the actual permaculture crops that I mentioned above.  Also, out of pocket expenses are unclear: are applicants paying for housing locally out of this salary? Do you have to buy all the gardening tools you need? Do you have to build structures to house your tools?  Are you buying all the plant materials like seeds, plants, etc. out of pocket as well? Anyone like myself who is already a permaculture homesteader for 35 years + would have to leave their existing living situation to participate in this "competition".  I can't imagine anyone who has invested in permaculture on their property for any length of time would ever consider participating in this experiment away from their homes, unless those paying the salaries of such participants would also be paying for someone to manage their existing homestead while they are away, and it would take tens of thousands of dollars monthly for (someone like) me to even consider applying for such a position.  One has to wonder, what is the real purpose of this project?  What happens to these 5 parcels of land after 5 years when the participants go back to their existing homesteads?  It might make more sense to offer a competition like this to those who are just starting out with the intention of creating a permaculture homestead ON THEIR OWN LAND, in a similar geographic region to each other.  But rather than compete to see who can outdo each other, they should all collaborate to see how much they can help each other out...because after all, aren't we all in this TOGETHER?  

With the corona virus keeping us put most of the time, I have spent that last few weeks doing firewood and posting my music on you tube and facebook.  With rain today I have been making grain spawn for mushroom culture.  Seedlings get some attention every day and I take my dog for a walk.  We'd like to hear how you are all coping with restricted schedules!  Stay connected!

Hi: We posted an ad that starts out saying: "permaculture homestead seeking"  and we are in Maine.  If the words we wrote appeal to you, feel free to start a conversation with us.  

Hi Kate:  We posted about our permaculture homestead in Maine earlier today and then I started looking around this site and saw your post.  Take a look at our post and reply if our post appeals to you.  Be well!

My wife and I live in mid coast Maine on a 17 acre solar powered permaculture homestead with 3 living structures. Been here for 30 years and had various people living here over the years. We have quite a few fruit and nut trees, nut tree nursery, other permaculture and a big garden space as well.  We are looking for a someone who is interested in becoming part of our community for the long term as we enter our last quarter of life. Buying into the community and owning one of the houses and some of the land is possible or if you have other resources to share like labor or tools, etc. we would like to have a conversation with you.  A strong work ethic and a strong interest in working the land for the long term are the most important qualities needed for anyone considering responding to this query.  We wear many hats here, massage therapist, musician, permaculture enthusiast, gardener, educator, carpenter, plumber, electrician, woodlot management specialist, mycologist and other labels are how we partially identify ourselves.  If this appeals to you and would be passionate about living this lifestyle in mid coast Maine, then we would encourage you to contact us.  Be well, do good work and find joy in each day.  freetomme@yahoo.com