Homesteading Badge - Straw/Wood brainstorming thread

We're working on defining the remaining levels for a number of badges.  We could use your help coming up with more items that could be added to the various lists!  If you haven't heard of PEP yet, please check out This Thread.

In the past we've set up badges where you have to do a set number of things from a list.  The issue with that is that making a mosquito trap isn't as hard as building a gate.  So instead, we're transitioning to a point based system.  Winterize a property, get 4 points.  Jump start a vehicle, get a half point.  Earn 35 points and you have the Straw badge completed.  

Occasionally there's a range of points.  They'll be spelled out in the text of the BB and this allows for projects of differing complexity to fit in the same BB.  For instance - fixing a structural defect in a building

We've taken a shot at the upper level badges and could use your help rounding them out a bit.  Are we missing any important homesteading principles, methods or projects?

straw badge

35 points required

Required:
drive a truck and trailer backwards - with turns  ½ point

Electives
  - Up to 10 points of duplication allowed
  - New items from Sand list allowed (½ point for “little list” items, 1 point for “big list” items)

Tow a vehicle 100 yards with another vehicle - 1 point
Make a one handed gate latch - 2 points
Repair 400’ of a traditional fence - 2 points
Repair a corner brace for a fence - 2 points
Build a corner brace for a fence - 3 points
Set up a fly trap (drowning style) - ½ point
Set up a mosquito trap - ½ point
Add appropriate minnows/goldfish to animal water trough - ½ point
Get a vehicle/tractor unstuck from mud or snow - 1 point
Jump start a vehicle - ½ point
Put chains on a set of drive tires (tractor, vehicle, etc)  - 1 point
Cover something with a tarp so that it stays put for 6 months - ½ point
Cover cargo with a tarp so it stays dry during transit - ½ point
Set up an equipment file for owner’s manuals and other equipment information - ½ point
Set up a spare parts kit in the shop for a piece of equipment - ½ point
Make, attach and fill a mobile tool kit for a piece of equipment (shear pins, wrench, etc) - 1 point
Make a “carry all” attachment for a tractor - 3 points
Set up a family reference document that explains how each part of the homestead works for the other residents - 1 point
  - Here’s how to winterize the camper
  - Here’s how to turn off the gas/water/electricity to the house
Scythe an area of 100 square feet (ditch, around pole building, etc) - ½ point
Use a 3 point hitch implement on a tractor (brushhog, box blade, disk, etc) and do work for 15 min - ½ point
Remove snow from a roof safely - 2 points
Spread manure/compost on a pasture - 1/2 point
Dragging/moving a large down tree 100’ for processing (sawmill, firewood, etc) - 1 point
  - >18” diameter, >8’ long
Build a gate for vehicles - 4 points
Clean up messes made by prior owners or tresspassers - 2 points per cubic yard
Set up a short term covered materials storage area for peeled logs, fence posts, metal parts, etc - 1 point
Set up a materials storage area for things that don’t need protection (gravel, sand, bricks, blocks, rocks, etc) - 1 point
Set up a hidden boneyard - 1 point
Salvage building materials from a small building - 8 points
  - Nails removed, ends of boards cut square, stored appropriately
Correct a structural defect with an outbuilding - 4-16 points
Fix a leaking roof - 2 points
Correctly make a roof penetration - 2 points
Whitewash or limewash a barn - 3 points
Repoint 200 sqft of rubble foundation - 8 points
Winterize the property in the fall - 4 points
Paint a 200 square foot wall - 2 points
Add a lean-to to an existing building - 16 points
Replace metal roof on a small building (<400 square feet) - 8 points
Make a small Jean Pain compost system (4+ cu yards) - 8 points
Set up a ham radio system (including tower) - 8 points
Run communication cable/wire 40 feet to a new spot - 1 point
   - coaxial, LAN, phone, etc

wood badge

180 points required

Required:
Drive a truck/tractor/vehicle backwards with a wagon (front wheels of wagon turn with tongue) - ½ pt

