Ash Jackson

paul wheaton wrote:

paul wheaton wrote:

Ash Jackson wrote:The professional pie chart of awesomeness still shows the budget stuff for the Greywater Greenhouse project ($5k videography, $150 talking thermometers)

Good catch!  I put in the wrong chart.   Will fix soon!

better?

Yep! Looks like a book budget to me!

It looks amazing! I quite like the video, and the two (more) cracks at explaining the thing.

The professional pie chart of awesomeness still shows the budget stuff for the Greywater Greenhouse project ($5k videography, $150 talking thermometers)

I'd like to again add "My PEP Badge Tracker" to the freebie list. I'm working to get it current with PEP 1.0

The Skippers!

The Skip Sharers!

The Skip Book Shippers!

woodland care
instruction, regulation, insurance, safety, etc

Demonstrate the ability to develop a relationship with a woodland.   A healthy woodland is diverse and provides building materials, food, fuel and something that builds your soul.  Conventional forestry takes what makes the most cash and transforms the soil into a lifeless dirt.  

Otis has met too many people that can’t put up even a single cord of firewood.  For many Otises, this is the very first metric they consider - can a person put up three cords of firewood in a day?  Experience with a sawmill or cleaving shakes is a bonus.  What more can you do?  

sand badge
drop 6” to 8” dead standing tree with a bow saw
drop 6" to 8" dead standing tree with a chainsaw
drop 6” to 8” live tree with a bow saw
drop 6" to 8" live tree with a chainsaw
limb 4 trees
peel 2 live trees and put up off the ground to dry
split and stack dead standing wood as firewood
prep 10 junkpoles
repair 24 feet or build 12 feet of junkpole fence
cleave 6 shakes with a froe

straw badge
drop at least 12 trees 8” to 14” in diameter:
one cord of firewood: cut and stacked properly under a roof (completion pic)
lumber
      o  a dozen 2x4s, 1x4s and ⅜x4s
twig construction
      o five foot tall tomato cage and eight foot tall pole bean trellis
36 feet of junkpole fence plus one mediocre gate with a mediocre latch
plant the tree seeds for 100 feet of living fence - show that 30% have sprouted
plant black locust tree seeds
plant 100 cleavers - show that 20 have sprouted
plant 100 nettles - show that 20 have sprouted
plant 20 willows - show that 10 have grown
innoculate two four foot logs with mushroom spawn and harvest at least a half pound of mushrooms
cleave 40 shakes with a fro

wood badge
put up three cords of firewood
more lumber
      o  8 dozen 2x4s, 1x4s and ⅜x4s
build six rock jacks out of split logs
120 feet of junkpole fence with one good gate and a good latch
plant 300 black locust seeds with 50% germination
plant 300 cleavers  with 50% germination
plant 300 nettles  with 50% germination
plant 60 willows with 50% growth
plant 40 sweet sap silver maples
plant 10 cedar trees
twig construction
      o six five foot tall tomato cages and three eight foot tall pole bean trellises
plant the tree seeds for 800 feet of living fence
lay 50 feet of living fence (aka laying a hedge)
berm shed
      o 8x8x8 with a five foot eave
gin pole
      o lift a 10 foot long, 12 inch diameter log 15 feet off the ground and place it on a structure
outdoor mushrooms
      o produce at least one pound each of oyster and shiitake mushrooms
indoor mushrooms
      o produce at least one pound each of enokitake, oyster and shiitake mushrooms
enhance garden beds with mycelium
skiddable firewood shed
cleave 200 shakes with a fro

iron badge
put up six cords of firewood
even more lumber
      o  two hundred 2x4s, 1x4s and ⅜x4s
build 24 rock jacks out of split logs
plant the tree seeds for 2000 feet of living fence
“lay the hedge” for 200 feet of living fence
humus well
junkpole fence around one acre (total of at least 836 feet) with four good gates and good latches
plant the seeds to restore a creek bed from a dry gully
      o 100 feet wide and 800 feet long
berm shed
      o 3 cells with five foot eaves, each cell is 12x12x12
build two skiddable structures
bigger gin pole
      o lift a 20 foot long, 18 inch diameter log 20 feet off the ground and place it on a structure
produce at least ten pounds each of oyster and shiitake mushrooms

electricity
instruction, regulation, insurance, safety, etc

Most of the world’s problems are tied to energy use.  At the same time, many of the greatest luxuries of our time are powered by electricity.  To maximize your luxuriance and minimize your electrical footprint calls for experience with electricity.  

