PEP1 Certification workshop/gathering/event May/June 2019

Now I feel like a real Newbi, I didn't realize I had posted in the PEP1 forum.  I am still working here in Illinois and its just too close timewise for me to arrange to get out there on short notice, though I'd love to.  I'm a technical person but there's a lot of info listed in the PEP1 that I'm sure I would benefit from.  I did the kickstarter at 200 so I could have access to the PDC/ATC videos for now, but eventually I do want to make the trip out your way. sorry for the confusion. I really must explore the site more, I just wanted to touch base early after the kickstarter ended to make sure I didn't miss any requirements I need to meet to get the info.  I'm an information sponge and I see a lot of sopping I would like to do .  Thanks again.

Just popping this over to page four:

Jocelyn Campbell wrote:Folks who supported the Better World book Kickarter have been signing up - WOOT!!

there is now just one spot left!

If you have received a PEP1 registration form from us, that means we have confirmed you backed at $100 or more and are IN.

Just a couple quick thoughts before bed... been thinking a lot this last week or so with the Kickstarter, then figuring out that I really could get out to Montana. Been so stoked to meet everyone, get more involved, learn lots of stuff, etc. Today I was thinking about the badges, and how there is a list of potential projects to do for each badge, and that reminded me some of being a Boy Scout long ago... but, even more it reminds me on a sense, of working towards my "Dolphins" (Enlisted Submarine Warfare Qualification pin), back in the late 80's/early 90's.

To get your Dolphins, a new squid had to learn about every system on the boat, no matter what rate he was. As a torpedoman's mate, I still had to learn about damage control, sonar systems, missile systems, nuclear propulsion, auxiliary propulsion, etc. As we learned about our new duties (and home), the older, already qualified guys would work with us, clarifying stuff from manuals, having us draw piping diagrams for electrical, hydraulic, and high pressure air systems, sending us to find important valves or lockers, etc. Explaining things (and sometimes maybe a few wild ghost chases, or looking for nonsensical equipment to mess with us...lol)

When we were learning though, we always carried around our "qual card", and different systems needed different signatures, such as any already qualified machinist's mate could sign off on sanitary tanks, (a system like a large BB maybe), but to get the whole block of Tanks and Spaces might need the chief machinist's mate to sign off, so he would verify whatever he felt like from that who section of your qual card (more like a sand badge.)

As a "boomer" sailor, we were allowed 2 patrols to finish our quals and get our Dolphins... if you couldn't by then, they'd probably boot you up to the surface fleet! To get you Fish though, you had to go before generally the Captain and a board of 4 (if I recall right) officers and/or senior NCOs, and they could ask you anything they wanted about any system on the entire boat, No one passes their board without at least half a page of 'lookups', I was no exception! heh, but I DID get my Fish before the end of my first patrol.

Sorry for the long story, just thought a lot about how the PEP program reminds me of way back then, and how good it felt to watch a guy who already had his Dolphins signing off that you were good to go on a system. I am guessing that this is all virtual on the boards here though? Or, at some point, will there be some actual badges we could display, whether as a pin, or on a sash, or as bumper stickers, etc? What about when doing PEP courses in person... will there be some sort of card or sheet to keep with you or that actually gets signed off on by someone? I still have my tattered old qual card from the fall of 1989, from the first boat I ever went to sea on and it was fun to look at it a couple months ago, remember, and maybe someday my kids will have it and wonder what it was like long ago.

I hope this isn't the wrong place for a story/questions like this... Good night, and see some of you soon!
Leif

Yesterday we were talking about the trip out to freecycles (during the second week) which led to discussion of how many people will end up PEP1 certified by the end of the week.  


If 20 people show up, and they have each completed 5 BBs before arriving ...    and they all work hard and don't get distracted ...  and a few people have more experience than others and they share their knowledge ...   and a few people with a lot of experience show up for a day here and there ...  

I think three people will be PEP1 certified by the end of THIS two week course.  Everybody else will be 70% to 99% of the way there and can finish at home.  I think those three people would have put in a bit of extra time in the evenings and the weekend.  

I think that when we do this a second time, it will be six people.   And when we do this the fifth time, it will be 12 people.    Years down the road we will cap out at about 15 people every time.  