Electives:
  - Up to 30 new points (non duplicates) from Straw allowed
  - Up to 40 points of duplication from this Wood list allowed
  - Do a minimum of 3 items from this list

Salvage building materials from a large down building - 16 points
Salvage and raze a large building - 40-100 points
Move an outbuilding (simple to no foundation) to a new site - 8 points
Move an outbuilding (more involved foundation) to a new site - 16 points
Replace metal roof on a large building (>400 square feet) - 20 points
Remove a silo - 20 points
Shovel snow and sand ice for a winter (>8 times) - 10 points
Build a free standing shop or barn (>300 square feet) - 80 points
Build a small Oehler style greenhouse (<100 square feet) - 80 points
Build a large Oehler style greenhouse (>100 square feet) - 120 points
Make a large Jean Pain compost system (10+ cubic yards) - 24 points
Put a 3 season (unheated, uninsulated) addition onto a house - 16 points (existing roof), 60 points (new roof)
Put a 4 season (insulated space, to code) addition onto a house (at least 150 square feet) - 120 points

I would add to the "cover with tarp" something about staking it down and/or tying appropriate knots for holding the tarp/load:

Trucker's hitch, Bowline, etc.

even at it's current valuation of 1/2 point it seems too simple.

Thanks Dustin!  Each BB (item) gets it's own thread where we put more details in.  Those details would be perfect to have in the BB for that one.  

You should break this into several classes and adjust the points accordingly or make some exclusions to make this fair. For example, I grew up on a farm and worked on nearby farms. I've backed so many hay wagons into barns and sheds I have no clue how many points I could claim just on that. I've built and repaired who knows how many miles of fence, mostly wire, but a small bit of wood and rail. I worked construction and graduated to HVAC Tech. Roof penetrations for flues, vents, rooftop unit curbing for duct work, gas lines, electric services, refrigeration lines > again, I have no clue how many hundreds of those I've done, maybe thousands. Building additions was how I started in construction, as well as tearing down small buildings and large houses and salvaging anything worth salvaging. I've scythed fence rows and helped my dad scythe miles of gas pipeline; he was a well tender for a gas company and I helped him during the summers when I was off school.
I never made a fly or a mosquito trap, but I've set out home made poison stations for wasps and yellow jackets.
My dad and I operated a sawmill on weekends. Our largest blade was a 50" inserted tooth blade and there were many times we had to split the first few cuts off because 24" wasn't enough blade cut to reach through.
There are probably a few others such as myself here that could clean house on this badge with no trouble at all and that just wouldn't be fair to the others here, some of who honestly may be on a "Green Acres" journey. They shouldn't be held back or down because of that.

Well Blaine, you're just the guy for the job!  We've built this list to try to capture a wide variety of tasks on a Montana homestead (Paul's place).  With some thoughtful wording we hopefully made it so that you can do them in New Jersey or Brazil.  We're looking for more items for the list.  Things in the realm of homesteading that we didn't think of.  What other tasks can you come up with?  Keep in mind, we have badges for Plumbing, Electrical, Dimensional Woodworking and many other areas that have their own lists.

You and I and about 300 other permies on here have easily knocked out the Straw or Wood level badge items.  But therein lies the problem.  We're trying to prove to a fictitious "Otis" that we've done enough stuff (and proven it) to impress him into willing his house to us.  

To get certified for these items, you need to show proof of actually doing them.  Here's an example of one task over in another badge for Making a Three Log Bench.  If you scan through that, to prove you made a bench you need pictures/video of it as you build it.

I've built a small cabin.  I've finished three basements.  I've built numerous out buildings.  But for these BBs, if I don't have the right proof, I don't get credit.  This is to avoid someone saying "Look at this cabin.  I built it.  Give me the badge".  When they may have paid someone to build it for them.

