Low Tech Laboratory Movie 2 - kickstarter starts September 19, 2023!

I'd back that.

Yes please!  how can we support this project?

Yes!  This looks like a movie I want to watch!  :)

The projects look delightful! I'm particularly excited about the root cellar and yurt with earthen floors.  What's everyone else jazzed about?

All the rockety stuff! I thought the rocket kiln was crazy cool. But a rocket forge?! I don't know much about forges except that they need to have HIGH temps. Something I could build could melt metal?! Whoah.

Interested in all, but especially ash cement.

I would back it. This  could be the beginning of a series. I have really enjoyed the first Low Tech Laboratory movie. I feel that a second one would only add to it.

I think this is a way to get these skills out to people all over the world.   I feel it is really important to turn these epic events into something that can be shared.

I met with andres and talked about the bones of this project.

The core of the kickstarter would be:

       $15 streaming

       $25 tiny download

       $40 HD download


What might we offer at the $1 level?  Preferably a short movie.  Maybe a half hour.  Something on topic.  A lot of ideas were bounced around and then we stumbled onto something that was perfect!

We did a bunch of rocket mass heater stuff last october.  And there was video.  So maybe a 30 to 60 minute long movie-ish thing about:

   - the batch box rmh build in the woodshop
   - the new 6 inch j-tube build in the tiny red cabin
   - the overhaul of the rmh in the library

We could call it "freaky cheap heat".  Done!



Next, what about the higher levels?  For this movie we have something like 60 hours of raw video!  (the last movie had about 3 hours of raw video)    So we have oodles and oodles of excellent video to work from.  

At the same time, andres has gotten really good at making really excellent plans!



Our first draft of the rewards for this kickstarter:


$1 thanks
       - freaky cheap heat (a 60 minute long movie about 3 rmh builds)

$15 streaming

$25 tiny download

$40 HD download

$65 plans
          log picnic table 3.0
          log steps
          moon gate
          mycelium insulation - roof
              shakes shingles
              log roof hinge
          bob

$80 full event
          about 12 hours of detailed video

$100 glory

$400 goofballs

$1000 associate producer

$2000 executive producer


For any changes, now is the time to make suggestions.

One of the things I am being extremely emphatic about is the timeline.  We really need to have the whole project done by december 31 for tax reasons.  This means that we need to start this kickstarter in the next two weeks!

paul wheaton wrote:


What might we offer at the $1 level?  Preferably a short movie.  Maybe a half hour.  Something on topic.  A lot of ideas were bounced around and then we stumbled onto something that was perfect!

We did a bunch of rocket mass heater stuff last october.  And there was video.  So maybe a 30 to 60 minute long movie-ish thing about:

   - the batch box rmh build in the woodshop
   - the new 6 inch j-tube build in the tiny red cabin
   - the overhaul of the rmh in the library

We could call it "freaky cheap heat".  Done!

i think this is the best idea ever.   everyone who backs at $1 will get introduced to all the all the benefits of having a Rocket Mass Heater.  

when the Rocket Mass Heater Technology is seen by enough people, i believe it will take off.  like a rocket!

This would be great! Especially if it includes how to make the RMH hot tub. Will see how much cash I can save up until it launches.

I'm starting to think about earlybird stuff ....

The more I think about it, the rewards seem pretty solid ...

I need to talk to andres more about the raw video that we have - what might the product include.  And then with that, we can start to talk about a script for a kickstarter video ...

maybe we should do a poor man's poll on what are the pieces that are most important to people ...

Will there be plans available for:

Root cellar
sauna
yurt

I'd be super keen on those for this KS or the future!

Here's a stab at the story - do feel free to break this apart and build upon :) :

Our last Kickstarter was our most successful ever! It makes our permie hearts sing to know everyone is keen to hear more about low tech, DIY solutions that can empower you, and save the planet in the process!  And don't forget, they can also make your life more luxuriant - who doesn't want that?

We have just finished our 2023 event at Wheaton Labs where brand new projects were devised, investigated, built, tested, modified and completed and we want to share them with you!  The event - called the Permaculture Technology Jamboree - brings together a bunch of talented innovators and enthusiastic attendees to cook up an exciting mix of practical solutions that can increase your resilience and help build your permaculture lifestyle from the ground up.