Otis has a lot of experience with electricity.  And he needs to know that you have experience too.

sand badge

Complete 5 points to get this badge (no duplication allowed):

Lead Acid Battery maintenance on three batteries   1 point
create a micro heater bubble   1 point
move a lead acid battery to the shop, charge it, and put it back   1/2 point
replacing a bathroom fan switch with a timer   1/2 point
repair a lamp (110v, 12v, car)   1/2 point
repair a motion detector flood lamp   1/2 point
replace a flood light with a motion detector flood lamp   1/2 point
repair a light switch   1/2 point
install a permanent light fixture 110v ac   1/2 point
install a permanent light fixture 12v dc   1/2 point
install a power outlet 110v ac   1/2 point
install a power outlet 12v dc   1/2 point
install a light switch   1/2 point
put a new end on an extension cord   1/2 point
label the breakers on an electrical panel  1/2 point
replace the heat element in a water heater or clothes dryer - 1/2 point
set up a solar water pump (combo w plumbing badge)   1 to 2.5 points
small DC only solar system    4 points

straw badge

35 points required
Get at least 5 points from new items from the sand badge.
No more than 20 points of duplication allowed
Oddball points allowed

Straw list:

Lead Acid Battery maintenance on twelve batteries - 3 points
Add a lighting circuit and circuit breaker - 2 points
  - At least 2 lights
Add an outlet circuit and circuit breaker - 1 point
  - At least 4 outlets or one 20A dedicated outlet (fridge, disposal, etc)
  - If GFCI or AFCI protected, add ½ point
Add a 220V circuit and circuit breaker and outlet - 1 point
Replace an electric water heater - 1 point
Add a new circuit breaker and install a new electric water heater - 2 points
  - Combo with Plumbing
Install a doorbell system (chime, transformer, button) - 1 point
Install a shallow well pump for potable pressurized water - 1-2 points
  - Combo with Plumbing
Install a deep well pump for potable pressurized water - 4-8 points
  - Combo with Plumbing
Install a control system and secondary pump for a cistern - 4-8 points
  - Combo with Plumbing
Install a pair of three way switches to control a light/device - 1 points
Install a set of four way switches to control a device - 1.5 points
Install an exterior grade outlet (code compliant cover) - 1 point
Install an exterior grade outlet (Paul compliant cover) - 2 points
Install 20 feet of wire in an unfinished space - 1 point
Install 20 feet of wire to a finished space from an unfinished space - 1.5 point
Install 20 feet of wire, flawlessly, through an existing finished wall - 4 points
Install a subpanel with ground - 6 points
Trench power to an outbuilding properly - 10 points

Document electrical usage of 12 devices with a Kill-A-Watt - 2 points
Troubleshoot and fix an electrical appliance - 0.5 to 4 points
Set up an emergency back-up battery system that is always charged - 1 point
"Charge and Carry" lithium battery power box - 20 points
Augment a pickup (or other rig) to be a power generator with at least 2 batteries - 4 points
Create a Travis Johnson style PTO driven home generator
  - properly (to code) power a grid tied house for an hour - 12 points
  - augment off-grid batteries - 2 points
  - able to run certain appliances with a cord - 2 points
Set up a power wall
  - Off grid - 10 points
  - Grid tied - 20 points
Set up a micro hydro power system
  - Off grid - 10 points
  - Grid tied - 20 points
  - cross over points with plumbing
Set up a wind power system
  - Off grid - 10 points
  - Grid tied - 20 points

wood badge

180 points required
Up to 35 points of duplication allowed
Can get up to 60 points of new points from Straw and Sand
Oddball points allowed

