I have also decided not to cultivate that north facing hillside as a gamcod plot. It might not qualify as poor soil, as it has underbrush and leaves have fallen on it, and so forth. All indications are that it has been an intact wild community “since time began”.
It was the idea of going out there with my Pulaski, and tearing that soil community up, and burying all the twigs and such as Hugelculture material that made me decide that there is a better use for that particular plot than what would have been my 2024 200square-foot plot. I’m still very interested in how this project plays out. I am hoping next year I will have a plot.
Thekla McDaniels wrote:If it is up for a vote, then my vote is gam that rhymes with ham and cod like the fish. But I’m not particularly attached to that.
Me too. That's how I've been pronouncing it in my initial videos... Fingers crossed
paul wheaton wrote:This idea comes from the gamcod project idea. If it works well, I like the idea that we come up with lots of variations of this in the future.
This thread is for brainstorming and polishing this idea. Hopefully, in four to seven days, we will create the official thread and get started.
Mark out 200 square feet of dirt (or maybe lawn). There needs to be some way to demonstrate that it is dirt and NOT soil. This has to be raw, unused land of some sort. Definitely not something that has been used as a garden before.
For this first attempt at a movie project, if your garden is in an area that went to zero F or colder in the last ten years, then it qualifies. (if this works, later projects might be for warmer climates)
At least five crops that are generally known as food (you can find the foods in the organic grocery). No soy. And the focus remains as "highest calories per acre". Polyculture is strongly encouraged.
Optional: an additional 200 square foot plot that is planted with perennials. A summary in late summer about what the productivity might be like in five years and ten years.
monies
- for a kickstarter movie that brings in more than $50,000 (the "goal" will be $50,000)
o $100 per minute if the kickstarter brings in $50k to $99K
o $200 per minute if the kickstarter brings in $100k to $199K
o $400 per minute if the kickstarter brings in more than $200K
- prorated, so if we use 22 seconds you get 22/60 of a minute of this dealio
If we use 30 minutes of video in the final movie, and the kickstarter brings in $100,000, that would be $6000.
I am willing to sweeten the offer for "big names".
I know there will be people in warmer climates that wanna play. Maybe that could be a thing we try next year. But for this to work, I need to draw some lines for the first try.
The primary focus will be on highest calories harvested. But air time will also go to projects that were almost as high in calories, but:
- little to zero cost
- very litte effort
So, keep track of
- total time put in (try to keep this low)
- total money spent (try to keep this low)
- total money saved in groceries (try to keep this high)
Participants are encouraged to use a "ghost acre": a place where mulches and fertilizers are grown, outside of the 200 square feet.
I want to see practices far above organic.
I want to see this done with zero imports from off-site. I wish for the final movie to advocate NOT buying stuff, and NOT risking the import of things that could be toxic.
Most of all: I want people that watch this movie to KNOW to their core that gardening is:
Show Me The Green:
From tepid dirt to luscious eats.
Also, I like the idea of there being a grand prize. Maybe you get as many dollars as you save in groceries?? Save 800$, then get $800 extra prize money if you win.
Speaking for myself I can say a grand prize seems out of context here.
I see the rewards for participants as plentiful indeed. We get the food we grew, the camaraderie of problem solving as a community project, and the opportunity to brainstorm together, for getting paid for video, for getting the publicity and recognition that will go along with being included in the movie, we get free access to this community 365 (or 366) days a year, year after year. We get a new 200 square foot bed developed.
The project is open to SO MANY biozones, with the only condition for participation being that it sometimes goes below 0 F. (Organic +, and cheap as possible). There will be some folks whose growing season is twice as long as others. More sunlight equals more calories. It’s definitely not a level playing field when it comes to calorie production. I see it as a project to inspire and collaborate, and collect as much gardening know how and ingenuity as possible, and get a lot of recognition.
Just think, an innovation someone demonstrates might end up getting named after them, as the P or Peter channel (Peter van den Berg) in a rocket stove of a particular configuration. It’s a chance for “immortality “. !
And a chance to have some fun and maybe show off our skills and knowledge and luck! I never want to rule out the luck factor🌞🌞🌞
I think at a staff meeting we kinda talked about the idea of a "prize". And because the staff are struggling with people trying to game the system every day for fake internet points, the idea was raised that somebody might fake their results to get the prize.
When the gardening year is over, we can look at the footage we have and then try to figure out what to do next. Maybe we have what we need to make a movie. Maybe we need to go another year to get enough stuff.
This is an interesting project and I'm thinking about trying to take part. I made a little video about it, partly just to test the suitability of my video. I'm not a professional or experienced videographer. Basically, what I record, is what you get but I'm careful that everything is just as it is. With my videos, as with my gardening there are no artificial improvements or hidden flaws.
Having “everything you need “ is not against the rules as I understand them.😊
I see it as more of an inspiration for others to see things differently. If you drag those locust logs to parallel positions, garden in between , or orient them to the sun, or otherwise utilize them simply, then add some seeds and check on them periodically, that may give others a néw perspective.
Again my take on it is that starting with what you have, just what ever is there, and demonstrate how to get some food for as little input as possible, while you are busy doing something else.
I think a lot of people are intimidated by all the equipment and supplies being marketed, and get the wrong idea about how possible it might be for them, and what they really need is to just start. Many who start will have the inclination to pay attention, experiment, learn and gain confidence. Meanwhile what ever they do on their plot will make next season better.
Dian Green wrote:I'm a bit north of Lake Erie, so Canadian zone 6b, is that cold enough? ( not sure which type of zone range you are using and how it differs from the Canadian one)
This USDA zone map includes Canada. I think only the southernmost coastal BC can be too warm for Paul's cutoff.
Not seeing Newfoundland on the map, yet good thing if Trump takes over Canada LOL
Yet looking like zone 5. Or 4. We'll have snow on the ground in May. And back again in Nov. A very short growing season
![[Logo]](/templates/default/mobile/images/mobile-permies-2015.png)
