rocket mass heater jamboree October 5-9 2026

UPDATE: a few details have been hammered out and filled in below

October 5-9 2026 (and some people will stick around the following week)

We will do a ticket blitz starting on Friday, March 27th at 2pm mountain time.  If we can sell 18 tickets within 48 hours we will do the event!

When the blitz starts, I will post a link here so people can buy tickets.  Tickets will be $720 during the blitz.  And if we do have the event, the regular ticket price will be $1100.


We will start with three rocket mass heater instructors and one "homestead track" instructor.  If the number of attendees gets big, we will do more.  

The good news is that we now grow a LOT of food.  So we could, in parallel, have a lot of food preservation stuff.  Especially stuff using the solar food dehydrator with rocket assist.  

A few possible projects:

  - rmh in the yoga yurt
  - more with the hot tub
           o probably add in a hypocaust
  - upgrade rmh in fph
  - an indoor rocket oven in the outdoor kitchen
  - upgrade cob hat in dog star
  - add a portable cob hat in fph
  - finish bun warmer
  - something for kai's cob cottage
  - cob hat at cooper


This is a good time to hear from people that might wanna come. Projects, instructors, etc.  

some of the projects of the past in a two minute video

I updated the first post with a bunch of details that have been hammered out.

We need feedback.

Mostly, we need to hear that some of you are keen to buy a ticket.    And from those people, some feedback on projects and the like.    Maybe some other deets.

I will put it on my calendar. Most likely I can fly into glacier MT area and borrow a ride from a buddy of mine. Paul, please let me know what RMH supplies you may need for this learning adventure.

Hi Paul!
Thanks everyone for working on this :)
I will buy a ticket and show up!

My preference of projects in my preferred order:  

paul wheaton wrote:
  - an indoor rocket oven in the outdoor kitchen
  - rmh in the yoga yurt
  - finish bun warmer
  - something for kai's cob cottage
  - upgrade cob hat in dog star
           o hey how's the fence? could it hold a dog?
  - more with the hot tub
  - add a portable cob hat in fph
  - cob hat at cooper
  - upgrade rmh in fph

paul wheaton wrote:(and some people will stick around the following week)

This is probably a "following week" idea but...
I would joyfully part with an additional $500 if I could have some experts guide me through building my own Rocket Engine (suitable for BB attainment)
and/or another season extender and/or jtube rmh

Regardless, looking forward to this!

I have been wanting to attend a rocket mass heater event and learn how to build my own without being a Giligan.

paul wheaton wrote:
  - rmh in the yoga yurt
  - more with the hot tub
           o probably add in a hypocaust
  - upgrade rmh in fph
  - an indoor rocket oven in the outdoor kitchen
  - finish bun warmer
  - something for kai's cob cottage

These are the projects I’d be interested in. As October is a long way off and I’m not sure how work will look then, are these tickets transferrable here on Permies? It’d be great if I could sell my ticket for $500 and eat an ~$200 loss if need be.

J. Syme wrote:I will put it on my calendar. Most likely I can fly into glacier MT area and borrow a ride from a buddy of mine. Paul, please let me know what RMH supplies you may need for this learning adventure.

Thanks for the offer!  First, let's sell 18 tickets so we can have the bare minimum of an event!

Clay McGowen wrote:Hi Paul!
Thanks everyone for working on this :)
I will buy a ticket and show up!

My preference of projects in my preferred order:  

paul wheaton wrote:
  - an indoor rocket oven in the outdoor kitchen
  - rmh in the yoga yurt
  - finish bun warmer
  - something for kai's cob cottage
  - upgrade cob hat in dog star
           o hey how's the fence? could it hold a dog?
  - more with the hot tub
  - add a portable cob hat in fph
  - cob hat at cooper
  - upgrade rmh in fph

paul wheaton wrote:(and some people will stick around the following week)

This is probably a "following week" idea but...
I would joyfully part with an additional $500 if I could have some experts guide me through building my own Rocket Engine (suitable for BB attainment)
and/or another season extender and/or jtube rmh

Regardless, looking forward to this!

That sounds like a cool idea.  Uncle Mud is already saying that he plans to stick around for the second week.

Chad Stephenson wrote:I have been wanting to attend a rocket mass heater event and learn how to build my own without being a Giligan.

And you can fire up a rocket mass heater or two.

Jeff Bigelow wrote:

paul wheaton wrote:
  - rmh in the yoga yurt
  - more with the hot tub
           o probably add in a hypocaust
  - upgrade rmh in fph
  - an indoor rocket oven in the outdoor kitchen
  - finish bun warmer
  - something for kai's cob cottage

These are the projects I’d be interested in. As October is a long way off and I’m not sure how work will look then, are these tickets transferrable here on Permies? It’d be great if I could sell my ticket for $500 and eat an ~$200 loss if need be.

Seems okay to me.

I'll be happy to coach anyone in how to light, feed, clean, and maintain any of our on-site RMHs, should Paul not be available.

@Clay: we have some repairs to do up there at the moment, but it will definitely be ready by then.

So ...   maybe four tickets?

Clay McGowen wrote:
I would joyfully part with an additional $500 if I could have some experts guide me through building my own Rocket Engine (suitable for BB attainment)
and/or another season extender and/or jtube rmh

Regardless, looking forward to this!

Hey Clay! As you probably know, I've built one of each of these rockets and can guide you through your build. Granted, it's up to Paul to approve the necessity of another installation. I'll add that Harry brought our sheet metal brake up to WL which will make building an engine even easier.

Alexandra Malecki wrote:[I've built one of each of these rockets and can guide you through your build.

