Mike Haasl

This is a badge bit (BB) that is part of the PEP curriculum.  Completing this BB is part of getting the sand badge in Foraging.

Foraging is like gardening but without all the planting, weeding, nibbler protection or watering.  If you live in the country there are lots of road sides to search.  These must be wild foods - not gleaning or harvesting from an actively cultivated space.

Plant identification is the most important part of foraging.  Get one or two good books on the edibles of your region.  Be sure you know what you're picking!

To complete this BB, the minimum requirements are:
Make a cup of tea from one of:
- nettle
- rose hips
- mint
- pineapple weed
- raspberry leaves
- chaga mushrooms
- pine needle
- fir tip
- Ceanothus americanus/new jersey tea
- kinnikinnick
- sumac
- Linden flower
- wild strawberry leaf
- fireweed
- birch bark/leaves
- clover
- rose petals
- dandelion
- bullthistle

To document your completion of the BB, provide the following:
 - A picture of one of the plants in the wild
 - A picture of the harvested goods with the remaining plant in the background
 - A picture of the yummy tea in a cup

Clarifications:
 - This is "Foraging" so the plants can not be cultivated by you
 - This can't be the same plant you use for the "make an infusion" BB

That sawmill sure can be fiddly sometimes.  Good luck figuring it out!

Sorry to harp on this but I think the notch cuts bypassed one another on that big tree.  It's hard to be sure but looking at the pic, I highly suspect the upper cut of pacman's mouth ended at the red line and the lower cut of pacman's mouth ended at the orange line.  You really want these to end at the same spot so pacman's mouth can close smoothly.  

If the wood is green, it's going to check.  If it's dry, it'll've already checked.  At least then you'll know how bad and where the checks are I guess. Orienting them downwards would help when the rain falls on them.  I think beefier logs for the mortise (hole) pieces would be helpful

As for Q1, I don't know of any BBs for larger solar systems. I think that would fall into Oddball.

For Q2 there is a lot of traditional carpentry in the PEM system, but not in PEP that I'm aware of.  Permaculture Experience according to Mike

Agreed.  Although I'd add that it wouldn't be good to submit 10 outlet installations.

I believe they technically could, but I'd discourage it.  Small oddball jobs take forever to add up to a Straw or higher badge. Since they'd not be in the Nat Medicine badge, certifiers that aren't as familiar with medicine will wonder what to do.  

I heard firefly is coming back:  https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/firefly-nathan-fillion-sci-fi-cult-classic-returning-as-animated-series

I didn't deliberately experiment but rather fit the wavelengths to the size of the field.  A long period saves you on remesh but makes it more floppy.  A short period is much beefier but you use more remesh. I'd stick with 5' as a minimum amplitude for deer jumping prevention but you could go bigger.  As long as you don't have a bunch of greenery vining on the fence, the wind just blows thru it.  

I have a delightful permaculture homestead but there isn't enough energy in the day to get everything done. There's a big greenhouse, orchard, food forest, garden, chickens, old barn, 100's of acres of woods to play in and a lake across the street. I'm 4 miles from a city of 8,000 people with all the amenities and work opportunities one could want. This isn't out in the boonies but it is a long drive from a big city.

I'm looking for a person, a couple or a family to come and participate on this land.  I imagine options ranging from tent space and outdoor facilities to living in the house in the guest bedroom.  We could turn the syrup shack into a summer cabin since it already has power, refrigeration and a stove. If you have a mobile tiny house, that could work too.  I'd want some labor on the land in exchange. Tending the garden is a big need. Projects are endless but I feel I can handle them easier than the weeds in the garden. Yes, a weed is just a plant out of place, but there are millions out of place.

Summers here are warm and sometimes humid. It's rarely 90F. I grumble when it's over 80 and go swim in the lake. I'm not sure about a year round landshare but we could maybe figure that out.

With a tall narrow firebox like yours, I'd contemplate a shallow hotel pan with some wire to hold it shut.  Then stand it on end against the side or back.  You do need to have enough room to burn a healthy fire next to the char container to get it hot enough to give off its wood gas.