Jennifer's SKIP progress.

PEP - Woodland

Sand Badge
Drop 6” to 8” dead standing tree with a bow saw
Drop 6" to 8" dead standing tree with a chainsaw
Drop 6” to 8” live tree with a bow saw
Drop 6" to 8" live tree with a chainsaw
Limb 4 trees
Peel 2 live trees and put up off the ground to dry
Split and stack dead standing wood as firewood
Prep 10 junkpoles
Cleave 6 shakes with a froe
Choose 1: build 12 feet of junkpole fence or repair 24 feet of junkpole fence

Straw Badge
Drop at least 12 trees 8” or larger in diameter:
One cord of firewood: cut and stacked properly under a roof (completion pic)
Lumber;  a dozen 2x4s, 1x4s and ⅜x4s
twig construction; five foot tall tomato cage and eight foot tall pole bean trellis
36 feet of junkpole fence plus one mediocre gate with a mediocre latch
Plant the tree seeds for 100 feet of living fence - show that 30% have sprouted
Plant black locust tree seeds
Plant 100 cleavers - show that 20 have sprouted
Plant 100 nettles - show that 20 have sprouted
Plant 20 willows - show that 10 have grown
Innoculate two four foot logs with mushroom spawn and harvest at least a half pound of mushrooms
Cleave 40 shakes with a fro

Wood Badge
Put up three cords of firewood
More lumber; 8 dozen 2x4s, 1x4s and ⅜x4s
Build six rock jacks out of split logs
120 feet of junkpole fence with one good gate and a good latch
Plant 300 black locust seeds with 50% germination
Plant 300 cleavers  with 50% germination
Plant 300 nettles  with 50% germination
Plant 60 willows with 50% growth
Plant 40 sweet sap silver maples
Plant 10 cedar trees
Twig construction;  six five foot tall tomato cages and three eight foot tall pole bean trellises
Plant the tree seeds for 800 feet of living fence
Lay 50 feet of living fence (aka laying a hedge)
Berm shed; 8x8x8 with a five foot eave
Gin pole - lift a 10 foot long, 12 inch diameter log 15 feet off the ground and place it on a structure
Outdoor mushrooms ; produce at least one pound each of oyster and shiitake mushrooms
Indoor mushrooms; produce at least one pound each of enokitake, oyster and shiitake mushrooms
Enhance garden beds with mycelium
Skiddable firewood shed
Cleave 200 shakes with a fro


Iron Badge
Put up six cords of firewood
Even more lumber - two hundred 2x4s, 1x4s and ⅜x4s
Build 24 rock jacks out of split logs
Plant the tree seeds for 2000 feet of living fence
Lay 200 feet of living fence
Humus well
Junkpole fence around one acre (total of at least 836 feet) with four good gates and good latches
Plant the seeds to restore a creek bed from a dry gully; 100 feet wide and 800 feet long
Berm shed; 3 cells with five foot eaves, each cell is 12x12x12
Build two skiddable structures
Bigger gin pole; lift a 20 foot long, 18 inch diameter log 20 feet off the ground and place it on a structure
Produce at least ten pounds each of oyster and shiitake mushrooms

PEP - Round wood

Sand Badge
Club style mallet
Compound mallet (smaller dry stick goes into bigger green stick (head))
Carve a simple first-timer spoon
Two coat hooks made from small trees and the hooks are the branches on these trees
Add one horizontal log to berm/hugelkultur scaffolding
Three log bench
Dry peg in green wood project (build one):
  - coat hooks (4)
  - half log bench (six feet long) on four legs
  - saw horse
  - saw buck
  - stool

Straw Badge
Lightweight stool
Shaving horse
3 three log benches
Carve a nice, lightweight spoon you can eat with
Bowsaw frame
Decent sawhorse
Decent sawbuck
Basic heavy kitchen chair with a back

Wood Badge
Shrink pot
Japanese chisel box made from a block of firewood
Pole lathe
Bowl from a pole lathe
Honey dipper from pole lathe
Lightweight kitchen chair
Heavy table
Skiddable shed for green woodworking; includes a cleave brake, a place to dry wood/pegs and storage space for shaving horse, pole lathe and other tools
Proenneke hinge - using root wood
Really nice door latch
Light and excellent bowsaw frame

Iron Badge
Light dining room table (no metal or glue)
Wood log trough
Magnificent roundwood bed
Two really nice wood bowls
Two really nice wood plates
A steamed wood project
Swinging bench in a skiddable structure
Outdoor firewood rack
2 nice outdoor chairs
Rocking chair
Bunk beds
2 more lightweight kitchen chairs
Carve 2 large spoons for cooking/serving and 3 small spoons for eating
Excellent shaving horse
Curtain rods
Picnic table without dimensional lumber
Deck railing
Wofati freezer; 200 square feet of freezer space and 100 square feet of root cellar space