Wood list:

Fully wire a small structure with a single supply wire - 4 or more points
  - need to get to at least 4 points to get this BB.  Points come from the number of outlets, switches and fixtures with bonuses for exterior and GFCI/AFCI applications
Fully wire a small structure with 3+ circuits (panel installed already) - 12 or more points
  - need to get to at least 12 points to get this BB.  Points come from the number of outlets, switches and fixtures with bonuses for exterior and GFCI/AFCI applications
Fully wire a large structure with 6+ circuits (panel installed already) - 40 or more points
  - need to get to at least 40 points to get this BB.  Points come from the number of outlets, switches and fixtures with bonuses for exterior and GFCI/AFCI applications
  - properly illuminated, at least two outlets outside and at least one 220 outlet
Install a main panel, meter pedestal, ground and connect their wiring - 15 points

Convert a vehicle to electric (joint project with Metal Working) - 40 points
  - Street legal, capable of 60mph and 40 mile range
  - also earns 65 points of Metal working (Iron)
Convert a motorcycle or dirt bike to electric (joint project with Metal Working) - 20 points
  - Street legal, capable of 20 mile range
  - also earns 12 points of Metal Working (Iron)
Convert a tractor to electric (joint project with Metal Working) - 40 points
  - Capable of 6 hrs run time
  - also earns 65 points of Metal Working (Iron)
Troubleshoot and repair an electrical issue with an electrically powered vehicle - 2 to 20 points
  - Electric car, golf cart, tractor, motorcycle, etc

Large articulating solar panel system ala Solar Leviathan (40+ square feet) - 40 points
  - also earns 40 points of Metal Working (Iron)

iron badge
No Iron badge at this time

natural medicine
instruction, regulation, insurance, safety, etc

In composing this aspect, we introduce a fictitious character “Aunt Nattie” who:

- has a rich stock of over-the-counter stuff (very natural)
- is savvy to google and has opinions on which information on the internet is stupid
- will pick you up at the hospital and bring you home
- will wait for you at the hospital when you get treatments
- will slap that donut out of your pie hole
- believes deeply in “food as medicine”
- has a rich collection of simple herbal concoctions she has harvested and prepared herself
- is ready to administer first aid
- knows the best technique to pull out a tick
- has a fresh salve for that scrape
- sneaks greens into all of your food
- has heard it all - no need to hold back
- is passionate about your health
- can give you a good idea of whether you should go to the doctor/hospital/naturopath
- is a great cook
- insists on organic or better
- is keen on wildcrafting / foraging
- has a huge permaculture garden - with lots of herbs
- will make sure you do your physical therapy
- will remind you to take your meds/vitamins/tea/whatever
- keeps her house spic and span with cleaners you can eat
- wants you to drink more water, go for a walk and get some sun

These badges are designed to put you on a track to developing the “Aunt Nattie” within you.  You will start by building your apothecary and then move into facing the challenges of ailments.

sand badge

create a natural medicine journal

harvest, dry, and store enough for a tea, infusion or decoction - create one
  ginger root
  peppermint leaf
  mullein leaf
  chamomile blossom
  lavender blossom
  alfalfa leaf or blossom
  oat straw
  red clover
  lemon balm
  raspberry leaf
  strawberry leaf
  oregon grape stem or root bark
  rose hips, buds, blossom petals
  elderberries
  blackberry leaf or root bark
  burdock root
  dandelion root
  fennel seed
  hibiscus blossom
  hops
  horsetail
  marshmallow root
  oregano leaf
  parsley leaf
  culinary sage leaf
  slippery elm bark
  stinging nettle leaf
  thyme leaf
  tulsi (holy basil) leaf
  uva ursi (kinnikinnik)
  willow bark

