POLL: Stretch Goals for Greenhouse Kickstarter

The Truly Passive Greenhouse Movie kickstarter was funded in 3 hours! And now it's double the funding, and we need some stretch goals for you all!!!

Soooo, what would you like? Here's a poll!

(you can vote with BOTH apples and thumbs. The apples just determines how many votes you have--it doesn't use up any apples!)



If you have other ideas (can't guarantee Paul will go for them), mention them below, and I'll add them to the poll!

This is the kind of voting I can get behind
Congrats Paul on launching another awesome Kickstarter!

No interest in berm shed plans?

Kyle Bob wrote:No interest in berm shed plans?

I think you gotta ask nicole to add it to the list first.

I added the berm shed plans!

Things like this get me excited:

Upgrade data collection to something very awesome

Put in 4 different casing designs/sizes to see which works the best

Ship a physical DVD (for us old people) at some level

Increase the number of participants from 3 to 6 ($100 level)

Boot team will go one lucky backer's property and build a greenhouse in 2021 based on learnings from this one (maybe that's just a new kickstarter level for a $50K contribution)

Kate Downham has offered her Backyard Dairy Goats book up as a stretch goal, so I added it to the list!

no Stements love ::pout::
went all in on data collection, because ->Experiments<-

Thing that excite me! (Stealing Mike's thunder)


- Put in 4 different casing designs/sizes to see which works the best
- Rocket Oven plans from Davin Hoyt
- Boot team will go one lucky backer's property and build a greenhouse in 2021 based on learnings from this one (I think this is super cool)
- six tickets to the 2021 SKIP event
- six tickets to the 2021 permaculture technology jamboree

Mike Haasl wrote:

Upgrade data collection to something very awesome

Since this is doing well, can you paint a picture of what that will entail?  Maybe a whole new thread for that?

paul wheaton wrote:

Mike Haasl wrote:

Upgrade data collection to something very awesome

Since this is doing well, can you paint a picture of what that will entail?  Maybe a whole new thread for that?

Done: Greenhouse Kickstarter Data Collection Stretch Goal

I would like to suggest a stretch goal:

Purchase and install three passive solar garden heaters (destratification pipes in well casings, like in the greenhouse) at the lemon tree site on Wheaton Labs

Probably not to go on the poll, but I just talked to fred and josiah ...    maybe for $100,000 we could double the interior space of the greenhouse and add two more well casings.

Mike Haasl wrote:

paul wheaton wrote:

Mike Haasl wrote:

Upgrade data collection to something very awesome

Since this is doing well, can you paint a picture of what that will entail?  Maybe a whole new thread for that?

Done: Greenhouse Kickstarter Data Collection Stretch Goal

I second the idea for upgraded data collection!
I think that if you want to promote this technology, real data (not anecdotal evidence) is important.
Getting started with collecting the data NOW gets you farther on the learning curve to use it effectively for future projects , such as a freezer wofati, etc...

The plan for the Truly Passive Greenhouse, also states that it will be pretty hands-off, so a more robust automated data collection system supports that nicely!
AND, it has the possibility to make the entire project more awesome.

Top notch data collection seems a given, because if you don’t know exactly what is happening and when/where, you can’t truly determine WHY you are getting certain results, beyond making educated guesses (the book Freakonomics explains this quite well). Quantitative analysis is the key to success of any project, especially experimental ones. Seeing the interaction between all the various factors and design elements could (will!) lead to some neat discoveries and eventual improvements. Data collection also lends credibility to a project that may seem ‘wacky’ to more mainstream types.

Kenneth Elwell wrote:
The plan for the Truly Passive Greenhouse, also states that it will be pretty hands-off, so a more robust automated data collection system supports that nicely!
AND, it has the possibility to make the entire project more awesome.

and pitch-able to a whole new crowd of open-source tech geeks. Fair warning, we may live to regret that.

Just thought of something.  

If you end up putting in multiple well casings and maybe multiple de-strat pipes, you could without much extra cost incorporate a valve in each strat pipe, so it can easily be shut or open, so you can easily change from 1, 2, 3 or however many you make.

Not exactly hands off... but heating with compost heat might ensure temps through the winter.  Could be air based or hydronic, passive or active, just a thought.

Victor Escobar wrote:Not exactly hands off... but heating with compost heat might ensure temps through the winter.  Could be air based or hydronic, passive or active, just a thought.

We're sticking to fully passive stuff for this build.  