This year's event explored the following projects:

Rocket Engine
Rocket Forge
Rocket Hot tub
Moon gate
Log Picnic Table 3.0
Log Stairs
Bob
Grape Arbor
Ash Cement
Mycoinsulation
Mycoinsulated roof for the new well pump house
Root Cellar
Sawmilling
Yurt
Earthen Floors
Natural Textiles
Wool Processing
Sauna
Humus Well
And much more!

We were thrilled with the results and have much to share!  As always, we seek to infect new minds with our exciting projects, and we want to share the new projects with our existing audience. We have a ton of raw footage of the event from this year and there is some truly excellent content in there.  

Now for the big kickstarter question: are there enough people wanting to watch this unique event to pay for the editing and watch the next movie in the series - Low Tech Lab Movie 2.  Who says a sequel can't be stronger than the original?  Hello Terminator!  We'll be back :)

This is probably a good time to talk about what else we might offer at the $1 level.  In the past, it has been one, substantial, new thing.  Plus some podcast gob.  Plus cool public thanks.  And then this last time we added access to the Secret Inner Circle forum.  And the last few times we added “Kickstarter Backer” icon on permies.com by your name.   So for this round:

     - freaky cheap heat short movie
     - some podcast gob
     - cool public thanks
     - access to the Secret Inner Circle forum
     - “Kickstarter Backer” icon on permies.com by your name

Any suggestions for maybe one more thing?

paul wheaton wrote:This is probably a good time to talk about what else we might offer at the $1 level.  In the past, it has been one, substantial, new thing.  Plus some podcast gob.  Plus cool public thanks.  And then this last time we added access to the Secret Inner Circle forum.  And the last few times we added “Kickstarter Backer” icon on permies.com by your name.   So for this round:

     - freaky cheap heat short movie
     - some podcast gob
     - cool public thanks
     - access to the Secret Inner Circle forum
     - “Kickstarter Backer” icon on permies.com by your name

Any suggestions for maybe one more thing?

Maybe the tour movie.  After all, it shows off 65 low tech things in two hours.

Paul, for the upper levels, would it be possible to include a Permies bumper sticker?

S Adams wrote:Paul, for the upper levels, would it be possible to include a Permies bumper sticker?

Of course it is possible.  Tell me more about what you have in mind?

I think the smart thing here would be to get at least one bumper sticker set up at a "print on demand" place and direct people to that.

Here is my first pass at a script.   Remember, brevity is very important.  And while I had a bit of a formula for past kickstarter videos, I like the different approach here

The low tech laboratory movie was our best performing movie kickstarter ever!

We used proceeds from that kickstarter to hyper-fuel another event and harvested 20 times more raw video

project

project

project

project


Building and innovating with more natural materials. Rocks, mushrooms, logs, mud, ash.  Less plastic, paint, glue.  Discovering and recalling simpler ways to live a better life.

These projects are about building a better world rather than being angry at bad guys. A bit of coin into this kickstarter will give you a movie and plans, and push for more projects like this!

What do you all think of the general approach?  What you think of the details?  

S Adams wrote:Paul, for the upper levels, would it be possible to include a Permies bumper sticker?

I think this is a great idea.  I love stickers.  I collect them from all the places that I like and put them on water bottles, my car, my laptop, my kid's stroller/wagon.  Anything that it will stay stuck to.  Maybe a little tacky - but I love it.

I think permies bumper stickers, even specific kickstarter ones, or maybe for events in the future.  

But i'm kind of a sticker fanatic - if you can't tell.

i recorded the script above and sent it to andres.  My guess is that he will have a rough draft in a few days.


Now is probably a good time to sort out the title and blurb ...   maybe starting with what we used last time?

The title from last time :  

Low Tech Laboratory: Experiments in Permaculture Technology

Low Tech Laboratory the Sequel: the next chapter in DIY permaculture innovation

blurb from last time:

A movie with innovations in homesteading, woodland craft, hot tubs, kilns, forges, textiles, bees, foraged clay pottery, mycelium ...

