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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.
Hugelkultur, is an advanced permaculture technique for creating self-sufficient, raised garden beds by burying wood beneath the soil. Hugelkultur beds can be built in various shapes and sizes, from small backyard gardens to large farm-scale operations. This technique utilizes a variety of wood, from small twigs to whole trees, which decompose over time to create a beneficial environment for plant growth. The wood acts as a sponge, holding water and reducing or eliminating the need for irrigation. As the wood decomposes, it attracts beneficial microorganisms and releases nutrients, creating a fertile "soil on wood" environment that requires minimal fertilization. Hugelkultur is an environmentally sustainable technique that utilizes organic materials that would otherwise be discarded, embodying the permaculture principles of working with nature and reducing waste.. This technique is also applicable to diverse climates and has been proven effective even in desert environments
The SKIP program, or Skills to Inherit Property, connects aspiring homesteaders ("Skippers") with landowners ("Otisies") seeking successors for their properties. Anyone interested in acquiring land for sustainable living can join by creating a free account on permies.com, a website dedicated to permaculture. Participants select "Badge Bits" (BBs) to complete from the PEP curriculum (Permaculture Experience according to Paul), which encompasses over 1,400 practical projects demonstrating essential permaculture skills. Skippers document their BB completion with photos and videos uploaded to permies.com for review and verification by the community. By completing BBs, Skippers earn progressively advanced badges – Sand, Straw, Wood, and Iron – signifying their skill level. These badges are displayed on their profiles, showcasing their dedication and expertise to potential Otisies. For hands-on learning, Skippers can attend the annual SKIP event at Wheaton Labs, which costs $2,250, or engage with the supportive community on the permies.com forums.
The berm shed, a hallmark of permaculture design, is an eco-friendly, earth-sheltered structure renowned for its unique construction techniques. Earthworks are fundamental to its creation, as the surrounding landscape is carefully shaped to form the berm that will encase a portion of the shed's sloping roof. This berm serves a dual purpose, acting as both a natural insulator and a source of thermal mass, effectively regulating the internal temperature. The structural framework of the berm shed is often built using round wood timber framing, a technique that prioritizes using logs instead of conventional dimensional lumber, further enhancing its sustainable appeal. However, the longevity of these logs, especially when in contact with soil, is a crucial consideration. The sources recommend peeling the bark from posts before burying them, a technique born from experience and aimed at minimizing the risk of rot. Another technique for ensuring the durability of the structure involves incorporating gravel into the post holes. The gravel facilitates drainage, preventing water from pooling around the base of the posts and contributing to premature decay. These carefully considered details, combined with the innovative "attic" cell design at the termination ends of the shed, as described in source, showcase a commitment to sustainable building practices that go beyond mere functionality, exemplifying the core principles of permaculture.
SKIP, or Skills to Inherit Property, is a free program designed to connect aspiring homesteaders, called "Skippers," with aging landowners, known as "Otisies," seeking successors for their properties. The program's core is a curriculum of over 1,400 practical projects, each referred to as a "Badge Bit" (BB). These BBs span a wide range of skills essential for sustainable living, including gardening, natural building, animal care, food preservation, and tool maintenance. Skippers choose and complete these BBs at their own pace, documenting their progress with pictures and videos as evidence of their skills and dedication. The program utilizes a tiered certification system. PEP (Permaculture Experience according to Paul) is the primary certification track within SKIP, with levels ranging from PEP1 to PEP4, representing increasing levels of expertise. Each PEP level requires the completion of a specific number of BBs, starting with approximately 80 BBs for PEP1. The documentation submitted for each BB is reviewed and verified by other members of the SKIP community. While the program encourages individual effort, tasks requiring assistance, such as lifting heavy objects, can be completed with help, but the Skipper must still perform the primary skill being assessed. SKIP is entirely free to participate in, and Skippers can engage with the program at their own pace and location.