Hi Cassie,
While I was watching your video blog with the round door for wafati, I thought you mentioned that Paul put together a blurb about native plants. I can't find it anywhere. Can you direct me to it? Thanks in advance

Here it is!


http://www.permies.com/t/41008/plants/dark-side-native-plant-enthusiasm

Behind the scenes. Yes, my tripod IS indeed a garbage can with several bricks on top...... Don't judge people.

From a bright and sunny california! Happy Monday!

I was thinking that your "tripod" might be stacking of functions. Sorry, couldn't resist.

awesome video, and great "studio", you stack functions in a very precise way, I noticed even the bricks create a pattern, permies in the air!

Sneaky you put it before the video so I had to back up to find it.
One problem with your studio you need to adjust the position of the camera mount with the time of day. The light was sneaking between the boards and making a lens flare that distorted your face from time to time.

Thanks for the tip!

Is it just me or does it look like a special spotlight from the sun is shining directly on my head only? I was trying to work in some angel-esque pun but I just couldn't swing it.. Darn. Next time.




The Threads I Mention in the video:


How to Win Around the World in 80 Plants:
http://permies.com/t/43853

My video about the Love-Shack/Porta-Cabin:
http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/list/43079#344923

Livestock First-Aid Kit Thread:
http://permies.com/t/43673

How to Optimize Chicken Rotation for Year-Round Eggs:
http://permies.com/t/43719

What Plants Talk About Documentary:
http://permies.com/t/26120

Urban Lumber Thread:
http://permies.com/t/33109

The "Where are they now" of Hugelkultur Beds:
http://permies.com/t/38349

Permaculture Voices Conference 2015 :
http://permies.com/t/40780

Sunshine, no sleeves. Your weather is making me very very jealous.

Perks of being a Californian! I lived the first 21 years of my life in Montana though.. So I feel your pain.

It's nice to see that photo of Toby, Paul, Willie, and Diego keep popping up. Glad I took it!

So I have been thinking about my permies.com news videos quite a bit and I have REALLY been enjoying doing them, and I know that people around permies enjoy them too. BUT, I started doing them with the hopes that it would help build the empire, and in turn infect more brains with permaculture. However, it doesn't really seem to be as successful as I thought it would be. It seems that the only people really watching them are people who are already at permies.com. I kind of thought that people would share them more, or something. I don't know.

So I am kind of stumped. I don't want to stop doing them, but at the same time it seems like I could be spending the time it takes me to prepare, shoot, and edit these doing other things for the empire that have a bigger affect. I'm just really torn. Thoughts?



There was torrential downpour in CA this weekend so this one is from my room again.



Threads I mention:


How to win Permaculture in Pots:
http://permies.com/t/44119

Homemade Tea Blends From Your Harvest:
http://permies.com/t/43981

What is a Perennial Plant You Can't Live Without?
http://permies.com/t/43892

A Couple of Pics From Wheaton Labs:
http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/list/120/24511#344652

Permaculture Chickens Kickstarter:
http://permies.com/t/43908


Vote on the Title for Paul's Rocket Mass Heater DVD Kickstarter:
http://permies.com/t/44021

Winter Chicken Houses or Coops:
http://permies.com/t/10102

Inoculating a Manure Pile:
http://permies.com/t/43173

Biodynamic Tree Paste:
http://permies.com/t/2890

Largest Wood Carving in the WORLD:
http://permies.com/t/44030

Cassie, would you consider doing a live google hangout weekly or bi-weekly instead of the video? Perhaps choose a few hot topics or things of interest and have a small panel of permies just chat it up. I'd be willing to give it a go if asked to participate. Actual permies.com members doing face to face discussion and allowing others to watch live or later as well as comment and ask questions may bring in a whole new audience of Participators. Forums are good but nothing beats sitting around a campfire and working things out in real time. Also... it could be monetized in many many ways.

Your videos are about the only way I'm able to keep track of goings on at permies. I vote you keep them going

Cassie, I think your vlogs are awesome and I, too, would hate to see them stop.

Monetizing is a great idea, but it's difficult to do until the traffic is there, I think. Paul would know more in that space.

