New to the site and permaculture

I found this site today and it looks pretty interesting. I live in a city and have a small yard, but I've been reading magazines like the backwoodsman and new pioneer wondering what I can do to generate resources and commodities on my little lot. I've tried to post questions and replies on some threads, but there's a thing about apples and I ain't got none.

Hey Wade! Welcome to permies! The apple dealio is explained in this thread.

Thank you Cassie! I'm not new to the internet or forums, but I doubt I would have found that thread without you.
I've read through some other stuff and found that I need to have apples to make some posts, but right now I'm stuck in this introductory thread - do I need to post some super impressive stuff to get me some apples to attain the ability to make posts in broader threads?
And about the '94' each being given 10 apples each - does that mean there's only 940 apples? If there's only 940 apples available (without looking at Paul's supply), does that mean that I'd need to be way ahead of the curve to get to post? I'm new to all of this, but I'm no dummy and hope I can contribute some thoughts and experience - but as a newbie how do I grow without apples to at least ask questions to posts I'm curious about?

X-
WW

Wade, you can post to every forum except the forums in the The Cider Press.

Cassie, your apple level should be over 9000. I keep pulling through the site and the basic information that you've shared with me isn't to be found! I can't even find a newbie guide. I'm gathering that this is all a cultural and community thing, but it's hard to grow stuff if the tenderfoot's don't know how to start getting plugged in.

Would you be a dear, and advise how I can start earning apples so that I can get into the cider press? The forum portions that you let me know I can post to already aren't anything special - I can talk politics and philosophy with folks at the bar - I'm here for permaculture meat and not general discussion milk. The site doesn't make it clear as to how I can begin the process of "getting in" to know folks and exchange ideas.

Also, if this apple thing were more open, as a prior service member I wouldn't give you an apple, I'd give you the fruit cocktail MRE pouch. It lasts longer, it trades better (MRE chow is either boss, or toss - so you'd have a major barter value for your side), and you might even get a sliver of cherry in your pouch! I should grant you full disclosure and state that I do not know for certain that there are cherry slivers in the MRE pouches (of my time), when I got to eat them it was zero-dark-thirty, in the dark, and the mission was pressing so you didn't eat the pouch contents as much as you cut a corner of the bag and sucked it down while you had a second. On a tangent, vegetarian MRE's are generally preferable over all others because they are more "wet", so you can suck those out of the bag and not need as much water to drink to pass your bagged meal. More tangent, Chicken Cavatelli MRE is the single best entrée I ever encountered - I'd actually save the entrée and heater from missions to actually warm and enjoy on my base time. More also, Olive Garden is not an authentic Itallian restaurant, because after my service, the first time I went there they told me the do not serve chicken cavatelli, nor do they know what it is. Lastly, I know it's not real cheese because the pouch calls it cheese spread, but the bacon cheddar cheese spread is still something I crave to this day from time to time. Funny how blood and guts and endless nights can make you crave some crap you know isn't really food, when you're wanting to get into sustainable food. At least there isn't Government issued bacon-cheese spread substitute for me to get hooked on in the way there is methadone for heroin.

Hahaha Wade, the cider press is where politics DO get discussed. so you CAN'T post in there. but you CAN post in all of the other permaculture forums, as you so desire!

Here is a link to get you better acquainted with the site: How permies.com works (links to useful threads)

here are a list of all the different forums: https://permies.com/forums

Try clicking on any one of those EXCEPT the cider press, and you will be able to make new posts and ask questions and reply as much as you'd like!

Cassie -

I wasn't joking - certain components of MRE's much contain some sort of addictive substance to try and maintain service member numbers!

In my first day of joining and posting, it has been a joy to trade posts with you, but I still want a path to get in on the "in". How do I do that.

And, may I be so bold to inquire what you exposure and experience with MRE's have been? I've definitely got the taste for them (both good and bad), and though they aren't perma staples they can be fine emergency fall backs. I don't have iApples to give ya, but at the least I can help you figure which MRE's suck less if you ever invest in them for SHTF situations (or become the cheese product addict that I am. I don't even like jalepenos, but the jalepeno cheddar spread is outstanding!)

X-
WW

Wade - have you found the whole list of forums? Here's a link - permies forums

You can post in all of them, except the cider press forums. Go and play!

The more you post, and the more people like your stuff or find it helpful, the more apples you'll pick up on the way, which will entitle you to post in the restricted forums about politics and religion and toxic gick. Most of the moderators aren't really very interested in moderating in there, and those topics are a lot of work to keep running smooth, so they are restricted to people who have already collected apples. But just join in with the main forums and you'll get the hang of it. Enjoy!

The meat (and the vegan!) of permaculture is in the many other forums. The cider press is not the main course here at permies, it is just a little social experiment to see if people on the internet can discuss sensitive topics and stay within the guidelines of permies' "be nice" policy.

I hope by now you've seen the forums list and understand what I mean.

Hello Wade,

Welcome to Permies!

The "Political Stuff" is of little note or focus for probably 99.9% of us here...Occasionally each of us may see something or have questions about something "out in the world," but for the most part, we are here to help each other learn how to, "move softly on the land," and live as much a permaculture lifestyle as each of us is able...That is the primary focus.

Thoughts about MREs while interesting, seldom are a topic of focus, and as an "inactive" U.S. Marine myself...they are not something I have given much thought about. They were "iicky" 20 years ago, "icky" 5 years ago, and very "icky" just last summer when a student wanted me to taste one again......They got the job done in feeding us, but could be improved...not really a "permaculture subject matter" nevertheless.

Wade wrote:...how I can start earning apples so that I can get into the cider press? The forum portions...I can post to already aren't anything special...I'm here for permaculture meat and not general discussion milk... The site doesn't make it clear as to how I can begin the process of "getting in" to know folks and exchange ideas..."

Hmmm...I was a bit confused by the above comment...... as a "topic forum moderator" in certain sections my, I have friends and students read and share all the time. These many different forums on all manner of very important "permaculture topics" from architecture, to indigenous life skills, is the "meat" of the forum.

The "Cider Press" is really not anything to be focused on and I think I may have gone ther maybe a dozen times and only because someone asked me a direct question or linked me there....Its just not a focal point of this forum.

If anyone wants to have a "safe place" to come and learn from some of the best aspiring and practicing permaculturalist in the country (if not the world) this is the place to be...and why I was so happy and honored to join myself. If "politics and debate about esoteric topics" is a focus" there are many websites and forum more "normative" to such discussions than anyone will find here.

Wade wrote:Also, if this apple thing were more open

The "apple thing" is very open...

Actually it is so open I think I had 6 of them before I even really noticed them appearing next to my name, and after 9 I finally had to ask..."Hey folks what is up with those little apple things?" I was told that the are give out when folks really like the way you have shared something, a question you have asked, or the information you have shared is really helpful or informative...

Doing any of those things in a productive and consistent manner will get you more apples than you could want. However, apples should not really be a goal here...Ask insightful questions that lead to new learning, experiment with permaculture concepts that interest you and share the results, meet others like us out in the world and bring them here, and study as much as you can...bringing back everything new that may be of benefit to making all of us better at having a "lighter foot print." I have found that those things I just listed are the really important things for me in learning as much as I can, and It "seems" to work well for others too...

So, please "jump in" as there are hundreds if not thousands of hours of reading on all manner of subject in sustainable living here on these pages and that doesn't even cover the links I have personally shared to other locations and subject matter...

Good Luck, and Welcome,

j

Looks like I've got of stuff to look into and forums to study. Thanks for your patience with the new guy!