PEP- Tools

Sand Badge
Sharpen a knife
Sharpen a hatchet
Sharpen a chainsaw chain
Sharpen, clean and oil a shovel
Clean the shop
Make a wedge-style handle
Bicycle maintenance - complete 2 points from the following (no duplication):
  - go to freecycles and "build" a bicycle to their standards -2 points
  - repair a flat tire on the front wheel of a bicycle - 1/2 point
  - repair a flat tire on the rear wheel of a bicycle - 1/2 point
  - adjust brakes on a bicycle - 1/2 point
  - adjust shifters on a bicycle - 1/2 point
  - clean and oil chain on a bicycle - 1/2 point


Straw Badge
Sharpen 3 more knives
Sharpen one of the following;  another hatchet, an ax, a maul, a spud, a pick, mattock or other tough earthworking tool
Sharpen one of the following; machete, hori hori knife, drawknife
Sharpen one of the following; scissors, pruners, loppers
Sharpen one of the following:  bow saw, hand saw, pruning saw
Sharpen a chisel
Sharpen a drill bit
Sharpen a scythe
Sharpen teeth on sawmill
Make another handle from the wedge handle list
Make a pin-style handle:
Thorough chainsaw sharpening
Clean and oil a stationary power tool
Clean and oil a portable power tool
Remove rust, clean and oil a hand tool
Optimize space in the shop; improving storage, shelving, project space, signage, etc,  at least two and a half days (oddball rules)
Change the oil and do full service on a vehicle/tractor
Demonstrate use of category 1 to category 2 sleeves
Clean, grease and oil a tractor implement

Wood Badge
Repair a dozen bicycles
Make 3 more wedge-style handles (defined in sand badge)
Make 3 more pin-style handles (defined in straw badge)
Sharpen a dozen drill bits
Sharpen 6 spade (drill) bits
Sharpen 2 forstner (drill) bits
Sharpen 2 auger (drill) bits
Sharpen a dozen knives
Sharpen a hand planer
Sharpen two flat edge chisels
Sharpen four gouges
Sharpen two dozen hand tools;  including at least 3 saw blades
Sharpen four serrated knife blades
Sharpen a band saw blade
Sharpen a scythe 2 additional times
Chainsaw:  make a video for the public about one chainsaw; presented as a video to care for this make and model of chainsaw
Build a small, portable tool shed;  on skids or wheels, lockable, at least 6 feet by 10 feet and 7 feet high inside with a workbench
Optimize space in the shop (or tool shed); at least 7 days (oddball rules)
Do touch up paint on a vehicle or piece of outdoor equipment
Build a garden tool cleaning station
Add natural light to a dark workspace
Augment an existing roof to create more storage space
Create a materials storage shed on skids; at least 100 square feet of storage
Create a dry place to park a piece of equipment (tractor/truck/utv/etc.)

Iron Badge
No Iron badge at this time

Earthmoving

Sand Badge
Small dry stack retaining wall
Three scoops with an excavator
Move dirt/soil with the loader on the tractor
Trail maintenance for 200 feet of trail
Eliminate a road pothole/puddle
Add a small, simple trail to a berm
Improve a berm
Seal a tiny pond


Straw Badge
Make 100 feet of proper road with a bulldozer; must have a crown or other form of drainage and side ditches where appropriate
Dry stack retaining wall;  4+ feet tall and 6+ feet long
Five loads with a dump trailer
Build a tall, narrow berm; at least 15 feet tall and 20 feet long, 9 feet wide or less
Build a small, shallow pond that holds water without a liner; about 20 feet in diameter, 4 feet deep with proper dam and spillway
Trail maintenance for 1000 feet of trail
Add simple trails to berms
Add a 50 foot trail to relatively flat rocky ground
Add a 50 foot trail to steep, rocky ground
100 feet of road maintenance; eliminating potholes, ruts and washboards, restoring crown and improving ditches and drain points

Wood Badge
Dry stack steps; at least five steps that are 2 feet wide
Dry stack retaining walls; at least four different walls that are at least 48 square feet each
Dry stack wall; at least 4 feet high and 15 feet long; add a 2 foot moon gate and get a twofer with the community badge
Holzer-style terrace at least 120 feet long by 12 feet wide
Build a full size pond that holds water without a liner (sealed bowl style); ¼ acre, 10+ feet deep and the dam is no taller than 8 feet
Create a full size berm; 15+ feet tall and 100 feet long and no more than 27 feet wide, 6 foot wide paths about halfway up on each side
Parking lot; facilitate parking for at least 3 big pickup trucks with room to turn around
Create 3 tent pads
Ditches to move water; sealed without a liner and at least 200 feet
Earthworks for preparing to build a structure
Make 600 feet of proper road
Add a 100 foot trail to relatively flat rocky ground
Add a 100 foot trail to steep, rocky ground
600 feet of road maintenance

