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Podcast 645 - Struggling with big spend - Part 2

posted 1 year ago

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Summary

Paul, Jay and Katie continue brainstorming on the subject of how to spend a hypothetical donation of $500,000 so that it effects a positive change in the world and also repays the investment.

They discuss at some length about ways to improve attendance at events and increase boots on the ground at the labs. Paul has tried most of the ideas over the years with mixed results. Among the suggestions are ways to make the lab more attractive, and maybe having events at other venues where there are more people.

Jay also suggests investing in more equipment and infrastructure - for example, better video facilities to make more and better videos. It's not clear that this will actually pay off. Jay runs a non-profit himself and suggests starting one at the labs: Paul isn't averse to the idea but doesn't have time or inclination to run it.

Katie wonders if some investment at the labs could take some of the admin load off Paul, so he has more time to pursue things he wants. It's not easy to get good people, though.

Paul then calls a halt to the brainstorming to present his list of ideas:
1) fund a documentary about climate change solutions. Most climate change films are negative and depressing, Paul wants a positive approach that could inspire people. Jay suggests maybe finding a small community and focusing on converting the whole community to RMH heating, as a theme for the film.
2) organise and pay for a celebrity to attend events and appear in Wheaton labs videos etc. Jay suggests that rather than just a figurehead, finding a celebrity who will get alongside what Paul is doing might be better.
3) advertising. However, there are pitfalls: effective advertising isn't easy, it's easy to spend a lot for little return, and various experts and publicists can be a money pit.

to be continued...

Relevant Threads

Low Tech Laboratory 2: experiments with rocks, wood and mud Kickstarter

Permaculture Bootcamp website
Wheaton Labs forum

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COMMENTS:

Jeffrey Loucks

Posts: 65

Location: Three Rivers, MI

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posted 1 year ago

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Wow! I had to read this one twice. I would donate. However, I don't know about another documentary. Many of them have been done in the past on a positive note on other subjects and I have not noticed that they made any real difference in the world. People will believe what people want to believe and when the majority of what they are being told is doom then that will continue to sell. I work with the few adults that request my help but I really enjoy teaching the young. That is where I see myself making a difference. Perhaps what I teach them will not come to fruition in this decade but when they grow up maybe one or two of my ways will come back to mind and who knows what may happen from there? I mentioned in another post that I would love to see a video game that taught your values to younger children. It is amazing to me what can be done with the correct software programming to encourage a child's mind. TV, reading, even outdoors, becomes unimportant unless someone steps in to stop the gaming for a while. Why not turn this into something really good? Really amazing? Then use your connections to get the game to the next generations at little or no cost so that it becomes the hit that we need it to be. I believe in education. I just believe that making it interactive makes it more interesting. I would spend more of my money to back that than another documentary.

Cat Knight

gardener

Posts: 503

Location: Winemucca, NV

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posted 1 year ago

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I keep coming back to a few options that I haven't heard anyone suggesting:

What about teach the teacher? So instead of your doing Wheaton Labs Permaculture trainings in other cities, how about certifying some teachers to teach your curriculum to carry your name and use your manuals? This worked good for Bill Mollison ;)

And the other is what about coming up with a method of certifying commercial enterprises as Permaculture/regenerative ag approved and training people to determine that those places have met the requirements and issuing that certification?

Also, what about producing agricultural products for sale? Maybe online. something like support regenerative agriculture instruction by buying the 'Overalls CSA box'?

(p.s. I do like the beautifying Allerton Abbey, and yeah, more boots).

There is madness to my method.
"Life finds a way"- Ian Malcolm
"We're all mad here" - The Cheshire Cat

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And that's when I realized I wasn't wearing any pants. Maybe this tiny ad has pants:

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