Building a Better World in your Backyard by Paul Wheaton and Shawn Klassen-Koop

I thought it might be nice to have all the Paul and Shawn videos in one spot!









Shawn also has a bunch of short (~13 minute long) podcasts here: https://buildingabetterworldbook.com

Here's some more Building a Better World videos:

I watched that interview of Dr. Pat Baccili with Paul. Like I often do I clicked on the Youtube logo, so I watched it in Youtube. There it's possible to give the video a 'thumbs up' and to comment. I was surprised to see it had only 1 (one!) thumbs up. Of course I gave it a second one, and I wrote my comment.
Maybe many more have watched it here, at Permies ... but then Youtube doesn't count those views. As far as I know more people will see it (because Youtube will show it) if it has more thumbs up (or even thumbs down!) and more comments.

If I ordered a dozen of these books Nov 4th, about when should I expect them to ship? I have had no follow up since the original email acknowledging my order saying they would ship around Thanksgiving. I really was hoping to give them as holiday gifts.

Theresa Ross wrote:If I ordered a dozen of these books Nov 4th, about when should I expect them to ship? I have had no follow up since the original email acknowledging my order saying they would ship around Thanksgiving. I really was hoping to give them as holiday gifts.

Checking ...

paul wheaton wrote:

Theresa Ross wrote:If I ordered a dozen of these books Nov 4th, about when should I expect them to ship? I have had no follow up since the original email acknowledging my order saying they would ship around Thanksgiving. I really was hoping to give them as holiday gifts.

Checking ...

Theresa,

I asked my shipping folks about it and the response was "Our mistake, shipping it now."  And I said "Is it too late to maybe add four decks of permaculture playing cards?" And their response was "Too late."

To make up for our error, I would like to offer you one of my digital products.   Take a look here to see what you might like:  https://permies.com/stuff

paul wheaton wrote:

paul wheaton wrote:

Theresa Ross wrote:If I ordered a dozen of these books Nov 4th, about when should I expect them to ship? I have had no follow up since the original email acknowledging my order saying they would ship around Thanksgiving. I really was hoping to give them as holiday gifts.

Checking ...

Theresa,

I asked my shipping folks about it and the response was "Our mistake, shipping it now."  And I said "Is it too late to maybe add four decks of permaculture playing cards?" And their response was "Too late."

To make up for our error, I would like to offer you one of my digital products.   Take a look here to see what you might like:  https://permies.com/stuff

Wow! What a nice surprise. I guess my friends will be getting New Year's gifts this year. No problem. Do you mean you might send me a link to the Rocket Ovens video? If so, that would warm my heart. (Both literally and figuratively) Thank you so much. Let me know if you need any additional information. With sincere gratitude, Theresa

Theresa,

You are now all set with the rocket ovens movie.

Any way to pick up books in Missoula? I am local, and can save some shipping! Thanks!

Derek Campbell wrote:Any way to pick up books in Missoula? I am local, and can save some shipping! Thanks!

Every time we have ever tried to do something like that it has gone weird.  

How many are you thinking?

I wonder if a local bookstore might wanna carry the books?

I would take a dozen... up to you!

Derek Campbell wrote:I would take a dozen... up to you!

You will need to order them the old fashioned way - paying for postage and stuff.  The good news is that I suspect you will get it before christmas!

https://richsoil.com/cards.jsp

Book Review for "The Edible Ecosystem Solution" by Zach Loeks

I give this book 9 out of 10 acorns.

By John Saltveit

This is a very intelligent book.  It gives a big picture view of edible ecosystems.  As the title suggests, it shows several ways in which we can develop society. By increasing the ability to feed people well, limiting toxins, finding work for people, and organizing our culture, we can live well in harmony with the planet.  It talks about the situation that we are currently in relating to our soils, the oceans, and our food.  It explains various ways in which many of our required actions for us to live on this planet in a healthy way can be created through environmental stewardship.  There are several different sections of the book.  They involve such topics as design, our current problematic model, and how we can work through these roadblocks in ways that will be enjoyable and fulfilling.  Several examples of both positive and negative responses are listed.  It is not only an informative book, but it is also inspiring.  The illustrations help the reader to conceptualize the ideas that the author is promoting.  The only criticism I would make of the book is that I would have made more in-depth lists of possible guilds for each major ecosystem, such as for taiga, temperate,  Mediterranean, maritime, and subtropical.  This book will help you understand how we can solve the problems we have, but it will also help you explain to others how we can make the world a better place together.  

Can someone clarify the weight and size of the box containing 64 copies?  I'm thinking of having it shipped to family in the U.S. who can then ship it to me in Canada.

Thank you!

Anab Khan wrote:Can someone clarify the weight and size of the box containing 64 copies?  I'm thinking of having it shipped to family in the U.S. who can then ship it to me in Canada.

Thank you!

Each book weighs about 0.61 pounds - does that help?

Just getting caught up with reading emails.

Paul, I would like another box of 64 books. Should I “hit the button” on the first message of this thread or might there be a different link I should follow? Or was your offer for only a dozen books? (I’m down to four books and still haven’t been to visit family out of state.)

Janie Brackett wrote:Just getting caught up with reading emails.

Paul, I would like another box of 64 books. Should I “hit the button” on the first message of this thread or might there be a different link I should follow? Or was your offer for only a dozen books? (I’m down to four books and still haven’t been to visit family out of state.)

