• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • John F Dean
  • Timothy Norton
  • Nancy Reading
  • r ranson
  • Jay Angler
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • paul wheaton
  • Tereza Okava
  • Andrés Bernal
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • M Ljin
  • Matt McSpadden
  • Likes 5
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator






30% kickback for $300 or more.


We will provide you a ref code.  Kickstarter has a report showing how much came in from each ref code.  Shortly after the funds arrive, we pay the kickback monies.

Reply to this thread if you want a referral code.


How does it work?


Step
1

Post here

You reply to this thread to say you want a referral link.

Step
2

Get your referral link

We generate a unique link for you, and leave it in a "note" on the bottom of your reply. This link will track any pledges made from those you refer, and we will contact you to pay out your kickback earnings once all the coin comes in.

Step
3

Share with the world

You share your referral link far and wide, with your own words of enthusiasm, or some of the ones we've already crafted below. Grab some images to catch people's eyes, too! We will keep adding more as we make them.






Some ideas of places to share:
    - local mailing lists
    - your own mailing list
    - Facebook pages/groups
    - twitter
    - pinterest, instagram, youtube ... lots of other social media stuff
    - your own website
    - your own podcast
    - forums
    - your current or previous kickstarter supporters
    - your client/customer list
    - the resources of somebody you know and you can split the pot!
    - other creative places you come up with

Tips

- Open with something really captivating. Think about what excited you about the idea of clean water, or poop not mixed with water, and then follow with a brief explanation of the Kickstarter, maybe how you found out about permies and why you love it here. Throw in your ref link, and share with the masses.

- Share directly with people you know would love it. Think about who you know who's into a clean environment, clean oceans and rivers. Send them a message. They're wayyyyy more likely to back the project if you put it right in their face, and they'll also be delighted that you thought of them and remember their interests. Plus now you have an excuse to chat and catch up. Everybody wins!

- Mention it multiple times. Our experience is that mentioning it once is like not mentioning it at all, and mentioning it twelve times if like mentioning it twice. It takes a lot to get it to enter people's consciousness. The Kickstarter is running for a whole month. Mention it at least once a week. If people see how excited you are about it, enough that you're talking about it all the time, they will be more likely to check it out, and those on the fence will have more opportunity to revaluate and make a pledge.



If you're a non-profit organization (or even if you're not) and use kickback codes, you could share this project and say something like "these guys have agreed to give us a percentage of every pledge that supports through this link!"






Some examples of copy you can use (or you can write your own):

Paul Wheaton’s been working on something called a willow feeder—a surprisingly simple way to keep poop out of rivers and feed trees instead. He’s putting together a movie to show how it all works.
Kickstarter’s live if you’re curious: [Insert link]




There’s a new Kickstarter from Paul Wheaton—this one’s about willow feeders. It’s a system for handling human waste that avoids sewage plants entirely. It’s kind of brilliant, honestly.
You can check it out here: [Insert link]



Paul Wheaton has spent over a decade fine-tuning a system called the willow feeder. It’s a thoughtful alternative to conventional sewage treatment—quiet, natural, and surprisingly practical. Now he’s putting together a movie to show what it is and how it works.

If you’ve ever wondered what it might look like to take a cleaner, more regenerative path with human waste, this is worth a look.
Kickstarter page: [Insert link]



For more than 14 years, Paul Wheaton has been testing a system called the willow feeder. It’s designed to handle human waste in a way that’s clean, simple, and gentle on the land. No mixing everything into toxic sludge. No river pollution.

Now he’s working on a movie to share what he’s learned. If that sort of thing interests you, here’s where to take a peek: [Insert link]




Tired of rivers and oceans being treated like toilets? Paul Wheaton’s new Kickstarter is funding a movie about a better way—the willow feeder. A clean, simple solution that feeds trees instead of polluting water.
[Insert Kickstarter link]




Poop pollution? There's a better way. Paul Wheaton’s willow feeder is a game-changer—and now there's a Kickstarter to turn it into a movie. Let’s make sewage solutions sexy.
[Insert Kickstarter link]




Paul Wheaton is at it again—with his 15th Kickstarter, and this time, it’s about cleaning up our rivers and oceans. How? With something called a willow feeder—a low-tech, high-impact way to handle poop safely without the toxic gick of sewage treatment plants.

