Shane DeMeulenaere

Hi permies,

I've just started reading "Building Your Permaculture Property (https://permies.com/wiki/153863/permaculture-projects/Building-Permaculture-Property-Rob-Avis), and while I'm not currently developing a piece of land, I have another project that I think the process presented in the book will apply to: Building a business.

I'm currently employed in the high-tech robotics/automotive space, and I've been wanting to make a change for quite some time. My path has led me to hire a career coach, run some introductory events, and do some serious thinking about what my gifts are and what I want to share with the world. I've done enough thinking, and I'm ready to start doing. The first practice recommended in the book is to get an accountability partner, someone to have regular check-ins with who's engaged in a similar but separate process of their own. I can see the benefits of this, but I don't know anyone personally who's on this path right now, hence my message on this forum.

To give you an idea of what I'm looking to build: I want to teach/consult/coach/mentor people in various aspects of how to be happy, healthy, capable, and free. I find that I really come alive when I'm sharing what I've learned with others.

I've been what I consider an 'rewilder' for quite some time. I have a PDC from Midwest Permaculture, and I've recently been certified to teach MovNat (movnat.com), a physical education and fitness system based on the full range of natural human movements. I'm an advocate for Free(as in freedom) Software, and how to use technology well (and not be controlled by giant corporations). I also do have the intention to someday acquire some land to practice on-the-land permaculture, but right now that feels out of reach.

Is anyone else here just starting to build their own business in a similar vein and interested in having a partner to check in with from time to time?

If you're interested in this, please send a PM. If you have questions that you think would benefit others, please post a reply. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

I also cannot access this. I'm getting the same error messages others have posted.

These ideas remind me of Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature, a book co-authored by Jon Young. It has all kinds of connective activities, primarily related to observation, and helping children develop habits and insights that help them connect with nature over their lifetimes.

One that stands out is the Sit Spot practice. Basically it consists of choosing a spot on the land, and going there regularly - preferably every day - to just sit. Sit, observe, notice, absorb. It's amazing how many things we miss on the first visit to a place. After sitting for a while, you might notice that the birds start to come back out, animals become more active. They are always aware of you, and often hide when people first come through, but by sitting still and quiet, you can begin to gain their trust, and they'll come back out in curiosity and allow you to observe them. It's especially powerful to do this practice at all times of year, all times of day, all kinds of weather. Each combination brings its own insights.

Wow! Thanks for all the great information everyone! To answer some of the questions that came up (and ask some more of my own):

Douglas: I'm definitely looking for something freehand. I'm interested in (and motivated by) developing the skill needed to effectively sharpen freehand. It seems the discussion went this direction organically.

Also Douglas: I hadn't considered the 'sharp enough' idea, or the idea that a knife could be 'too sharp'. That's really good information and will help guide my sharpening journey I suspect. Thank you for sharing that.

Ben: I'm intrigued by the idea of using a natural stone, but I've also read - and you mentioned - that they should really be used with a sharpening oil instead of just water. I'm not sure what sharpening oils are derived from, but for food prep knives I expect I'd feel more comfortable with water. Can a natural stone be used successfully with just water? What are the differences between oil and water with these stones or sharpening stones in general? There's also the issue of oil mess as mentioned in a video posted in the PEP Knife sharpening BB (https://permies.com/wiki/105867/pep-tool-care/PEP-BB-tool-sand-knife).

Also, what are the general qualities of natural/synthetic/diamond? I gather that diamond lasts longer, and cuts faster, and that natural stones have some variance in grit. I assume there's more nuance than this though.

Here's a website I found while searching for answers: https://whetstonecentral.com/the-types-of-sharpening-stones/

Hi Permies,

I'm looking to buy a whetstone for sharpening kitchen knives and pocket knives and the like (and for working on my PEP knife sharpening toolcare BB). Doing a quick web search about the subject turns up a dizzying array of choices. There seem to be many different grit options, stones with multiple grits, natural and synthetic stones, stones mounted in plastic housings and loose stones, new and used stones. What do you all find useful in a whetstone? What factors are most important when buying one? Do you prefer different stones for different jobs? Why? What kind of stone would you recommend for a beginner?

I hope this discussion will be helpful for others looking to buy a whetstone in the future.

Thanks Nicole and Mike. Our kids don't spend much time licking hinges, though some might? I mostly brought it up because it seemed like it could be a violation of the 'toxic gick' theme that is ever present in Paul's work (something that I really appreciate. Thanks Paul.). Thanks for adjusting the requirements. I'll plan on trying some animal fat based grease when I get the time. I'll post back when I do.

Nicole, out of curiosity, what oils have you used? Have you noticed any differences in performance, longevity, or application ease? With some oils I worry about them 'gumming up' over time, like the gunk that collects near frying pans. Maybe this only happens when oils are heated?

Does anyone know about the toxicity of white lithium grease? I'm hesitant to apply something like this to our door hinges (which are within reach of our children) without first checking for toxicity. Or for that matter, does anyone know of obviously non-toxic substitutes for this application? I'm thinking that some mixture of animal fats might do the trick. I remember reading somewhere that beef tallow was the go-to lubricant for steam engines back in the day. My first guess would be a mix of beef tallow and lard might work well, though I don't know how it would age.

Swept the kitchen floor last night. Figured I'd take some pictures for this BB. This was one or two days of accumulation. It's honestly a little impressive how much food the kids drop/throw onto the floor every day.

Oh, I also forgot to add: I used coconut oil. It wasn't mentioned in the text of this BB, but was referenced in the videos as a suitable wood oil. This is what we've always used for spoons, knife handles, cutting boards, and such as my partner has had allergic reactions to tree nuts in the past, and coconut isn't a true tree nut.