Iron Badge
Dry stack sun scoop; 7 feet tall and 10 foot diameter
Aholzer spring terrace
Another 200 feet of ditches to move water
Build a second full size pond (sealed bowl style)
Dry stack steps; at least ten steps that are at least 4 feet wide
Season extender rocket mass heater; at least 8 feet tall and 30 feet long with a stratification chamber
Earthworks for preparing to build a second structure
3 passive garden heaters; 40 foot deep 6 inch hole in the ground with steel casing, 4 foot tall steel cap with glass on south side, black anodized ¾ inch tube exposed to glass and reaching bottom of hole
Garden ATI; reflecting pond (at least 400 square feet), double winter heat capture using wofati techniques, flat wall, 7 feet tall, 15 feet wide
Large natural swimming pool with a level spot next to it; swimming area is at least 400 square feet and 8 feet deep, water cleaning area is at least 400 square feet, fully planted
Build a full size pond that is based on a dam reaching bedrock, rather than a sealed bowl

PEP - Rocket

sand badge
Start and operate a j-tube rocket mass heater for 1 hour
Start and operate a batch box rocket mass heater for 1 hour
Start a rocket oven and bake something
Start a rocket cooktop and cook something
Start a rocket water heater and get the water temperature over 140
Use a rocket j-tube to boil a gallon of water
Do the annual ash cleanout of a rocket mass heater
Spread some ash on a garden spot (just a dusting)
Build a dakota stove and cook some food

Straw Badge
Heat a space with a rocket mass heater for one week
Build a j-tube style rocket mass heater

Wood Badge
Heat a space with a rocket mass heater for one month
Build an 8 inch j-tube rocket “engine”
Build a second j-tube style rocket mass heater
Build a j-tube style rocket oven
Build a j-tube style unpressurized rocket hot water heater
Build a j-tube style rocket cook top
Build a j-tube style season extender in a hugelkultur

Iron Badge
Heat a space with a rocket mass heater for a full winter
Rocket hot tub
Rocket sauna
Shop style rocket heater
Rocket forge
Rocket glass recycler
Outdoor rocket cooker, smoker
Eing-of-fire alternative to a camp fire
Outdoor classroom with butt warmer
Experiments in heating a shop very, very fast
Experiments in heating a home with extremely little wood
Outdoor kitchen / outdoor canning kitchen

PEP - Oddball

Points rewarded are based on a number of factors, the math starts with:
The "Pro Factor":  This is the number of hours it would take an expert to accomplish the task, with all the tools and materials in hand, and a bit of luck. From there the score is further adjusted by:
The "Piano Factor": This is an adjustment based upon how useful the project is to Otis.  
The "PEX Factor":  This is an adjustment based on how closely the project aligns to X's permaculture values.  


Sand Badge - 5 points req'd

Straw Badge - 40 points req'd, including sand point.

Wood Badge - 220 points req'd, including sand and straw.

Iron Badge - 1250 points req'd, including sand, straw, and wood.

[b]PEP - Woodland[/b]

Sand Badge
Drop 6” to 8” dead standing tree with a bow saw
Drop 6" to 8" dead standing tree with a chainsaw
Drop 6” to 8” live tree with a bow saw
Drop 6" to 8" live tree with a chainsaw
Limb 4 trees
Peel 2 live trees and put up off the ground to dry
Split and stack dead standing wood as firewood
Prep 10 junkpoles
Cleave 6 shakes with a froe
Choose 1: build 12 feet of junkpole fence or repair 24 feet of junkpole fence

Straw Badge
Drop at least 12 trees 8” or larger in diameter:
One cord of firewood: cut and stacked properly under a roof (completion pic)
Lumber;  a dozen 2x4s, 1x4s and ⅜x4s
twig construction; five foot tall tomato cage and eight foot tall pole bean trellis
36 feet of junkpole fence plus one mediocre gate with a mediocre latch
Plant the tree seeds for 100 feet of living fence - show that 30% have sprouted
Plant black locust tree seeds
Plant 100 cleavers - show that 20 have sprouted
Plant 100 nettles - show that 20 have sprouted
Plant 20 willows - show that 10 have grown
Innoculate two four foot logs with mushroom spawn and harvest at least a half pound of mushrooms
Cleave 40 shakes with a fro

Wood Badge
Put up three cords of firewood
More lumber; 8 dozen 2x4s, 1x4s and ⅜x4s
Build six rock jacks out of split logs
120 feet of junkpole fence with one good gate and a good latch
Plant 300 black locust seeds with 50% germination
Plant 300 cleavers  with 50% germination
Plant 300 nettles  with 50% germination
Plant 60 willows with 50% growth
Plant 40 sweet sap silver maples
Plant 10 cedar trees
Twig construction;  six five foot tall tomato cages and three eight foot tall pole bean trellises
Plant the tree seeds for 800 feet of living fence
Lay 50 feet of living fence (aka laying a hedge)
Berm shed; 8x8x8 with a five foot eave
Gin pole - lift a 10 foot long, 12 inch diameter log 15 feet off the ground and place it on a structure
Outdoor mushrooms ; produce at least one pound each of oyster and shiitake mushrooms
Indoor mushrooms; produce at least one pound each of enokitake, oyster and shiitake mushrooms
Enhance garden beds with mycelium
Skiddable firewood shed
Cleave 200 shakes with a fro