This Kickstarter aims to turn 14 years of willow feeder design work into a movie that explains the system and the science. Let’s replace river pollution with giant willow trees.
[Insert Kickstarter link]




Did you know sewage treatment plants still dump toxic waste into rivers and oceans? Paul Wheaton’s been working for over a decade on something better—a thing called the willow feeder. It’s clean. It’s effective. It grows trees.

Now he’s launching a Kickstarter to fund a full movie showing how it works and how anyone can build one. Help spread the word—this is the kind of innovation that could actually make lawmakers say, “Yes, please!”
[Insert Kickstarter link]





This one’s for anyone who's ever said, “There’s got to be a better way.”
Sewage treatment plants are failing us. They mix all the waste together, treat it poorly, and then dump the toxic leftovers into rivers and oceans. That’s the conventional model. But Paul Wheaton believes we can do better—way better.

He’s spent 14 years optimizing something called a willow feeder—a low-tech system that keeps poop out of the water, uses natural processes to break it down, and turns it into nutrients for trees. It’s not just cleaner. It’s smarter.

This Kickstarter is to make a movie—to show the full story, the how-to, the why-it-matters. Because if enough people see this, it could change laws, change landscapes, and maybe even change minds.

Are you in?
[Insert Kickstarter link]



COMMENTS:
 
author and steward
Posts: 55383
Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)
hugelkultur trees chicken wofati bee woodworking
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Reply to this thread and say you want a ref code.  When we are able to make ref codes, we will add a note to your reply with your code.
 
gardener & author
Posts: 3417
Location: Tasmania
2025
8
homeschooling goat forest garden fungi foraging trees cooking food preservation pig wood heat homestead
  • Likes 6
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Yes please!
 
author & steward
Posts: 5604
Location: Southeastern U.S. - Zone 7b
3293
6
goat cat forest garden foraging food preservation fiber arts medical herbs writing solar wood heat homestead
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I'll take a code please!
 
Steward of piddlers
Posts: 5923
Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
2719
monies home care dog fungi trees chicken food preservation cooking building composting homestead
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I would appreciate a code.
 
gardener
Posts: 550
Location: 6a; BSk; Suburbia; 0.35 acres
224
6
kids forest garden foraging bike medical herbs rocket stoves
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Requesting a ref code please
 
steward
Posts: 15821
Location: Northern WI (zone 4)
5007
8
hunting trees books food preservation solar woodworking
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I'll take a code please
 
pollinator
Posts: 643
Location: South East Kansas
220
8
forest garden trees books cooking bike bee
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
One code please!
 
Apprentice Rocket Scientist
Posts: 1033
Location: 4a, high mountain dessert
508
4
kids foraging rabbit fiber arts medical herbs bee
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I'd love it if you make a code for me, please 😊
 
Posts: 52
7
5
fungi foraging fiber arts
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
yes please, I'll have a go!
 
steward
Posts: 6801
Location: Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (zone 12)
5245
7
cat dog books cooking solar writing
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I need a couple of ref codes please.
 
Posts: 25
22
6
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I would like a code, Sign me up please!  
 
paul wheaton
author and steward
Posts: 55383
Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)
hugelkultur trees chicken wofati bee woodworking
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
the kickstarter is starting tomorrow (friday) at 2pm.

We will try to give everybody their ref codes in the first few seconds of when the kickstarter starts.  We think we can even start handing them out about five minutes before the kickstarter starts.
 
steward
Posts: 4444
Location: Pacific North West
2107
cattle foraging books chicken cooking food preservation fiber arts writing homestead
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Some more images folks can use:








 
gardener
Posts: 1593
Location: Proebstel, Washington, USDA Zone 6B
989
3
wheelbarrows and trailers kids trees earthworks woodworking
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I would like one, please.
 