I’ve been very impressed with all your work and will gladly take you up on this!!

Fingers crossed we can get enough tickets sold.
I’m reaching out to some folks today!

12 builds in 8 minutes

I’m not in the USA.
Is there any chance this stuff will be recorded and released for the rest of the world?

Rob Norman wrote:I’m not in the USA.
Is there any chance this stuff will be recorded and released for the rest of the world?

I feel confident that nothing will be recorded.  Maybe some people will record stuff for their own use.  

We have filled my youtube channel with videos that are largely ignored.  And I have full movies out there that get very little attention.  

I am thinking that this event will be a nice gathering of people.  

I'd love to attend, but I probably need to start sorting out room and board now, or I might not be able to make it...

What options for such are available there?

(Are there the equivalent of AirB&B on-site?)  My wife would likely be severely disappointed if I went without her, which will mean that we'd need to bring the entire family along - both of us and 2 Great Danes...

Allen Jackson wrote:I'd love to attend, but I probably need to start sorting out room and board now, or I might not be able to make it...

What options for such are available there?

I think that all the cabins are open except cooper cabin.  

paul wheaton wrote:I think that all the cabins are open except cooper cabin.  

Where can I get more information on obtaining the use of a cabin for that week?

Allen Jackson wrote:

paul wheaton wrote:I think that all the cabins are open except cooper cabin.  

Where can I get more information on obtaining the use of a cabin for that week?

Hello Allen!


Here is the link to our cabin rentals:

https://permies.com/wiki/sepper

I'll be there! I'll bring Peruvian cacao!

Chas Kane wrote:@Jeff Bigelow I'm interested in your ticket

I'll be there! I'll bring Peruvian cacao!

Hello Chas!

The tickets for this event will go on sale next Friday, March 27th at 2pm mountain time.  If we can sell 18 tickets within 48 hours we will do the event!

Hello, I have never posted here but I saw the email. I have been building an off-grid cabin with hempcrete and planned to put in a RMH. I currently have these dates open and wouldn't mind buying a ticket or maybe two next week to help make it happen but I echo the sentiment that it would be nice to be able to transfer later if something comes up.

I would be interested in all aspects of building the regular room heater with bench. Some additional logistics info (travel, lodging, food, etc.) for those unfamiliar would be helpful. Thanks!

Rob Norman wrote:I’m not in the USA.
Is there any chance this stuff will be recorded and released for the rest of the world?

Hello Rob!


Here is a great movie we produced.  It comes with plans to build your own rocket mass heaters.  

https://freeheat.info/

Hey Jimmy, welcome to Permies!

Jimmy Jamers wrote: Some additional logistics info (travel, lodging, food, etc.) for those unfamiliar would be helpful. Thanks!

This thread has a lot of great info Click Here

I think this section is likely most relevant to your particular questions:

What to Know When Visiting Wheaton Labs

Here's some general information about visiting Wheaton Labs. In general, we prefer that you ask questions in these threads or other relevant threads, because odds are others might have the same questions. If, after reading everything, you still have questions, and/or are not comfortable asking a question there, you can e-mail permiespa AT gmail DOT com. (If you're new to the forums, there's a great intro at How Permies.com Works.)

lodging - There are bunks, tenting, and cabin rentals listed in the SEPPers thread. During events and for all Boots, camping is a free option, for pictures and more info see tenting at Wheaton Labs. Bring your own camping gear, though we do have limited extras for rent or trade.

RVs, campers, trailers, tiny homes - for information about camping with your RV or other mobile accommodations. No noisy/stinky generators or hook-ups to the grid.

food - in most cases you are on your own for food. There are community cooking options in Allerton Abbey, others possibly by special arrangement, and, in the winter, Taco Tuesdays with Paul in the Fisher Price House.

toilets - At Base Camp, community toilets are the off-grid, unplumbed willow feeders (the Willow Bank andwillowwonka. There is also a bathroom in Fisher Price House. At Base Camp, there is a restroom in Cooper Cabin, and the Chateau de Poo is another willow-feeder. The great outdoors is always an option here for peeing!

showers - in the summer (roughly May/June to September), we have the shower shack at base camp. It must be taken offline once freezing weather begins. When the shower shack is not available, weekly showers are available at Taco Tuesdays at the Fisher Price House. More than weekly access to the plumbed bathroom and shower at the FPH is available by special arrangement

what to bring when visiting Wheaton Labs

FAQ for women visiting Wheaton Labs - got a question? Ask it here!

Choreography - information on chores, day-to-day life, where to find things, etc

What is a Willow Feeder -- what it is, how to use it, and what to do if it's "that time of the month"

Dogs at Wheaton Labs - information on bringing your dogs to Wheaton Labs

Kids at Wheaton Labs- information on bringing your kids to Wheaton Labs

Non-paying spouses/kids at events - information on bringing your non-paying family to events (let's not)

tobacco, pot, drugs, booze - nope, nope, and nope.... and a small amount of hooch in recyclable containers if drunk responsibly and cleaned up afterward

Hope to see ya there!

Samantha Lewis wrote:
Hello Allen!


Here is the link to our cabin rentals:

https://permies.com/wiki/sepper

Thanks!

My wife is onboard, as long as we can bring our dogs (2 well-behaved great danes).  I'll show her the cabin options tonight when she gets home from work.

Allen Jackson wrote:

Samantha Lewis wrote:
Hello Allen!


Here is the link to our cabin rentals:

https://permies.com/wiki/sepper

Thanks!

My wife is onboard, as long as we can bring our dogs (2 well-behaved great danes).  I'll show her the cabin options tonight when she gets home from work.

The dogstar has a place to keep dogs.