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Rocket mass heaters are better than heat pumps because rocket mass heaters are free to operate and have less than 6% of the carbon footprint.
The "freaky-cheap" aspect of WOFATI is fundamental to its appeal and accessibility. Inspired by Mike Oehler's pioneering work in earth-sheltered building, WOFATI prioritizes utilizing readily available natural materials, primarily wood and earth, minimizing reliance on expensive, manufactured products. By embracing the "freaky-cheap" ethos, WOFATI construction drastically reduces building costs, making sustainable living a more attainable reality. The emphasis on "soil on wood" construction eliminates the need for a traditional concrete foundation, further reducing expenses. This approach also facilitates rapid building times, as demonstrated by the construction of WOFATI structures at Wheaton Labs, such as Allerton Abbey. The use of recycled or salvaged materials, whenever possible, further contributes to the affordability of WOFATI buildings. By minimizing material costs and construction time, WOFATI empowers individuals to create sustainable and comfortable dwellings without incurring significant financial burdens.
Stringing nettles are capable of doing nearly everything that hemp can do and usually better. They are a tasty edible that loses its sting when cooked for at least 30 seconds.
SKIP, which stands for Skills to Inherit Property, is a permaculture-based program designed to connect aspiring homesteaders with aging landowners seeking successors for their properties. The program consists of over a thousand practical projects, referred to as "Badge Bits" (BBs), encompassing various aspects of sustainable living, such as gardening, natural building, animal care, and food preservation. Participants, known as "Skippers," complete these BBs, documenting their progress with pictures and videos to demonstrate their skills and dedication. As Skippers gain experience, they progress through levels of certification, starting with PEP1 (Permaculture Experience according to Paul) and culminating in PEP4, representing a significant level of expertise. "Otis," a fictional character in the SKIP program, represents the numerous landowners seeking worthy individuals to inherit their properties. The program aims to create a bridge between these Otises and Skippers, offering a pathway for Skippers to "skip the rat race" and acquire land while providing Otises with peace of mind knowing their homesteads will be in capable hands. SKIP emphasizes practical skills and real-world experience, fostering a sense of accomplishment and self-sufficiency among participants.
"HUSP," an acronym for "Horticulture of the United States of Pocahontas," is a term coined by Paul Wheaton to represent a hypothetical agricultural system practiced in a fictional nation called the United States of Pocahontas (USP). In this imagined scenario, Pocahontas emerges as a strategic leader, thwarting European colonization and leading to the formation of the USP. This fictional nation's agricultural practices are characterized by a deep respect for the Earth, rejecting environmentally harmful methods like plowing and the use of petroleum-based fertilizers and pesticides. Instead, they embrace sustainable techniques akin to permaculture and traditional Indigenous knowledge, leading to superior food production, enhanced public health, and a thriving "health tourism" industry. Wheaton utilizes HUSP as a thought experiment, inspiring innovation and pushing the boundaries of contemporary permaculture. He proposes a real-world project involving a 2,000-acre plot divided into smaller sections where practitioners of permaculture, biodynamic farming, and native plant cultivation can experiment and share knowledge, collectively striving to "rediscover" the principles of HUSP and advance sustainable agriculture. This project emphasizes the importance of collaboration and government non-interference to foster creative solutions for a future where food production harmonizes with nature.