October 5-9 2026 (and some people will stick around the following week)
If we can sell 18 tickets within 48 hours we will do the event! Starting friday, march 27 at 2pm mountain time. Ending sunday, march 29 at 2pm mountain time.
Tickets are $720 during the blitz. And if we do have the event, the regular ticket price will be $1100.
The deal: If we don't sell 18 tickets, we won't do the event and I will refund all the tickets. If we sell 18 tickets, this is the foundation for putting the event together, so I need to hang on to that coin (in other words: no refunds)!
Ready to make the leap?
click here to buy a ticket!
(blitz has ended)
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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...
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!
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.
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
tobacco, pot, drugs, booze - nope, nope, and nope.... and a small amount of hooch in recyclable containers if drunk responsibly and cleaned up afterward
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.
20251224_144144.jpg
Our 2 dogs at a local dog-friendly restaurant in the Chicago area
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.
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.
Hello Allen!
Your dogs are super cute!
Here is a little video of the dog area right behind the Dog Star cabin.
Just for my own education, as I've never been to WL, what's the difference between a "Jamboree" and a workshop? Are these like boot camps? If not, what's the difference between a boot camp and a workshop?
Just trying to set my expectations correctly and make the most of my visit...
Allen Jackson wrote:Just for my own education, as I've never been to WL, what's the difference between a "Jamboree" and a workshop? Are these like boot camps? If not, what's the difference between a boot camp and a workshop?
Just trying to set my expectations correctly and make the most of my visit...
Thanks!
Hello Allen!
Our permaculture bootcamp is a year round education in permaculture, homesteading and community building. Folks come from all over to learn how to build a humble home and a large garden, maintain tools and meet their own needs with hands on skills mentoring.
Tons more details here:
https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp/
A few times throughout the year we, we offer some kind of fun event. A Jamboree is an event that runs for a week or two. We will be working on multiple projects simultaneously and each project will have an instructor. This gives folks who travel from far away the opportunity to learn many things while they are here.
For the rocket mass heater Jamboree, we have a bunch of different builds we would like to work on. Someone who comes to this event will learn how to build a rocket mass heater to safely heat a home with very little wood. They will also learn to build with this technology. A rocket hot tub and rocket oven are two ways the same technology is applied to bring luxury to your homestead.
@Clay @Chas My favorite part of these things is encouraging new Rocketeers. We can even do some deep dive conversations into your own designs. I'm hoping we can do a take home CottageRocket build for someone.
Samantha Lewis wrote:A Jamboree is an event that runs for a week or two. We will be working on multiple projects simultaneously and each project will have an instructor. This gives folks who travel from far away the opportunity to learn many things while they are here.
For the rocket mass heater Jamboree, we have a bunch of different builds we would like to work on. Someone who comes to this event will learn how to build a rocket mass heater to safely heat a home with very little wood. They will also learn to build with this technology. A rocket hot tub and rocket oven are two ways the same technology is applied to bring luxury to your homestead.
Some of the jamborees of the past had 12 tracks. So at any moment, there were 12 projects. Attendees could wander between projects whenever they wanted, and participate as much or as little as they wanted.
For this event, we will start with 4 tracks. 3 rmh builds and 1 "homesteading track." If we sell lots of tickets, we will add tracks.
Clay's list of links above mentions food, specifically "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."
All the past events I've been to included 3 meals a day as part of the ticket price. Is that still the case for this event? If so, it might be helpful to update the referenced post to clarify that the "you're on your own for food" is more for people who come up to visit separately rather than as part of an event.
I thought this was an important note as someone might read the previous linked post and expect they also have to bring and cook their own meals, and might pass without ever realizing the actual situation.
The general plan, at this time, is that the people that are here are welcome to join me at my table for some simple fare.
For the last PTJ the official word was
Paul will provide three simple meals a day at no charge, but food is not included with your ticket. If you have special dietary needs/desires, you might want to bring your own food and use our rocket cook stoves, ovens, solar ovens and other cooking contraptions.
I live in Iowa, very interested. Would be willing to drive. Have a friend with a 4 year old, will there be any cooperative childcare? Perhaps would be more likely to come if someone needs a ride from the midwest. I'm pretty quiet and a non-smoker. -Jeff
Post by:autobot
Maybe he went home and went to bed. And took this tiny ad with him:
Play Your Way to a Sustainable Lifestyle: Uncover Permaculture Principles with Each Card
![[Logo]](/templates/default/mobile/images/mobile-permies-2015.png)
![[Thumbnail for 20251224_144144.jpg]](/t/369866/a/285864/20251224_144144.jpg "Filename: 20251224_144144.jpg
Description: Our 2 dogs at a local dog-friendly restaurant in the Chicago area")
