Forums:

Wood Burning Stoves 2.0 Kickstarter

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 55391

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

∞

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

So here is what we have added:

$90 - get all four movies in a steaming format

$140 - get all four movies in a streaming format, plus see your name in all four movies

.....

Plus, we added a new "stretch goal": if we hit $100,000 we will make a preview available to those that put in $50 or more. Maybe it will be a half hour chunk of one of the videos. This will be made available in just a few days after the kickstarter is complete.

Xisca Nicolas

pollinator

Posts: 1981

Location: La Palma (Canary island) Zone 11

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Xisca Nicolas wrote:If a DVD is like a CD, I think I should be able to read it in my computer...
...but I do not have any DVD yet!
And sending outside the US cost 10 to 20$ more.

Then I do not understand oral English as well as written English...
So it makes me difficult to take the decision of ordering...

paul wheaton wrote:So here is what we have added:

$90 - get all four movies in a steaming format

$140 - get all four movies in a streaming format, plus see your name in all four movies

Thanks Paul, if I decide myself, then I'd save 30$
And 1 packet less will be transiting over the ocean...

Xisca - pics! Dry subtropical Mediterranean - My project
However loud I tell it, this is never a truth, only my experience...

Robert Ray

gardener

Posts: 3341

Location: Cascades of Oregon

844

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Wow, the goal was reached incredibly fast I'm impressed.

Our inability to change everything should not stop us from changing what we can.

Julia Winter

steward

Posts: 3775

Location: Moved from south central WI to Portland, OR

1023

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Yes for stretch goals!

Paul, the extras don't have to be part of the DVDs--they could be posted on YouTube. It's just that you promise to do "X" once a particular total has been reached. Funny stretch goals are fun, and they can inspire people to throw in a few extra bucks, just to make something they want to see happen.

Ask me about food.
How Permies.com Works (lots of useful links)

Food Prep and Preservation - air badge (verified skill)
Skill verified by Mike Haasl

John Ram

Posts: 31

Location: Gaia, Portugal

posted 12 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

You could have your dvd's captioned to a couple of languages, like spanish, french, russian, chinese... that would secure your most ambitious goals

Linda Sefcik

Posts: 72

Location: Central Oklahoma

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Paul doesn't have land yet??
I was hoping to get with some people and rebuild an old ghost town...
Isn't there a state that will give you land if you clean it up?

"The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time."
--- by Terry Tempest Williams, naturalist

Neil Evansan

Posts: 69

Location: Valley of the Sun

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Linda Sefcik wrote:Paul doesn't have land yet??
I was hoping to get with some people and rebuild an old ghost town...
Isn't there a state that will give you land if you clean it up?

Yes. Certain Inland sections of Southern Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. There might be a few sections in some African Countries, but I'd probably advise against that.

Any Land the United States Federal or State governments would even consider for such a program, you wouldn't want to clean. It would be FAR less expensive, in Money and in Time, to buy good productive Land when you want to live.

I AM a Warrior in whom
the ways of the Olde
enhance the ways of the New

joe pacelli

pollinator

Posts: 91

I like...

posted 12 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Love the idea, love the project, and most especially looking forward to the information.

I like the stretch goals, they compelled me to throw in a few hundred more than I was initially planning.

Located in zone 7b, South Carolina
Host of Grow Your Own: The Budding Revolution!..A weekly permaculture-based live streaming podcast with chat room!
Every Tuesday at 7p eastern, 6p central, 5p mountain, 4p pacific.
Archives and LiveStreaming at:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs0krKyKAZ6lhBLVCjFd15kbiWEvIBFzG

Linda Sefcik

Posts: 72

Location: Central Oklahoma

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Hmm... I thought states were selling everything that wasn't anchored down.
States vs Federal --
It's a time-consuming project, but the county assessors have the records.
Do a zoom on google earth... see if the county, state, city land is used or empty.
I found "Port Discovery" in ghosttowns.com, and it showed a picture of an old
steel building, ready to fall into the ocean.
Clean up might have cost tens of thousands... but... steel is recycleable.
Instead of Washington state spending money... they would have made money.

