Hi Jc!
Come join the bootcamp at Wheaton Labs, it sounds like just what you're looking for. Lots of hard work but you'll get tons of hands on experience working on super cool permaculture projects (we're getting ready to build a greenhouse that won't need heat in the Montana winter, you could get in on that). Not only that, but once you've been here a month you can do your own experiments on an acre on the weekends, or even earn a year of rent on that acre with just four months of work. We're in Montana so not too far from you either.
We've got lots of cool people here, and from the sounds of it you could be another one! More info
here.
Feel free to reply or mooseage me with any questions