Rachel Rudd

I agree with the person who suggested templates for getting RMH into local codes. I think that's the first step to getting these in more people's homes. If I was a wood stove installer, I probably wouldn't risk my business by installing something that isn't allowed within the local code.

I'm not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, but leeches are an indicator species of poor water quality. Way back when in high school, my class was a part of a study at the local community college. The entire premise was that you would go to a couple different streams and collect samples of aquatic life. Then you would go through your samples and identify each one. You could tell the health of the stream by what was living in it, and leeches were an indicator that things weren't going so well. So if you improve your water quality, other things will move in and outcompete the leeches. Or maybe leeches don't like clean water. Not sure which, or it could be something else entirely, but there you go.

I am wondering if anyone has had luck with Hardy kiwi in a dry climate with annual precipitation of about 16 inches? I planted three this year, two females and a male. The male leafed out early, and of course, we promptly got a frost. He was unhappy for the rest of the growing season and died by the end. Neither of the females did particularly well either and also died by the end of summer. I did water them as much as I watered everything else, but maybe they are just too tender for the harsh climate? If anyone else in this sort of climate has been able to keep Hardy kiwi alive, how did you do it? I'm just wondering if these plants are too fiddly for me and I should try something else.

Hi Jesse! That sounds really interesting, I will definitely get ahold of you today. I am actually located 6 hours south of you in Wyoming, so I am sort of in the neighborhood. I've been wanting to make an appointment to visit Wheaton labs, so maybe one day I can drive up to Missoula and kill two birds with one stone if the Guild has a meeting I could sit in on.  

Hi Permies Community!  I am a landscape designer (unlicensed landscape architect)  who has tried to start a few businesses and failed at it.  Great businesswomen, I am not!  I am currently in my latest try, doing contract work for a landscape architect, designing RV resorts.  The work is fun, because design is fun, and it is a skill I learned in my first job after school, so at this point I'm pretty decent at it.  My passion though, is Permaculture design, and I would like to get more of those sorts of jobs.  I need a way to break into that pool of work (it must be out there, right?) so I thought doing a couple of volunteer designs for bragging rights could be a good start.  

Here's a bit about me, so you know what I am able to do, and what I am not.  I have my Master's degree in Landscape Architecture and my Permaculture Design Certificate from Oregon State.  What I don't yet have is a license, so I can't stamp plans.  Any project that I design would need to be reviewed and stamped by a licensed civil engineer or landscape architect from the state the project is in.  That being said, the cost savings would be substantial having me do the design and then fix any redlines from the licensed professional.  

If anyone does know of an organization who needs a design, please give them my contact info:  
Rachel Rudd
208-549-9845
gspermaculture@gmail.com

I am a big fan of podcasts, and I think a lot of other people are as well. I enjoy Paul's podcast along with a bunch of other permaculture podcasts, but there really is something for everyone. Maybe it would build some more interest if Paul was a guest on someone else's podcast that isn't necessarily in the permaculture circle. I could see the wofati greenhouse kickstarter being of interest to general gardening, education and business podcast listeners.

We have an open space in our backyard, that has been set aside specifically for dog use. I would like this area to be more Meadow like, but I don't want to till the whole thing up and reseed. My idea was to introduce a meadow perennial plant seed mix this fall so the seed could overwinter and germinate in Spring. Has anyone tried this? Did it work?

When I was a kid, those plastic Easter eggs were the most popular ones with my cousins and I. Our parents filled them with change, and one egg always had a dollar.

Thanks for all the awesome ideas! Designing for neighborhood kids to have the experience of a garden is an awesome idea! It's funny that I didn't think of it myself considering I teach elementary students how to read. Just goes to show that collaboration makes for a way better design!  I also really like the idea of the gradual decline of the lawn so as to eliminate the shock factor. Our neighbors have a sidewalk, but it ends at the end of their yard. The sidewalk to Nowhere has always bothered me when I see it, so maybe we will continue the sidewalk with planter beds bordering it as the start of the lawn decline. I think I'm going to make a timeline diagram of my front-yard to plan it out (I love making diagrams).

Hi to all the Permies out there! I was wondering if you all could help me out with some examples of food forests that more closely resemble conventional landscaping. Last Summer, my husband and I bought a house in a small, very close-knit town. All of the landscaping that I've seen around people's houses has been very classic suburban (lawn from the roads to the foundations, with some decorative trees or gardens). Our little slice of land is going to be totally different, but I also want it to be in it example of what a permaculture system can be while also not being totally different from the rest of the town. If anyone has some great examples of this, would you post some pics so I can shamelessly borrow ideas from you? Thank you!