"The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time."
--- by Terry Tempest Williams, naturalist

Neil Evansan

Posts: 69

Location: Valley of the Sun

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Linda Sefcik wrote:Hmm... I thought states were selling everything that wasn't anchored down.
States vs Federal --
It's a time-consuming project, but the county assessors have the records.
Do a zoom on google earth... see if the county, state, city land is used or empty.
I found "Port Discovery" in ghosttowns.com, and it showed a picture of an old
steel building, ready to fall into the ocean.
Clean up might have cost tens of thousands... but... steel is recyclable.
Instead of Washington state spending money... they would have made money.

Linda, with ALL land, you really need to know the past usages, because "clean-up" more-often-than-not isn't is ecologic or environmental in addition to cosmetic. These clean-ups can be exorbitantly and prohibitively expensive, depending on past uses and misuses. For instance, that steel building you saw might have once been an auto-repair shop that dumped all of it's used oil "out back", or a machine shop that buried all of it's tailing and grease and gunk down the hill. Most of these sites require excavation and replacement of soil of 18" to 48" deep, but I've also seen some go as deep as 8' to 10' (120", 3+ Meters), and even more in extreme cases. You're talking not tens of thousands, but many multiple Hundreds of Thousands of dollars, even into the 7 and 8 figure range. There is a reason these sites remain abandoned.

If you or your Group can somehow convince a Regulatory Agency to test a "Greening the Desert" type project, that might be an avenue from which to approach land restoration or transfer, but do be aware, once transferred into your name or holding entity, the responsibility then falls totally on you to actually clean it up, usually within a rather small period of time.

You are right ..... there are THOUSANDS, but more accurately, Hundreds of Thousands of abandoned sites and properties across the USA (and around the World). it would be a very cool thing to develop systems to bring them back to productivity. I can assure you this ..... those properties do not like sitting unused and unwanted because they were once abused. They want to again be Vital Elements of this Earth. THAT'S Their purpose for existing.

I AM a Warrior in whom
the ways of the Olde
enhance the ways of the New

Jay Grace

Posts: 301

Location: Carbon Hill, AL

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

can't wait for the DVDs to get finished.
$100 is a small investment to save hours upon hours of trouble shooting in the long run.

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 55391

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

∞

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Another reason to help get me past $100,000 on this kickstarter. Not only does it indirectly put money in the coffers for land for the wofati projects, and the "growing lemon trees outdoors in montana" projects, and the "how to get 20 people to live under one roof without stabbing each other" projects, but! It also feeds the assistant-to-paul fund. Which puts a jet pack on all the stuff we are doing here for which there is no income stream.

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 55391

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

∞

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

My land hunt guy just contacted me to tell me about 200 acres I would be able to just barely buy if I got to $100,000 on this kickstarter.

Elia Charalambides

Posts: 78

Location: Boston

posted 12 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I have been contributing to kickstarter projects for years now and have noticed some tactics that help drive "sales""donations""pledges" whatever you call them.

1- The classic stretch goals. The project founder intersperses updates with stretch goals. Contacting the already pledged users with "offers" of bonus content to all if the total goal is reached. Reaper miniatures used this tactic to spectacular effect, starting with a goal of 30k and ending with almost 3.5mil
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1513061270/reaper-miniatures-bones-an-evolution-of-gaming-min?ref=live
For you this could be(these could be free stretch goals or bonus pledge amounts see #2 below):
Free Digital Plans in flavor a, b , c, d, e, f etc but only release them little by little hinting at further releases in stretch goals, but dont make the stretch inconceivable based upon your audience.
Shippable Core flavors a, b, c, d, e etc
High quality Digital photobook of rocket stoves you've seen
High quality printed photobook of rocket stoves you've seen
High Quality digital photobook with plans
High Quality printed photobook with plans
Cobb plans
Cobb Oven Plans
etc etc

2 - This guy started off with a VERY LITTLE known project only wanting 30k and ended up with over 2mil.
How? Well apart from catering very very well to his audience he continuously added updates to the kickstarter. And I mean like every other day. These updates were in the form of more content he would "offer" as an added bonus to his project. But here's the kicker... the pledger could only get the added content if they pledged more. So he got repeat pledges again and again while interspersing the added content with "free" bonus content. He basically used a mixture of stretch goals and expansions users could only get if they paid extra for. This way it made it enticing to both first time pledgers(they get all this extra "free" stuff) and people who have already pledged.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/poots/kingdom-death-monster