My thoughts are that there's a bit of a dichotomy between the audiences. I think permies forum users, and those who read the daily-ish e-mail, might not be as much about YouTube. And vice versa.

I'm wondering if there's a way to target, re-format, or feature your vlogs more for YouTube consumers. Though I don't know what that might mean.

Cassie
Please keep doing your video blogs!! They are really great! It has become how I keep up with Permies news and it has definitely gotten me to make more comments. I find myself delving into more forums as well. I think perhaps a longer film of you and Permies could be in your future. Kinda like Alice in Wonderland but it could be Cassie in Permieland!
That could be the outreach to the uninitiated you were speaking of perhaps.
Just please consider continuing if you have the time and energy!
Thank you for the dedication.
Barbara
PS thanks for following up on the Livestock Guardian book prize, I got it in the mail today and it is wonderful!!

I don't want you to neglect important things in your life, but I do think the videos are marvelous and can get people to return to permies.com more often and participate more.

(On this last video you weren't looking at the camera - it made me want to glance over to my right to see what you were looking at!)

Anyway, I love the videos and you always point out something I didn't know existed. I don't know how much time it takes, though. That's an important factor.

Hi Cassie,
I love your blogs. They make people excited about permaculture. I think you are getting people to get interested in permaculture in a more social way. Besides, I think lots of guys watch them because you're a cute girl.
John S
PDX OR

I agree with Ian, your videos are the only way I can get a handle on the big (and small) developments in the forums! I have to give you a very big thank you for that.

If you want to increase your viewership, you might consider doing an occasional video that delves into one particular topic. I feel like a video primer / overview / forum topic summary on one subject might have greater appeal on youtube outside of the already established permies family.

I dont know if you've ever checked out Vsauce's channel on YouTube (if you / anyone hasn't, you / they definitely should) but for whatever reason I feel like you could be the permaculture version of Michael.

Cheers!

While I agree that you're cute, and sexy and.. ok back to topic.
Even if most of the views are from permies that's not a bad thing, You have OUR attention; honestly you likely have more video attention than the rest on permies right now. You are considering giving it up? Gibb's smack!

So how do we get your videos shared out to other people? Pick a hot social topic that others want to share to the less informed or less inspired. You don't have to try to turn a Permie (we already have your attention), give a concept to a "normal" that will become a Permie. WE already speak your language, speak to those that don't understand it. Let us spread it to those that need a helping hand. Put 1-2 minutes for the neophyte in the middle of your videos and let us sell THAT concept. Don't aim at the newbie, rather speak to them in the middle of the message to the rest of the the permies. They will take the new concept and assimilate the other concepts as well.

Cassie, you don't have to force your videos, they're well on the way. Just add short "hot topics" that permies folks want to share to social media for the less enlightened. 1 minute per topic no more than 2 per episode. In between you get to give the permies message, you get to show progress, you get to teach permaculture.

Nobody else has a weekly permaculture video blog, Don't stop or I'll take the space and make my millions er.. whatever.

That being said, I like what you do for me as a permie.

Hi Cassie. I love the blogs too and have shared a couple on fb. I'd be happy to share them all, especially if that would help to convince you to keep them coming. As long as you still have the time and energy of course.

Please keep the videos coming even if it is just for us permies. That just makes the grass that much greener on this side of the fence, and THAT WILL draw more people in. When non-permie folk see us permie folk all happy and giddy and excited about gardening and permaculture in the middle of winter when it could be the furthest thing from possible in their minds. We gotta have a way to get through the off-season and your videos have certainly helped to ease the effect of winter stir-craziness. It's a way for all of us permies to stray connected to things happening at base-camp. It's a tie-back to the daily-ish email and gives a visual to go along with what's been read. Even though I haven't actively participated as much (actually this post here might dis-prove that idea) I have been visiting the forums more especially when something comes across as really exciting, which is an effect not quite as well translated in text form.

It could be argued that building the experience within permies does help to build the empire. It's part of what makes it great to be a permie.

Please, keep 'em comin'.

I agree with much of what's been said before.

