Kolomona's SEPPer / Bootcamp Experience

Hello everyone,

I've been on a bit of a walkabout for the past few weeks. I've been documenting my experiences on my website libresults.com

My journey began in Steilacoom, WA and I've made my way to Paul's Permaculture Haven.

I choose to sign up for the SEPPer program and pitch a tent. I choose the SEPPer program because it allowed me to be as lazy as I wanted to be.

I've been a listener to Paul's podcasts since the beginning and always thought that it would be nice to see all the things I'd been hearing about.

I never thought that I would actually make it here, but life circumstances being what they were afforded me the opportunity to finally make the trip, and here I am.

I arrived on Friday 9/10/21, set up my tent in Arakis

The first thing that blew my mind was the Berm-shed. from the point of view from the road it looked just like a vegetation covered hill but at the POV of the property it became this massive storage unit. It is very impressive.



This place is amazing, everything about it. The people are very kind, courteous and friendly. For the most part they are down to earth, very hard workers and a pleasure to be around.

I decided to not be lazy and help out with the boots.
Some of the things I did while i was were:

Participated in Sunday's "Cleaning Blitz"

Put mulch on the huge hugelkultur berms

Moved a pile of pea gravel

Helped unload a bunch of bricks for the upcoming Rocket Mass Heater Jamboree

Chiseled a notch for a support beam for the solarium they are building

Helped irrigate the hugels

Shoveled a whole bunch of dirt (thanks Grey)

Learned how to properly sharpen chisels (thanks again Grey)

Cut some rebar

Helped change out batteries and SD cards on the game cameras at the Lab

Posted game camera pics on permies

Cut veggies for Taco Tuesday

There are already a ton of pics on permies of the property so I'll just post a few.

For the most part I wanted to really convey the wonderful time I had here working with Dez, Mags, and Grey.

Also, Paul was pretty awesome for providing me with this opportunity. Thank you Paul!

If you're curious about where my walkabout will take me then please follow my progress at https://libresults.com


Shoveling dirt with Grey. Digging a trench to lay water line for the lab.

This is great!  I, for one, would like to see more photos that you took.

I am with you on the berm shed.  I have a property that has a highway running alongside, and I would love to cut road noise and increase dry storage at the same time!

However, I am a busy pediatrician and I will not be building a berm shed anytime soon.  If anyone wants to have a berm shed workshop, less than an hour from Portland, I've got a great location.  We even have lots of trees for poles!

I, for one, would like to see more photos that you took.

When I get into a place with better internet connectivity I'll post more pics.

I'm camping in Utah right now near the Great Salt Lake, and having a blast.

You can see my progress at https://libresults.com

I too, signed up for the SEPPer program (in late 2019) in an effort to spend a month out there the following Spring. 2020 put my plans on hold, but it looks like circumstances are shifting into an achievable month-plus out there. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I hope - and I am planning - to do the same as you have, in the first half of next year.

Update:

I was contacted by permies member Wez

He needed a steward for his property in Fiddletown, CA.

I took him up on the offer and now I'm staying in Fiddletown.

I'll create a new thread soon where I will be documenting my progress on making the place awesome.

Of course I will have many questions that I'll need help from all you wonderful permies to answer.

I wrote about the experience here https://libresults.com/c/walkabout-update-5-vegas-and-fiddletown-ca/

p.s.
I haven't forgotten about post my pics from my stay at Paul's. I will sort through them all and post withing a week or so.
Right now I have no internet service at the property and must drive about 20ish miles to get wifi.

Kolomona Myer wrote:
Wez needed a steward for his property in Fiddletown, CA.

I took him up on the offer and now I'm staying in Fiddletown.

I'll create a new thread soon where I will be documenting my progress on making the place awesome.

Nice! I know how you were hoping to find some fertile land to set down roots; hope it all works out!