I think you might enjoy the design thread:

https://permies.com/t/141902/permaculture-projects/wofati-greenhouse-design

Austin Shackles wrote:Just thought of something.  

If you end up putting in multiple well casings and maybe multiple de-strat pipes, you could without much extra cost incorporate a valve in each strat pipe, so it can easily be shut or open, so you can easily change from 1, 2, 3 or however many you make.

Perhaps a mention in the design thread?

https://permies.com/t/141902/permaculture-projects/wofati-greenhouse-design

Congratulations on the magnificent kickstarter!

If it were still possible to add something, I'd like to see design options / plans based on the latitude of the build.

I have difficulty imagining one choice of sunlight angle will fit every place at all times of the year.

I'm with data collection, but I also want you to finally have a well.  I guess that's not a stretch goal, but that's what I'm hoping will happen along with the other stuff.

We did the math.  If we hit $100,000, we will have enough to pay all the expenses of everything AND get a well.

I'm brainstorming some ideas for additional stretch goals... Only add them if you like them! :)

1) Excavator Love - a special visit from an excavator repair expert for the excavator up on the lab, perhaps some new or spare parts, or whatever excavators can get that helps them be well-oiled non-human tons of smooth operation.

2) Name a plant in the greenhouse. You know those little tags you can put next to plants to say what they are? Maybe instead of that, some backers could get to name one of the plants. Probably has to have a character limit. (The tag would only stay until it doesn't make sense anymore for it to be there.)

3) Stop-motion camera on the growies inside the greenhouse (unless this is already part of the plan.) This camera would live in the greenhouse and just record the growing the whole time, so we could see them grow up.

4) Decorate the entrance. In the images, there is a stone wall holding back the dirt to make a walkway to the door to the greenhouse. This stone wall could have decorative stuff in it! Maybe shiny marbles? Some small pretty stones in with the regular stones? Strawberry plants growing there? Sweet peas? How hard is it to carve shapes in rocks? Could we tell the story of the greenhouse getting funded and built in picture form, as if it was an ancient building? Maybe that last one is too much...

5) Moving forward on the freezer wofati project...? (After the greenhouse work is complete, I mean.)

Just some ideas. I'm super excited to see the progress of this greywater greenhouse!!

Hi Kay!  Are you gonna pop out for this build?  Maybe use your own personal submarine to get here from hawaii?

Kay Gelfling wrote:4) Decorate the entrance. In the images, there is a stone wall holding back the dirt to make a walkway to the door to the greenhouse. This stone wall could have decorative stuff in it! Maybe shiny marbles? Some small pretty stones in with the regular stones? Strawberry plants growing there? Sweet peas? How hard is it to carve shapes in rocks? Could we tell the story of the greenhouse getting funded and built in picture form, as if it was an ancient building? Maybe that last one is too much...

Hmmmm...  maybe a budget for an artist to somehow beautify the project?

5) Moving forward on the freezer wofati project...? (After the greenhouse work is complete, I mean.)

Jen suggested this earlier today.  I nixed the idea because that is a lot more obligation than I am willing to take on at this point.

Oh man, I would *love* to come out. I feel super lucky and supported that I was able to be there last year. I learned a ton and had a blast. Unfortunately coming over now would require a magic submarine, which are significantly more difficult to acquire than the normal variety... Sigh. I do vow to return, submarine or no!! Maybe next year? It depends on all the things.

An artist budget sounds lovely! Maybe it will get all over Pinterest? Are you guys on Tiktok? :D

I'm curious about the best approach for stretch goals.

I can see at least three approaches.  Is it best to chase one of these approaches or deliberately do some of each?  Maybe there's some psychological science to apply?

1.  Add items at the $50 and $100 level that are so cool that the $10 people bump up their contribution.

2.  Add big things that make the overall project better but don't sweeten the pot for a regular donor (like better data collection or a swimming pool).  This would encourage group excitement and more contributions but likely requires new donors to see the kickstarter and pledge.

3.  Add more stuff at the $1 level to get more people to consider signing up and hope they start at $10 to get the movie.

Some things will benefit the final product - like lots more testing gear (and the time for folks to actually monitor all the testing gear) and some things will simply be a direct benefit to the backer - like an Oehler book.  

I've done a lot of kicstarters now and my current thinking is that the oehler book goes at the $100 level.  

