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permaculture bootcamp - learn permaculture through a little hard work

posted 6 months ago

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click here to see the official bootcamp web page!
Most of the information is on that page. This thread is mostly for discussion.

Let's make sure you are in the right place:

permaculture bootcamp: "learn permaculture with a little hard work." 40 hours a week for a few weeks or months. Get a warm bunk and organic food with your gardening and natural building experiences. Kinda school-ish. If this is what you are looking for, you found the right web page!

the sepper program: Rent a humble cabin for a few days or weeks. Participate in the bootcamp as much or as little as you like. Maybe you come as a couple and one person works online while the other is in the bootcamp. For more information click here.

2024 PTJ Postcard - a taste of what goes on at Wheaton Labs:

A recent bootcamp project:

A recent winter bootcamp project:

We have 220 acres. We spend our days gardening and building stuff to our standards. In the winter we heat our buildings with rocket mass heaters (we have more than a dozen). We are the host for the annual "Permaculture Technology Jamboree" - and in a way, the bootcamp build those same things all year. We even get quite a few experts stopping by from time-to-time.

We have a different way we do things. Our gardens feature a lot of hugelkultur. The homes we build are made of logs and mud. Zero cement, paint or glue.

People come to hang out in the bootcamp for a week or two to immerse themselves in this form of living. Some come for months. Some come for years.

95% of the work done is to benefit the current boots or the future boots. Growing gardens to produce the food of the bootcamp. Building habitat for the bootcamp. Caring for tools that are used by the bootcamp. Etc.

a little jingle in your pocket

COIN-1: Several boots have harvested hundreds of dollars by posting pics and videos of theirs experiences here in the BEL program (most recent payout was 5 digits).

COIN-2: You can shoot videos for Paul's YouTube channel. Details here.

COIN-3: After a few weeks (once we think you can do stuff on your own), talk to us about some bounties for coin. There are several little projects we are willing to pay for. A person could earn a few hundred bucks per month on evenings and weekends.

COIN-4: And if there is a special tool or bit of warm clothes you would like to have, the boots love program has proven to be quite generous.

COIN-5: When people need a ride to and from the airport a person with a rig could harvest pick-up and drop-off bounties. (Normally $20 one way during normal hours and $50 for crazy hours)

COIN-6: When a boot is here long enough, they can harvest some coin giving tours.

COIN-7: Grow your own weekend garden and sell your produce for events.

COIN-8: Some ants and deep roots people have paid for help with their plots - building and gardening.

COIN-9: We have a neighbor that sometimes needs some construction help and has paid for that on evenings and weekends.

COIN-10: Some residents in the past have set up patreon accounts and made a few hundred bucks a month posting videos and pics.

COIN-11: When you have a plot to play with, you can build a fence and some gardens and a structure. And then you can sell those improvements to somebody else.

COIN-12: Grow a 200 square foot garden and harvest the fat payout for the 2025 GAMCOD project.

the tie-in to the PEP program

The estimates are that a person participating in the bootcamp might get PEP1 certified in about 10 to 12 weeks. We're thinking half of the BBs would be harvested during project labor and the other half would be on evenings and weekends. More about the PEP program here.

An interview with people that had been in the bootcamp program, about the bootcamp program

audio only.

Bits and bobs that might be of interest to new boots:

A summary of all things Wheaton Labs
Bootcamp Experience log
bonus for boots - event tickets info (Program ends in 2024!)
the Wheaton Labs forum
online permaculture design course (133 hours of video of the 2017 PDC and ATC)
the 2024 Permaculture Technology Jamboree
the 2024 SKIP: Skills to Inherit Property event

wwoof intern

click here for the complete FAQ

Here you can get an idea of 65 different things that the boots have created in about 9 minutes

COMMENTS:

paul wheaton

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posted 6 months ago

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Special offer for boots arriving by march 23, 2025

https://permies.com/t/267198/turnkey-permaculture-paradise-monies-march

paul wheaton

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posted 6 months ago

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a couple of years ago, Magdalene made this video asking boots about why they are in the bootcamp

paul wheaton

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posted 6 months ago

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and dez visited with several past boots as they were headed out

Arthur Wierzchos

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posted 6 months ago

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This.