Iron Badge
Put up six cords of firewood
Even more lumber - two hundred 2x4s, 1x4s and ⅜x4s
Build 24 rock jacks out of split logs
Plant the tree seeds for 2000 feet of living fence
Lay 200 feet of living fence
Humus well
Junkpole fence around one acre (total of at least 836 feet) with four good gates and good latches
Plant the seeds to restore a creek bed from a dry gully; 100 feet wide and 800 feet long
Berm shed; 3 cells with five foot eaves, each cell is 12x12x12
Build two skiddable structures
Bigger gin pole; lift a 20 foot long, 18 inch diameter log 20 feet off the ground and place it on a structure
Produce at least ten pounds each of oyster and shiitake mushrooms.

PEP Animal Wood Nectar for honey bees
*still working on this, my head is swimming and it's bedtime.

List of the 24 (or more) species of flowering plants you are planting and mention when they bloom (must be plants honeybees like)

hummingbirds
Nasturtium: April
Western Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): April-September
Woolly Sunflower: April-August
Baby's Breath: May
Cornflower: May - June
Sage: May-June
Large Camas (Camassia leichtinii): May-June
Comfrey: May-June
Bachelor Button: May-June
Poppy: May-July
Chive: May-July
Calendula:May-Aug
Marigold: May-Aug
Butterfly weed: May-Sep
Valerian: May-Sept
Zinnia: May-October
Crimson Clover:  June
Sage: June-November
Black Eyed Susan: May-July
Echinacia/Coneflower: June-August
Butterfly Milkweed: June-August
Nasturtium: June-September
Sunflower: June-September
Gayfeather: July-September
Borage: June-September
Sage: June-November

Crimson Clover: August- October


Bloom Season
Jun-Aug  Brazilian Verbena, Butterfly Bush. Mountain Mint, Purple Coneflower, Summer Phlox
Jul-Sep:  Milkweed
Aug:  Meadow Beauty
Aug-Sep: Bush Clovers
Aug-Oct: Brazilian Pepper, Mexican Sage, Mexican Sunflower, Pineapple Sage, Salvia elegans
Aug-Nov:  Asters
Sep-Oct: Goldenrod, Hemp

bee forage plants, list version
February
Winter Heather
Pieris

March
Maples
Oregon Grape
Indian Plum
Earliest Asian Plums
Willow
Chickweed
Hazelnut

April
Overwintering Brassicas
Flowering Currant
Maples
Pacific Dogwood
Peaches
Crab Apple
Apple
Pear
Cherry
Plums
Rosemary
Dandelion

May
Mustard
Serviceberry
Thyme
Strawberry
Raspberry
Blackberry
Blueberry
Clover
Chives

June
Mock Orange
Huckleberry
Mint
Angelica
Hyssop
Honeysuckle
Clover
Borage
Calendula

July
Cucumber
Summer Squash
Winter Squash
Oregano
Mints
Lavender
Buckwheat
Borage
Russian Sage

August
Lemon Balm
Basil
Clover
Anise Hyssop
Echinacea
Bee Balm
Salvia
Shasta Daisies
Rudbekia

September
Sun Flower
Joe Pye Weed
Lobelia

October
Artichoke
Yarrow

Winter: Mahonia, Ivy, Snowdrop, Rosemary, heather, red maple,

Spring:  Dandylions,  Apple or crabapple, Lungwort, Crocus, Kale, comfrey, borage, barberry, crocus, hazelnut, cherry, locust. magnolia, maple, willow, blackberry, blueberry, mahonia, bluebells, vinemaple, service berry, milkweed, camas, currant, peaches, pear, xlover, chives, rhododendron, beauty berry
Summer:  Hawthorn, Monarda - 'bee balm', chives, strawberry, forget-me-not, mint, lemon balm, thyme, rubedekia, cucumbers, clover, borage, green beans, green peas, pumpkins and squash, flax, sticky purple geranium, mock orange, ninebark, nootka rose, calendula, cucumber, mint,
Fall: Sedum, Sage, runner bean, yarrow, sunflower, snowberry, sunflower, artichoke, yarrow
Winter: Mahonia, Ivy, Snowdrop, Rosemary, heather, red maple,

Pics:
show planting of hundreds of seeds
pics of thousands of blooms at 2 points in each season (six pics total)
pic showing area planted is 1/4+ ac

PEP Community Sand: Brand a place
Three years ago a friend brought over a fig tree. It was a tiny stick just a few inches tall. We potted it up into a larger pot and tucked it in the nursery. With just a couple hours of morning sun and then shade for the rest of the day it didn't grow much taller.

I struggled with the layout of the garden, needed something to center it. We had taken a field trip up to Beacon Hill Gardens. I loved the way they combined tree guilds, with crop beds, with 'private' beds for individuals. Oh, the fig tree! Multi-stem, hand shaped, and twisted. I could imagine it filled with lovely fruit, ripe for passersby to pluck and eat.

