2021 SKIP book kickstarter video script

I’ve been out of the loop for a while.  This seems like a great idea and I look forward to supporting it.
Hugh

I would definitely support this. I can think of many who do better with a book in hand than on a computer, as well as others who have trouble  with internet access. And I would get one for my self as well  to use anywhere anytime.

This is a book describing PEP i suppose.  I have not been keeping up here but the call to action brought me here  I suppose if Mike is engaged is it PEP&M  haha j/k Paul wouldnt share that :p

I like the idea.

Are you thinking along the lines of a pretty book with each skill for 4 levels be defined?  I am thinking even more cartoonish than the PDM but the same concept.  I FEEL like that would be a REALLY big book eh?

I'm in. No question.

For those of you who only have a passing knowledge of the PEP system, does the script make sense to you?  Is it doing a good job of explaining a need and how we have a solution that kinda makes sense?

I like the script!

I'm imagining visuals to match the list of skills...

I think it's good but I may be too close to this to be seeing objectively.  I sense there's something missing.

One thing that could be emphasized more is that college isn't a workable path for everyone currently, and the whole SKIP-ing the rat race thing to get right to the skills that are needed.

Another piont that could be included is that even if you don't want to inherit property, even if you're not (yet) a fan of permaculture even, these are probably the skills you'll need to accumulate to homestead effectively.  It's a question a lot of people must have.  I know how to do these three things, but what skills am I missing??? what will happen when I'm there on my homestead and X happens?  What's that you say, I need to sharpen my tools???  PEP can go a long way to cataloguing the comprehensive set of skills for people.

I think a statistic would be helpful too--X number of farmers in the US are without someone to leave the farm to who will continue to farm.  Just because you know there are 12 people out in Montana in this situation doesn't fully incentivize people elsewhere--but I am sure there are a lot of farmers like that all around.  

If I have more I'll post again.

Lastly, this project is so huge that it isn't going to be done perfectly the first time.  Maybe it's worth acknowledging that in the kickstarter.  Maybe putting out there the idea of other books in the future, Permaculture Experience according to Gert/Penelope/Thanos/Tom Brady.

I'm a big fan of video as well! But I'm also excited for this book! Sounds great!

0paul wheaton wrote:Mike and I cobbled together a script for the kickstarter.  And then overhauled it about seven times.  Here is where we are now:

Hi, I'm Paul Wheaton and THIS is my 10th kickstarter!


A few years ago, my friend Mike Oehler called me with a problem.  Mike needed me to name somebody WORTHY to inherit his land.  He needed to know his cool projects will move forward after he dies - rather than his land being sold to the highest bidder and then bulldozed for strip malls.  The weird thing is, I've had this exact same conversation with at least a dozen other folks looking for WORTHY heirs.

Over the years, Mike had more than 100 interns.  NONE of them made the cut!  We need something better.

I came up with the idea of making a list of things people could accomplish and documement.   Things that would impress a Mike or Otis or Gladys.  

Things like growing a garden, building a shed, felling a tree, preserving some fruit, mending a tool, building a small pond, foraging for mushrooms, fixing a leaky faucet ...


I posted the list and the accomplishments started pouring in.   Bigger lists led to more accomplishments. Several years passed and this whole system evolved into something much greater than just me.  Thousands of details were polished and thousands of new ideas added.  

In time we defined four levels, kinda like college.  The first level is about 80 tasks that can be done in two or three weeks.  The next levels get more impressive and take more time.  And then we defined another program that can be done by anybody, including people living in apartments.  



We developed the whole system so it can be utterly free for anybody. As people get their accomplishments verified, they are then required to verify the accomplishments of others.

People then asked for all of this to be in a book form so they can hand the book to somebody they think would find value in this sort of thing.  The book is done.  And now there is editing, layout, printing and a list of other hoops to jump through to get the book in your hands.   This is the big kickstarter question:  Is there enough interest in this book to print it?  

Any suggestions for improvement?

This is going to be a spoken script, a written script, or both?