3 - Using the Kickstarter page like a frequently updated blog. The more frequent the better. As the underlying goal is to get money there are basically two facets to user acquisition/retention. First is people already pledged see emails in their inbox with updates concerning the kickstarter they pledged for that drives them back to pledge more(these need to actually be valuable reasons to pledge more...not "see your name in X video"). Second are the "not-yet" pledgers. Here the actual Kickstarter video is the gateway. Wherever it exists on the web its the first impression of what you'll be getting for contributing. Frequently updating it with more footage, further polishing it, embedding links to clips with more footage, basically anything that would push that person from "not-yet" to "pledged".

Remember that this kickstarter is not only meant for all those people out there that know what permaculture,rocket stove, etc means but its also a first impression for people who have no idea or have never heard of these things.

Just some thoughts. Hope they help as I would like to see you get some land.
-Elia

Help me develop a design kit for permaculture enthusiasts: http://legendofthegreek.com/permaculture-planning-pack/

Elia Charalambides

Posts: 78

Location: Boston

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

John Ram wrote:You could have your dvd's captioned to a couple of languages, like spanish, french, russian, chinese... that would secure your most ambitious goals

Great idea for a stretch goal!
You could say hold a poll for which languages people want to see first to get an idea if there is demand and if there is then:

Stretch Goal 1:
+1 Language Captions Highest rank on poll

Stretch Goal 2:
+2 Language Captions Second Highest rank on poll

etc.

Help me develop a design kit for permaculture enthusiasts: http://legendofthegreek.com/permaculture-planning-pack/

Elia Charalambides

Posts: 78

Location: Boston

posted 12 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Also I dont know if you are aware of Kicktraq.
Here's your Kickstarter on it:
http://www.kicktraq.com/projects/paulwheaton/wood-burning-stoves-20-the-dvds/

Currently projected at around $105,000

Help me develop a design kit for permaculture enthusiasts: http://legendofthegreek.com/permaculture-planning-pack/

Mark Livett

Posts: 65

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Well I have a book on the subject but it won't hurt to have the DVDs too, a handy update. I signed up for the 4 DVD deal but would much prefer a digital download, I am paying an extra $20 for postage which I would much rather went towards more footage or plans etc.

Plus I don't think any of my latest tablets or net books even has a DVD player and we don't have a TV at home, looks like my sister will be learning about rocket stoves... Maybe stick them on a USB if downloads are not available. It would save all the extra packaging. From what I can gather the oversized plastic packaging for DVDs is so you can have a big picture on the front to catch the shoppers' eyes, as there is no need to convince me to make an impulse purchase there is no need for a big picture on a big box, just more expense and waste.

It is unlikley that I will be able to get hold of any precast parts in Australia, if shipping 4 DVDs costs $20 I would hate to think what posting a lump of concrete would cost.

I am sure there is plenty that could be added to the videos, I am always seeing questions about pellet feeding, using charcoal, making forges, pizza ovens etc. not just using them for heating. I hope some of those questions will be answered in one or other of the DVDs.

Just going around YouTube seeing what people are up to will take hours, ideas like this

which could be explored further.

Great effort and by the looks of the sales (just under $38k) it is an area of much interest. Good luck with the stretch goals, I hope to see some plans or just more things burning

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 55391

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

∞

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Stretch goal: I have extra footage of glass in two rocket mass heaters - so you can see the fire. If we hit $100,000, I will put this video on youtube within seven days of the end of the kickstarter.

Julia Winter

steward

Posts: 3775

Location: Moved from south central WI to Portland, OR

1023

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Elia, those are great suggestions, thanks for offering them. I hope some of them are incorporated into the Kickstarter campaign.