The link for 64 books works and is currently the best price for physical books!

when I try to buy the second dozen it is not letting me? it says I already purchased it, I know this but I'd like to order a dozen more, am I missing something? thanks

Bill Waters wrote:when I try to buy the second dozen it is not letting me? it says I already purchased it, I know this but I'd like to order a dozen more, am I missing something? thanks

I wrote to our developer to ask him about it.  I hope we can get a software change in today!

Bill,

We made some changes to the software. Could you please try it again?

Devaka Cooray wrote:Bill,

We made some changes to the software. Could you please try it again?

I got it, I just logged out and ordered again and it worked -- but thank you for the response! books are on their way

Today I got to thinking about how people often want a "magic pill" to fix their issues, rather than making lifestyle changes that will fix the issue without all the side-effects.

People don't like change, especially if it means giving up something they really like. So, often, instead of changing their diet or exercising, they take a pill.

It's the same with the environment, I think. We don't want to give up driving or having plastic straws or the affordability of polyester clothing. Even if we believe these things pollute &/or cause climate change, we still rather just have a "magic bullet" answer--like an electric car or solar panels or "carbon offsetting" and just keep living our lives. The thing is, a lot of those "magic pill" solutions have side-effects, just like the "magic pills" for medical issues do.

I was thinking about this book, and how in many ways it's a diet/lifestyle book for how to improve your life and save the world. There's no magic pills in there--just things you and I can do that not only make our lives better (just like exercising and healthy eating does), but also help combat pollution and climate change.  

I just had a peek at new reviews at goodreads.  I feel a bit awesome now ...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52107903-building-a-better-world-in-your-backyard---instead-of-being-angry-at-bad

Crazy high temps in the PNW and suggestion that it will be even hotter next year, and then hotter still the year after.

I would like to think that people will want solutions.  

For a moment I thought we would sell 10,000 books this week as people want to thrust copies of the books into the hands of everybody they know.  

...

book sales were about the same as any other week.  oh well.

I give this book 9.75 out of 10 acorns.  I just finished reading Building a Better World in your Backyard by Paul Wheaton and Shawn Klassen-Koop.
It is a fantastic read: logical in its layout and refreshingly simple to grasp the concepts.  It dropped the .25 because for someone who hates reading with a passion, it left me wanting more - buggar!!
I fully get the concept that each of us has to make the difference in our own yard and not getting bent around the post because others are not embracing your philosophy or ethic.
It was enlightening to read the Frank Zappa comment cited: "Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible." And that is exactly what is required.  It is all those in the crowd yelling "I'm an individual and just one lone voice: I'm not"   All the individuals protesting big business and this book says don't be an individual be part of a collective working to make your own bit better.  From launching into the problems and giving great examples it moves to general easily explained strategies for the global view then dives down the well into what you can do in your own backyard and extrapolates this into using collectives to break larger properties into manageable portions and reducing costs as well as the carbon foot print.

For my money it is the first must read book to get the full Permies concept before actually getting into the garden or starting homesteading in earnest (Not actually sure what state that is in).
So yep 9.75 acorns and not a squirrel in sight.

Nicole Alderman wrote:Today I got to thinking about how people often want a "magic pill" to fix their issues, rather than making lifestyle changes that will fix the issue without all the side-effects.

People don't like change, especially if it means giving up something they really like. So, often, instead of changing their diet or exercising, they take a pill.

It's the same with the environment, I think. We don't want to give up driving or having plastic straws or the affordability of polyester clothing. Even if we believe these things pollute &/or cause climate change, we still rather just have a "magic bullet" answer--like an electric car or solar panels or "carbon offsetting" and just keep living our lives.

And there in lies the problem - silo thinking.  We had a late friend who drove from Sydney to Pilliga State Forest  nearly 6 hours each way to protest the proposed fracking plant development in the area.  6 hours up, six hours back and got a fine for trespass - went to court X2 and charges were dismissed.  Total distance travelled in a car (one person) 36 hours and probably about 3 tanks of fuel plus pollution from petrol waste and the developers had to spend money cleaning up the mess they left - and for what?

Pills are never the total solution if any part of it.  The doctor never says take these pills and in 5 days you will be fabulous.  No it is always take these pills, rest, do not go to work, plenty of fluids and some symptomatic relief.  Silo thinking again - I'll see the doc and get some pills.  

And so it is with our late friend - I will spend 36 hours on the road and use 3 tanks of juice to protest about something that is a government mandated eventuality.  Not what could I do in my back yard in 36 hours and with $150 bucks?
Unfortunately there is no pill for stupidity (not lack of intelligence) when the crowd dictates I have to be an individual and exercise my right to free speech.   I just do not want to start on electric cars and the other con-jobs.

Paul Fookes wrote:
And so it is with our late friend - I will spend 36 hours on the road and use 3 tanks of juice to protest about something that is a government mandated eventuality.  Not what could I do in my back yard in 36 hours and with $150 bucks?

↑THIS! ↑

The amount we could do in our backyards in 36 hours and $150 is immense. That's quite a few garden beds made and fruit trees planted. Or a chicken coop and run set up plus a bunch of other things. So much can be done with that....and yet we nickle and dime it away without even realizing how much better that time and money could be spent!

I want to make an action group to read through the book together and implement the strategies.  anyone?