Last year I worked hard on the garden layout. A central bed with paths radiating out like sunbeams, and a long bed that swirls around this center, like a nautilus. The little fig tree in the nursery had grown a bit, not more than 8" tall, but had branched out. I was becoming hand shaped like the one at Beacon Hill.  This would be my center. The fig was planted as centerpiece and to keep feet out, a short wattle fence was started, then we got sidetracked with other projects.  

I'm getting an early start this spring!  For the wattle fence I cut a bunch of strong rods, and a stack of flexible withies from a coppiced maple near the driveway.  It's been cold and wet this week, stuck inside while thinking about my garden. 3am thought, a fig tree in a fence, a pen.  

The sign is made, the spot is named on my site map, therefore its official.  It's the Fig Pen!  

PEP BB community.straw.selftour
Create a Self-Guided Tour

In this Badge Bit, you will create a self guided tour with 12 points of interest!

The minimum requirements for this BB are:
- Create a self guided tour with 12 points of interest
- At least two paragraphs of info about each point of interest
- Tour could be:
   - Paper or electronic
       - Map, or
       - Description of the route with landmarks (at least 2 pics per point), or
       - GPS points
       - Publicly available system to store/distribute the tour guides
   - Physical
       - Signs that explain the item and direct you to the next, or
       - Yellow brick road (probably not an actual yellow brick road but you get the idea), or
       - Path marker of some sort

To document this Badge Bit, provide proof of the following as pictures or a video (<2 mins):
- create a permies thread documenting the creation and implementation of the self-guided tour (must provide proof of meeting the above requirements)

You found Nautilus Guild!  I know it's hard to find, S.77th street came in decades after my cottage was built.


1  Starting at the sidewalk, orange cones mark the entrance. On your right is the flower bed that Carlin started for Mother's Day 2020. They started it with the ring of wood rounds, then filled it hugelculture style with branches and twigs. At first, the sticks went in haphazardly, but Carlin found that stacking them tight together gave a much firmer surface.  Finally, topped with a few years worth of maple leaf mold.

We've planted wildflowers and perennial bulbs, but nothing has come up. There were too many voids and not enough compost, also haven't kept it watered.  This year 2023, we have added 6-12" of aged wood chips to fill in all the gaps.  Some homemade vegetable compost and more leaf mold will go on next.  When the rain starts this September I'll load it with flower seeds and bulbs.


2  Just past this on your right is a small parking area. This area looks like it belongs to the neighbors, but it's mine.  Their tiny lot ends at their porch.  

Upgrades will be to add a row of parking bumpers, move the big rock from the middle, prune, and plant more shrubs. I really like how the hedge provides visual screening and makes the cedar grove cozy and private.


3  Continue down the drive, and notice the patch of native Oregon Grape. No, it's not a grape, but it is native in Oregon and Washington. Yelllow flowers in spring are followed by dusky blue berries that make a great jelly. The yellow layer under the bark contains berberine, a natural remedy.

Hiding behind the rhododendron is my nursery. 1 bed for trees and shrubs, 1 bed for perennial fruits and herbs, 1 bed for perennial vegetables, and an area of unidentified plants.  There are stacks of pots next to a trug of compost, garden soil, coconut coir, and biochar waiting to be filled with plants.    Propagation went very well this winter. I had more success with semi-ripe to hardwood cuttings potted outside. Mock orange, hazelnut, huckleberry, red twig dogwood, service berry, and twin berry all took root.


4  A blueberry hedge is next. A couple are labeled as Duke and Torro, but most are unknown varieties. Doesn't matter to me, still delicious!the  cherry tree is next. Delicious yellow and red fruits grow in abundance, then gone overnight to the critters.

Next to the steps is the hummingbird bed, loaded with a dozen different flowering species to provide nectar across the seasons. Tulip, hyacinth, marigold, XXX.


5  The carport is a multipurpose space. Communication center, meeting place, classroom, and crafting spot. Also houses the tool shed and lots of storage.

We've just set up rain capture and storage. The cheapest build is on the front of the carport, the corner of the roof drains into a trash barrel that is covered with a screen.  The overflow hose drains into an area filled with plants that don't mind being wet and dry.

Off the back of the building there is a set of 230 gallon IBC containers. The overflow for this runs along the fence, screening our yard from the horrible neighbor.


6 main garden

trying to beat back the locust and the Himalayan blackberries.


7  follow the trail to the SW corner to the back 40, the back 40 feet.  this area is mostly wild. we have added some trees, about a dozen evergreen saplings and 3 shade trees.


8 The trail heads into the "ol growth forest" with it's deep shade. Evergreen trees dominate, fir, pine, and cedar. Understory plants include Hawthorne (with both thorns and without), Oso berry, black cherries, rowant, willow, ash, Oregon grape.


9  native area, interpretive trail


10 meadow.  this space was filled with scotch broom over 10' tall. Carlin works hard every spring to cut out the yellow flowers. Cutting the stem/trunk below ground level and they rarely grow back.  the seed bank however is never ending.  