This right here is how anyone with a PDC can gain the hands-on experience needed to make permaculture actually work. Less talk, more walk!

I really, really wish I had known about this 12 years ago after getting my PDC. When it comes to living in harmony with nature, this would have been a far better investment of time and energy than college.

For those who have been Seppers or Boots—have you been able to use the skills you gained at Wheaton Labs to create income in permaculture after returning home? If so, what worked best?

Which skills turned out to be the most valuable? Have any past participants gone on to start businesses, retreats, or workshops? Or joined larger permaculture-focused initiatives that led to employment?

For those seeking financial independence through permaculture, which aspects of this program helped the most?

Jesse Mulalley

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posted 6 months ago

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Everything is looking good. I can't seem to find the dates for the boot camp. Maybe because I am on a cell.

Timothy Norton

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posted 6 months ago

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This would be a heck of an opportunity for folks who want to not only learn hands on homesteading skills but also be involved in cutting edge permaculture projects.

Where else can you dabble in a bit of solar, a bit of heavy equipment operation, a bit off gardening, and so much more?

I'm envious of those who might be able to take advantage of this.

- Tim's Homestead Journal - Purchase a copy of Building a Better World in Your Backyard - Purchase 6 Decks of Permaculture Cards -
- Purchase 12x Decks of Permaculture Cards - Purchase a copy of the SKIP Book - Purchase 12x copies of Building a Better World in your Backyard

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paul wheaton

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posted 6 months ago

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Jesse Mulalley wrote:Everything is looking good. I can't seem to find the dates for the boot camp. Maybe because I am on a cell.

the next few start dates for the bootcamp

march 9
march 23 (last day for allerton abbey offer)
april 13
may 4
may 25

paul wheaton

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posted 6 months ago

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Timothy Norton wrote:This would be a heck of an opportunity for folks who want to not only learn hands on homesteading skills but also be involved in cutting edge permaculture projects.

Where else can you dabble in a bit of solar, a bit of heavy equipment operation, a bit off gardening, and so much more?

I'm envious of those who might be able to take advantage of this.

I think that the stuff that the bootcamp does is exactly the sort of thing that most permaculture homesteaders do: try to grow all their own food; try to maintain the existing stuff; try to build new stuff that is more permaculture aligned.

Christopher Weeks

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posted 6 months ago

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I'm a little jealous that I'm too tied down to try this out. Several months ago, I got my daughter interested in coming out to be a boot but she ended up not seeing a way to do that and keep paying her student loans.

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paul wheaton

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posted 5 months ago

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briella made some cool vids when she was here

paul wheaton

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posted 5 months ago

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another briella vid

paul wheaton

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posted 5 months ago

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the last of briella's vids

paul wheaton

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posted 5 months ago

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next boot start dates

april 13
may 4
may 25
june 15
july 6
august 3
september 7

paul wheaton

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posted 4 months ago

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Special treat for boots!

First, all of the boots that are here saturday june 21 and sunday june 22, can attend our tour

https://permies.com/wiki/278991/Wheaton-Labs-Tour-June-st

A hundred bucks for other folks, but free for any boots that are here.

ALSO!

Kat, the event cook, will be here june 23-27 to spoil the boots! (and spoil anybody else that might be here)

So any boots that start on:

may 4
may 25
june 15

(or the boots that are already here) can harvest this bonus!

Holly Borba

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posted 3 months ago

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okay I have a bachelors degree but this whole Wheaton Labs and how to go there and learn some stuff seems WAY too complicated. Where do I start? It looks like I need to part with $100 first. So...before I do that, I'd really like to know when I could stay for a week or two and what I can learn if I come there. I purchased a PDC online course from Morag Gamble, Australian and student of Bill Mollison. It's a good course but I lack the discipline to follow a canned course (non-live online).

