Clay McGowen

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since May 01, 2021
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Biography
I'm a corporate minion trying to climb the Wheaton Eco Scale.
I earned my PDC in '23 from Geoff Lawton.
I've done some virtual and onsite consulting. I've grown some gardens and some chickens. I've read, watched, listened, and it never feels like enough.
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Recent posts by Clay McGowen

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!

    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!
    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!
    JP knows style when he sees it! 🤠
    11 months ago
    Hey Ethan, welcome to Permies!

    That looks like a great place.
    I hope you find just the right person to take over.

    I really like a lot of the photos in the ad, I wanted to bring them all over...
    Instead, I'll simply share my favorite - hoping to inspire others to go check it out.
    I came up with one I hadn’t seen before - literally potting up.

    This works with indeterminate tomatoes (and probably other vining plants of that nature).

    Build a narrow wooden planter box with the “ends” really tall and the “sides” a lot shorter.
    Plant seeds and wait.
    As the plants grow, about once every few weeks, add “side” boards and gently backfill with soil up to the top few leaves of the plant.
    Repeat until you reach the height of the end boards.

    Last year I successfully planted out and grew tomatoes which I accidentally sprouted in November.

    1 year ago
    Hey Tucker, thanks for sharing!
    Sounds like an awesome plan, I'm excited to see your progress here.

    A random heads up


    You might be able to extend your bed an extra two feet, if you have the wood.

    What type of climate are you growing in? How much rainfall do you typically get?
    1 year ago
    Looking really good, Paul!

    One minor piece of feedback:
    On the https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp/ page the “About Us” sections list Dez and Magdalene as Bootcamp Commanders. Should they be replaced with Stephen?
    Yes! Stoked!
    Thanks for driving this, Andrés!
    1 year ago
    It’s actually been several years since I’ve cooked a drumstick, but it was an absolute staple for us growing up - especially in summer.
    Pops would buy the “legs and thighs” pack at the store, about 4 of each, coat them in BBQ sauce, and pop them on the grill. Usually they’d be accompanied by corn on the cob and a salad. I can still picture the tongs he’d use to flip them.

    He always checked the doneness by slicing into one and confirming it was white all the way through, but I remember mom finding some speck of red or pink when she tried to cook them and never feeling confident. I guess that was passed on to me because I never trust judging by eye.
    The best investment I’ve made in my culinary adventures was an instant read thermometer. It’s added a level of confidence and consistency to my cooking. Poultry must be cooked to at least 165°F  

    I’ve gone through several thermometers but this Taylor Waterproof digital one has lasted the longest.
    1 year ago