Paul and minions, I notice that the campaign is not connected to Facebook, but I know you have a Facebook presence, because I'm following you there. Please have your Facebook minion work that angle. Have you tried sending out an email with reasons to pledge up more money to all of those who have already pledged? I know you are busy, but this is a project that is making money, and it needs attention right now! I checked that website that makes projections about total intake. You are NO LONGER trending towards something over $100K. You are now trending towards something over $80K. Nice, but not what you were hoping for.

Your stretch goal was just tossed onto the Kickstarter web page at the top--kind of lame. Work that Kickstarter!

(I am doing what I can--I logged into the Permaculture website that noted your project in order to leave an enthusiastic comment and I've gone back there a couple of times to continue the conversation. I've plugged your project on GardenFork.tv and EarthEats.com. I wrote up your podcast #241 and included multiple plugs for the Kickstarter project in that. So, don't think I'm sitting here in my kitchen just pointing at the furniture that needs to be moved--I'm doing what I can. Which isn't much, but today it also includes yelling at y'all to do a few more things.)

1 - The classic stretch goals. The project founder intersperses updates with stretch goals. Contacting the already pledged users with "offers" of bonus content to all if the total goal is reached. Reaper miniatures used this tactic to spectacular effect, starting with a goal of 30k and ending with almost 3.5mil
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1513061270/reaper-miniatures-bones-an-evolution-of-gaming-min?ref=live
For you this could be(these could be free stretch goals or bonus pledge amounts see #2 below):
Free Digital Plans in flavor a, b , c, d, e, f etc but only release them little by little hinting at further releases in stretch goals, but dont make the stretch inconceivable based upon your audience.
Shippable Core flavors a, b, c, d, e etc
High quality Digital photobook of rocket stoves you've seen
High quality printed photobook of rocket stoves you've seen
High Quality digital photobook with plans
High Quality printed photobook with plans
Cobb plans
Cobb Oven Plans
etc etc

2 - This guy started off with a VERY LITTLE known project only wanting 30k and ended up with over 2mil.
How? Well apart from catering very very well to his audience he continuously added updates to the kickstarter. And I mean like every other day. These updates were in the form of more content he would "offer" as an added bonus to his project. But here's the kicker... the pledger could only get the added content if they pledged more. So he got repeat pledges again and again while interspersing the added content with "free" bonus content. He basically used a mixture of stretch goals and expansions users could only get if they paid extra for. This way it made it enticing to both first time pledgers(they get all this extra "free" stuff) and people who have already pledged.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/poots/kingdom-death-monster

3 - Using the Kickstarter page like a frequently updated blog. The more frequent the better. As the underlying goal is to get money there are basically two facets to user acquisition/retention. First is people already pledged see emails in their inbox with updates concerning the kickstarter they pledged for that drives them back to pledge more(these need to actually be valuable reasons to pledge more...not "see your name in X video"). Second are the "not-yet" pledgers. Here the actual Kickstarter video is the gateway. Wherever it exists on the web its the first impression of what you'll be getting for contributing. Frequently updating it with more footage, further polishing it, embedding links to clips with more footage, basically anything that would push that person from "not-yet" to "pledged".

Remember that this kickstarter is not only meant for all those people out there that know what permaculture,rocket stove, etc means but its also a first impression for people who have no idea or have never heard of these things.

Ask me about food.
How Permies.com Works (lots of useful links)

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 55391

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

∞

I like...

posted 12 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

saturday: fly to sandy eggo and attend dinner for me with a bunch of lovely people
sunday: drive two hours to LA, give two presentations, drive back
monday: view site of upcoming workshop then have dinner with old friend
tuesday: write keynote speech.
wed, thu, fri: teach earthworks workshop
sat, sun: keynote at southern cal convergence
mon: fly back to seattle
tue: try to catch up on things
wed: go to ernie and erica's for very important stuff
thu: go to mike oehler's for very important stuff
fri: go home
sat: try to catch up, and go look at land

There are three movies (documentaries) where they want me to be in the movie and two radio shows. Plus the negotiations to appear in a bunch of really big web sites, or get a mention on several really big mailing lists.

I thought I would have more time to put to the kickstarter, but it seems that the kickstarter has brought me a lot of excellent attention for all of the empire.

To make things trickier: adrien is moving, so he is going to be less available for a few weeks.

So, when you point out "right now!" you are absolutely right. And, at the same time, there are about 70 other things that also qualify for "right now". I'm afraid that about 45 are going to be pushed off a bit.

Julia Winter

steward

Posts: 3775

Location: Moved from south central WI to Portland, OR

1023

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I know! I know! I know you are horribly busy right now.

Anybody ELSE know who is doing the social networking stuff for Paul? 'cause I don't. I just worry that things have momentum, and then they lose momentum. It's a success already, and that's incredibly cool. I just want it to be MORE of a success. Success tends to breed success, in my experience, but it needs a nudge sometimes.

Maybe Elia could be a Kickstarter minion?? Elia, you up for that?

Ask me about food.
How Permies.com Works (lots of useful links)

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 55391

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

∞

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Cassie does the social network stuff.

Cassie Rauk

pollinator

Posts: 92

Location: Southeast MN (Zone 5b)

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I am trying to walk the fine line between plugging the Kickstarter as much as possible on SM without being too annoying. The fearing being that people will get annoyed and unlike and unfollow. I am working on sharing what others have posted on the kickstarter so it is not just Paul talking about himself it is other people talking about how great he is. So if you come across any blog posts or the like that talk about the kickstarter let me know and I will share them.

If you have any suggestions of things that I can do it work the kickstarter, please let me know

Cassie

Julia Winter

steward

Posts: 3775

Location: Moved from south central WI to Portland, OR

1023

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Cassie, this is what I'm talking about: when I go to the Kickstarter campaign page, over on the right side of the page is a sky blue box about Paul. It's got a picture of Paul, and underneath it says "2 projects, 2 backed" and under that there's a little Facebook icon and it says "has not connected Facebook" (And then under that it has permies.com as the website.)

I don't actually know what happens when the Kickstarter campaign is "connected" to Facebook, but it looks like there is an opportunity for networking here. I could be wrong.

Ask me about food.
How Permies.com Works (lots of useful links)

Cassie Rauk

pollinator

Posts: 92

Location: Southeast MN (Zone 5b)

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I see what you mean. I am not sure if I can do it from my end since Paul created the kickstarter. I am talking with him this evening and will run it by him then.

Ryan Barrett

gardener

Posts: 155

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Elia mentioned
http://www.kicktraq.com/projects/paulwheaton/wood-burning-stoves-20-the-dvds/
I had just been looking at this earlier today.

They have a backer breakdown by day. I've not started any kickstarter projects so I've not seen the backend tools available on the actual kickstarter.

Anywho... There was a little bump on Feb-26th. Was that the NPR appearance?
Whatever it was, do more of that

Ryan

Random Stuff I do/like: 2matoes

Julia Winter

steward

Posts: 3775

Location: Moved from south central WI to Portland, OR

1023

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I followed Ryan's link and suggested some tags for Paul's Kickstarter. I suggested eco, survival, and technology. They haven't shown up, but if you went there now and did it (yes, I mean you!

You know who you are. . . No, actually I mean all of you.

) then maybe his project would have some tags and that would help random people find it, or something.

Hmmmm, maybe I could write a diary at DailyKos. Think--what communities do you belong to who might have some people who would be interested in these DVDs? It's been getting about 15 backers a day, but that's not going to be enough to meet Paul's goal. Currently the projection is for a total in-between $62K and $83K.

Ask me about food.
How Permies.com Works (lots of useful links)

Fred Harris

Posts: 4

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/build-underground-greenhouse-garden-year-round.html

plus a rocket stove year round for for cold climates

Phil Hawkins

gardener

Posts: 228

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I would have happily contributed to this Kickstarter, however I had already pledged a bunch of cash to the other Kickstarter RMH DVD project featuring the Wisners.

I'm sort of pissed off ... well, not really, I just wish that I had been able to make one project super strong rather than having resources split across two projects. It sounds like this project is much larger in scope, and (no offence to Mr Kennett) I would rather have ended up with the more detailed set of DVDs this project is producing, and I'm not going to buy both.

Then again, that's the free market, and I volunteered my cash, so it's my problem. I guess it would have been nice to feel like I was supporting the Wisner RMH DVD project, rather than just one of them.

