T Gar

Some good resources and ideas are coming out in this thread.

In my opinion the correct answer is…”it depends.”

Each of us has unique gifts, skills, and interests. We should act accordingly.

Each project and property will also have unique opportunities and challenges.

So I’m not seeing the usefulness of achieving PEP1, whatever that might be.

I also see a challenge with this as a professional certification system. It will need regulation and standardization to train to proficiency and carry any authority/usefulness. This means some might fail. For example, the ubiquitous Driver’s License requires specific training, testing and regulation vs. “that guy says I’m good at turning”.

If a project manager needs a specific skill resource than that’s what they should advertise. Let the free market provide.

A https://www.khanacademy.org/ style permaculture website would be very cool. Prior to a volunteer coming out to a project they could learn specific and prerequisite knowledge that would make the skills event much more efficient. The ability to volunteer could be locked out until the online training was complete. A project manager could select a basket of skills needed for a particular job or position. In the meantime, the website would serve as a general education tool.

My 2 cents, enjoy it!

Very nice! What recipe did you use for the venison? I have two hams from one of our hogs about a year into the cure. One I did Spanish style, sea salt only. The other is American Country style with brown sugar and red pepper. I found that an old pillow case is just about perfect for hanging a ham.

Be sure to post your results!

I don't like the idea of earning badges. If you are a life long learner and a doer than you will learn and do. Get you internet on and make it happen. Link up, meet up, try, fail, do, lather, rinse, repeat, et cetera. I'm not sure of the need to have girl scout badges. I also don't like the idea of submitting to some regulating authority that grants me permission to be good at something. Wow, I'm a gold star wood splitter, or a bronze badge hole digger. I have a military background where qualification is VERY important in an environment where competency is a life or death factor. There is a serious purpose, and serious program, for putting wings on your chest. In an organization that operates in a trust critical, high stakes environment that makes sense. For permaculture I think not. Why would one want to build this type of regulatory system anyway? There's so much more to do. Let people explore and be their uniqueness, not a bonified Whatever Level 1. I guess I am just missing the point.

If there is a list of prerequisite skills that volunteers need to be really useful, then advertise that.

Welcome to the system! We are all in it somehow. The best advice I can give is to know yourself. Get honest with yourself and pursue your passion. You will spend a lot less time spinning your wheels and a lot more time enjoying yer days. To hell with big salaries, or other trappings of "success". Do what you love and success will materialize. You get out of the system what you put in, especially if you view it from a permaculture perspective. Our gardens are uncommon, your career path may also be uncommon. Figure out what guild you want to be in and how you will support that guild. White collar, blue collar, no collar, whatever, we all function as part of The System and also as part of smaller sub-systems. In Paul's hippie voice, "It's like permaculture is EVERYWHERE man!"

Ramsey and Salatin are high quality straight talkers, don't pass up that information, experience, and advice.

Look around and see who is doing what you would like to do. Travel if possible and expand your perspective of what is happening and what is possible. Ask them how they got there, or get on the internet and figure out the path.

I spent some time and money getting my degree. It has been a key revenue generator for my family, and a doorway to many diverse opportunities. Get good at something in particular, versus just gathering all the skills. Deep knowledge is rare, cursory knowledge is everywhere.

Don't be overwhelmed, this is your life- Enjoy it! ...and be ready to deploy plan B.

I would also recommend looking at state tree nurseries. I'm not sure if MI has a program. State nurseries usually have good prices for seedlings. For example, VA sells Apple Trees for $300 per 1000. Well worth the price for not waiting a couple of years for stratification. It puts you on the same playing field with selecting new varieties from "common apple" plantings, and grafting in what is most desirable. STUN is still in effect, you will just buy a couple of years. If you need to expand your search beyond state lines, I'm not sure what MI law says about importing trees, so make sure you have a green light before you attempt to bring in a truckload! Here's some links to a couple state nurseries:

http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/forestry/nursery/2012seedingcatalog.pdf

http://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/3620.htm

http://www.dof.virginia.gov/nursery/cat-seedlings.htm

IMHO (a PNW perspective):
1. This is your chance to LANDSCAPE- swales, ponds etc. Think of how you want to manage water/air flowing over your land. When you have your desired tree mix you won't want to do big digging. Plant your sweet new swales with your favorites!
2. Thin your trees. Leave the big healthy ones. They will be the best producers of everything...firewood, timber, acorns etc. 10'-15' on center depending on soils. Thin wider for more edges. The little beggar trees are just stealing sunlight, soil, and water. Thin more and limb up to 15' high around the house for fire safety.
3. Plant the trees that you want to eat from in your new sunny gaps.

Remember, trees are only 1 of 7 layers of the food forest. You could plant zero trees and instead plant: blueberries, currants, grapes, hazelnuts, herbs of all sorts, etc.

Also, don't fully clear out all your down wood. Leave a few logs and snags. About 3 per acre will create wildlife habitat for all the birds, bats, and bugs that you will be needing to clean and pollinate.

I have established forest in s. oregon. Oaks, pines, etc. I am thinking of diversifying with running livestock in the trees. I have heard more than once, from Mark Shepard's presentation to ACRES USA and Mizzou's Agroforestry video, that sylviculture is NOT about using established forest. What am I missing? Is running pigs/cows under establish woodland ecologically foolish? Or are you just trying to get folks to plant more trees?