• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • John F Dean
  • Timothy Norton
  • Nancy Reading
  • r ranson
  • Jay Angler
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • paul wheaton
  • Tereza Okava
  • AndrĂ©s Bernal
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • M Ljin
  • Matt McSpadden

licensed and enthusiastic PDC, looking for the next big project!

 
Posts: 3
Location: US Southwest
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Hello, I'm Spencer.  Can't believe I haven't spent any time on this site before.  I've been missing out, what a great resource!  

Here's a little bit about myself:  I'm 37 y/o, grew up in Missouri.  Have mostly worked and lived in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Hawaii.  I've also worked seasonally in California, Vermont and the Appalachians.  Been doing conservation/restoration work, trail work, river & ocean guiding, farming, archeology surveying, and permaculture consulting & installations most of my adult life.
Received my PDC license in 2017.  Created, started, managed and completed the Lasagna Acres permaculture project (more info including design plans, maps, before/after pics, etc. on link in attachment at bottom) on the big island of Hawaii from 2017-2022 (informally started work on this project seasonally in 2012, before the final five years of full-time commitment).
In the permaculture world, I specialize in earthworking of all types- building trails, dry stone masonry, erosion control, pond construction, creating new gardens and farm plots, patios, stairways, terraces, foundations, etc... without the use of heavy machinery.
I also specialize in food production, from vegetable and other annual crops to orchard care.
My experience in the agriculture and permaculture world ranges from being a general farm-worker/laborer, harvester, caretaker of farm animals, farm manager, to working in a food hub as a salad master, produce sorter/packer, and doing food distribution & deliveries.
Some of my favorite types of permaculture work besides designing implementations, are hands-on projects like building aquaculture set-ups (I love working in and with water!), rock-work projects (stairs or terraces especially), and creating new growing spaces.  I just love playing in the dirt!
I'm currently in northern Arizona with a small backyard kitchen garden, working on some archeology surveys and invasive grasses projects, after a needed break form running a farm full-time for several years.

I am now ready to take on the next big permaculture project.  Most of my experience on the ground has been in Hawaii (sub-tropical climate) and the desert southwest (desert, mountains, up to the alpine), but I'm looking globally for the right spot!  My girlfriend, Nikki also has willing and helpful hands and will be joining whatever we get into next.  She is a food scientist and has a lot to offer.

I love doing the whole homestead thing and all of that, but currently at this stage of my life, I have a lot of energy and ambition that is more fulfilling to help others complete their vision of living more sustainably and treating the land as best as possible.  I'm not intimidated by large scale projects and big plans, and I want to help others with grand visions.  I love the implementation side of permaculture, not just the design process.  There's room for both, but I feel like I have the most to offer through hands-on permaculture implementations.  If you're looking to start something from scratch or dial-in and improve an already existing system, I'm interested.  So please reach out if you think I might be a good fit for your next project.

Edit:  I'm having trouble with adding a link, so please email me at spencerp5446@live.com if you would like to view some of my work.
3-lasagna-acres-after-implementation-map-(5-yrs-later).jpg
[Thumbnail for 3-lasagna-acres-after-implementation-map-(5-yrs-later).jpg]
20180630_135536_HDR.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20180630_135536_HDR.jpg]
20200530_070355.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20200530_070355.jpg]
20200701_121443_HDR.jpg
[Thumbnail for 20200701_121443_HDR.jpg]
DSC_0116.JPG
[Thumbnail for DSC_0116.JPG]
 
Steward of piddlers
Posts: 5949
Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
2728
monies home care dog fungi trees chicken food preservation cooking building composting homestead
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Welcome to Permies!

It sounds like you have all sorts of experience, I hope to hear about them in future threads. The wealth and breadth of knowledge between the users that frequent here is really neat in my opinion.

Cya around the threads!
 
steward and tree herder
Posts: 10677
Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland. Nearly 70 inches rain a year
5074
5
transportation dog forest garden foraging trees books food preservation woodworking wood heat rocket stoves ungarbage
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Hello Spencer and welcome to Permies!
It sounds like you have lots of exciting experiences to share with us. It might be worth looking on the jjobs offered forum to see if there is anything there that catches your attention. There are always people looking for help with new projects as they take on new land. Answering queries and making suggestions is one way of getting yourself known perhaps.
 
pollinator
Posts: 151
Location: Farmington Missouri
72
goat forest garden fungi foraging tiny house composting toilet cooking writing seed rocket stoves homestead
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Welcome to Permies!!  I'm sure you'll find someone who would love a mutually beneficial partnership where your knowledge and experience will be invaluable.

 
Spencer Phillips
Posts: 3
Location: US Southwest
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Well thank you all for the warm welcome!  I'll be sharing more as I figure out the technological side of things on here and spend more time exploring the site.  Nancy, I appreciate the recommendation on the jobs offered forum!
 
He is really smart. And a dolphin. It makes sense his invention would bring in thousands of fish.
A book about better recipes for green living
https://greenlivingbook.com/
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic