Steven Lindsay

Passing this along;

WWOOF-USA is excited to announce the 2026 Future Farmer Program, designed to support and empower the next generation of farmers in the US.
https://wwoofusa.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e51f33f184b73e6bb5aa59dd9&id=c56c41f432&e=8af0c7a047
Through this program, WWOOF is committed to providing educational farming experiences, mentorship, practical farm skills, and financial support, while also increasing the diversity of farm operators across the USA.

Program Highlights:

   10-Week WWOOF Farm Visit: Gain hands-on training and mentorship at a WWOOF-USA host farm.
   Crop Production Course: Participate in an online course offered in partnership with Tufts University’s New Entry Sustainable Farming Project. https://wwoofusa.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e51f33f184b73e6bb5aa59dd9&id=440071dc80&e=8af0c7a047
   Financial Support: A $2500 award is provided to help fund travel and other participation-related expenses.  

Eligibility Requirements:

   Open to U.S. residents only, with priority enrollment for socially disadvantaged individuals, as defined by the USDA. (https://wwoofusa.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e51f33f184b73e6bb5aa59dd9&id=0680736e47&e=8af0c7a047)
   Applicants must have completed at least one WWOOF visit at a WWOOF host farm before December 31, 2025. The visit must have been for at least 3 consecutive nights to qualify.
       In order for WWOOF to confirm the visit, applicants must have an accepted/confirmed status visit request in their WWOOF inbox, have left a review on a host's profile, or received a review from a host. *Alternatively, applicants may have the host contact WWOOF directly to confirm the dates of their visit.
   Applicants must be ID-verified and have the ID-verified badge shown on their WWOOF profile. (link to instructions)
   Applicants must be available to WWOOF at a US host farm from June 8 - August 14, 2026.
       Participation expectations include a sincere desire to discover the hosts’ lifestyle and to join them in their daily activities. Future Farmers help out with farm activities in a free and voluntary manner for the agreed upon time per day. The exact daily schedule may vary from host to host and is agreed upon prior to confirming a visit.

Important Details:

   Program dates: June 8 to August 14, 2026
   Application deadline: February 11, 2026
   Twenty-five awards are available.
https://wwoofusa.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e51f33f184b73e6bb5aa59dd9&id=b2baa863f0&e=8af0c7a047
Apply Today or Learn More
*To view the application questions and prepare your responses, please visit our Application Questions page.
https://wwoofusa.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e51f33f184b73e6bb5aa59dd9&id=1aae9b5f7c&e=8af0c7a047
Please share this information with anyone you know who might be interested!

Questions? Let us know!

Thank you,

Jenna Pollard
WWOOF-USA

the 3d printing files are freely available; https://kevin-cheung.com/can-slicer/

just successfully purchased, no issues with paypal via phone

just discovered I'd completed a scavenger hunt I didn't even know I was on!
But I got pie, so that's cool...

although the US 'stick-build' framing technique is frowned upon by some, it developed precisely because there was a shortage of 'time and money', and highly trained tradesfolk and resources, but a huge need for new housing.
It's probably your cheapest, most flexible option; you can easily add elements such as insulation, windows, power etc as needed over time, it can be constructed without heavy machinery or even power tools if required, and be completed at your own pace (the only really time-sensitive elements being concrete or other settings materials). You can also design it to fit in whatever available space there is without adding much to the cost or complexity per sq.
It's so well established there are heaps of instructional resources and everything needed is probably readily available, maybe even free, used or reclaimed.

www.BWE.com leads to a finance company.
Is there another way to contact Build With Earth?

not sure which forum to post this in as it has so many uses, but Repurposed Materials has 50lb bags for $30 plus freight from colorado;
https://www.repurposedmaterialsinc.com/chemical-additives/diatomaceous-earth-50-lbs-bag/?utm_source=repurposedMATERIALS+newsletter&utm_campaign=ca55597f5e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_09_18_07_01_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-2e62bd1c54-26990583&mc_cid=ca55597f5e&mc_eid=f0258e9f36

I searched thru the permies fora and didn't find any reference to this study.
With the European Parliament recently reaffirming the dire consequences of Climate Change on agriculture, solid evidence for the benefits of permaculture are important to demonstrate to direct taxpayer funds to proven solutions.
Agriculture is ridiculously subsidized in Europe (even though it only accounts for about 1% of economic output) but efforts to reduce or redirect funding meets very stiff opposition.
A study published in Nature provides solid evidence that Permaculture is better for agricultural land, and thus deserves to receive financial support (and hopefully redirect such funds Away from harmful practices).

Permaculture enhances carbon stocks, soil quality and biodiversity in Central Europe
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01405-8

It is pretty negative, and makes a lot of assumptions, the biggest being that the only way to live is "like us", or like it is here, now.
Many studies have demonstrated that indigenous communities thrived for millennia creating a net environmental Gain ie things were better Because of their existence than without it.
Not all indigenous communities though. Tim Flannery's The Future Eaters demonstrated how aboriginal Australians consumed resources in a way that eliminated mega fauna and radically transformed the flora leading to desertification and dependence on wildfire.
Not so Amazonian indigenous; their practices created a biom that absorbs much more carbon than is emitted, and a richer biodiversity than if they were not there. https://rainforestfoundation.org/scientific-evidence-points-to-indigenous-peoples-forest-management-as-key-to-climate-change-mitigation/
So I guess the answer is "it depends which/whose babies". I recall reading a USA baby consumes 7 times more resources than an Indonesian one. Probably infinitely more than an Amazonian one.
Perhaps if we all had Amazonian babies the world would improve. or if we Don't have western babies the world would be better off.
Or could we convert Western babies to Amazonian babies?
Who was it said "be the change you want to see in the world".
Even the capitalists are talking about "net zero", agriculturists about "regenerative practices"
Maybe we can turn this ship around?

yes indeed, that's what EVERYONE is doing! the trick being of course to get to the top of the pile. I'm thinking of things like youtube 'watchlists', collections of many short vids. Enthusiasts can binge watch and newbies might catch them browsing or pushed by algorithms.
There are agencies dedicated to sourcing talent for cameos, voiceovers etc. WOM or the '6 degrees' may be more effective in securing folk with a personal attachement to the issues that otherwise are difficult to contact ie Earth Alliance co-founder Leonardo DiCaprio, former US Vice President Al Gore, David Attemborough etc