Especially, if you want to draw in a bigger audience / conquer the world, I think the videos need to be more about one specific topic. So the title of the video is clear nad people can learn something from each video. At the moment your lovely bubbly videos are great but they're basically a visual RSS feed, and to somebody that isn't on permies it's a bit difficult to decipher

So, keep 'em coming, but if you want to diversify, have mini instructional videos about a particular topic. what comes to mind is paul's video collage about comfrey or dandelions.

keep rockin' it cassie!

Dear Cassie, keep going for now we are maybe more permies that wtach the vlogs but thats no problem. I think one thing could be dividing more the vlog form the dailyish mail. You have been doing both for the last weeks and that probably gets you thinking you're doubling the work uselessly, the dailyish mail for me is more a sort of hugelmail your vlog is more of a polycultlog
You should keep them separate. the vlog could focus more on creating attention on forums or posts that may be a bit left out, like the bike one of this week. You could use the vlog to speak more of the projects that get the attention fo the staff on permies, like the france one. try to creat on the vlogs a polyuculture of subjects that have a thread that ties them.
On the vlog it is nice to share the book promotions that bring people to sign up on the dailyish mail
Then why not try to use the vlog more on socialmedias like Facebook, that serves a lot, there are some good permaculture groups on FB that have a lot of members, select some even with our help around the world and the show will have more visions
I've past some permies.com forums on the italian permaculture FB group and now know for sure that more people from here visit the forums. now other people share your forums on the FB group.
try to set to different channels for sharing.
the daliyish is for permies, and has to be always spoken of on the vlogs to make people click and want to sign up.
the vlog I think is more for youtube/FB channels or groups. why don't you ask Paul to put the vlogs on his youtube channel that surely has more viewers even because people that just look up for videos on permaculture nearly always jump up with one of Pauls high in the search list, so maybe going to his channel they would get curious about the vlog, that could well visible on the top of his channel.
Hope you continue
a presto

Cassie! I love your videos! I wouldn't hunt around or explore the Permies site without having you to call my attention to particular threads. I don't spend much time at the computer without a focus or purpose--you give me that purpose. Your videos help to bind this big community together---they make me feel like I am a part of the larger community. Keeping us all informed about threads, books, and projects is HUGE! You are an excellent journalist and I vote to keep going!

As things stand, the videos are more or less a video version of the email. A lot of people have liked them short and sweet. I already voiced my own sentiment for liking them to be more in depth. I like some of the idea of having multiple videos where you focus on one topic in each, but suspect that would be too time consuming for you. No matter what way you go, I would like to see them keep coming.

The email, while it carries the voice of whichever person wrote it, doesn't hold the same impact. I think just about everyone will agree that you are very charming on camera. Your vibrancy and love of life come across clearly on video in a way that isn't possible through text. It is an instantly likable person sitting across from us that we are greeted by when we open the videos and once someone has opened them, I doubt they will want you to stop doing them.

Your concern is that they aren't having a large impact outside of Permies, but one thing writing has taught me is that it takes time to build momentum. Each video may only reach one or two new people, but that adds those two to the list. After twenty, you've now got a small following. After a hundred, your building up a force. Moreover, of those, some are going to become members here, which will make it seem that only Permies are watching, but how many of those Permies are here because they first saw your bright smile inviting them in?

I love the vlogs & the daily email. Keeps me updated as this site is huge !! But it is audience specific so not sure who I would share it with. Maybe a gateway topic that would interest more people who aren't on here already ? Like an existing problem permies have solved & a video showing the solution ?

I think you are doing great work don't stop now. I suggest a video review segment. Permaculture videos & related issues for muggles & new and old permies.

Okay, I did some brief YouTube channel research. Look at these pages (which you might have already):

VergePermaculture videos - highest views are on an RMH workshop, rainwater harvesting, and how Joel Salatin makes $$

Tony Flint videos - (I know Tony! He's doing cool stuff!) highest views were on rabbit slaughter and pastured pigs (likely due to Polyface in the name?)

Ben Falk videos - best views on a TEDx talk and another NE Organic Farming Conference talk (other social media support?)

