Scott Church

I asked the design programs thread the same question, but I'm hoping that maybe somebody here has an answer.

I've been looking for not only a plot designer, but a full on planner with an array of Permaculture functions, but I cannot find any one stop shops. I want to be able to create designs with the massive knowledge of sites like this one behind me - and easily share what I'm learning with others. The garden planners I've seen are pretty awful, and the mapping software that exists, while free, seems to be complicated and not tailored to a Permaculture bent. Ideally, what I'd like to see would start with a map, and allow you to "drop" perennials and annuals into a space, and then accelerate time to see how they would develop over the next several years. It would have useful information about climate (probably based on GPS location data) and send alerts when frosts were arriving, or when the soil might be getting dry and it was time to water. Users could "upload" their garden profiles and share designs right through the program, so you could see what other permies around you were growing and where you might be able to get knowledge or resources. Topographical data (entered by users or even gleaned from LIDAR) could reveal consistently sunny spots that might go otherwise unnoticed. Maybe augmented reality on a mobile device could even let me do a virtual walk through of the garden before anything is even planted. Of course, it would connect people to experts, too, when the computation got too complicated or new questions not answerable from the app arose.

Does something exist that I don't know of?

Is anybody working on something like this?

Should I?

I've been looking for not only a plot designer, but a full on planner with an array of Permaculture functions, but I cannot find any one stop shops. I want to be able to create designs with the massive knowledge of sites like this one behind me - and easily share what I'm learning with others. The garden planners I've seen are pretty awful, and the mapping software that exists, while free, seems to be complicated and not tailored to a Permaculture bent. Ideally, what I'd like to see would start with a map, and allow you to "drop" perennials and annuals into a space, and then accelerate time to see how they would develop over the next several years. It would have useful information about climate (probably based on GPS location data) and send alerts when frosts were arriving, or when the soil might be getting dry and it was time to water. Users could "upload" their garden profiles and share designs right through the program, so you could see what other permies around you were growing and where you might be able to get knowledge or resources. Topographical data (entered by users or even gleaned from LIDAR) could reveal consistently sunny spots that might go otherwise unnoticed. Maybe augmented reality on a mobile device could even let me do a virtual walk through of the garden before anything is even planted. Of course, it would connect people to experts, too, when the computation got too complicated or new questions not answerable from the app arose.

Does something exist that I don't know of?

Is anybody working on something like this?

Should I?

Personally, I'm looking for any PDC that could be PARTIALLY completed online - I have 1 week to travel this spring, and my work will send me to the course, but I only have that 1 week to get certified.

We want the right person to join our team and learn with us.

We live on 2 acres in Tacoma, Washington that we are filling with gardens, fruit trees, herbs, animals, and quality people. We're close enough to town to walk to shopping, but far enough to have some space that we are using judiciously.

In the past 18 months, we've built greenhouses, chicken coops, hog havens, goat grottos, raised beds, keyhole gardens, hugelkultures, water catchments, aquaponics, and we're working on plenty more. Most of us have full-time jobs, but we all work toward completion of group and individual projects in our spare time to increase the land's and the community's productivity.

We have a space open in a small but cozy camper for somebody to join us. You'll contribute to utilities, perform manual labor, and get your own space to live. It's decently insulated and wired for electric light and small electronic device charging. We'll provide the tank, but you provide the propane for cooking and heat. You'll get space to grow, and share in the bounty of the land that you help create. You'll get access to tools and shop facilities to pursue your own projects. You'll have opportunities to learn from people who have experience, and to experiment with techniques alongside us.

We're looking for somebody who wants to be here and who thinks they can both benefit from and contribute to this living situation. You need to be able to lift 50lbs, use your hands for precision tasks (milking), communicate effectively with others verbally and in writing, have a driver's license and insurance, and have consistent availability to feed and water animals. Experience on organic/sustainable farms, in communities, or with permaculture is a plus. Willingness to be a primary care-giver for animals, to learn, and to follow directions is a requirement.

Email us with a description of yourself, your experiences, your interests and your goals, and we'll set up a time to meet and show you around. Expect to come out and stay for a weekend trial. If you're not from around here, we can set up a skype conference.
If you like our setup, the background check is $35, and we will refund it if we decide to make you a resident. We require one month's rent deposit at signing of the lease. At this time, we only have space for a single occupant with no pets.