Do 5 of the tasks below:

vinegar infusion - create one
  fire cider
  elderberry
  garlic
  lavender blossom plus hibiscus blossom

oil infusion - create one
  mullein blossom and garlic
  calendula blossom
  balm of gilead (Cottonwood Buds)
  arnica blossom

salve - create one
  calendula blossom
  balm of gilead (Cottonwood Buds)
  comfrey leaf
  peppermint leaf

tincture - create one
  dandelion root
  echinacea blossom, leaf or root
  oregano leaf
  cayenne fruit
  oregon grape stem or root bark

poultice (fresh or freeze) - create one
  plantain leaf
  comfrey leaf
  ginger root

syrup or gummies - create one
  rosehip
  elderberry
  echinacea blossom, leaf or root

create one infusion (hot or cold) from fresh or dried materials
  chamomile blossom
  lavender blossom
  peppermint leaf
  alfalfa leaf or flower
  blackberry leaves
  dandelion leaves

create one decoction from fresh or dried materials
  dandelion root
  ginger root
  stinging nettle leaf
  thyme

straw badge
xxx - under construction

wood badge
xxx - under construction

iron badge
xxx - under construction

homesteading
instruction, regulation, insurance, safety, etc

This aspect is a list of bits and bobs that don't fit into other badges. Mostly:

- things that don’t fit in the other aspects
- things involving glue, paint, and toxins that we typically want to minimize
- maintaining existing homestead infrastructure
- remodels, repairs, maintenance
- less permaculture and more conventional homestead techniques
- stuff that Otis knows how to do very well and will be judging you harshly

When you inherit the land from Otis, you will probably get two homes.   The “old house” that Otis was born in and the “new house” that Otis built.  Even if you build three new wofatis and most of the property is permaculture heaven, these buildings need to be properly cared for - and that care will require techniques and materials that fall outside of permaculture.  Prove to Otis what you are made of on his terms

sand badge

drive a truck and trailer backwards

(little list) complete 4 of:
   - check the septic tank status
   - fill a sand barrel in the summer
   - sand an icy drive and all paths
   - repair a window screen
   - properly attach/lash something ten feet long or longer to a vehicle
   - create or restock a first aid kit (that needs stocking)
   - install, replace, or recharge a fire extinguisher
   - install a carbon monoxide detector
   - install a smoke detector
   - supply a work site with ample safety glasses, hearing protection, first aid kits, gloves, etc.
   - check a game cam (check pics; fresh memory card and batteries)

(big list) complete 3 of:
   - use tractor and back blade to plow snow
   - sand, prime and paint a rusty patch on a piece of equipment
   - clean/repair/improve the gutters
   - spring cleanup
   - removing unwanted fence
   - install proper fire starting, fire maintenance, and ash handling tools at a fire-burning contraption
   - build a rock jack
   - sweep out a chimney


straw badge

35 points required

Required:
drive a truck and trailer backwards with turns - 1/2 point

Electives
  - Up to 10 points of duplication allowed
  - New items from Sand list allowed (½ point for “little list” items, 1 point for “big list” items)
  - Oddball points allowed (Homesteading Oddball)

