Rhubarb Micro Village Challenge

The Rhubarb Micro Village Challenge is a permaculture design/build contest wherein six (6) tiny (~400 sq ft) plots in downtown Ava are available to be developed between now and the end of August 2017.

In September, a vote will be held on the permies forums to determine the winning project(s). Each voter will have 10 points to distribute as they see fit amongst the 6 projects.

The winner(s) will receive a percentage of the total cash prize proportionate to their share of the total number of points. For example: if, out of a total of 200 points distributed, Project A receives 150 points, and Project B receives 50 points, then, if the total cash prize is $100, A will receive $75 and B will receive $25.

Kai and I have agreed to each throw down $50 and all of our Patreon proceeds from now until the challenge concludes this September. As of today, April 30, 2017, the total cash prize is $100.

To apply to join the Rhubarb Micro Village Challenge, propose your idea for a project to either Kai or myself. If your design is approved, you may begin developing your plot immediately.

The Rhubarbhood, the bit of land on Ava where the challenge takes place, is envisioned as a set of linked arcades (in the architectural sense,) that each serve multiple functions and together constitute a sort of social/economic hub for Ava and Ant Village.

Some ideas for possible projects: a comfy place to sit in a fruit tree guild, a sheltered outdoor space with a rumford fireplace, a tiny cottage, a sandbox for micro-earthworks, a cob oven and outdoor rocket cooking area, a passive solar greenhouse with a rocket hot tub and sauna, a roundwood jungle gym and swingset, a cobbled stone patio and picnic table, etc.

This thread is a good place to ask questions, coordinate cooperative strategies, discuss the kinds of projects you might want to see/vote for, and/or what you might want to build/grow/create if you were to join the Rhubarb Micro Village Challenge.

Here is a rhubarb idea that could be used in a passage area that you would like to keep clear of snow in the winter.  Like all good permaculture projects it serves multi functions for each season.

There is a type of high tunnel design that instead of having parallel hoops from one side to the other 2 hoops cross each other in the center and where they are anchored there are 2 ends coming together to side by side anchors.  Aline is put over the covering from the anchors on one side to the other to hold the covering in place.  With the place where the hoops cross and the anchors tied together this type of caterpillar tunnel becomes very stable in wind and snow conditions.  The sides can be pushed up on the hoops for ventilation and the line over the top has enough tension to hold them there until pulled down again.

To make it a thoroughly rhubarb  project put a row of rhubarb along the path it will come up early in the spring. The covering can be put on as first frost date approaches and taken off as last frost date passes. meanwhile beans or whatever vining growies you desire can be started at the base of the hoops to give shade cover during the summer and convenient food harvest.  

Rhubarb Micro Village Challenge Forest Sprite and a design drawing my friend Ben Drew.Shout out to Pubbins Stay Thuggin.

Evan and Kai - I just now added this thread to other forums - let me know if you'd like it added to any other forums on permies.com.

If any of you are wondering what it's like on Ava, Evan has documented things rather well at Evan's Ant Village Log. See also Kai's Belated Posts.

Good luck everyone!