Posts: 12
6
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I'll get this in my Monday Mail with or without a code...
 
gardener
Posts: 178
Location: Insko, Poland zone 7a
187
cattle purity forest garden fish fungi foraging chicken food preservation bee homestead ungarbage
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Code Me!  Pleeeease.

Where can we access the higher resolution images to share in our own social media channels?
 
paul wheaton
author and steward
Posts: 55383
Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)
hugelkultur trees chicken wofati bee woodworking
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
kate downham    6   $107

leigh tate    2   $40

Rebecca and John Bush    3   $40

 
paul wheaton
author and steward
Posts: 55383
Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)
hugelkultur trees chicken wofati bee woodworking
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Arthur Wierzchos wrote:Where can we access the higher resolution images to share in our own social media channels?



hmmmm ...  i'm surprised that liv and andres have let your post get this old ...

do you have a particular image in mind?
 
steward
Posts: 6110
Location: Colombia - Tropical dry forest
2357
5
forest garden fish fungi trees tiny house earthworks bee solar woodworking greening the desert homestead
 
Arthur Wierzchos
gardener
Posts: 178
Location: Insko, Poland zone 7a
187
cattle purity forest garden fish fungi foraging chicken food preservation bee homestead ungarbage
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
This is the image that i really like, and want to use when sharing:



Liv Smith posted a smaller one above, but id like to use a slightly larger version when sharing.  

Thanks team!  

Hope this kickstarter ends up going way over the goal, way more quickly than expected.

Protecting water sources is a soft spot for me, and hopefully for many others as well.  

Any word from Zach Weiss yet?  Is he joining the fun in this effort?
 
paul wheaton
author and steward
Posts: 55383
Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)
hugelkultur trees chicken wofati bee woodworking
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Arthur Wierzchos wrote:Any word from Zach Weiss yet?  Is he joining the fun in this effort?



I haven't heard from zach in years.  But you are right, this sounds like his sort of thing.
 
paul wheaton
author and steward
Posts: 55383
Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)
hugelkultur trees chicken wofati bee woodworking
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

paul wheaton wrote:kate downham    6   $107

leigh tate    2   $40

Rebecca and John Bush    3   $40



update!

kate   7   $127

Rebecca and John   4   $60.00

leigh     same


 
Liv Smith
steward
Posts: 4444
Location: Pacific North West
2107
cattle foraging books chicken cooking food preservation fiber arts writing homestead
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Hi Arthur,
Here’s a bigger version.
Let me know if you want it even bigger?

IMG_6476.png
[Thumbnail for IMG_6476.png]
 
paul wheaton
author and steward
Posts: 55383
Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)
hugelkultur trees chicken wofati bee woodworking
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
kate downham    7   $127

nicole sauce    1   $76


I thought i saw alexandra on the report yesterday, but don't see anything today.  Weird.
 
pioneer
Posts: 244
Location: Temperate hardwood forest (NW Michigan) - zone 5b, 38" precip/yr
45
8
trees tiny house solar
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Ref code, please.

Thanks Liv!
 
Jerry McIntire
pioneer
Posts: 244
Location: Temperate hardwood forest (NW Michigan) - zone 5b, 38" precip/yr
45
8
trees tiny house solar
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
If I pledge two or three times to the kickstarter can I give one or two to other people as gifts?
 
Liv Smith
steward
Posts: 4444
Location: Pacific North West
2107
cattle foraging books chicken cooking food preservation fiber arts writing homestead
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Jerry McIntire wrote:If I pledge two or three times to the kickstarter can I give one or two to other people as gifts?



Not sure what you mean by this?

I don't think you can gift your kickstarter pledge.

Maybe you mean the final product? The movie, book and such?
 
paul wheaton
author and steward
Posts: 55383
Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)
hugelkultur trees chicken wofati bee woodworking
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
When we hand out the candy, we do it all with the kickstarter email address.  So if you use three different email addresses on kickstarter, and the other email addresses are the other people, then, yes, that would work.  But my guess is that getting those email addresses to work on kickstarter would be quite a trick.
 