So, just a reminder that this is gonna be a wack-a-doodle disorganized clusterfuck.  And we will all do our best to get it all sorted out.  

paul wheaton wrote:

So, just a reminder that this is gonna be a wack-a-doodle disorganized clusterfuck.  And we will all do our best to get it all sorted out.  

Part of the appeal of this event is guniea pigging to aid in development of the system. I appreciate that opportunity. Hoping everyone comes with appropriate expectations and flexibility.

paul wheaton wrote:

So, just a reminder that this is gonna be a wack-a-doodle disorganized clusterfuck.  

Can't wait - see you Sunday!

Did I hear "Whack-a-doodle disorganized clusterfuck"??  Sign me up  Oh, wait, I'm already signed up.  Yay!

I'm pretty sure I won't be one of the PEP1 certified folks by the end.  I have an excel list made up with all the badges I think I could ever get and if I want to do them at home or at the lab.  For instance, I'd rather make a kindling creator at home so I can use it (can't easily carry it home on the plane).

Are any of the attendees good at Google docs?  I think they have a spreadsheet that others can update.  If so, a really ambitious attendee could set up a spreadsheet of all the badges and BBs and put it out to the group and we could mark off the ones we want to accomplish.  Would that help the organizers and reduce the chaos?  Or just create more clusterfuckery?

i think the google doc spreadsheet idea is brilliant!

Hello Wheaton Labs + Paul,

I'll be travelling to Helena, MT from Louisiana on a business trip. I will not be able to come for the whole event, but there is a possibility that I can stop in for a few hours or more. Would it be ok for me to drop in to meet people etc?


(i did happen to donate at the $100 level for the kickstarter)

Austin Guidry wrote: Would it be ok for me to drop in to meet people etc?)

Hi Austin,

You are welcome to come up on our tour day, the date is May 19 Sunday.
Click here for more info: https://permies.com/wiki/62394/permaculture-projects/wheaton-labs-tour#905826

Have a great day!

paul wheaton wrote:i think the google doc spreadsheet idea is brilliant!

Ok team, do any of the attendees (or anyone else in the empire for that matter) know how to do a Google spreadsheet and want to set it up?  If you like apples/pie this would be a great way to earn some (hint hint)

Hi Leif,

Leif Ing wrote:Or, at some point, will there be some actual badges we could display, whether as a pin, or on a sash, or as bumper stickers, etc?

Nicole Alderman is working on it!!! look at Pauls


to see more on the work: https://permies.com/t/40/58650/badges-worked-permies-software#820672

Leif Ing wrote: What about when doing PEP courses in person... will there be some sort of card or sheet to keep with you or that actually gets signed off on by someone?

The Hope is that you will keep up on posting in this threads The 22 PEP .
But I do like Mike google doc spreadsheet idea too. I think that would be a great help here.

Leif Ing wrote:bumper stickers, etc?)

+1 for Stickers. Or maybe a stencil. You make them and I'll put them on my stuff, Leif.

Here is a quick mockup of a Google Sheets spreadsheet.  

Would the organizing humans (and anyone else involved) have a gander and tell me what else you'd like to see on such a document?

I figure after I add all the Badges and BB's, I can add a column for each participant and let that participant use some sort of code, like "Want," "Complete," "Certified," and "Hard Pass" or something like that.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1a9XVZ5ea4hleOa9FpbmcWz0lrm-ymdxw8qtPs5mqU_4/edit?usp=sharing.

It is view-only at present, but I can give editing privileges to anyone by email.

Awesome, thanks Beau that's just what I had in mind!  I'm thinking codes for Want, Completed, Certified and Later would work well for PEP1.  That way if you want to do something but at your house, not at the lab, just mark it "Later".  Hard Pass and leaving it blank would seem to mean the same thing to me.  

Should we PM you our emails?  Or could you give Coco access to add all our emails?

Yeah, I'll add Coco if that works for all.  Thanks Mike.

I'm bumping up against a question that I expect will be a common one.

There are many of the BB's that I have completed in the past, prior to the PEP.  For some of them I have images and documentation.  Many not-so-much.  I imagine that, for the sake of credibility of the program, the exact criteria needs to be met or exceeded, with the possibility of some common-sense equivalence exceptions, according to the certifiers' judgement.  Therefore any past experience, in the absence of clear itemized documentation, would not be eligible.  I don't want to waste anybody's time by submitting things that are not qualified, but I'd also love to use my time wisely if some past experiences may actually qualify.