Call this suggestion addition "Woffattee Pro"

This is a Thinking Outside the box idea and addition to the project. I have been living off-grid (in the city limits) for 5 years. I have these ideas:

    -I have a 150 sq. ft. icebox made from straw-bale and am using a CoolBot to bring the temperature down to 45 degrees and below (will not freeze). (The metal roof is used to collect rainwater.)
    -I collect rainwater for my needs - currently have a 1400 Gal system from IBC totes. (I like the idea of using greywater for other things)
    -It was a timely coincidence that I had purchased Oehlers books and am placing my Woffattee onto a drafting program. I am including the Wof on top and in front of an Oehler emergency shelter. (I will place a hidden door that will attach to the escape tube of the shelter as one of my concerns is being raided  for my food and having a "safe room" is a good idea)
    -As I have studied many other concerns with living off-grid; I will include into my Wof a "Liberty Toilet System", sink and shower. The water collected from the sink and shower will provide water for the toilet and watering plants.
    -The "Liberty System" can be used to get rid of poop. Because it has a stainless steel chopping system, I can also clean my vegetables and flush them also. These will be flushed to a:
    -Solar CITIES IBC Biogas System is a simple method of collecting methane-producing items. The beauty of this design is that it not only produces methane (propane like gas) but it also produces a near-perfect fertilizer that can be used for the Wof vegetable garden
    -So my suggestion is the addition of a "shower, sink and toilet" system; a "methane and fertilizer system"; and:
    -Putin - a Chinese company - can provide equipment for methane. Lights, cookstoves, water on-demand heaters, and my favorite is a generator that runs on methane. If the generator is placed underground it will be silent. I think premies is against generators but they would only need to run long enough to charge a battery and run the various pumps for the greywater and the Liberty System.

I talk too much, I am done . . .

don

P.S. if you like this idea, I am 65 and could use some helping hands. I got a backhoe!

We have made arrangements for the first three stretch goals!

$50,000: Mike oehler’s greenhouse book (in DM)
$55,000: The movie “Living the Change” by Happen Films
$60,000: David The Good’s Book “Compost Everything”

Each of these will be for the people that support the kickstarter at $100 or higher.

More news soon!

A stretch goal i would love to see,

The plans for the rocket cook top stove in allerton abbey.

Maybe they exist already?

See what you can add for other functionality.

1.  Sink with produce cleaning area.

2.  Can the glazing be turned into condenser for producing distilled water?(water recovery so more greenhouse can be supported on the same amount of grey water.)  Or possibly do it in one of the well casings?  For the well casing it would probably involve adding the ability to pressure cap both the well casing and the outlet line and stopping the small line above the bottom of the casing to act as a reservoir with a third line going clear to the bottom to pressurize with enough to blow the water back to the surface.

3.  Add a solar powered dehydrator to the system.

4.  Add a mushroom cave to the system designed so the air circulation pulled thru it.  CO2 source plus increased production with very little added cost.

5.  Add a root cellar.

6.  Add a worm farm CO2 source again.

Now a number of these and in the other poll items potentially mess with your proof of concept because this is something that economies of scale apply to and a larger green house will do a better job because of less heat loss so that should be considered.

Wow, these are awesome!

May I ask:  what are you planning to do with all the extra money?

El Rowlatt wrote:Wow, these are awesome!

May I ask:  what are you planning to do with all the extra money?

We need a new well up at the lab.

El,

We do desperately want a well up at the Lab! If we hit $100,000, we figure that we can manage to swing a well.

We also incur more costs the more the more money we make--we need to pay the creators of the stretch goals, there are costs for digital delivery, and some stretch goals (events, expanding the greenhouse) cost money directly as well.

Some new stretch goals for the poll!

- Alternatives to Dentists DVD (streaming) from The Grow Network
- Make a Natural Swimming Pool (full length movie, streaming) by David Pagan Butler
- All the issues of Living Woods Magazine
- Voices of Transition movie (streaming) by Green Planet Films
- A stay for two here at Wheaton Labs with a rocket mass heater (6 tickets)
     o allerton abbey
     o the tipi
     o the red cabin
     o the love shack
- "Saving the Life Keepers - The New Science of Sustainable Beekeeping” movie
- “Abundance on Dry Land” movie

You can always change your votes!

Our current lineup:

And another for the poll:

Wood Gasifier Builder's Bible: Turn Tree Branches into Biofuel in Minutes by Ben Peterson

Another one for the poll: Sepp Holzer's Desert or Paradise!

Check out the updated stretch goal list!

https://permies.com/w/120/142701#1127365