I think for someone with no idea about any of this, it's easy enough to guess about Mike, but the reference to Gladys and Otis are probably going to be lost on them. Presumably there isn't really a place in a quick script to explain them, but perhaps in the visuals you can add a reference link at the bottom of the screen for those who are curious?

I ran the current version through one of my editing programs and most of what it wanted to do was adjust a few phrases it didn't recognize (like using the term 'a Mike') or minor things like a spelling error and some capitalization. Everything looks clean enough and clear enough by and large, so in that regard, it is functional. I think there should probably be a paragraph explaining what the term SKIP references/means as a specific acronym? I also like the comment mentioned just before me about "skipping the rat race". That will play well to an audience.

Joshua Myrvaagnes wrote:I think it's good but I may be too close to this to be seeing objectively.  I sense there's something missing.

One thing that could be emphasized more is that college isn't a workable path for everyone currently, and the whole SKIP-ing the rat race thing to get right to the skills that are needed.

Another piont that could be included is that even if you don't want to inherit property, even if you're not (yet) a fan of permaculture even, these are probably the skills you'll need to accumulate to homestead effectively.  It's a question a lot of people must have.  I know how to do these three things, but what skills am I missing??? what will happen when I'm there on my homestead and X happens?  What's that you say, I need to sharpen my tools???  PEP can go a long way to cataloguing the comprehensive set of skills for people.

I think a statistic would be helpful too--X number of farmers in the US are without someone to leave the farm to who will continue to farm.  Just because you know there are 12 people out in Montana in this situation doesn't fully incentivize people elsewhere--but I am sure there are a lot of farmers like that all around.  

If I have more I'll post again.

Lastly, this project is so huge that it isn't going to be done perfectly the first time.  Maybe it's worth acknowledging that in the kickstarter.  Maybe putting out there the idea of other books in the future, Permaculture Experience according to Gert/Penelope/Thanos/Tom Brady.

Agreed, maybe a line or two about how land ownership may seem unattainable, but this could be a shortcut to getting property, if you have the skills and mindset someone is looking for.

I would also caution against saying things like this, "I posted the list and the accomplishments started pouring in.   Bigger lists led to more accomplishments. Several years passed and this whole system evolved into something much greater than just me.  Thousands of details were polished and thousands of new ideas added." because it implies a moving target for completion, which is unlike College.  Something along the lines of, "Verify your skills and discover a community of like minded people looking for someone like you."

My 2 cents.

This may not be what you're looking for, but I have a spelling correction and suggestions for a couple other things. They are in all CAPS.

"Over the years, Mike had HAD more than 100 interns. NONE of them made the cut! We needED something better.

I came up with the idea of making a list of things people could accomplish and documement DOCUMENT. Things that would impress a Mike or AN Otis or A Gladys."

Good luck with this! If I were 20 years younger I'd do the SKIP myself!

Ps. If you want help with the editing/proofreading, I am happy to volunteer. It was one of my past jobs.

I have an idea of something to possibly add in to the kickstarter.  Forgive me if something like this exists already.  Is there a Permies website section where you can go to see who has accomplished what (if they don't mind it being public)?  Also, a person who has accomplished a certain level could provide a link to their online Permies cred as a resume of sorts, like the verified certificates that educational orgs provide.  Taking this a bit further, it could be a very useful section to find someone with the permaculture skill you don't have if you want advice or to hire them for a project, etc.

One word: _YAHS_

I like the script, the only thing I would add is to say one line just before the last paragraph, to complete the thread that has started with Mike Oehler story - to sum up benefit of the SKIP both for the owners of properties and the people looking for the land, i.e practical value of verified accomplishments that you mention earlier. Not sure if I'm making it clear with my broken English though.

This sounds interesting.  I hadn't discovered this part of the permies.com website yet- there's so much on here that it's overwhelming sometimes.  I looked over the list of accomplishments and it looks like a lot of the curriculum requirements that I have for my children that I homeschool... A book like the Scout Handbook design could be fun- enough info to get started with resources to link to and some note taking/journaling space for each badge.