Pamela Mara

Posts: 2

Location: Monticello North Florida USA

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

paul wheaton wrote:http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulwheaton/wood-burning-stoves-20-the-dvds

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulwheaton/wood-burning-stoves-20-the-dvds

[Great stove. Looks like an improved version of the camp fire stove we (Trinity College Cantab. Scout and guide club)used in the 60's at Woodlarks paraplegic scout and guide camp site. Like to build one of these.

Speak to the earth and it shall teach thee. Job 12:8

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 55391

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

∞

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

We have six days left and we have added two more stretch goals for if we hit $100,000:

#1: everybody that got the four DVD set will get a fifth DVD of extra footage. It will be whatever wacky stuff we can come up with: outtakes, raw footage, all the stuff currently on youtube, any raw footage for rocket stoves or rocket mass heaters that I never put up on youtube, ALL of the paul wheaton permaculture podcasts .... all sorts of stuff. But it will probably be for computers to read, not for DVD players.

#2: everybody that got the four DVD set will also get the streaming stuff for free.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulwheaton/wood-burning-stoves-20-the-dvds

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 55391

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

∞

I like...

posted 12 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

About to head out to ernie and erica's. We will be discussing the shippable core.

So I won't have much on-line time for a couple of days.

And then I really want to put every spec of everything I can think of into getting to $100,000.

I think the rewards are already pretty excellent. The only other things I can think of are things that would, in themselves, add a lot of work. Which can be awkward if only one person gets that reward. What might be an awesome reward for one person at, say, $8000?

What are some other "stretch goals" to add for folks that have put in $100?

nathan luedtke

Posts: 165

posted 12 years ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

It seems like crossing the 100k line is your highest priority, primarily due to reasons of land search. After KS fees, taxes, and fulfillment, youll net somewhere between 60-75% of that (estimated). You've wisely avoided physical rewards other than the DVD set, so your fullfillment should be relatively easy. Considering this, you need 2 basic things- more backers, and for existing backers to increase their contributions. You can get more backers by just doing more marketing, but it sounds like you're going to be going dark for a bit. So you also want to increase some existing backer contributions.

I KNOW this creates more work for you, but could you maybe offer your time as a backer reward? For Example, if you back the project at a $300 level, you get the movies, and a half hour (or whatever) with Paul on the phone or Skype. This could go for Ernie and Erica as well. Call it the "Check my plans" reward. Watch the movies, plan a system, then have a pro look over the plans.

Or do it eHD style like Darren is doing. Back the project at a certain level (or increase your pledge- i'm not sure where you'd want to price this) and you'll get an access code to a 2-hour seminar/Q&A with Ernie and Erica- that way you don't have to deal with individual clients one by one. Scheduling could be an issue. Maybe give the backers a choice- you get an access code to the seminar, or if you can't make it, you get to view the seminar recording and E&E or Paul will answer one email (500 words minimum. For Erica, 1500. Because she's prolix. (Just Kidding, Erica)) This would give current backers an incentive to increase their pledges, and maybe draw in some new backers as well.

I hope this is at least in the ballpark of things you would find helpful. If you want me to develop any of these ideas further please let me know.

Richard Kutscher

Posts: 74

Location: Sun seeker - on the road

posted 12 years ago

2
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I would like to plug the idea of adding the ability to purchase RMH plans (Ernie and Erica's to the kickstarter, pending their approval). If sold a measly 200 6 inch plans, that would add $4,000 to the kickstarter, and you would e-mail to the backers, bypassing Scubbly fees. 75% of leftover would probably go to Ernie and Erica and am guessing you would keep the rest (similar to the $4.00 affiliate link idea).

The kickstarter fees are actually less than Scubly for purchasing the 6 inch plans. Scubbly charges $2.17 (according to all fees listed), while Kickstarter would charge between $1.60 and $2.00.

With stretch goals, since already over $50,000, could add intermediate goals at the $75K or $80K level as lower level candy (everyone likes candy). One idea would be to create a box set for people who purchase the 4 DVD's, instead of individual DVD's (understand?). Or could add an interview of some existing RMH owner/builders to show how they have adapted, tweaked, and enjoy their RMH installs. Also be ready to come up with more stretch goals at the $125 and $150K levels.