For that reason, I'm looking to find some in-person experiences so I can learn hands-on. In addition, I'm willing to share my online course with one other person who might want to buckle down and study with me. I live in Spokane, WA.

Thank you for any guidance with helping ease this process with Wheaton.

Benjamin Dinkel

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posted 3 months ago

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Hi Holly, and welcome to Permies!
I'm sure we can figure it out. Maybe this explains why it's not possible to just stop by anymore.
permies.com/p/386118

As far as I understood, the bootcamp is for rather longer stays. And the fee is for the whole process of organizing and also simply to make people actually commit and follow through.
There are easier ways to stay at Wheaton Labs. Did you look at just renting a cabin up there for a couple of nights? https://permies.com/wiki/sepper
Once you're there you could see whether the boot camp would be for you or not.

What you can learn is detailed here: https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp/ Also there's links to the threads of other boots.

When you could potentially start can sure be answered in this thread.

Hope this helps!

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paul wheaton

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posted 3 months ago

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When signing up for the bootcamp, we ask for people to commit to one week. But most people stay several months. A few people stay more than a year.

The next boot start dates are

may 25
june 15
july 6
august 3
september 7

We ask boots to arrive between 3 and 4 in the afternoon (please don't be early; please don't be late).

People renting a cabin (we call it the sepper program) can come anytime and stay whatever duration they want. And they can join the bootcamp as much or as little as they like.

There are ten boots here now. You can see some pics and vids from the last couple of days

Gardening with stephen: https://permies.com/t/1260/181512/SEPP-Boot-Stephen-Experience-BEL#2963044

Mending a gate latch, and some kittens with Seth: https://permies.com/t/40/278704/Seth-Lazer-Focused-Long-Winded#2963038

Raspberries and cake with JP: https://permies.com/t/42/278586/JP-Eternal-BEL#2963059

Trellises with catherine: https://permies.com/t/40/280481/Catherine-Grateful-permaculture-farm-lessons#2963074

Yesterday, samantha gave everybody a two hour tour of wild edibles and the people here made a huge salad from wild greens. The boots have been shooting for getting their food to be 50% or more from the gardens.

Kayla Torrey

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posted 1 month ago

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Hi hi!! I’m hoping to come out and help you all this summer, I just wanted to clarify once I pay my deposit does my arrival need to align with one of the Boots start dates or am I allow to arrive between those? Ie do I need to wait till August first to arrive once my deposit is paid or could I come earlier?

Thanks!
Kayla

paul wheaton

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posted 1 month ago

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Boots arrive on boot start dates.

Seppers (people who rent a cabin) can start any time and can be in the bootcamp as much or as little as they like.

Christopher Weeks

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posted 1 month ago

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So it sounds like someone could pay $300-800 for one of the various tiers of accommodation to 'Sepp' for a month before reaching the August 3rd Boot-start, and they could participate all day as Seppers to get their meals covered. And by then, they'd probably just melt right into the bootcamp without a hiccup. Seems like it's not too great an obstacle if you miss a start-date.

beck loux

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posted 1 month ago

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hello! i’m traveling to whitefish, mt on the amtrak. i need a ride from whitefish to the missoula airport. is anyone coming from that area who could give me a ride? thank you!

paul wheaton

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posted 1 month ago

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Ride from whitefish: seems unlikely. I think most people would take the bus from whitefish to missoula and we would pick you up in missoula. To get details, you gotta go through our signup process.

The next boot start day is sunday (three days away) and I don't see you on any of our boot stuff. Are you thinking of coming on sunday?

paul wheaton

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posted 1 month ago

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have you looked at the signup process here:

https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp/

??

beck loux

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posted 1 month ago

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i haven’t signed up yet but will shortly! i’ve been talking with samantha. i’m currently staying with laura sweany in washington, she says hello!

Jessica Rivera

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posted 1 month ago

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How do I sign up for permaculture boot camp? Are kids allowed?

paul wheaton

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beck loux wrote:i haven’t signed up yet but will shortly! i’ve been talking with samantha. i’m currently staying with laura sweany in washington, she says hello!