Arthur Wierzchos
gardener
Posts: 178
Location: Insko, Poland zone 7a
187
cattle purity forest garden fish fungi foraging chicken food preservation bee homestead ungarbage
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Im working with "Gemini" AI to come up with a post for facebook, which includes a short story to make it more personal.  I feel like im falling behind in this effort, but I also want make this digestible, shareable, and the kickstarter link clickable  Here is what i have so far:

>>>The Uncomfortable Truth About Your Flush (and How We're Changing It)

From our tent, just 30 meters from the riverbank, life here in Poland is simple, beautiful, and sometimes, a little too real. Mimi and I moved here for the quiet, the nature, the promise of pristine waters. Our property is nestled between two stunning lakes – Lake Ińsko, fed by springs and famously clean, and Lake Wisola (also known as Studnica). Connecting them is the Ina River, or what locals tell us used to be a river.

Twenty years ago, the Ina flowed almost year-round. Now? It's dry for most of the year. And when it does flow, it carries a secret.

You see, the water from Lake Ińsko, pure as it starts, takes an unfortunate journey. It spills into an overflow channel, meanders through the heart of the quaint town of Ińsko, past community gardens, right by our tent, and then, crucially, past a sewage treatment plant before emptying into Lake Wisola.

Despite its spring-fed origins, within just a few meters of leaving Lake Ińsko, the water quickly becomes... less than pristine. It picks up plastic trash, chemical runoff, winter de-icing salts from the streets, and likely agricultural chemicals from nearby fields. It’s a sad sight, a stark reminder that even in paradise, our footprint is undeniable.

And here’s the uncomfortable truth, the one we often try to ignore: every time we flush, we're sending something somewhere. And often, that "somewhere" ends up in our precious rivers, lakes, and oceans. Even modern sewage treatment, while better than nothing, isn't perfect. It's a band-aid on a gushing wound, often releasing treated wastewater that still contains pollutants, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics.

But here's the real kicker, something most folks never consider: When you flush, you're not just sending water down the drain. You're flushing away incredible, valuable nutrients – nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium – that our gardens and forests are starving for. We spend billions to create synthetic fertilizers, while simultaneously polluting our water with the very nutrients we need. It's like throwing away gold and then complaining you're broke!

So, what's the solution? Do we just stop flushing? (Well, not exactly, but we do stop wasting.)

I don't have all the answers, and truly, it takes a community – and a shift in mindset – to tackle environmental challenges of this scale. Especially when powerful interests often prefer the status quo.

But what if there was a way to capture those lost nutrients, reduce pollution at the source, and actually feed our planet, all while dealing with human waste in a way that's safer and smarter than what's currently considered "normal"?

Enter the Willow Feeder.

Now, hold on a second. When I say "Willow Feeder," most people picture some kind of fancy septic system or a giant bog. Nope! The biggest misconception to debunk right off the bat is that this system involves any water treatment. It doesn't. In fact, no wastewater enters the Willow Feeder system at all.

Think of it more like a highly evolved, hyper-efficient composting toilet system. Here's how it works:

  • Urine Diversion: First, we separate the liquids. Urine, rich in nitrogen, is diverted away. It's fantastic for direct application to the landscape or into mulch pits, feeding the soil directly without overwhelming the system.


  • Poop Bins: What's left – the solid stuff – goes into specially designed bins. These aren't just buckets; they have internal piping that maximizes airflow and promotes rapid dehydration. This is key!


  • Dehydration is the Magic: Unlike traditional composting toilets that rely on active decomposition (which can be slow and sometimes smelly if not managed perfectly), the Willow Feeder focuses on dehydration. By drying out the manure, we drastically reduce the pathogen load. It's like turning a potentially messy problem into a stable, nutrient-rich, and much safer resource.