Tow a vehicle 100 yards with another vehicle - 1 point
Make a one handed gate latch - 2 points
Repair 400’ of a traditional fence - 2 points
Repair a corner brace for a fence - 2 points
Build a corner brace for a fence - 3 points
Set up a fly trap (drowning style) - ½ point
Set up a mosquito trap - ½ point
Add appropriate minnows/goldfish to animal water trough - ½ point
Get a vehicle/tractor unstuck from mud or snow - 1 point
Jump start a vehicle - ½ point
Put chains on a set of drive tires (tractor, vehicle, etc)  - 1 point
Cover something with a tarp so that it stays put for 6 months - ½ point
Cover cargo with a tarp so it stays dry during transit - ½ point
Set up an equipment file for owner’s manuals and other equipment information - ½ point
Set up a spare parts kit in the shop for a piece of equipment - ½ point
Make, attach and fill a mobile tool kit for a piece of equipment (shear pins, wrench, etc) - 1 point
Make a “carry all” attachment for a tractor - 3 points
Set up a family reference document that explains how each part of the homestead works for the other residents - 1 point
Scythe an area of 100 square feet (ditch, around pole building, etc) - ½ point
Harvest four cubic yards of fertility from a domestic animal system - 1 point
Use a 3 point hitch implement on a tractor (brushhog, box blade, disk, etc) and do work for 15 min - ½ point
Remove snow from a roof safely - 2 points
Spread manure/compost on a pasture - 1/2 point
Dragging/moving a large down tree 100’ for processing (sawmill, firewood, etc) - 1 point
Build a gate for vehicles - 4 points
Clean up messes made by prior owners or trespassers - 2 points per cubic yard
Set up a short term covered materials storage area for peeled logs, fence posts, metal parts, etc - 1 point
Set up a materials storage area for things that don’t need protection (gravel, sand, bricks, blocks, rocks, etc) - 1 point
Set up a hidden boneyard - 1 point
Salvage building materials from a small building - 8 points
Correct a structural defect with an outbuilding - 4-16 points
Fix a leaking roof - 2 points
Solve a mold problem - 5 points
  - Includes identifying and resolving the source of the mold
Correctly make a roof penetration - 2 points
Set up a security camera system - 2-4 points
Whitewash or limewash a barn - 3 points
Repoint 200 sq ft of rubble foundation - 8 points
Winterize the property in the fall - 4 points
Paint a 200 square foot wall - 2 points
Add a lean-to to an existing building - 16 points
Replace roof on a small building (<400 square feet) - 8 points
Make a small Jean Pain compost system (4+ cu yards) - 8 points
Set up a ham radio system (including tower) - 8 points
Run communication cable/wire 40 feet to a new spot - 1 point

wood badge

180 points required

Required:
Drive a truck/tractor/vehicle backwards with a wagon (front wheels of wagon turn with tongue) - ½ pt

Electives:
  - Up to 30 new points (non duplicates) from Straw allowed
  - Up to 40 points of duplication from this Wood list allowed
  - Do a minimum of 3 items from this list
  - Oddball points allowed (Homesteading Oddball)

Salvage building materials from a large down building - 16 points
Salvage and raze a large building - 40-100 points
Move an outbuilding (simple to no foundation) to a new site - 8 points
Move an outbuilding (more involved foundation) to a new site - 16 points
Replace roof on a large building (>400 square feet) - 20 points
Remove a silo - 20 points
Shovel snow and sand ice for a winter (>8 times) - 10 points
Build a free standing shop or barn (>300 square feet) - 80 points
Build a small Oehler style greenhouse (<100 square feet) - 80 points
Build a large Oehler style greenhouse (>100 square feet) - 120 points
Make a large Jean Pain compost system (10+ cubic yards) - 24 points
Put a 3 season (unheated, uninsulated) addition onto a house - 16 points (existing roof), 60 points (new roof)
Put a 4 season (insulated space, to code) addition onto a house (at least 150 square feet) - 120 points

iron badge
No iron badge at this time for Homesteading

earthworks
instruction, regulation, insurance, safety, etc

This badge is about modifying the landscape to suit our permaculture goals.  High on the list is  physical access around the site, creating texture and developing ponds without liners.  We try to adjust the landscape and secure it in place with roots and rocks.  

sand badge

small dry stack retaining wall
three scoops with an excavator
15 minutes moving dirt/soil with the loader on the tractor
trail maintenance for 200 feet of trail
eliminate a road pothole/puddle
add a small, simple trail to a berm
improve a berm
sealed pond test


straw badge

make 100 feet of proper road with a bulldozer
   - must have a crown or other form of drainage and side ditches where appropriate
dry stack retaining wall
   - at least 4 feet tall and 6 feet long
five loads with a dump trailer
build a tall, narrow berm
   - at least 15 feet tall and 20 feet long, 9 feet wide or less
build a small, shallow pond that holds water without a liner
   - about 20 feet in diameter, 4 feet deep with proper dam and spillway
trail maintenance for 1000 feet of trail
add simple trails to berms
add a 50 foot trail to relatively flat rocky ground
add a 50 foot trail to steep, rocky ground
100 feet of road maintenance
  - eliminating potholes, ruts and washboards, restoring crown and improving ditches and drain points