I will buy a dozen - I bought a dozen of he "Building a Better World" books and i will buy a dozen of these

To date, I've been on the fence about engaging in the PEP/SKIP program.  But after reading the script, I am ever-so-slightly more likely to consider partaking in the program, and possibly even getting the book.  But, I still have my hang ups.  Here’s some unsolicited, divergent, creative thinking, which would make me more likely to become a program participant, and even an advocate.  This is less about Paul's Kickstarter script and more about the program as a whole, which I think has broader potential.

1) Modification on the name.
PEP meaning "Permaculture Experience according to Paul"  doesn't resonate much to those who don't know this Paul Wheaton character.  Likewise, SKIP meaning "Skills to Inherit Property" doesn’t connect much with those already blessed with a plot of earth to steward, and therefore are not attempting to inherit property.

As a more expansive alternative, the names could become: Permaculture Experience Program / Skills & Knowledge Inherent to Permaculture which have greater reach, methinks.  More reach, more participants, more $, more permaculture goodness = better world.

2) More "Scout-like" branding.
I'm an Eagle Scout, and I volunteer with Scouting as an adult leader (at least, I did until COVID-19 essentially killed the program).  The Scouting concept is globally familiar, and isn't really trademarked; however all the badges, ranks, pins, etc. of what used to be the Boy Scouts of America all require lots of bureaucracy, registration, $$$, overhead, insurance, training, legal protections, yada yada yada.  It's not an "open" system where any group of nieghborhood individuals can just pick up a Scout handbook, wear their uniforms, and “do” Scouting to its fullness, buying the rank patches or merit badges and pins that they earn.

Personally, I think there may be a niche for an "open source" ecological permaculture scouting.  Something adults (and kids) could do on their own, but if wanting to, could still participate and receive broader recognition or certification from a global community, and even get a few actual badges in the mail.  Decentralized action but global recognition.  Speaking of actual badges...why not make them real?

   https://www.americanpatch.com/patches/categories/merit-badges/

3) Engagement experience beyond the forum?
I think there is great potential for PEP / SKIP as a dedicated app.  (I gather this is already in consideration based of the object oriented / programming-esque naming configuration for badge bits.)  

Rather than just a book with URL links to this forum, consider having a relational database system where individuals can keep track of their PEP / SKIP progress directly from their smartphones.  Or, at the least, make the URLs within the book also have QR codes, so someone can scan to quickly upload completed projects, or get to the "how-to" links rapidly, rather than typing things in.
Consider an app with features to track and display progress and percent completion to the next rank, plus ability to save notes and upload pictures of projects for review by others...  Ability to purple moosage individuals and “sign off” progress, etc.  Ability to purchase completed badge$ in the mail.  Social media integration “I earned my ____ badge!”  Check out this cool spoon I carved!

Scouting BSA has a system called “Scoutbook” that does this.  A skilled programmer could leverage this tech into a wonderfully modern PEP / SKIP experience.

***

In short, I think PEP / SKIP could morph into something HUGE if branded as a full-on form of ecological scouting…
as  Bill Mollison said:

When we design, we are always building for future floods, future fires, future droughts, and planting a tree a few inches tall that will be future forest giants, throw future shadows. Future populations will need future soils and forest resources, shelter, security. So somebody needs to range ahead in time, scout out the next century. We are not daydreaming. We are time scouts. – Bill Mollison

Thanks for all the encouragement!  

One thing that could be emphasized more is ...

We are trying to keep the video under three minutes, so we need to be careful to not add much more.  In fact, we have already cut out about 45 seconds worth of stuff.   That said, there is a possibility it is wise to add something more and bump out something else.  


An alternative is that we have the kickstarter title and the kickstarter "blurb" where we can add more.   Maybe now is a really good time to work on that stuff.   So some things can be mentioned in the title/blurb that are not mentioned in the video.

...  that college isn't a workable path for everyone currently, and the whole SKIP-ing the rat race thing to get right to the skills that are needed.