Laura has done a lot for permies everywhere. She did a great kindness for me once - I am grateful to her.

paul wheaton

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posted 1 month ago

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Jessica Rivera wrote:How do I sign up for permaculture boot camp? Are kids allowed?

We hosted a 12 year old boy yesterday! He turned out to be exceptionally good at pitting cherries. We made cherry+plum jammies.

A few years ago we formallized the program for under 18 peeps and called it "the thistle program"

https://permies.com/t/thistle

That's part of the sepper program

https://permies.com/wiki/sepper
https://wheaton-labs.com/cabins/

Basically, you rent a cabin and you can pop in and out of the bootcamp as much or as little as you like.

Stephen B. Thomas

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posted 1 month ago

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Christopher Weeks wrote:So it sounds like someone could pay $300-800 for one of the various tiers of accommodation to 'Sepp' for a month [...] And by then, they'd probably just melt right into the bootcamp without a hiccup. Seems like it's not too great an obstacle if you miss a start-date.

That's what I did, and I'm still here, years later.

My first month here was as a SEPPer and I stayed in one of the cabins. I committed to Booting with the team for the first half of the day, then chilled for the second half. Only after my first couple weeks were done did I consider Booting for the entire day. By then I'd built up my endurance and acclimated to the climate (I came here from the east coast, which is very different in several significant ways), and I had learned how to be a good fit for the team.

Seriously, I think having folks start off as a SEPPer is a great idea in nearly all cases, and especially so if they want to consider Wheaton Labs a long-term thing. That's not always a realistic option of course, so we accommodate those who want to Boot right away, no problem.

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Jessica Rivera

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posted 1 month ago

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paul wheaton wrote:

Jessica Rivera wrote:How do I sign up for permaculture boot camp? Are kids allowed?

We hosted a 12 year old boy yesterday! He turned out to be exceptionally good at pitting cherries. We made cherry+plum jammies.

A few years ago we formallized the program for under 18 peeps and called it "the thistle program"

https://permies.com/t/thistle

That's part of the sepper program

https://permies.com/wiki/sepper
https://wheaton-labs.com/cabins/

Basically, you rent a cabin and you can pop in and out of the bootcamp as much or as little as you like.

I have 5 children that would be 15, 13, 11, 4 and 1 by the time we would be able too sign up. Would they all be allowed to come or is the stepper program strictly for children 12 and up? This is something my husband and I really want to do but can't do it if all our kids aren't allowed to come.

paul wheaton

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posted 4 weeks ago

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Jessica Rivera wrote:

paul wheaton wrote:

Jessica Rivera wrote:How do I sign up for permaculture boot camp? Are kids allowed?

We hosted a 12 year old boy yesterday! He turned out to be exceptionally good at pitting cherries. We made cherry+plum jammies.

A few years ago we formallized the program for under 18 peeps and called it "the thistle program"

https://permies.com/t/thistle

That's part of the sepper program

https://permies.com/wiki/sepper
https://wheaton-labs.com/cabins/

Basically, you rent a cabin and you can pop in and out of the bootcamp as much or as little as you like.

I have 5 children that would be 15, 13, 11, 4 and 1 by the time we would be able too sign up. Would they all be allowed to come or is the stepper program strictly for children 12 and up? This is something my husband and I really want to do but can't do it if all our kids aren't allowed to come.

In the past, a family like yours would rent cooper cabin. And then one parent and the older kids would join the bootcamp while the other parent would hang out with the younger kids.

Steffani Rideau

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posted 1 week ago

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Holly Borba wrote:
In addition, I'm willing to share my online course with one other person who might want to buckle down and study with me. I live in Spokane, WA.

Hello! Not sure if you made it over to the lab this summer, but I am in Spokane and would be interested in doing some studying with you if you haven’t made your way through the PDC program yet!

John F Dean

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posted 1 week ago

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When we first got married, my wife and I would have jumped at an opportunity like boot camp….Minimum investment and maximum returns.

Some people age like fine wine. I aged like milk … sour and chunky.