11  orchard


12  cedar grove

Foraging Straw Badge  
Guerilla plant 500 woody perennial food seeds or cuttings (not seed bombs) - 8 points

~ at least twelve different woody species, >10 seeds or cuttings of each species, >500 total
~ not planted on your land
~ possible species might include: apple, pear, apricot, cherry, peach, plum, grape, mulberry, nuts, blueberries, serviceberry, aronia


To document your completion of the BB, provide proof of the following as pictures or video (< 2mins): Action shot of planting/sticking at least one seed/cutting of each species
Hazel cuttings
Sage seeds
Cherry seeds
Serviceberry cuttings
Twinberry cuttings
Osoberry cuttings
Evergreen huckleberry cuttings
Blueberry cuttings
Salal cuttings
Poppy seeds
x
x

*Add pics

Homesteading - Straw - Cover something with a tarp so that it stays dry for 6 months - ½ point

Lumber from the Scouts BSA Troop 248B tree lot is stored under the cedars.
Scouts pick up the lumber to build the perimeter and displays for their tree lot fundraiser. The pile returns the last week of December.
Stacked on pallets, covered with a brown tarp that is weighted around the edges. Safe and dry all year to be used again from Thanksgiving till Christmas.

Natural Medicine - Straw - Cut

I was pulling grass out of the garden beds and noticed my knuckle was bleeding. A blister had formed and popped and a blade of grass had cut my finger.
Off I went to harvest a Comfrey Mullien and put half a leaf in my mouth to masticate, didn't taste bad but didn't like the texture.  Spit it out on my booboo, added a few drops of my homemade Fire Cider, and wrapped my finger with the rest of the leaf.  Tied with cotton string for gardening and left it on until morning.

The comfrey Mullien paste went on green, fire cider was almost clear, but just look at that stain!  3 days later, with handwashing and showers, the stain is still vibrant.
To document completion of the BB, provide the following:
 - Your friend's pseudonym  Me
 - Describe the issue your friend is struggling with
     - Symptoms bleeding
     - Duration 5+ mins
     - Severity no professional medical aid needed
     - Medical diagnosis (if any) a cut
- Your suggestions for relief (including, but not limited to)
    - Behavioral Wash hands before adding compress
    - Food as medicine
    - Concoctions  Comfrey Mullein and Fire cider
- Description of success (including, but not limited to)
    - What your friend actually did Poultice of comfrey Mullein and fire cider, wrapped in Comfrey Mullein leaf, and tied with cotton string.
    - How well it worked  Wonderfully
    - How long it took to see results: Next morning the cut was sealed with no flap of loose skin.

Natural Medicine - Straw - Bugsting

To document completion of the BB, provide the following:
 - Your friend's pseudonym: Me
 - Describe the issue
     - Symptoms: sudden pain, buzzing sounds
     - Duration
     - Severity: Stopped work for the day
     - Medical diagnosis (if any) Bee Sting
- Your suggestions for relief (including, but not limited to)
    - Behavioral: Flee to safety, breathe, scrape out the stinger,
    - Food as medicine: frozen apple juice for comfort
    - Concoctions: comfrey leaf poultice, ice
- Description of success (including, but not limited to)
    - What your friend actually did: masticated comfrey leaf, covered with another leaf and tied down with yucca twine
    - How well it worked: pain went down a couple of levels within 5mins
    - How long it took to see results: after 2 hours needed another round of ice

PEP BB community.straw.ciderparty  

2023 Cider Pressing Party

Saturday
Myself:  8hrs 8am-4pm
Carlin:   6hrs 11am-4pm
Mary:    4hrs  11am-4pm
Jeanette: 4hrs 12pm-4pm
Peas: 4hrs 12pm-4pm

Sunday
Myself: 5hrs 3pm-8pm
Carlin: 5hrs 3pm-8pm
Cat: 3hrs 4pm-7pm
Jim: 3hrs 4pm-7pm
Total: 7 workers put in 42 hours

210 gallons of apples picked from the first tree. Rinsed with water.
Quartered, cored, and ground some for applesauce and apple butter.
Halved, ground, and pressed for some for fresh cider, hard cider, juice concentrate, apple syrup, and vinegar.
Ickies were hauled to the compost bin. The sun-dried pressed mush will go to a permie determined to get anything to grow in the high desert.
Only about 50-60 gallons of apples have been eaten, taken home, or processed here.  