Skip college, skip the rat-race, skip the mortgage and go directly to retirement with land and a home.  

Title is 60 characters max

Blurb is 135 characters max


....   SKIP the college debt, the rat race and the mortgage.  Rather than go to college to get a job to pay for going to college and pay for a house, SKIP directly to the house and a retirement package.

??

I think a statistic would be helpful too--X number of farmers in the US are without someone to leave the farm to who will continue to farm.  

Good one!   Anybody know of any stats?  Maybe something about how often there is no heir and the property simply goes to the government?

This is going to be a spoken script, a written script, or both?

Spoken.  So this will go over a bunch of video.  And for some parts of the script, I think it would be good if text appears to provide some clarity on the points.

I think for someone with no idea about any of this, it's easy enough to guess about Mike, but the reference to Gladys and Otis are probably going to be lost on them.  

Agreed.  So I took that out.  

I ran the current version through one of my editing programs and most of what it wanted to do was adjust a few phrases it didn't recognize (like using the term 'a Mike') or minor things like a spelling error and some capitalization.  

Some of the caps is to be a word to emphasize as I'm reading it.

I think there should probably be a paragraph explaining what the term SKIP references/means as a specific acronym?

I think that should be in the title for the kickstarter.

SKIP: A Book about developing the Skills to Inherit Property (60 characters exactly!)

Agreed, maybe a line or two about how land ownership may seem unattainable, but this could be a shortcut to getting property, if you have the skills and mindset someone is looking for.

I like that general direction.  Where do you think it might be squeezed in?

This may not be what you're looking for, but I have a spelling correction and suggestions for a couple other things.  

Changes complete.

Ps. If you want help with the editing/proofreading, I am happy to volunteer. It was one of my past jobs.

I started a list of possible reviewers and put you on it.

The plan is that the book would go to reviewers about a week before the kickstarter starts.

Is there a Permies website section where you can go to see who has accomplished what (if they don't mind it being public)?

I know it was discussed at one time, but I don't think we have anything like that right now.   Perhaps you could start a thread in the tinkering forum?  

I like the script, the only thing I would add is to say one line just before the last paragraph, to complete the thread that has started with Mike Oehler story - to sum up benefit of the SKIP both for the owners of properties and the people looking for the land, i.e practical value of verified accomplishments that you mention earlier.

I think this is a good idea, although I am not sure how to work that into the script.  Any ideas?

This is less about Paul's Kickstarter script and more about the program as a whole

Start here:  https://permies.com/wiki/skip-pep-bb


"Permaculture Experience according to Paul" vs "Permaculture Experience Program"

For the program, I think it is super important that I do not claim to be THE voice of permaculture experience.   So PEP is just one flavor of all the possible PEX stuff.  In time, there could be 50 different PEX programs.  So the BBs can be for cold climate and match my philosophies.

Q:


For the sentence "We needed something better."  --  What if it was replaced with "He needed somebody better."

??

paul wheaton wrote:Q:


For the sentence "We needed something better."  --  What if it was replaced with "He needed somebody better."

??

I made the change.

paul wheaton wrote:

I like the script, the only thing I would add is to say one line just before the last paragraph, to complete the thread that has started with Mike Oehler story - to sum up benefit of the SKIP both for the owners of properties and the people looking for the land, i.e practical value of verified accomplishments that you mention earlier.

I think this is a good idea, although I am not sure how to work that into the script.  Any ideas?

Something like:

"We developed the whole system so it can be utterly free for anybody. As people get their accomplishments verified, they are then required to verify the accomplishments of others. It makes finding worthy heirs, as well as becoming one, way easier"

Maybe:  "People like Mike can find worthy heirs, and good people can prove their worth.  Maybe if they are just proving it to themselves."

??

Or:  "People like Mike can find worthy heirs, and good people can prove their worth.  MaybeEven if they are just proving it to themselves."

Mike Haasl wrote:Or:  "People like Mike can find worthy heirs, and good people can prove their worth.  MaybeEven if they are just proving it to themselves."

