Faye DancingCloud

Dave Burton wrote:I successfully made a meme on my phone. =) How do you think the idea in the meme below could be expressed in fewer words?

"Stacking Functions

It's a Thing in Permaculture
Learn more at permies.com"

I feel like the picture provides such a good example of stacking functions that the caption could be super-truncated like that, and people who recognize it will feel clever that they got it. People who don't can go search "stacking functions in permaculture" for articles.

I just visited Jaime on this land & I feel like it would be a wonderful place to develop a community, with much opportunity to scout for even better land, if power aligns.

The rocket mass stoves and heater function as one might expect: a little fuel can cook a filling meal. The sourdough bread fulfills & delights the palette, and I'm sure a clay oven would fit well near the house and offer even more possibilities. The goat milk tastes sweet when fresh, and thick and tart as yogurt or cheese. More people could help tend more goats and produce more cheese, yogurt, and maybe add butter.

The trench nestled under the trees offers a private place to do business, with a fairy path dotted with dew-crusted spiderwebs and tall cedars beyond.

The swimming hole in the creek is bigger than pictured, with a natural dam and log for sitting, deep enough to dunk in.

The land offers many places to tie up a hammock or level a tent space. Long term dwellers might consider building their own shelter. Plenty of dead wood wants to be collected, to minimize fire hazard as well as provide fuel for fires.

The hosts practice open, peaceful, positive communication and actively create a beautiful palette of harmonious resonances and contrasts consisting of hard work, maximum possible enjoyment of the peaceful quiet, the bird song, the sometimes-noisy neighbors; the wild edibles, the goat milk, supplemented with clean commercial foods & growing more towards food independence, with each seed planted & tended; the refreshing coolness of the creek, and the beauty of the land.

This place feels very much ready for more people to join in to contribute to work, grow increasing yields, and build the bonds of community. I personally look forward to developing a deeper relationship with Jaime & Jared, as well as the land, as I stay there for a month, leading up to the Autumn Equinox.

christopher Sommers wrote:High five to you Wyatt for starting your own Herbalist business! I do have some questions concerning pokeberry. With your schooling, has this herb been something that has been brought up for fighting viruses or other hard to kill bacteria? For the Appalachian region, is there a herb(s) that are particularly well suited for Lymes?

Hi, Christopher, I know I'm not Wyatt but this question caught my attention. I came up allergic to chemicals 7 years ago, and started researching herbal healing in 2008 when I met Susun Weed at a healing retreat. I contracted Lyme disease in July 2017 and I've been researching how to fight it. So far it seems that holistic health involves supporting the body's own ability to heal itself, rather than finding one solution for a problem, the more the body is nurtured and nourished, the healthier it grows.

One of my special interests involves looking at wise use of invasive herbs to help control their growth. Kudzu is one of those: the roots and leaves are edible and medicinal. The plant soothes inflammation. It's easily found if you live in southern Appalachia.

I've taken panax ginseng for swollen lymph and found it hot and irritating. Ginger, garlic, and raw honey are my must-haves, and I intend to cultivate as much healing food and herbage as possible, once I get to the land I seek, and hopefully keep bees.

Pokeberry and pokeroot I know treat inflammation as well, and therefore boost immunity, and are generally safe (they can raise blood pressure in some who are sensitive, in large amounts). I took pokeroot tincture during the last weeks of my first pregnancy, to get lymph moving. I would look at planting echinacea and elder, for microbial infections. Echinacea boosts immunity from bacteria and elder helps the body fight viruses.

If stinging nettle grows on your property, it's rich in many things the body needs, including calcium and b vitamins, plus perihistidine, a naturally occurring antihistamine, so it helps alleviate allergic reactions.

Hope you find this helpful. If you're interested in hiring on a residential herbalist for work-trade, please PM me.

Hi, Anna, I believe I would bring a number of skills that can help develop permaculture on this homestead and build a tribal space. Look for a PM from me. -F

R Ranson wrote:Oh wow, those are brilliant.

I too have chemical sensitivities and have turned to crafting as a source of comfort and income.  I'm more yarn based, but I hope to learn basketry soon.  

common theads has some instruction on how to gather basket making material from Himalayan blackberries.  I'm keen to try it this summer.  I wonder if other invasive species would make good baskets - it certainly would be a good selling point.

Thank you! I know I won't always have time to reply to everything, but I'm basking in the warmth.
Ha. Basking.

Blackberry vine is on my list, now that I've found my knife! I tried weaving with some English ivy, first, after I soaked it, but it still wouldn't bend. Typical for a first attempt. There will be more.

This is just the question I asked along with posting some pictures. I have used reclaimed packaging paper and cordage from shopping/produce bags as well as birch branches from a yard across the street.

I would like to share the thread I just posted https://permies.com/t/61363/permaculture-decor/art/Weaving-Basket-Case#522915 for some pictures of baskets.

I'm in Portland. Does anyone here live in the area who would want to coordinate some weaving? PM for my number.

I would love to host a theme party. With a movie? The choice of which could go in the way of the fiber arts documentary or a pun sorta way like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Or something else.

For reelzies.

Love this thread!

Nicole Alderman wrote:I don't have any ideas right now for sustainable materials--weaving is not something I've ever done! But, I wanted to say that your creations look AMAZING! Thank you for sharing them .

Thanks, Nicole!

I think the third one has been the tightest weave, so far.

I have found myself in the outskirts of the city of Portland for the indefinite future, rather than where I expected to be, which was out in a rural part of eastern Oregon. So I had to improvise on my sustainable arts practices in order to continue working toward my goals of sustainable living.

Since I have chemical allergies, my ability to go out and about is fairly limited and employment opportunities are scarce. I would like to develop something that is a skill and potential source of income.

I decided to start making baskets. Again. The first time, I learned how to twist cordage out of plastic shopping bags and wind the coils in yarn, Hopi-style.

This time, I started with twisting cord from shipping paper and shopping bags, and ended up with a nice little key holder. Then I noticed some birch trees across the street that had dropped a lot of withes. Those have made three other little baskets for me. I gifted the one with a handle to some friends for Christmas. The basket was a hit with their kids: it immediately got tried out as a helmet and a bear crib. I'd say that is a successful present.

For the future I'm thinking of produce baskets for markets, but not sure where to collect materials or what materials to look for, for larger baskets.

I'd be happy to read any suggestions for what plants do well that might be growing in my neighborhood, or what recyclable materials I could try next.

Thanks for reading and looking.

I'm interested in following up as well. Please PM me.

I'm 34 yo and polyamorous so it's complicated but positive. I'm looking for a community in the mountain west. I have two daughters who currently live with their dads and I want to join a community. I have gardening and carpentry/building skills and experience with massage. I've got Aspy traits but no aversion to touch. The Aspy ness is mostly focused around my analytical mind and jokes going over my head, plus some sensory issues.

Faye

Hi, Michael,

I'm looking for a place to live and work where I can practice permaculture, magick, and music. Are you open to having kids on the property? I have two, but they're staying with their dads while I build some long term stability for them to rejoin me later.

I'd love to know more about the place in which you live. Are you on unincorporated land? Do you have water rights or catchment? Hope to hear from you soon, either on this thread or PM. Thanks - F