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PEP - Food - Straw - Waterbath

Minimum requirements for this BB:
- Water bath can three different types of food
  - Atmospheric steam canning is also acceptable (not pressure canning)
- At least one gallon per type of food
- Types of food:
 - Salsa
 - Pickles (not limited to cucumbers)
 - Sauces (tomato, apple, etc)
 - Whole fruits (no sugar, water and/or fruit juice is ok)
 - Relish
 - Syrup (elderberry, etc)
 - Juice
 - Juice concentrate
 - Jams/jellies
     - Boiled down a lot more than normal so as to avoid the need for quite so much added sugar

To show you've completed this Badge Bit, you must provide proof of the following as pictures or video (<2 mins):
  - preparing each type of food to be stored in the jars
  - putting each type of food in a water bath
  - at least one gallon of each type of food (at least 3 types of food) in sealed jars = 128oz

Relish
Sweet Relish 7 jars @ 4oz + 2 jars @ 8oz = 44oz
Carrots and Radishes 12jars @ 4oz= 48oz
x36

Pickles  = 152oz
Dilly Beans 10 @ 8oz = 80oz
Dill slices 3 @ 8oz =  24oz
Dill slices 3 @ 16oz = 48oz


Jam
Apple Butter 12 @ 8oz = 96oz
x32

Sauce
Ketchup x8  @ 16oz =  oz

PEP - Food - Sand - Salt

To complete this BB the minimum requirements are:
   - make at least one quart jar of salt brine fermented something

To show you've completed this badge you must:
 - Post a description/link to the recipe you used
 - post a picture of the ingredients chopped or ready to be packed in jar
 - post a picture of the filled jar.


Base Recipe:
http://www.tlcinthekitchen.com/lactofermented-tomato-juice

What I did:
1 quart tomato water
1T sea salt
1T of the juice from commercial kimchi
1T whey OR 1T water kefir OR a mix


Cut tomatoes were pressure cooked for 10mins.  Reserve puree for ketchup.

I ladled off a quart of tomato water and stirred in 2T sea salt. When cool, I added 2T of kimchi juice, and 1t whey. I was short on whey, so I substituted 2t first ferment water kefir. Covered the jar with a paper coffee filter and secured it with a canning ring. Store at room temperature for a few days until bubbly. Cover with a solid lid and store in the fridge.

Use for refreshing cold probiotic drinks.
Note to self: Meh, not good enough to repeat. Use tomato water in soup.

PEP Food - Straw - Condiments

Make two of the following (no duplication - ie. not two mustards):
 - Acid-base dressing using lemon juice or Apple Cider Vinegar (for example)
 - Oil-based dressing
 - Sugar-based dressing
 - Dairy-based dressing (or dairy alternative)
 - Mustard
 - Chutney
 - Sauces (including catsups)

To show you've completed this Badge Bit, you must provide proof of the following as pictures or video (<2 mins):
  - give the recipes for each thing you are preparing
  - ingredients to make the condiments or salad dressings
  - making the condiments or salad dressings
  - finished condiments or salad dressings

CHUTNEY - Sweet Relish  
10 Cucumbers about 8" long, diced
2 onions, diced
2 bell peppers, diced, (optional)
1/2C pickling salt

2C Apple Cider Vinegar 5%
2T pickling spice mix
1T tumeric powder
1T minced garlic
1T old-fashioned molasses
3 1/2C sugar

Mix cucumbers, onions, bell peppers, and pickling salt in bowl, set aside for 2 hours, then drain well.
Mix vegetables with the rest of the ingredients in a pot, boil 10min.
Hot pack in pints, process in waterbath for 10min.
Note to self: Very good but too sweet, use less sugar.


SAUCE - Ketchup
Tomatoes, enough to fill Instant Pot to 2/3 fill line
3 Onions, rough chop
1/4C chopped dehydrated vegetables (optional)
1/4C dehydrated leafy greens (optional)
1/4C minced garlic
2T pickling spices with mustard seed
1/2C Apple Cider Vinegar ACV 5%
1/4C Pickling salt

Peel tomatoes by blanching in hot water. Core and rough chop.
Add tomatoes, onions, vegetables, garlic, and spices.
Pressure Cook high, 10min, manual pressure release.
Ladle off 1qt of the clear tomato water from the surface, and reserve for something else.
Sieve mixture thru a foley food mill.
Add ACV.
Simmer and reduce sauce to desired thickness.
Add pickling salt to taste
Hot pack in quart jars. Process in waterbath for 10min
Note to self: Too concentrated and dark, reduce for less time.

PEP BB Food - Sand - Salt

For this badge bit you will ferment/pickle something in salt brine.
     - could be: kraut, kimchi, carrots, jalapenos, curtido, etc.
     - at least one quart


1qt clear tomato water, reserved from making ketchup
1T sea salt
When cool add:
1T whey, from sour cream
1T juice, from kimchi

Secure a coffee filter with a canning ring. Leave on counter for 24-72 hours.
Drink as you wish, maybe a virgin bloody mary.

PEP BB Food - Sand - Vinegar

Basically, you'd want to wash vegetables, cut them up in chunks or slices, fill the sterilized jar or jars, add pickling spices if desired.

Prepare your brine in a pot. The water/vinegar ratio can vary among the recipes, and it's best, for safety, to follow a good recipe, that has been tested. Add salt according to your recipe, and bring the mixture to a boil, then carefully pour it over the veggies in your jar. Put the lids on and screw the band on fingertip tight. Process in water bath canner according to recipe.