That's it! :)

I wish I had the time to give you something useful in the way of feedback. I’m new here and a novice when it comes to permies. In fact, I’m pretty much the Sergeant Schultz of permies. I do like some ideas of the suggestions posted that recommend clarifying the benefits of the book to both parties involved in the transaction (sorry if that seems a little cold. I understand the passing of land from one person to another is much more than a transaction). I believe y’all are on the right track with your script and I certainly believe that the book is a worthwhile idea. I’m interested in buying a copy and only just today found out what exactly SKIP is!

I think a statistic would be helpful too--X number of farmers in the US are without someone to leave the farm to who will continue to farm.  

I don’t have a statistic, but an anecdote showing how relevant this is. About two decades ago I was part of a conversation happening in New Hampshire. A couple in their 40s had just purchased about 100 acres with an older barn. They had managed to retire young, pool their savings, and were outlining their ‘grand plan’ for the property, to turn it into an off grid, self-sufficient homestead. One of their core ideas was to use interns from a local ag college program to help with a lot of the work. The interns would be able to camp out on the property, have their own gardens and livestock, and be fed for free as well as get a share of any income they helped produce (sale of veggies at a farmer’s market, for example). Their ulterior motive in this was to find people who they could someday leave the property to, that would carry on the same vision. So I don’t think it’s an obscure idea, or relevant to just one locality. When I die, I would love to know that all my hard work to improve my property would be continued by someone who loves growing things and enhancing nature as much as I have.

Personally, I find the use of the word “accomplishment” to refer to badge bits to be potentially ambiguous - are they people’s accomplishments or are you saying the SKIP/PEP system is accomplishing a lot? I could see it not being interpreted as intended by people unfamiliar with the system. Maybe a brief word about the way proof/documentation of tasks happens?

“I came up with the idea of making a list of things people could accomplish that would impress Mike and people like Mike. Things that people could document to prove their worthiness.

...

I posted the list and submissions of proof started pouring in. Bigger lists led to more submissions and accomplishments, and more people getting closer to their dream of owning land.”

Consider reducing the opening story of Mike Oehler to a single brief reference, something like "Years ago, shortly before his death in 2016, Mike wanted to will his land to someone capable of continuing his projects, but couldn't find a qualified candidate."

As it stands, the Mike story dominates the first third of the script and, to a casual reader, raises unrelated questions that shift focus away from the central idea and towards fixation on Mike.

Mike needed me to name somebody WORTHY to inherit his land

Casual reader, noting that this is the opening statement, wonders: who ultimately got named?

Over the years, Mike had had more than 100 interns.  NONE of them made the cut!

Casual reader, unsure what the statement reveals, wonders: were all of these 100+ interns really that inept, or was Mike just impossible to satisfy?

Things that would impress Mike (...) accomplishments started pouring in (...) more accomplishments (...) Several years passed and this whole system evolved

Casual reader, not knowing that Mike is deceased since 2016, wonders: after all these years and accomplishments, did anyone ever satisfy Mike's requirements?

Hey Paul, took a crack at the script - it's a big part of my job at Insider.


TITLE: SKIP: The Ultimate Checklist of Skills to Inherit Property

Blurb: Over a third of American farmers are senior citizens. This detailed handbook contains the skills you’ll need to inherit their land.

SCRIPT:

Hi, I'm Paul Wheaton and THIS is my 10th kickstarter!

A few years ago before he died, my friend Mike Oehler called me with a problem. He asked me to find someone WORTHY to inherit the land he’s worked for TK years. (Doesn’t Mike have any heirs??? If he does and he passed over his own kids, that’s a relevant detail).

Mike pioneered low-cost housing made from natural materials. He wanted to ensure these cool projects would move forward long after he’s gone. He also wanted to make sure his land wouldn’t be bulldozed for strip malls.

Over the years, Mike had more than 100 interns but NONE of them made the cut! (Why didn’t they make the cut? It sounds like Mike was just too picky… Maybe something about how the interns couldn’t prove their skills in a variety of areas? Or there wasn’t a record of their work in other places?)  

