Hey all you PEP people - You might want to get a move on

A quick note to all the people pursuing PEP.  I just wanted to let you know that since the kickstarter launched, Paul and I are getting contacted by Otises and Otessas.  THEY ARE OUT THERE.  Some are anxious to make a connection since time might be a bit short.

So if you are pursuing PEP with the intent to inherit property, you might want to accelerate your speed.  Hint hint

I'm just guessing but I suspect if you get to PEP2 and are flexible with where you want to live you will be in a very good position.  No guarantees, of course.

I know of Otises in the US, Canada and Europe so far...

Just talked to another Otis.  40+ acres in the warmer half of the US.

Very exciting news!!

I was just thinking about how I haven't done a badge in awhile...

Mike Haasl wrote:A quick note to all the people pursuing PEP.  I just wanted to let you know that since the kickstarter launched, Paul and I are getting contacted by Otises and Otessas.  THEY ARE OUT THERE.  Some are anxious to make a connection since time might be a bit short.

So if you are pursuing PEP with the intent to inherit property, you might want to accelerate your speed.  Hint hint

I'm just guessing but I suspect if you get to PEP2 and are flexible with where you want to live you will be in a very good position.  No guarantees, of course.

I know of Otises in the US, Canada and Europe so far...

It is very exciting because until now I haven't seen a really good reason to do the PEP submissions because I don't plan on moving back to Montana and I am not fond of posting pictures, or posts in general (I've actually been on permies forums since before I moved from MT in 2009 but never commented or posted, I'm shy online).

This would change all of that for me, I have actually been taking pictures and keeping records for the last 18 months of our gardens, renovations, tiny house build, goat and chicken structures, fencing, tree planting, wattle fence building, tree felling, and other crafts and skills because I figured someday someone would want to know, maybe.

SO, this leads me to wonder about the best way to start submitting, just one at a time for each area? Hopefully I have all the pictures needed. Also I am wondering what if the whole family participated in the project, do we all get a badge? I mean we all would be coming to live where ever the Otis/Otessa was anyhow. The children are learning all the same stuff for their homeschooling permaculture curriculum and would be who I hope to inherit the work I do and their own additions someday.

I'm thinking a good option in that sort of case would be to make a thread kind of like Opalyn's SKIP thread here: https://permies.com/wiki/149530/Opalyn-Rose-PEP-Adventure-Log.

In her thread, she lists all the SKIP badges and badge bits she's done. I think you could add, as replies to that thread, pictures and details of projects you've worked on as a family.

In SKIP, we really only certify the person. Since most badge bits ("BBs") are for a specific skill, then we need to see that you did that skill. If you have young kids an they're getting in the way learning/"helping" with your BB, you'll probably get certified for it, because you're still doing 99% of the work, and the job is even harder and takes longer because the kids are "helping" and learning through it.

You can totally use old pictures to submit to BBs if they meet the requirements. For example, I submitted a map I'd made years before for the Community map-making badge.

You could also submit large projects that don't fit specific BBs in the Oddball Badge. You just need to explain what parts you did, and what parts your partner did, and what parts your kids did if they played a large roll. And you will get certified for your efforts. Your other half could create and account and post pictures of his efforts, and get certified for them.

Here's some examples:

(1) I submitted pictures of our goose coop addition. I explained what I did, and what my husband did, and I got certified for my labor and not his. He could totally make an account and post pictures to be certified, but he's not inclined toward that at all.

(2) My son has been joining me in SKIP stuff since he was 5, and it was never much effort he contributed to stuff. He learned a lot by trying it out, and I did 99% of the work. Two days ago, my husband cut down a tree and I helped, and then my son went and delimbed the whole tree by himself with loppers. I got no Badge Bits from that tree, other than the pealing of it. My husband cut it, and my son delimbed it, and I didn't gain any experience from the activity. So yesterday I cut down my own tree by myself, and delimbed it by myself, and now I can get those Badge Bits.

(3) I've knit and felted LOTS of wool pot holders over the years. In fact, the Knit a wool pot holder Badge Bit page itself has pictures of my own pot holders in the how-to. But, I never took any progress pictures. So, I just went and made my daughter a potholder, and took all the right pictures while knitting it, and got certified for that. Since I've made lots of these in the past, it didn't take nearly as long to do as if I'd never knit anything before. So, it wasn't a huge sacrifice to make another one!

