Have you Completed your Scavenger Hunt?

It is National Scavenger Hunt Day


Source

Here are some threads to explain about the Scavenger Hunts:

https://permies.com/t/69217/titles-Gardener-garden-master-master

https://permies.com/t/74386/Profile-Scavenger-Hunt

https://permies.com/wiki/213580/Pioneer-Scavenger-Hunt-Tutorial

Have fun!

Hmm, I've got another 5 threads to create for my Pioneer and then another 75 threads and 3 book reviews for my Pollinator.

The posts, apples and likes were easy.

This fits my personality well, I'll join an interesting conversation and hopefully add something useful. But start a conversation? Nope, not this introvert.

James Alun wrote:Hmm, I've got another 5 threads to create for my Pioneer and then another 75 threads and 3 book reviews for my Pollinator.

This fits my personality well, I'll join an interesting conversation and hopefully add something useful. But start a conversation? Nope, not this introvert.

I wouldn't particularly describe myself as an introvert, but was *very* much the same way when I came. I rarely started my own thread, and my numbers only crept up when I had to start doing staff-related things.  
However, if you haven't met the "projects forum", https://permies.com/c/permaculture-projects , have a look around it and then look at some of the permaculture things you've done or have planned, and start taking pictures. One lady has simply taken picture documentation of her garden multiple times/year over several years, and it's useful to see how things change in the real world.

As for the book reviews, there are lots of great permaculture related books out there. I'd trust a permie's opinion of a book before a professional, paid review any day! If you read a book that doesn't have a book page, there are staff who would help with that (I'm a bit of a computer dinosaur, so the book I recently reviewed, I asked another staff to make the page for it - I *probably* could have gotten it right, but I could just as easily had the whole thing post upside down, as it's one of those weeks!)

Over all - I'd rather people post quality, informative posts than make up fluff just to get a tick on their scavenger hunt. However, the skills you learn in order to do the hunt, are worthwhile skills to have, so it's a balance!

James Alun wrote:Hmm, I've got another 5 threads to create for my Pioneer

As Jay suggested the Projects forum is a good place for a new topic.

To knock out those 5 threads to complete the Pioneer title, why not start a new topic with a question about something that interests you or even a recipe?

The forum has had some very popular threads that started out something like these:

"What's for Dinner"

'What made your neighbor think you are crazy?"

The meaningless drivel forum is also a good place to ask random questions:

https://permies.com/f/12/md

I'll probably never finish the rest of mine, simply because of the book review requirements. That's all that's left on both my pollinator & gardener hunts.

I could be wrong though if I remember correctly, it does not need to be a book.

I believe the gear review grid, etc. counts also.

Here's a list of our current Review Grids:
Book Review Grid
Seed & Plant Source Review Grid
DVD/Film Review Grid
Gear Review Grid
Critter Breeder Review Grid

From here:

https://permies.com/wiki/76308/Review-Review-Grid-seed-source

Anne Miller wrote:I could be wrong though if I remember correctly, it does not need to be a book.

I believe the gear review grid, etc. counts also.

Here's a list of our current Review Grids:
Book Review Grid
Seed & Plant Source Review Grid
DVD/Film Review Grid
Gear Review Grid
Critter Breeder Review Grid

From here:

https://permies.com/wiki/76308/Review-Review-Grid-seed-source

I may try that! Thank you, Anne!!

I feel the "I don't wanna" about starting topics. I need to start a few and just ... don't wanna.
Some of it is a certain reticence to put thoughts out there - some days it take a bit to form a decent question that could be communicated to another human. Some days I am full of questions.
I think a different part of it is - I don't want to clutter the forums with silliness.

I have a lot of silly. Oodles of it. It comes out in the form of plastic "skeletonized" flamingo lawn decorations and a plan for an eventual dragon/dinosaur/sea serpent to inhabit the front yard.  It shows up in bad puns and and odd sense of humor. It would happily show up in lots of weird or "repurposed" memes. Maybe I'll just start posting some of them in the already existing forums ...

I guess I get caught up in the self-doubt, like everyone else. I want y'all to like me and that means having to do things like keep in touch and not disappear for months on end. And not lurk in doorways or around forums. Sigh.
I'll get back to being sociable Tuesday. It'll be fun! I'll have new experiences and stories.
I hope everyone has as good a weekend as possible!

James Alun wrote:Hmm, I've got another 5 threads to create for my Pioneer and then another 75 threads and 3 book reviews for my Pollinator.

The posts, apples and likes were easy.

This fits my personality well, I'll join an interesting conversation and hopefully add something useful. But start a conversation? Nope, not this introvert.

I’m in a similar spot, in terms of stats that is. 2 more threads to finish the pioneer, and a bit more to do than you on the pollinator one.

I’m with Jay on asking more questions. I find myself turning to permies more and more to ask questions as time goes on. It’s happened naturally as I just come to permies more than I used to. I have a lot of questions. It’s just a matter of realizing I’m better off asking here than googling or YouTube searching for more than, say…10-20 minutes? Tim Ferriss would probably say even that is wasting my time and to just ask the expert. For me it isn’t so much introversion as retraining my brain to come here for the answer.

