PEM badge: Homesteading

Homesteading
instruction, regulation, insurance, safety, etc

This aspect is a list of bits and bobs that don't fit into other aspects. Mostly:

Conventional homestead techniques and projects
Projects might involve glue, paint, and toxins that we typically want to minimize in the other aspects
A few things that might fit better in another aspect, but that aspect was “full”

When you inherit the land from Otis, you may get two homes.   The “old house” that Otis was born in and the “new house” that Otis built.  Even if you build three new cabins and most of the property is a permaculture heaven, these original buildings need to be properly cared for - and that care will require techniques and materials that fall outside our vision of permaculture. Prove to Otis that what he leaves to you will be well cared for.  And prove to Otis what you are made of - on his terms.

Sand badge

Drive a truck and trailer backwards

Little list complete 4 of:
   - Check the septic tank status
   - Fill a sand barrel in the summer
   - Sand an icy drive and all paths
   - Repair a window screen
   - Properly attach/lash something ten feet long or longer to a vehicle
   - Create or restock a first aid kit (that needs stocking)
   - Install, replace, or recharge a fire extinguisher
   - Install a carbon monoxide detector
   - Install a smoke detector
   - Supply a work site with ample safety glasses, hearing protection, first aid kits, gloves, etc.
   - Check a game cam (check pics; fresh memory card and batteries)
   - 24 feet of pallet fence resting on the ground
   - Mini outside root cellar

Big list complete 3 of:
   - Use tractor and back blade to plow snow
   - Sand, prime and paint a rusty patch on a piece of equipment
   - Clean/repair/improve the gutters
   - Spring cleanup
   - Removing unwanted fence
   - Install proper fire starting, fire maintenance, and ash handling tools at a fire-burning contraption
   - Build a rock jack
   - Sweep out a chimney
   - 24 feet of pallet fence supported off the ground and sturdy
   - Remove a stump

Straw badge

Drive a truck and trailer backwards with turns

34.5 points required

Tow a vehicle 100 yards with another vehicle - 1 point
Make a one handed gate latch - 2 points
Repair 400’ of a traditional fence - 2 points
Repair a corner brace for a fence - 2 points
Build a corner brace for a fence - 3 points
Set up a fly trap (drowning style) - ½ point
Set up a mosquito trap - ½ point
Add appropriate minnows/goldfish to animal water trough - ½ point
Get a vehicle/tractor unstuck from mud or snow - 1 point
Jump start a vehicle - ½ point
Put chains on a set of drive tires (tractor, vehicle, etc)  - 1 point
Cover something with a tarp so that it stays dry for 6 months - ½ point
Cover cargo with a tarp so it stays dry during transit - ½ point
Set up an equipment file for owner’s manuals and other equipment information - ½ point
Set up a spare parts kit in the shop for a piece of equipment - ½ point
Make, attach and fill a mobile tool kit for a piece of equipment (shear pins, wrench, etc) - 1 point
Make a “carry all” attachment for a tractor - 3 points
Set up a family reference document that explains how each part of the homestead works for the other residents - 1 point
Scythe an area of 100 square feet (ditch, around pole building, etc) - ½ point
Harvest four cubic yards of fertility from a domestic animal system - 1 point
Use a 3 point hitch implement on a tractor (brushhog, box blade, disk, etc) and do work for 15 min - ½ point
Remove snow from a roof safely - 2 points
Spread manure/compost on a pasture - 1/2 point
Dragging/moving a large down tree 100’ for processing (sawmill, firewood, etc) - 1 point
Build a gate for vehicles - 4 points
Clean up messes made by prior owners or trespassers - 2 points per cubic yard
Set up a short term covered materials storage area for peeled logs, fence posts, metal parts, etc - 1 point
Set up a materials storage area for things that don’t need protection (gravel, sand, bricks, blocks, rocks, etc) - 1 point
Set up a hidden boneyard - 1 point
Salvage building materials from a small building - 8 points
Correct a structural defect with an outbuilding - 8 points
Fix a leaking roof - 2 points
Solve a mold problem - 5 points
Correctly make a roof penetration - 2 points
Set up a security camera system - 3 points
Whitewash or limewash a barn - 3 points
Repoint 200 sq ft of rubble foundation - 8 points
Winterize the property in the fall - 4 points
Paint a 200 square foot wall - 2 points
Replace roof on a small building (<400 square feet) - 8 points
Make a small Jean Pain compost system (4+ cu yards) - 8 points
Set up a ham radio system - 3 points
Run communication cable/wire 40 feet to a new spot - 1 point

Wood badge

Drive a truck/tractor/vehicle backwards with a wagon (front wheels of wagon turn with tongue)

179 points required

Salvage building materials from a large down building - 16 points
Salvage and raze a large building - 80 points
Move an outbuilding (simple to no foundation) to a new site - 8 points
Move an outbuilding (more involved foundation) to a new site - 16 points
Replace roof on a large building (>400 square feet) - 20 points
Remove a silo - 20 points
Remove snow and sand ice for a winter (>8 times) - 10 points
Build a free standing shop or barn (>300 square feet) - 80 points
Build a small Oehler style greenhouse (<100 square feet) - 80 points
Build a large Oehler style greenhouse (>100 square feet) - 120 points
Make a large Jean Pain compost system (10+ cubic yards) - 24 points
Put a 3 season (unheated, uninsulated) addition onto a house - 16 points (existing roof), 60 points (new roof)
Put a 4 season (insulated space, to code) addition onto a house (at least 150 square feet) - 120 points
Build a root cellar in a basement - 24 points

Iron badge
No iron badge at this time for Homesteading