Permaculture Voices videos - best views on (1) Ben Falk's 10 Yrs, (2) Salatin's Next Gen, (3) Paul Wheaton's Building a Better World, and (4) Geoff Lawton's Tipping Point - I think all these are due each speaker's network combined with PV's social media skills

Possible videos - building on the successes of both the Permaculture Orchard and Permaculture Skills Kickstarters, and again showing food growing skills, this channel is building some decent views

So my takeaways for more viewers are (1) feature a specific skill or technique - especially RMH or food systems, and (2) tap into other social media networks or huge search terms.

Many people have mentioned these things in this thread, but I just thought specific examples were pretty enlightening.

Hi okay wow, that was really special to read all of that feedback. You guys are too good to me! Thank you everyone for all your kind words.

Anyway, I am going to reply to each person's post individually, but here is the bottom line: When I look at our stats for permies, pretty much NONE of our traffic comes from youtube(like one person a day). That is the main problem. Because that is our main goal. More traffic to permies from outside sources, (i.e youtube) means more "normies"(non-permies) learning about permaculture, which is the ULTIMATE goal. So I look at those stats and I sort of just get discouraged because it's like okay I put about 3-4 hours of work a week into this, and it's not bringing anyone new in.

Craig Dobbelyu wrote:Cassie, would you consider doing a live google hangout weekly or bi-weekly instead of the video? Perhaps choose a few hot topics or things of interest and have a small panel of permies just chat it up. I'd be willing to give it a go if asked to participate. Actual permies.com members doing face to face discussion and allowing others to watch live or later as well as comment and ask questions may bring in a whole new audience of Participators. Forums are good but nothing beats sitting around a campfire and working things out in real time. Also... it could be monetized in many many ways.

I like the IDEA of that. The actual implementation of something like that, seems way confusing to the average joe, and seems like a LOT of time on my end to set it up and help people figure it out. :/

Jocelyn Campbell wrote:
I'm wondering if there's a way to target, re-format, or feature your vlogs more for YouTube consumers. Though I don't know what that might mean.

I think this is the key. And I think other people have touched on it a bit by saying I need to attract the "normies" somehow with the content, and title.

Here is the conflict I am seeing develop: the people at permies.com want me to keep doing the permies.com-related announcements and keep sharing cool threads because it does truly help them navigate the site and keep up on what is happening

BUUUUT if I want to attract "normies" I need to focus on one specific topic because that will get shared more and be less confusing and boring to someone who has never been to permies.com

I am getting the feeling that I need to choose one or the other or something. Because the videos take up a bit of time.

Cassie Langstraat wrote:So I have been thinking about my permies.com news videos quite a bit and I have REALLY been enjoying doing them, and I know that people around permies enjoy them too. BUT, I started doing them with the hopes that it would help build the empire, and in turn infect more brains with permaculture. However, it doesn't really seem to be as successful as I thought it would be. It seems that the only people really watching them are people who are already at permies.com. I kind of thought that people would share them more, or something. I don't know.

So I am kind of stumped. I don't want to stop doing them, but at the same time it seems like I could be spending the time it takes me to prepare, shoot, and edit these doing other things for the empire that have a bigger affect. I'm just really torn. Thoughts?



There was torrential downpour in CA this weekend so this one is from my room again.

Threads I mention:


How to win Permaculture in Pots:
http://permies.com/t/44119

Homemade Tea Blends From Your Harvest:
http://permies.com/t/43981

What is a Perennial Plant You Can't Live Without?
http://permies.com/t/43892

A Couple of Pics From Wheaton Labs:
http://www.permies.com/forums/posts/list/120/24511#344652

Permaculture Chickens Kickstarter:
http://permies.com/t/43908


Vote on the Title for Paul's Rocket Mass Heater DVD Kickstarter:
http://permies.com/t/44021

Winter Chicken Houses or Coops:
http://permies.com/t/10102

Inoculating a Manure Pile:
http://permies.com/t/43173

Biodynamic Tree Paste:
http://permies.com/t/2890

Largest Wood Carving in the WORLD:
http://permies.com/t/44030

I share your vlogs with friends, many of whom are considering the practice of permaculture in their personal settings. Some are apartment dwellers, others have rental homes, a few even have acreage. I figure that everyone who sees your smiling face participates in Paul's scheme for world domination. Don't stop. We still have a long way to go!

