! Catherine The Grateful - not permaculture farm, lessons from the field (BEL)

Shalom,

I'm the newest boot at Wheaton Labs. Here's a run down of my first week:
Sunday- May the forth be with me - I arrived.
Monday -  It's a blur, and I lost my notebook, which had my reflections.
Tuesday  - Planted 19 Hazel nut trees & taco Tuesday.
Wednesday - Irrigation, Irrigation, Irrigation - better known as hand watering.
Thursday - Fell through a floor.😱 someone thought it would be a good idea to put a root cellar in the floor instead of outside where it belongs.
Friday - Bones sauce again.
Saturday - Shabbat with a local congregation in Missoula.

Psalm 96:12 NLT Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Photo: This is what it looks like at 9:23pm in Montana

Glad to see there is another boot at Wheaton Labs!

I hope to learn a bunch, I can't wait to see more of your journey.

Unfinished Business

Ever look around and realize how many half-finished projects you’ve got collecting dust? That book you started writing. The online course you never completed. The garden you meant to plant.

Why do we leave so much unfinished?

It’s not laziness—it’s usually overwhelm, fear of imperfection, or just life getting in the way.

But imagine what we could unlock if we finally finished.

Here are 5 ways to break procrastination and wrap up what you started:
1. Pick One Thing – Focus your energy. One project. One goal.
2. Set a Micro-Deadline – Just 15 minutes of focused work a day adds up fast.
3. 💬 Say It Out Loud – Share your goal. Accountability builds momentum. 💬
4. Cut Distractions – Make space to focus. Say no to noise.
5. Celebrate Small Wins – Completion feels amazing. Reward yourself along the way.

Let’s not let our dreams die in the “almost done” phase.

Now here’s the real talk: Paul has done so much for the Permies community—building resources, hosting events, spreading knowledge, and supporting all of us in living more sustainable, meaningful lives.

How about we help Paul finish what others started?

There are buildings waiting to be completed. Let’s turn this into a community effort. Join in, pick up a tool, and let’s knock out this unfinished business together.

Many hands make light the work!

Drop your unfinished project in the comments—and if you're ready to help Paul, raise your hand. Let’s finish strong. 💪

2 Corinthians 8:11 (NKJV) but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.

Wow, that's a blast from the past. It is good to see that all of those structures are holding up.

Hi Catherine. Happy to see several boots have threads on Permies. Most happy to see there's a female boot again.

Stairs to the Three Sisters: Growing Tradition on a Hügel

Check out the “stairs” JP and I carved into the hügel bed at Allerton Abby — little level terraces stepping up the mound like a natural staircase. Why? To plant corn, beans, and squash — the legendary Three Sisters — using a centuries-old Indigenous method, brought to life on a modern permaculture mound.

Hügelkultur and the Three Sisters are a match made in gardening heaven. The decaying wood inside the hugel bed holds moisture like a sponge, keeps the soil warm, and feeds the plants over time. It’s the perfect foundation for these three companions:

~ Corn stands tall, a living trellis.

🌱 Beans climb up the corn and enrich the soil with nitrogen.

~ Squash sprawls across the “steps,” shading out weeds and locking in moisture.

Each "stair" gives the plants enough space to breathe, catch sun, and support each other naturally. It’s sustainable. It’s productive. And it’s beautiful — a living sculpture that honors tradition while embracing permaculture principles.

If you're building a hugel, try adding steps — and plant the Three Sisters. It's like growing a garden that climbs toward the sky, rooted in wisdom, and powered by nature.

Psalm 72:16 May there be abundance of grain in the earth on top of the mountains; Its fruit will wave like the cedars of Lebanon; And may those from the city flourish like vegetation of the earth.