Dilly Beans
Green beans, snap tips, cut to fit your jars
1 onion, sliced

Brine:
2 1/2C White Vinegar 5%
  1/2C  Apple cider vinegar OR water
1 1/2C  water
2T sugar
3T pickling salt

In each half-pint jar add:
1 dill flower and stem bundled
1 clove garlic, whole or minced
1t pickling spices

Pack tight with green beans and onions.
Cover with hot brine.
Process in waterbath for 10min

PEP - Homestead - Sand - Safety

We are 14 years in this home, almost 2 acres, annual garden, food forest orchard, rain garden, cats, and a stick-built home from 1942. Work varies from clearing invasives, planting natives, and building small projects like a solar shower and outdoor kitchen.

This area is for tools.  I added labels encouraging my 20yo fledgling to put things back in place. Top shelf is eyes, ears, and nose/mouth safety equipment, then handtools.  Shovels, forks, rakes and such are to the left of this shelf.

The blue gloves are thick 'welding' gloves to deal with Himalayan blackberries and locust saplings. The purple pair are long rose gloves, good for the blackberries if you are careful. Underneath are several pairs of soft gloves, some with grippy palms, lots of sizes.

There is a fire extinguisher, sunscreen, bug spray, coconut oil (hand cream), and bandaids on the corner of the building in plain sight.  Just inside the door is a large trauma kit. 2 more fire extinguishers are on the opposite corner of the building. If we are working with fire on purpose then we will have a garden hose nearby.

Safety glasses and hearing protection are required whenever running a tool with an engine.  Masks are used when creating lots of airborne debris with the chainsaw, the wood chipper, or the DR mower. Gloves are by choice.

PEP - Natural Medicine - Sand - Uvi Ursi

To show you've completed this Badge Bit, you must post:
- a picture of the fresh herb being harvested
- a picture of your herbs drying (hanging, in a dehydrator, in a bag, etc.)
- a picture of your herbs in a sealed and labelled container, with the label indicating where the herbs came from, the method of drying, and the date

PEP  Textiles - Sand - twine

To complete this BB, the minimum requirements are:
 -  make at least a 20 feet length of twine
 -  the twine must be plied

To document your completion of the BB, provide proof of the following as pics or video (less than two minutes):
 -  your raw materials
 -  your process of making twine
 -  your completed twine (with a tape measure, perhaps)

Several years ago we dug out a very mature yucca.  Removed all the roots from 5' diameter x 24" deep. They came back!  Now there are about a dozen 12" tall yuccas in the area.  

Gathered yucca leaves from the front yard. Started with 6 leaves. Tried several different tools to scrape the flesh off the yucca leaves; a folded piece of aluminum can, the side of a fork, even a spoon. The best was a Tupperware pot scraper against a wood board. Scrape each side of each leaf then pull into thin strands.  Note to self: don't store them twisted in stricts like flax, hard to separate.

Soak the strands in water for just a few minutes, to soften them. Twinned them by holding several strands together, twist one end away from you until it wants to bend in half. Let it and pinch at the twist to hold in place. It's a bit tricky at first. Twist the top section away from you, bring the top section towards you to the bottom. Twist the (new) top section away from you, and put it on the bottom. Repeat. At some point, your sections will run thin, lay new strands in with your top section and twist away.   Repeat, repeat, repeat. Be careful of blisters.

Twinning twine is a mindless, repetitive process. Take your time.

I made my thinner sample first. The first 5' looked great but it was too fragile.  Second try was the thicker sample, nice and strong.

Those 6 leaves made about 15' of 2-ply twine. For 20' of twine strong enough for a pea trellis, I'll need to prep about 20 leaves. I think I'll blanch the leaves to see if that makes scraping easier/faster.

PEP - Natural Medicine - SAND - Harvest, dry, and store willow bark.

My neighbor's Tortured Willow lost a branch in the last storm and asked for help cleaning it up. I cut it into manageable pieces and my 20yo fledgling loaded the SUV. At home, I separated the branches out for propagation experiments and the dead tips to be willow water rooting compound.

Those branches that were easily peeled were set aside for dried willow bark. Small branches, from pencil size to thumb size, were peeled using a folding knife and allowed to air dry. Once dry it is kept in quart jars until needed for decoctions and tinctures.

PEP - Homesteading - Sand - First aid kit

To show you've completed this Badge Bit, you must provide:
  - a before picture of the supplies to create your first aid kit (or of the current status of a first aid kit)
  - a list of the supplies in the first aid kit being created (or a list of supplies in stock and out of stock in the first aid kit)
  - an after picture of the completed first aid kit you made (or of the newly restocked first aid kit)

Current inventory:
Instruction book
Tweezers
Trauma pad
Survival blanket
corn pads for blisters
Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Neomycin
Burn cooling gel
Eye pad
small bandaids
BZK towelettes
all in a hard case.

Needs:
trauma scissors
variety of non-latex bandaids and sterile gauze
medical tape, CoBan
non-latex gloves
Benedryl
albuterol inhaler
tourniquet
instant ice pack
CPR mask
splint, finger splint
triangle cloth
sting relief

~Add final contents pic