wood badge

dry stack steps
   - at least five steps that are 2 feet wide
dry stack retaining walls
   - at least four different walls that are at least 48 square feet each
dry stack wall
   - at least 4 feet high and 15 feet long
   - add a 2 foot moon gate and get a twofer with the community badge
Holzer-style terrace
   - at least 120 feet long by 12 feet wide
build a full size pond that holds water without a liner (sealed bowl style)
   - ¼ acre, at least 10 feet deep and the dam is no taller than 8 feet
create a full size berm
   - at least 15 feet tall and 100 feet long and no more than 27 feet wide
   - 6 foot wide paths about halfway up on each side
parking lot
   - facilitate parking for at least 3 big pickup trucks with room to turn around
create 3 tent pads
ditches to move water
   - sealed without a liner and at least 200 feet
earthworks for preparing to build a structure
make 600 feet of proper road
add a 100 foot trail to relatively flat rocky ground
add a 100 foot trail to steep, rocky ground
600 feet of road maintenance

iron badge

Dry stack sun scoop
   - 7 feet tall and 10 foot diameter
a second holzer spring terrace
another 200 feet of ditches to move water
build a second full size pond (sealed bowl style)
dry stack steps
   - at least ten steps that are at least 4 feet wide
Season extender rocket mass heater
   - at least 8 feet tall and 30 feet long with a stratification chamber
earthworks for preparing to build a second structure
3 passive garden heaters
   - 40 foot deep 6 inch hole in the ground with steel casing
   - 4 foot tall steel cap with glass on south side
   - black anodized ¾ inch tube exposed to glass and reaching bottom of hole
Garden ATI
   - reflecting pond (at least 400 square feet)
   - double winter heat capture using wofati techniques
   - flat wall, 7 feet tall, 15 feet wide
large natural swimming pool with a level spot next to it
   - swimming area is at least 400 square feet and 8 feet deep
   - water cleaning area is at least 400 square feet, fully planted
Build a full size pond that is based on a dam reaching bedrock, rather than a sealed bowl

rocket
instruction, regulation, insurance, safety, etc

Operate, build and maintain wood burning contraptions that cut energy and wood use by 90% while providing luxurious comfortable heat.  Including rocket mass heaters, rocket ovens, rocket cooktops, rocket water heaters, outdoor kitchens and so on...

sand badge

start and operate a j-tube rocket mass heater for 1 hour
start and operate a batch box rocket mass heater for 1 hour
start and operate a different j-tube rocket mass heater for 1 hour
start and operate a different batch box rocket mass heater for 1 hour
start a rocket oven and bake something
start a rocket cooktop and cook something
start a rocket hot water heater and get the water temperature over 140
use a rocket j-tube to boil a gallon of water
do the annual ash cleanout of a rocket mass heater
spread some ash on a garden spot (just a dusting)
build a dakota stove and cook some food

straw badge

heat a space with a rocket mass heater for one week
build a j-tube style rocket mass heater

wood badge

heat a space with a rocket mass heater for one month
build a second j-tube style rocket mass heater
build a j-tube style rocket oven
build a j-tube style unpressurized rocket hot water heater
build a j-tube style rocket cook top
build a j-tube style season extender in a hugelkultur

iron badge

heat a space with a rocket mass heater for a full winter
rocket hot tub
rocket sauna
shop style rocket heater
rocket forge
rocket glass recycler
outdoor rocket cooker, smoker
ring-of-fire alternative to a camp fire
outdoor classroom with butt warmer
experiments in heating a shop very, very fast
experiments in heating a home with extremely little wood
outdoor kitchen / outdoor canning kitchen