Keep going after publicity, maybe the radio again or see if other people can publicize it more. This should be nonstop for the last couple days, as that is when the amounts typically balloon up. Generally things happen hot and heavy in last 24 hours, at least in some of the ones I have backed.

One last edit.. Keep your eye on something greater than the $100K goal. Amazing things happen when reach for the stars.

Xisca Nicolas

pollinator

Posts: 1981

Location: La Palma (Canary island) Zone 11

I like...

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

6 days left?
Can't you extend the period for reaching the goal?

I have a question:
What is "All four movies streamed. ... You can watch it over and over for at least a couple of years."

Streamed? Will it be possible to download?
I do not have a good internet connexion, hardly enough for skype with the video...
So I would like to get something I can rely on without being on-line.

And I did not want to have dvd at home (I have almost nothing appart from a computer, a camera and a washing machine!),
nor did I want to favor transport...

Xisca - pics! Dry subtropical Mediterranean - My project
However loud I tell it, this is never a truth, only my experience...

Mike Underhill

Posts: 53

Location: N. Sac. Valley

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Looking for new vids of Paul speaking I came across a new (to me) channel for RMHs:

http://www.youtube.com/channel/HCkJLIgj61XfY

Thought some y'all might wanna subscribe.

I like this sort of thing.

nathan luedtke

Posts: 165

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Another way to increase current pledges without adding a bunch more work would be for backers to increase their contribution to pay extra for a "ticket" to an RMH workshop/event in the future. The key is that the backer gets to use it at their leisure, as long as they can coordinate transportation. My thought is that E&E are for sure going to do more RMH workshops in the future, so it is not really extra work for them if they have an extra attendee from this campaign. This could be another reward tier that gets shared with E&E of course.

Becky Mundt

Posts: 50

Location: Cascadia Zone 8b Clay

posted 12 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

As someone who is a backer and would do more to get more I have to say two things are really piquing my interest:
1. Plans - a real set of plans for the RMH for a standard indoor/home installation - see above comments this all makes sense to me
2. A materials list of what materials have been successfully used for making RMH's -
For me, I'd say videos are great except that they don't really give you the ability to DO a thing - well I mean you can get the idea and
general information but the serious details and the actual planning for building one of these things to fit into your home is a bigger
deal. We have a stick built home on a cement slab - I want to build one of these RMH's which is why I am a backer but I know
perfectly well that this info will not be enough to really do it.

So if you don't do plans or a materials list with specs etc or even if you DO then I would vote for a live/skype/online event where
backers can come on and ask questions and etc for a couple of hours - this would be huge for those serious about actually doing
the job of building a RMH - and would appeal to those backers who are not just interested in geting some vids and some info but
actuallyw ant to DO this.

But if you are seriously going to be off line and out of pocket for the next few days I do not think you can realistically expect
to do what it takes to meet your goal. I think there are plenty of comments here that address those issues so I won't belabor it,
but you have to decide what is more important to you, obviously.

I doubt you can ratchet up another 30K in 2 days without some serious work ahead of time to get it moving - people will not
have time to respond.

Lots of good ideas and insight here - this is an awesome thread regardless of what it turns out you have the time or energy to do
with it all.

I've also posted it here and yon - shared it on facebook and etc but with so little time left, you'd need to really focus in on it
now to get where youwant to go, I'm afraid.

Believe in a better world. then follow the inspiration to create it!

Rion Mather

Posts: 644

posted 12 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Which shippable core are you offering? There are a couple on the web.

http://donkey32.proboards.com/

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 55391

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

∞

I like...

posted 12 years ago

1
Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Nathan, good call. I got the okay from ernie and erica and added a DVDs + consulation as a reward.

On-line workshop: I suppose I might jump on this if I had an idea of how many people would do it PLUS if I had experience with it. Maybe we should set something up with the 94 sometime and try that out. Maybe start a new thread in the tinkering forum?

I have never sensed the force being as strong as in this tiny ad:

List of Rocket Mass Heater Builders

https://permies.com/wiki/122347/List-Rocket-Mass-Heater-Builders