Each of these items will turn into a link to a BB thread where the task will be further detailed out with the documentation requirements.

As for breaking it into several classes, we have the first class already done Sand Badge.  Now we're trying to fill out the second class (Straw Badge) and the hardest one (Wood Badge).

Question, why is whitewash worth more points than paint? All of our properties are whitewashed and it's easier and faster than paint, which is lucky as it has to be done every single year!

And there is replace the metal roof on a outbuilding but not on a house? I've actually replaced the roof on my house but not on the outbuildings, perhaps less specific wording there? Maybe a minimum area instead.

I think the wood badge needs some more work, it's very specific basically it is only building.

Great questions Skandi!  I haven't white washed a barn before.  My uncle's was whitewashed in the lower level where the dairy cows were so there were beams and lots of things to work around.

How long does it take to whitewash a barn?  We very well may have too many points on that.  I'm imagining it's many more square feet than the painting task (200 square feet).

Yes, we'd love to have more Wood level items.  Can you think of larger tasks that would be a good fit???

And good catch on the metal roof on outbuilding vs a "building".  Good one!

Mike Haasl wrote:Great questions Skandi!  I haven't white washed a barn before.  My uncle's was whitewashed in the lower level where the dairy cows were so there were beams and lots of things to work around.

How long does it take to whitewash a barn?  We very well may have too many points on that.  I'm imagining it's many more square feet than the painting task (200 square feet).

Well our barns are whitewashed outside every year, that takes around 1-2 hours, of course it's very dependent on the size of the buildings!  first they need scrubbing or power-hosing to get any algae off, then they are painted with the lime mix. Our old barns and house could all be done from the ground without even using a chair, but out new barn is 26ft up to the apex so that needs ladders, luckily the top parts do not need doing every year.  Inside only the walls and support beams were done, and they were done every 5 years or so. A full whitewash inside and out would take 3-4 hours once everything was prepared.

Thanks Skandi!!  Is that with some fancy machine to spray it on or are you using hand painting tools like brushes and rollers?

I'll drop the points for that item...

How about some simple electrical? Low voltage such as outdoor or even indoor lighting. Low voltage indoor lighting for off grid situations can be very helpful. DC can be generated by solar panels, generators operated by leg, fuel, wind, water or boiler power or stepped down by transformers from higher voltage. Thermostats simple + dual control as in primary heat and backup heat switching. Door/window alarms including intruder alerts for out buildings using motion detection and magnetic switches, possibly even CCTV. Most areas require either installation by licensed electricians or inspection by licensed pros for higher voltage work so there could be a drawback for higher voltage work. Another option for higher voltage wiring is when done under the supervision of a licensed pro, so adding this to the list and including higher voltage wiring might still work.
Along with electricity comes maintenance on the sources. Transformers are generally not field serviceable but replaceable. Powered generators need lubrication and occasionally bearings, shafts, gears, chains, pulleys and couplers. If they're fuel or boiler powered, then there's engine maintenance. Wind and water powered generators also need paddle maintenance.
I saw where you had a listing for inventory management. Excellent.
When it comes to off grid homestead lubrication for generators, engines and shafts, home made oil and grease recipes would be fantabulous.

Great stuff Blaine!  We're working on the electrical badge right now so I'll put those suggestions in there!  We totally missed the low voltage stuff (other than DC for solar).  

We also have a Tool Care badge where the maintenance stuff will shake out.

Do you know of any homemade lubricants for equipment?  That would be really cool

Mike Haasl wrote:Thanks Skandi!!  Is that with some fancy machine to spray it on or are you using hand painting tools like brushes and rollers?

I'll drop the points for that item...

Just brushes as the mixture seperates fast i don't think a roller would work

Ok, any last input for this badge???  Especially more big projects that could go at the Wood level?

I'm locking this thread and publishing it in the main badge page.  Thanks for all the feedback everyone!  Paul and I went through it all and I massaged the list at the beginning.