An example:

The Seed Bomb BB requires:
- A picture of the seeds in your mixing container
- A picture of the finished balls on a scale showing the weight
- A listing of the seeds you used

We made about 300 seed bombs as a kids' activity at the farmers market last year - an activity that I set up with my wife.  We started with 50lbs of clay and left with none, and 100's of kids and adults left to litter the country-side with bombs.  But . . . I don't have pictures of the scale or the seeds in a container.  What I do have is the following images.

So should I run these through for certification? Or just save everyone's time and do it from scratch with proper documentation?

I'm not trying to be picky here, or much less ask for special treatment - I just foresee this being a significant delineation as the certification moves forward.

Thoughts?

I've asked that question twice myself already and the general response was that the documentation has to pretty much match the requirements.  I think slippery slopes could develop.  

Now if a BB said to make a cup of bone sauce and you didn't get a picture of it in a cup measure but you have a photo of a half full bucket, we can be pretty sure you made enough.

I HIGHLY recommend folks attend the tour that starts on Sunday morning, 5/19, at 9:30 a.m. sharp. Meet behind the shop/auditorium.

We have over 200 acres here, with loads of innovations, and so many, many things going on. The tour shows you where everything is and serves as an overview of how we are trying to steward the land and community that is wheaton labs. I think it will help you in many ways while participating in the PEP1 gathering/course.

Beau Davidson wrote:Yeah, I'll add Coco if that works for all.  Thanks Mike.

Thanks Beau! I’ll have to do it tomorrow because it’s getting to my bed time. And I don’t have my work computer.

Beau Davidson wrote: Would it be possible to get a schedule of peoples’ arrival times in Missoula? I’m booking my airfare and would prefer to jump into a vehicle that’s already making the trip, rather than requiring another trip just for myself.

Alternately, anyone driving from anywhere near the mid-west, or even Denver area?  I’d be game to meet you and split gas cost for rest of the way.

Beau, did you get a ride worked out - either from the airport or the Denver area?

If not, I'll re-send you a registration form so we can get your flight times on our calendar here for rides.

Coco Newlon wrote:Thanks Beau! I’ll have to do it tomorrow because it’s getting to my bed time. And I don’t have my work computer.

No prob, Coco, thank you.  I'll be looking for your email tomorrow.

Database is up-to-date, I believe. I may tidy up a bit as we go.  I began copy/pasting from the 22 Badges board, which had the added benefit of linking from the Google Sheet to the wikis, which I think is very advantageous. I may retrofit the first 1/2 of the sheet with those clickthroughs as well.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1a9XVZ5ea4hleOa9FpbmcWz0lrm-ymdxw8qtPs5mqU_4/edit?usp=sharing.

Jocelyn Campbell wrote:
Beau, did you get a ride worked out - either from the airport or the Denver area?

It turns out that Leif is also heading up from Kansas City, so he and I are planning on riding together.  As such, I do no require a pickup from the airport.  

Thank you, Jocelyn!!

Oh, that's great news, Beau - I'm so glad a ride worked out! And you're welcome, of course!!

it's a BEAUTIFUL morning here in northeastern PA; after many soggy days, the greening of everything and the white clouds on blue skies just makes my soul sing.   Even in the rain, or snow, or thunder, or anything, I love it here, and I RARELY have cause to wish I was anywhere else.  BUT - having to pass up on an opportunity like this gathering because I'm so far away, well, it does make me wish I lived much closer.  ENJOY A WONDERFUL LEARNING EVENT, ALL!!!

I imagine that, for the sake of credibility of the program, the exact criteria needs to be met or exceeded, with the possibility of some common-sense equivalence exceptions, according to the certifiers' judgement.  Therefore any past experience, in the absence of clear itemized documentation, would not be eligible.

If your past effort has the pics that are required, then it is all good!

If you are missing something, then the good news is that doing it again will probably go a LOT faster than somebody that is doing it for the first time.  


Right now it is super important to set precedent.  


We have also had some recent questions along these lines that make me worry because somebody could go find pics on the internet and say "see, that's me doing it."  Or take pictures of completed things they happen to see.  Thus diluting the value of the whole PEP program.

