Samantha Lewis

paul wheaton wrote:

Do you think this is happening to permies?

Definitely.  We have confirmed it.  

Three years ago we were wondering why there were thousands of people signing up for our emails with dubious email addresses.  What are they up to?  They don't post.  We keep expecting them to create a ton of spam - but they don't.  

now we know.  And the result is that thousand of legit users no longer get our emails.

That is diabolical.


I have noticed that the permies emails have a spiffy graphic now and they are much more fancy.   I really like the new look!

paul wheaton wrote:I think a lot of the backers would groove on this kickstarter more if there were 4x more backers.  As is, bad guys have pooped on our email stuff, so only about 15% of our emails are getting through.  

Devaka is scrambling to come up with fixes.  And we are seeing lots of new repairs every day.  But there is still a lot of repairing to be done.  

Those of us trying to make the best of it  are trying to figure out what to do ...    and ...  well ...  i hope it doesn't seem too pester-ish ...   we are actually trying to send out fewer emails.  

I have wondered about this.   A lot of times when someone is really trying to make positive change in the world you see them shut down on youtube and other media out lets.  Do you think this is happening to permies?  These cards are so unique and your kickstarter is so successful, I would think kickstarter would want to promote them more.   I get a lot of emails from kickstarter featuring other projects and I keep hoping the will feature this project.  

The dog food we make is just rice cooked with meat and veggies.    


I start a big pot with rice and chunks of meat.   I set aside all the pet food at harvest time.  I cook it on low for a while and throw in some some veggies.    When everything is soft and cooked up together I let it cool.   I store the food in mason jars in the fridge for easy feeding.   We have big hard working dogs so they get a quart jar twice a day.    They also get raw bones to work on once or twice a month.

I used to feed them the highest quality dog food with all human grade ingredients.  It is really good food and they did great.   When I switched them to homemade, home grown food though they completely changed.   They leap up for their bowl now and are so much more excited and full of life.

We had a great live call today.   Trying to answer an important question.  What can young people do after high school?

College?
Journeyman or trade school?
Get started on a homestead of your own through the Skills to inherit property (S.K.I.P.) program?
Learn the skills you need to grow your own food and meet your own needs in the Wheaton Labs permaculture bootcamp?

There are so many options, we go over the details here in this video:

I think there is a sewing needle and some other stuff hidden on the first deck of permaculture playing cards.  Maybe it is a needle in a haystack.  

Has anyone found all the names or any other fun hidden treasures??  

This is so neat!




In the first deck of cards, there were a bunch of names hidden in the pictures.   People who were really passionate about the project would put in extra money to support the kickstarter and they got their names hidden in plain sight in the artwork.   I wish I had done this!  I think it would be fun to put my kid's name in the cards so he could find it!

paul wheaton wrote:new vid with the gert card

This is a great video!   I think being able to give a set of permaculture or gardening playing cards to a young person with these questions would help make this choice more accessible.    The path of a more sustainable, self sufficient lifestyle may seem daunting at first but I think these packs of playing cards make it seem a lot easier because it is presents as many small steps rather than an overwhelming change.

Zack Alloush wrote:

How active are things in the winter though?

Wheaton Labs is a great place to winter.   Lots of brisk sunny days make outdoor chores fun.  

Zack Alloush wrote:Looking for a place to learn permaculture, natural building, homesteading, carpentry etc I don't have formal construction experience, but I have done many small projects here and there from decks to small sheds in my 20's so I can use most hand and power tools, measure, cut, drill/hammer etc.

I have a college degree in engineering, worked in my field for a few years, did some property management work for less than a year, and have been working on farms and homesteads since February. No job too big or small but I need to be learning construction or other useful skills. I can provide many work references. I have a car, drivers license, clean record and can do a background check.

Would need a place to stay and some work trade agreement. Currently in the New England area. Ready to move for the right opportunity.

Hello Zack!

You can learn a lot at Wheaton Labs in Montana.  I have visited there many times.  It is an excellent place learn natural building and round wood timber framing.  They grow much of their own food in the hugelkultur gardens.   There are many beautiful cabins, each with a rocket mass heater or other clean wood heat.

If you join the bootcamp for a month, you can take on an acre of raw land to grow a garden of your own, build a cabin, raise livestock or bring to life your permaculture dreams.    

It is fun to see the kickstarter doing so well.  I am very encouraged that so many people think this a project worthy of putting their money behind to get it started!

322 backers and we are only half way done!

Thank you everyone for all your support!