Although,  I will say that I did feel more comfortable asking questions after reading one of the staff (I wish I could remember who and give them credit) made a brilliant post on reasons it’s ok to ask a question here even though I could potentially turn to google and do all the work myself. If someone can link to that post I’d appreciate it, as it made some very good points about why many of us are better off simply talking with each other even when the info may be readily available, the question may feel “stupid”, etc. Permies is a safe place and I want to utilize that. With every question I ask, every little thing I reveal about myself which isn’t met with insult or hostility (which hasn’t happened once) I gain more confidence to post questions and reveal my lack of knowledge.

Kevin David wrote: Although,  I will say that I did feel more comfortable asking questions after reading one of the staff (I wish I could remember who and give them credit) made a brilliant post on reasons it’s ok to ask a question here even though I could potentially turn to google and do all the work myself. If someone can link to that post I’d appreciate it, as it made some very good points about why many of us are better off simply talking with each other even when the info may be readily available, the question may feel “stupid”, etc.

1. Misinformation is rampant on the web. Even if you do go to the web to search for an answer, posting about your question and the answer you found, may give you confidence when your fellow permies confirm what you found, or they may add bits of personal experience that help you use the info you found in real life.

2. Permies is not just about "getting information" - it's about building community. We might be "virtual" friends which can't take the place of some quality real-life friends, but we're virtual friends who work very hard at building a kind, supportive community that encourages people to try new things, build skills, grow nourishing food etc.

3. Starting new threads is a great way to support permies. Without new ideas, we will slowly fade away... You are part of the solution!

So please everyone, ask away! I asked a question late last night, and I've already got an answer: https://permies.com/t/217780/mushroom
Permies is WONDERFUL!!!

Anne Miller wrote:

James Alun wrote:Hmm, I've got another 5 threads to create for my Pioneer

To knock out those 5 threads to complete the Pioneer title, why not start a new topic with a question about something that interests you or even a recipe?

https://permies.com/f/12/md

Here we go.
UK wool sources thread

James Alun wrote:Here we go.
UK wool sources thread

And you've already got a suggestion you can check out - well done!

So now you need a book to read and review?  I was really impressed by reading Patrick's "The Earth Care Manual" because I found permaculture easier to relate to when the ecosystem was closer to what I'm living in. However that one's got plenty of reviews.

I think it would be really great if you could find a British Isles book. That would help to support our British Isles users.

However, while nosing about a Brit site, I tripped over this: https://fogquest.org/
A review on that could help world wide if you are in a geographic region appropriate to the concept.

This one is specific to your region, but possibly not to your land:
https://www.soilassociation.org/media/19141/the-agroforestry-handbook.pdf
Some books worry me if they're focused too much on "making money" and not enough on "making the land better while supporting myself". A review of the book would answer that question.

You can do it - get one step closer to finishing your pollinator scavenger hunt!

Edited for better links.

Jay Angler wrote:

Kevin David wrote: Although,  I will say that I did feel more comfortable asking questions after reading one of the staff (I wish I could remember who and give them credit) made a brilliant post on reasons it’s ok to ask a question here even though I could potentially turn to google and do all the work myself. If someone can link to that post I’d appreciate it, as it made some very good points about why many of us are better off simply talking with each other even when the info may be readily available, the question may feel “stupid”, etc.

1. Misinformation is rampant on the web. Even if you do go to the web to search for an answer, posting about your question and the answer you found, may give you confidence when your fellow permies confirm what you found, or they may add bits of personal experience that help you use the info you found in real life.

2. Permies is not just about "getting information" - it's about building community. We might be "virtual" friends which can't take the place of some quality real-life friends, but we're virtual friends who work very hard at building a kind, supportive community that encourages people to try new things, build skills, grow nourishing food etc.

3. Starting new threads is a great way to support permies. Without new ideas, we will slowly fade away... You are part of the solution!

So please everyone, ask away! I asked a question late last night, and I've already got an answer: https://permies.com/t/217780/mushroom
Permies is WONDERFUL!!!

Thanks you for that. Regarding #1, the word “confidence” sticks out to me. I really do have a lot more confidence in the answers I get here. And there’s several reasons for that…

1) Answers from people I recognize
2) Answers from people with seniority, apples, etc.
3) Knowing that people are usually going to be of a similar mindset, or at least more likely to understand my personality, point of view etc.
4) If an answer is “questionable”, it’ll likely get few(if any) likes, a gentle rebuttal, or deletion.

I got a bit carried away with my question yesterday. Lots of caffeine, L-Theanine, and 40 mg of prednisone will do that.(fueled by the urge to never take prednisone again)
Challenging SCD/GAPS advice

One more thread to go for me. It’ll probably be in ‘projects’ regarding my square foot garden bed this year.

And since we’re plugging our questions here. I just asked about water lilies. I’m also going  to try growing a sacred lotus on the balcony too: permies.com/t/217550/Tips-aquatic-plant#1840202