Hi All,

It sound like you all have a great plan started:

Erica Colmenares wrote:I mentioned this somewhere along the line here, but I'm bringing organic chicken (shredded), beef (taco seasoning) and turkey (chili seasoning) to share. And ground coffee, though it probably won't get us through two weeks, depending on how much the group drinks.  

Thank-you Erica!


from us as in the email we sent PEP1 workshop directions & info: Workshop food will generally be a vegetarian diet with a lot of veg/fruit, legumes, whole grains, and high quality fats. Some eggs, lots of teas, though no coffee or meat are provided. Due to budget and staffing constraints, we are not accommodating special diets at this event. If you have a special diet, we recommend bringing back up foods just so you don’t go hungry. Paul posted more too.

We just want everyone to have great food for them. As the mom soul in my, I wants everyone to eat well not be hunger/anger "hanger". Have a great time!
And we all need snacks!!! :)) *LOT OF SNACK TIME*

I mentioned this somewhere along the line here, but I'm bringing organic chicken (shredded), beef (taco seasoning) and turkey (chili seasoning) to share. And ground coffee, though it probably won't get us through two weeks, depending on how much the group drinks.

I couldn't get that link to work, Coco.

Erica Colmenares wrote:I mentioned this somewhere along the line here, but I'm bringing organic chicken (shredded), beef (taco seasoning) and turkey (chili seasoning) to share. And ground coffee, though it probably won't get us through two weeks, depending on how much the group drinks.

I couldn't get that link to work, Coco.

Hi Erica
just found out it was just for PDC. We are work on something for you PEP1ers now.
Thank-you being on it!

Is milk a staple that is provided?  I'm thinking for cereal...

Food stuff in general:   we will be doing food stuff the same way that we do the bootcamp ...   basic, cheap, organic food staples are provided (and the stuff growing here).  Mostly vegan stuff plus eggs.  You do the cooking.  If you have special dietary needs, you MUST supply your own stuff.

A bit more on that here:  https://permies.com/wiki/240/59706/permaculture-projects/permaculture-bootcamp-learn-permaculture-hard#860043


The next thing is that sometimes people choose to pool resources.   Let's put all of our food into a community pile and we will all share the effort!   And there will always be one or two that stand aside and say "I think I'll just do my own thing."   And then "the community" sends the stink eye in that general direction.  After about five days, the community effort starts to show some wear and tear.  Some people are putting in five times more work (and food) than people that keep having "other things they have to do".  And by day 8, people aren't eating and the folks that "stood aside" at the beginning are looking pretty damn smart.  

But there is always an exception to that:   where there is that one person that just LOVES to nurture a crowd and wants ZERO in return.   Horribly out of balance, but with this one person, it tends to all work out fine.   Sometimes there might even be two or three.


Note that there are BBs for cooking large quantites of food and learning to use the contraptions.   And there is the community BB where you feed 8 people (a BB that rewards those super generous folks).  

my "choreography" notes.  This is basically what i read through at the beginning of each event.


this property is under construction. It might be another six years
before it looks like a permie theme park.

any ideas about how to add beauty or any other improvement, please
post to the public wheaton labs forum.  "less and more"

pee everywhere

everybody is welcome to use the bathroom in the fisher price house.

willow feeder: keep it dry.  one side has a urine diverter for those
that need it

please eat organic or better: poop, pee and just our overall standards

well water at base camp is excellent drinking water
  --  we ran out of water several times in the past
  --  we encourage everybody to keep a gallon of water in reserve
  --  we would like to encourage everybody to consider trying pooless

wifi ­ tefa, Willie Smits or RuthStout (password)

please push oodles of pics and videos to permies

video and lighting vs. your joy and pleasure: weddings ruined by photographer
if you wish to not be in video, it is your responsibility to wear a
bag over your head.

please go easy on the hooch.  Previous events were deeply scarred by
hooch.  Glass recycling is a current challenge.  Beer seems to be my
nemisis.

No drugs, pot or tobacco.  

quiet time:  9:30pm to 6:00am.  Please turn all the music up super loud at 6am.

help us keep everything clean.  Clean up after yourself.  In seven
years we might have staff to clean up after you as if you were at some
sort of luxury resort, but not yet.

minimize use of the gate

castle law

Reasons why you might want to bring a LOT of snacks:

402:   Maybe sometimes the food staples are not the stuff you think is the tastiest.