So yes, you can submit pictures of things you've done in the past--we encourage it! But, it needs to be you, and you have to have the correct pictures. I look forward to seeing what you do and have done!

Thank you Nicole. All of that makes sense, I can't see Opalyn's thread but that's ok.
The twin's are 14 and usually do a good amount of work, like measuring and installing ship lap for their own tiny house build, cutting and fitting their pex A plumbing lines, and more. So they'll need their own accounts at some point to track their progress I guess.

Heidi McPherren wrote: I can't see Opalyn's thread ...

That’s my fault. My page got too big and difficult to scroll through and see what still needed doing so I edited this one to show only sand level BBS and made a new page for straw and wood level BBS. Unfortunately, it is in the secret minion army forum.

Thanks Opalyn! I did go off searching thru PEP stuff and I think I found some of your stuff :)
Aside, I adore your name!

Opalyn Rose wrote:

Heidi McPherren wrote: I can't see Opalyn's thread ...

That’s my fault. My page got too big and difficult to scroll through and see what still needed doing so I edited this one to show only sand level BBS and made a new page for straw and wood level BBS. Unfortunately, it is in the secret minion army forum.

I updated my post to have the public thread. Thank you, everyone!

My hunch is that once some PEPpers get enough badges under their belts, we'll want to make a subforum for them to advertise themselves to prospective Otises.  For now it's probably just the BB60 and PEP1 threads.

Mike Haasl wrote:My hunch is that once some PEPpers get enough badges under their belts, we'll want to make a subforum for them to advertise themselves to prospective Otises.  For now it's probably just the BB60 and PEP1 threads.

That's along the lines of what I was thinking. We as a family are a package deal and we could hopefully have a thread or page elsewhere that showcases our learning and completed projects and that could include PEP and things specific to our area of Oregon and homeschooling or parenting. There is plenty to be explored and documented outside the list Paul values, though his list is quite excellent. I wouldn't give my empire to someone who can't care for a cast iron pan (that's how I found out about Paul when I was trying to educate people about cast iron instead of killing them for stripping my seasoning off).

Exciting! I’ve been doing many of the things to get the badges for years! Now to see if I have photos of some.

Okay dumb question and maybe not the right thread to ask in, but is it okay to work on the straw and sand badges at the same time?  Winter is coming and I have tons of textiles to mend/repair/repurpose and thought that would be a good place to start.  

Michelle Heath wrote:Okay dumb question and maybe not the right thread to ask in, but is it okay to work on the straw and sand badges at the same time?  Winter is coming and I have tons of textiles to mend/repair/repurpose and thought that would be a good place to start.  

Absolutely, I completed many a straw BB before completing my sand badge but you do have to complete/earn the sand badge before getting the straw badge.

In fact, my first natural building BB was a straw level BB.

I am happy to read there are real Otisses (M/F). And even in Europe!
Myself I am not doing PEP to inherit anything. I am too old for that (that's my own opinion). The most important reason I am doing it is because I want to promote it, to encourage others. So maybe once they can inherit a property!

I was just contacted by another Otis, this one lives in the Southwest US...

I'm curious, of the few who have BB60 or PEP1, have they been contacted by Otisses? How has the experience been for them?

I've been contacted by a few but I think they all have been in reference to the PEP program and how to proceed as an Otis.  One or two may have been interested in me but I'm not sure.

Cam Lee wrote:I'm curious, of the few who have BB60 or PEP1, have they been contacted by Otisses? How has the experience been for them?

I think the Otisses contact Paul (first).

Actually, it's up to the Otis.  They are totally free to do this however they want.  If they take a shine to a PEPper, they can make whatever arrangements they want.  After all, it's their place.

I remember seeing a thread for those with BB60 or PEP1 to introduce themselves and let Otis know what they were looking for, but now I can't find it. Anyone know what thread I'm talking about?

I found it! https://permies.com/wiki/161174/skills-inherit-property/List-SKIPpers-PEPpers

PEP 1 OR BUST!! Lol! 😆 I only have 33 badges left to hit PEP1. I'm going to CRANK through them! Can I do one a day in the month of June?? My goal is to finish PEP 1 by July 4th.

How many badges do YOU have left to hit PEP 1? Let's do a high-volume group together!