And Mike’s just one example. I've had this exact same conversation with at least a dozen other landowners looking for WORTHY heirs. Across America, nearly one-third of farmers are older than 65. In the next few years hundreds of thousands of acres could become strip malls... OR could return to the hands of people who want to build a greener future.

I came up with the idea of making a list of things people could accomplish and document.  Things that would impress Mike and add up to something like a college degree in homesteading.

There are big projects like growing a garden, building a shed, or felling a tree. And more mundane but equally important skills like preserving fruit, mending a tool, and fixing a leaky faucet.

That original list grew thanks to the online community at permies.com. It developed into what we now call SKIP: Skills to Inherit Property - we also call it that because it's an opportunity to SKIP the Rat Race.

That’s the big idea: If you complete SKIP, there are people like Mike Oehler prepared to leave their land to you.

In time SKIP developed into four levels, again - kind of like college.  The first level is about 80 tasks that can be done in two or three weeks. The next levels include more complex projects and take more time. More recently, we defined another program that can be done by anybody, including people living in apartments.

The SKIP system is free for anybody. You document your projects and the SKIP community verifies your work. As you advance, you’re then, required to verify the accomplishments of others.

People then asked for all of this to be in a book form so they can hand the book to somebody they think would find value in this sort of thing.  The book is done.  And now there is editing, layout, printing and a list of other hoops to jump through to get the book in your hands.  This is the big kickstarter question:  Is there enough interest in this book to print it?  

Daniel triggered several hours of script mashing between Mike and I.  And ash came up with some powerful stats.   Here is where we are right now:

Hi, I'm Paul Wheaton and THIS is my 10th kickstarter!

A few years ago, before he died, my friend Mike Oehler called me with a problem. He asked me to find someone WORTHY to inherit the land he’s been working on for most of his life.  Mike pioneered some natural building designs and his land was peppered with the results of his decades of genius.  He just needed to know his projects would continue to move forward and not be bulldozed for strip malls. Mike’s estate would include several homes, vehicles, cash and a strong income stream from his books.

Over the years, Mike had more than 100 interns but NONE of them made the cut! Mike needed MORE than what any of them brought to the table. SKIP is about bridging that gap.

And Mike’s just one example. I've had this exact same conversation with dozens of other landowners looking for somebody WORTHY.


Each year in the US, millions of acres of farmland are abandoned.  Even more land is converted to urban sprawl. Could we, instead, connect those acres with people that want to build a better world?

I came up with the idea of making a list of things people could accomplish and document.   Things that would impress Mike and people like Mike.  Something like a college degree in homesteading - but with purely physical accomplishments.  Accomplishments like growing a garden, building a shed, building a small pond or felling a tree.  And smaller, but still important accomplishments like  preserving some fruit, mending a tool, foraging for mushrooms or fixing a leaky faucet.



Thanks to the community at permies.com, that list has grown into something quite substantial!  We now call it SKIP: Skills to Inherit Property.  We also call that because it’s an opportunity to Skip the rat race. That’s the core of all this:  if you complete Skip, there are hundreds of thousands of people like Mike prepared to leave their land to you.

We have now defined four levels.   The first level is about 80 tasks that can be done in two or three weeks.  The next levels get more impressive and take more time.  And then we defined another program that can be done by anybody, including people living in apartments.

We designed Skip to be free for everybody.  Your accomplishments are verified by the Skip community and later you will be required to verify the accomplishments of others.


Now people have asked for all of this to be in a book form so they can hand the book to somebody they think would find value in this sort of thing.  The book is done.  And now there is editing, layout, printing and a list of other hoops to jump through to get the book in your hands.   This is the big kickstarter question:  Is there enough interest in this book to print it?

When I read this, we come in at 3 minutes and 13 seconds.   We really need to get it down to 2 minutes and 50 seconds or less.   So can we find a few spots where we can jiggle the words a little and make the message even better, but with fewer words?