403:   Sometimes the food staples does not meet your dietary restrictions.

407:   you have some sort of super cool food you would like other folks to try.

408:   you stopped by missoula and found some really cool stuff to try.  

408.1:  and for the other folks in class


maybe bringing something for the community pot:

507:   maybe you are bringing some beef, chicken, pork or cui you raised yourself!

508:   maybe you did a bit of a walkabout and scored a bunch of morel mushrooms, or other wildcrafted foods.

509:   maybe you were at the farmers market on the day off and you picked up a bunch of fun things to add to a meal

510:  maybe on the day off, you stopped by the good food store and thought "ham, everybody should have more ham."




These messages brought to you by paul's-lame-attempts-to-reduce-the-food-budget!


Please remember:  keep all food you eat organic or better.  Most non-organic food is loaded with persistent herbicides.  And what comes out of you will be (after two years) fed to willow trees - which persistent herbicides would kill.


Hooch:  please don't.  Hooch has ruined too many events already.



PEP BB stuff for cooking food ....

https://permies.com/wiki/102544/PEP-Badge-Food-Prep-Preservation

https://permies.com/wiki/101824/PEP-BB-community-sand-meal



Most people (not all) being picked up at the airport will have a chance to stop by the good food store to buy snacks and other foody-bits.

There will also probably be somebody going to town every other day or so and would be willing to pick up snacks for folks - just not hooch.

paul wheaton wrote:Reasons why you might want to bring a LOT of snacks:

maybe bringing something for the community pot:

507:   maybe you are bringing some beef, chicken, pork or cui you raised yourself!

The community meat I'm bringing is NOT raised by me. It's organic, but I'm happy to leave it at home if that's more perm-y PEP-y, etc. It'll be eaten here if not there.

If it's organic, it's welcome!

paul wheaton wrote:We have also had some recent questions along these lines that make me worry because somebody could go find pics on the internet and say "see, that's me doing it."  Or take pictures of completed things they happen to see.  Thus diluting the value of the whole PEP program.

You may have already considered this, but what about requiring photographic evidence of authenticity - either a selfie with the item, or some sort of unique totem that would be difficult to replicate?  It would make it a few degrees more difficult to rip off randar images from the web.

Beau Davidson wrote:
Database is up-to-date, I believe. I may tidy up a bit as we go.  I began copy/pasting from the 22 Badges board, which had the added benefit of linking from the Google Sheet to the wikis, which I think is very advantageous. I may retrofit the first 1/2 of the sheet with those clickthroughs as well.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1a9XVZ5ea4hleOa9FpbmcWz0lrm-ymdxw8qtPs5mqU_4/edit?usp=sharing.

Beau, this is beautiful.

Mike Jay wrote:Is milk a staple that is provided?  I'm thinking for cereal...

We don't provide boxed cereals. In our point of view, that's a processed food, not a food staple. I'm glad you brought it up because our idea of food staples is new to a lot of folks. We provide old fashioned oats, steel cut oats, plus other whole grains, whole grain flours plus white flour, any of which could be cooked as grits, quickbreads, etc.. Plus we provide pre-made (Dave's Killer) whole grain bread and tortillas.

The processed food we provide that is probably the closest to junk food is corn tortilla chips - we provide those and a very few pre-made crackers.

For certain groups I have included cow's milk as one of the staples - a whole milk, cream on top organic biodynamic milk, and will do so for this group. (Me being the main food shopper for wheaton labs.) Currently, our boots are vegan, so coconut milk has been the staple of late. The cow's milk can be more affordable than coconut milk (and is more affordable than cream or any creamer type things).

I also found that providing some eggs and a whole milk, unsweetened yogurt (you can add jam or sugar to it if you wish) turns out to be more affordable than certain situations where some folks ate pounds of butter and coconut oil when they felt protein deprived because they didn't eat legumes of any kind. We're fine with folks eating plenty of fat, but it had gotten kind of ridiculous there for a bit. We have LOADS of lentils, pinto beans, and many other kinds of peas/beans, for those who crave a more protein-based food.

Thanks Jocelyn!  I did read later that milk is often provided and I'm glad it will be for this event.  I'm bringing my own organic homemade granola