  • Feeding the Trees: Once a bin is full and the contents are thoroughly dehydrated, it's moved. And this is where the "Willow Feeder" gets its name. These dehydrated nutrients are then used to feed hungry trees – like willows, which are nitrogen-guzzling champions. I use willows here in my climate because they thrive on this nutrient boost, growing fast and strong. But in other climates, you could be feeding banana trees, fruit trees, or even your garden beds. The trees aren't treating the water; they're eating the concentrated nutrients!


  • Why willows (or other trees)? Because they're the ultimate nutrient recyclers. Instead of flushing valuable carbon and nitrogen into our waterways or releasing it as greenhouse gases, we're capturing it, cycling it back into living biomass, building healthy soil, and sequestering carbon. It's a closed-loop system, just like nature intended.

    But Paul, isn't that... gross? Unhygienic? Primitive?

    Let's bust some myths right here:

  • Smell? When properly designed and managed for dehydration, the Willow Feeder is surprisingly odorless. Most "toilet" smells come from the interaction of urine and solids, or anaerobic decomposition. We address that with diversion and dehydration.


  • Pathogens? This is where the dehydration is genius. By removing the moisture, we create an environment where most pathogens can't survive. The reduction in pathogen load is huge compared to just about any other system, including many municipal treatment plants.


  • Primitive? What's truly primitive is continuing to pollute our rivers and oceans with valuable resources, and relying on energy-intensive, centralized systems that fail. The Willow Feeder is sophisticated ecological engineering, mimicking natural processes to solve a modern problem. It's for anyone who wants a healthier planet, whether you live off-grid or in the suburbs.

  • Why should you care, especially if you live in a city?

    Because the water that flows through our Polish stream eventually makes its way to the Baltic Sea. And the water that flows from your city's treatment plant eventually ends up in your local river, which flows to your ocean. We are all connected by water, by soil, by the very nutrients that sustain life. The "Willow Feeder" isn't just a rural permaculture dream; it's a scalable, replicable model that can inspire and inform how we manage waste everywhere, reducing the burden on municipal systems, creating fertile land, and protecting our shared global water supply.

    This isn't just a Kickstarter; it's a movement. It's a chance to invest in a tangible, eco-logical solution that can truly save our rivers and oceans, one nutrient-captured, pathogen-reduced, tree-fed contribution at a time.

    Join us in making this vision a reality. Support the "Saving our Rivers and Oceans" Kickstarter. Let's turn our waste into wonder, and help bring our waterways and our soils back to life.

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulwheaton/willow-feeders?ref=2mtm5n

    Every contribution, big or small, helps Permies.com bring this vital technology to more people, educate communities, and ultimately, clean up our planet. And yes, your support through my personal link means I can reinvest even more into this incredible project, creating a positive feedback loop for a healthier world.

    Let's make a splash, not a mess!

    <<<

    Thoughts?  Any adjustments I should make before posting?  I will want to share in a few permaculture related groups - not just on my own page.  

    Some images to help with visuals should help with making it go more viral.  Gemini AI suggests using images showing a clean stream next to a polluted one, diagrams or simple animations showing how the system works, a permies.com logo or recognizable imagery,
     
    Jeremy VanGelder
    gardener
    Posts: 1593
    Location: Proebstel, Washington, USDA Zone 6B
    989
    3
    wheelbarrows and trailers kids trees earthworks woodworking
    • Likes 1
    • Mark post as helpful
    • send pies
      Number of slices to send:
      Optional 'thank-you' note:
    • Quote
    • Report post to moderator
    That looks really good, Arthur! I would send it.
     
    paul wheaton
    author and steward
    Posts: 55383
    Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)
    hugelkultur trees chicken wofati bee woodworking
    • Likes 2
    • Mark post as helpful
    • send pies
      Number of slices to send:
      Optional 'thank-you' note:
    • Quote
    • Report post to moderator
    nicole sauce 3 $106

    leigh tate  3 $90

     
    I wish to win the lottery. I wish for a lovely piece of pie. And I wish for a tiny ad:
    Learn Permaculture through a little hard work
    https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp
    reply
      Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
    • New Topic