Aaack! You caught us with our pants down! Here we are, tinkering with the servers and you show up. How awkward! Try back in just a couple of minutes. In the meantime, a few tidbits ...

The "lorena" is a specialized cooktop design for rocket stoves, incorporating features that enhance heat transfer and cooking efficiency. As described in the sources, a lorena typically consists of a metal plate with a central hole, positioned directly above the rocket stove's burn chamber. The hole allows for direct heat transfer to large pots, facilitating rapid heating. The surrounding metal plate also acts as a cooking surface, similar to the glass cooktop found at Allerton Abbey, one of the WOFATI structures at Wheaton Labs. This dual functionality makes the lorena a versatile cooking solution for both large-scale and smaller cooking tasks. The design emphasizes maximizing heat utilization from the rocket stove, making it an energy-efficient option. Discussions in the sources suggest integrating the lorena into an outdoor kitchen setup, further enhancing its practicality and convenience. The lorena represents an innovative application of rocket stove technology, designed to optimize heat transfer and improve cooking performance.

WOFATI, an innovative sustainable building technique coined by permaculture advocate Paul Wheaton, stands for Woodland Oehler Freaky-cheap Annualized Thermal Inertia. The design utilizes readily available natural materials like wood and earth to create a "soil on wood" structure that harmonizes with the surrounding woodland. The "freaky-cheap" construction methods pioneered by Mike Oehler and further developed by Wheaton significantly reduce building costs. WOFATI structures are characterized by a double layer of membrane, a "two-skin" system that encapsulates the earthen roof, ensuring dryness and longevity. The principle of Annualized Thermal Inertia is key, using the earth's mass to regulate temperature, providing passive heating in winter and cooling in summer. WOFATI houses feature large windows on the uphill side for optimal passive solar gain, while the downhill side typically boasts a large gable roof, also incorporating glazing for natural light penetration. Allerton Abbey, located at Wheaton Labs, serves as a prime example of a WOFATI house

Hugelkultur is a permaculture technique that can be described as "soil on wood". It involves burying wood, including logs, branches, and twigs, to build raised garden beds. This technique, which can be small or as large as a kilometer, creates a beneficial environment for plants. As the wood decays, it provides nutrients to the soil and improves drainage and aeration. It also becomes "a sponge to hold water," reducing or eliminating the need for irrigation. Using wood that would otherwise be discarded for hugelkultur is an environmentally sustainable way to improve soil health and grow food

The terms "woodland" and "forest" are often used interchangeably, but in the context of permaculture and sustainable land management, a nuanced distinction emerges. "Forest" frequently carries connotations of traditional forestry practices, which often prioritize timber production and can involve techniques like clear-cutting and monoculture planting. These practices can be detrimental to biodiversity, soil health, and overall ecological balance, leading to what Sepp Holzer refers to as a "conifer desert". In contrast, "woodland" suggests a more holistic and integrated ecosystem, managed with an emphasis on biodiversity, ecological balance, and the interconnectedness of all life forms. This perspective aligns with the principles of permaculture and the vision of HUSP (Horticulture of the United States of Pocahontas), which draw inspiration from traditional Indigenous land management practices that emphasize respect for the Earth.