Paul,
Great idea to set it up at a print on demand shop.

For the design, something simple and eye-catching that would make people want to know more about it would be good.  You could start with "permies.com" as the text in a bold font that's easy to read, then maybe surround it with a simple border made up of a green line representing a vine and terminating with leaves.  If that doesn't give you a clear enough visual, I'll see if I can sketch it out.

Did I hear that Opalyn made a mattress at the last PTJ???  Is that going to be included?

Jules Silverlock wrote:Did I hear that Opalyn made a mattress at the last PTJ???  Is that going to be included?

I don’t know. The project is fairly simple if you can sew straight lines. Since I worked on it alone, I submitted it for the wood level BB.

Opalyn Rose wrote:I don’t know. The project is fairly simple if you can sew straight lines. Since I worked on it alone, I submitted it for the wood level BB.

That is funny as I am literally terrible at sewing straight lines :)

But, joking aside,  I do think it would be a great inclusion - it looks lovely and is a handy item to be able to knock out on a homestead (even for those of us who are straight-line challenged).

I think Paul said you also repaired a rug?  These are skills I would love to have - I guess they may seem simple, if you know how to do them, but some of us would love to know more :)

We asked the folks in the Secret Inner Circle forum which projects they really want to see in the movie.  Which one do you guys reckon is currently at the top of the pile?

I'll give you a clue - it's one of these:

What are the thoughts about promoting builds that didn't get finished?  Would people expect to see a finished XYZ after hearing about it in the kickstarter, then be mad when the movie doesn't show that project getting done?  

Or might that be explained so that people know what they're getting?  Just don't want to "poison the well" for LTLM3, 4, 5, etc...

For the Log Stairs plans, I think it might be better to offer a Construction Guide (or words like that).  With steps, instructions and some drawings.  Stairs vary greatly depending on the rise/run so this particular set of plans might not be as useful as an instructional guide.  I'd be happy to help put that together.

Very interested to see more on the root cellar and the yurt with earthen floor. Moon gate looks lovely, not sure if it’s something I’d do here, but it looks nice! All of it sounds good actually! I hope this goes ahead. I will definitely back it.

Will there be plans included for any (or all) of the projects?

I am starting to fiddle a bit with a new page at kickstarter ...

I'm super excited to learn more about the rocket engine. I love how it is designed to be multi-functional.

Probably going to need a compelling story for the Kickstarter page.  Anyone working on that yet?

Beau M. Davidson wrote:Probably going to need a compelling story for the Kickstarter page.  Anyone working on that yet?

I had a go, above https://permies.com/t/223838/Tech-Laboratory-Movie-kickstarter-august#1912803

this is my favorite part of the story jules wrote!

jules wrote:
Who says a sequel can't be stronger than the original?  Hello Terminator!  We'll be back :)

but honestly, it is a great start.  and it is very similar to what i was starting to write, so of course it is good.

paul wheaton wrote:

paul wheaton wrote:This is probably a good time to talk about what else we might offer at the $1 level.  In the past, it has been one, substantial, new thing.  Plus some podcast gob.  Plus cool public thanks.  And then this last time we added access to the Secret Inner Circle forum.  And the last few times we added “Kickstarter Backer” icon on permies.com by your name.   So for this round:

     - freaky cheap heat short movie
     - some podcast gob
     - cool public thanks
     - access to the Secret Inner Circle forum
     - “Kickstarter Backer” icon on permies.com by your name

Any suggestions for maybe one more thing?

Maybe the tour movie.  After all, it shows off 65 low tech things in two hours.

So let's do this.

$1 level

     - freaky cheap heat (a 60 minute long movie about 3 rmh builds)
     - two hour tour of 65 low tech creations ( Wheaton Labs Tour movie )      
     - some podcast gob
     - cool public thanks
     - access to the Secret Inner Circle forum
     - “Kickstarter Backer” icon on permies.com by your name


So a really heavy offer at $1.

Which podcast gob should we offer?  

$80 full event
         about 12 hours of detailed video

Andres tells me now that this will be 20 hours of detailed video!