Cassie Langstraat wrote:"normies"(non-permies)

Heh! In other places on this site, some permies call the "normies" muggles.

New folks as the ultimate goal - thanks for the re-framing back to that, Cassie.

I, too, hope you will keep these videos going! Your addition of the links below the video are wonderful. To tell you the truth, I had lost interest in Permies.com since Paul and Jocelyn stopped? doing the podcasts, because I have vision problems and need to get my permaculture information, mostly through listening to podcasts and watching videos, not by reading in the forums. Your links to specific for of topics are so interesting, I can check out a few of them, though, as opposed to random surfing through the forums, which is too hard on my eyes.

We have a small but growing Facebook group in San Luis Obispo County, California, called "Permaculture in SLO County" and I will pledge to share your videos on that site, which hopefully will bring a few new people to Permies.com!

Hey Cassie,

Nice job and thank you. I am going to confess right now that time constraints mean that I haven't read all the comments so far, so please forgive me if I repeat or don't take into account something others have shared.

I agree with the folks that encourage you to continue, but I doubt many of us have any idea how much or why it "takes so much time", cause you make it look easy!

Would you consider continuing to do one every other week or every 10 days or so? That will help those of us who have ADD, and can't afford to spend much time on the forums (cause "Oh, I'm just going to check this out while I eat my lunch" ends up being 4 hours later and all the homestead/writing/family things I was supposed to have done have gone down the tube.) You give us a boost, point us to interesting stuff and keep us enthused.

If you slacked off a bit on these vids you could spend the rest of the month maybe creating a introductory video about a certain Brick of Permaculture each month, with links to the best videos, forums, articles, books on them - aimed at Muggles (Normies) and NEWBIES. These could become a resource that folks could point people to when they do a "talk" at the library for unsuspecting souls who they plan to infect with permaculture (like I'm doing next week - yay!! so excited - hence the time constraint... must focus on preparing for that).

If you took one topic every few weeks, or every month you'd have a little library of "accessible" stuff to help folks who don't have enough basic info to take advantage of the forums yet. I don't think they have to be much different than what your doing for us... just focused more on just one topic and you'd explain things more for folks who don't know the lingo. And you'd shelter folks with delicate systems from "colorful" language until they've built up enough strength from all that good permaculture food to be able to handle "you know who" :-)

Your youthful enthusiasm and genuine joy in sharing what you love is infectious and I hope you will continue to share it both with the community here and the outside world.


Now... to finish writing my presentation!!!

-Kelly in Vermont

Does it bug anyone else that spellcheck doesn't know the word permaculture??

I also really like your videos. And I get them way quicker than email sometimes when I'm stuck cruising around this site. Suddenly, video! Shouldn't we be trying to get more people to sigh up and subscribe? I'm subscribed.

To me, it does seem the vlogs are more suitable to those already familiar with Permies.com. I'm getting the sense that isn't the intention. Even so, they're pretty valuable as a way to get casual lurkers more involved. If you're looking to cast a wider net, I think more detailed vlogs about one subject each might be a better way to go. Perhaps pick a permies thread, give an overview of the topic and some details and then at the end mention that it's a thread at permies.com.

Hi Cassie, I am new to your videos...even though I have been around here for awhile. Actually, this site is incredibly difficult to navigate on a tablet. . So it was quite refreshing for me to find out I could subscribe to your YouTube channel. I agree with Jocelyn that your channel itself might be better subscribed to if you tapped into a specific focused skill set, and made even better use of social media connections. I am involved with a group here in Youngstown Ohio that tries to look after our houseless friends and make sure they survive our winters, getting them off the street when possible and desired. Our group is called Tent City. The founder, Mason, has an inner city food forest and many other little projects that he links all together. The interest in one or other project has exponentially increased because of the linking. PS don't stop now that I just found you! Cris