the old permaculture bootcamp thread

Hi Jocelyn
I was wondering if anyone might be traveling from a city with better international links that I could get a lift from, such as Seattle.  I might consider buying cheap transport and driving.  Are there any spaces left?
Peter

There are currently two spaces available.  And at least one person that will arrive tomorrow - but I think he is leaving again in two or three weeks.   And there is another person that is talking about arriving in the next few days.  

I wish I could give you really great, clear answers, but most of the people that say they are on their way never show up.   So if we were to hold spots for all the people that are "on their way" we might have only one boot actually here.  

At the same time, Fred has made it clear that six is about all the boots he can manage.

So, we make the best of it.  

I suppose one way of looking at it is that perfectly good people must be thoroughly punished for the choices of a few hundred other people.

I know that when people say "I will be there in three days!" my thought is "I don't care.  I'll believe you are coming when I see you are here."  "I am so sorry, but I will be delayed for three days because of reasons."  again "I don't care.  I'll believe you are coming when I see you are here."  "Tomorrow, for sure." "I don't care.  I'll believe you are coming when I see you are here."  

The stuff that is a real pain is when people ask us to pick them up in missoula, and they are a no-show.   They don't even answer their phone, texts or emails.  It's as if they paid a hundred bucks to fuck with us.  

I get it, life is full of adventure and comedy.  Shit happens.  Cars break down.  Major family stuff shifts.  Noir.  Romance.  Disaster.  Crime.

Once people get here, everything seems quite predictable.    

Again, we make the best of it.

Peter Burn wrote:Hi Jocelyn
I was wondering if anyone might be traveling from a city with better international links that I could get a lift from, such as Seattle.  I might consider buying cheap transport and driving.  Are there any spaces left?
Peter

IF (a big IF) some boots show up within the next couple weeks, as Paul just explained, we could be full. Though due to all of the unpredictability we've experienced to date, we are not saying we're full until we have six boots onsite and digging in.

I have family and clients in the Seattle area, so I make trips to and from the Seattle area usually (but not always) about twice per year. So, there could be a chance to coordinate a ride with me if the timing were just right and if we still have bootcamp openings.

Edited to add: I don't know of someone coming from a city with better international links currently. Though feel free to chime in if you're a boot who might be coming from a city like that!

Two questions: Where is it, and what is the  next start date? Thanks, Cori

Where:  near Missoula, Montana

when:  now.  Once full, I hope that we end up with a perpetual waiting list.  It is possible that there will be a day when a new boot leader emerges and we can do two bootcamps.  

Does the ant and deep roots program have to be worked consecutively or cumulatively?

Also, once the deep roots program has been completed will there be any legal/formal paperwork involved or just a handshake?  

any plans for summer boot onboarding?

Logan Pettyjohn wrote:Does the ant and deep roots program have to be worked consecutively or cumulatively?

So, you are thinking that you will join the bootcamp for a while, then go away, and then come back later and finish the two years?

Also, once the deep roots program has been completed will there be any legal/formal paperwork involved or just a handshake?  

There is a document to sign.

Cori Warner wrote:any plans for summer boot onboarding?

Onboarding?

paul wheaton wrote:

Logan Pettyjohn wrote:Does the ant and deep roots program have to be worked consecutively or cumulatively?

So, you are thinking that you will join the bootcamp for a while, then go away, and then come back later and finish the two years?

Also, once the deep roots program has been completed will there be any legal/formal paperwork involved or just a handshake?  

There is a document to sign.

Yes. I arrived today and will leave on March 28th for about three weeks and will return to finish the deep roots program.

How many spots are currently available in the bootcamp?

Dave Burton wrote:How many spots are currently available in the bootcamp?

Without going into all the stories (known and unknown), I'm going to say "2".

Hi Paul! I found your website and I've read through a lot of different threads and information and I'm super excited and intrigued! Do you currently have any availability for your permaculture bootcamp? I'm really interested in the boots to roots program with my husband. If you do have availability we are ready to listen through all your podcasts and sign up! Please let me know about availability for this amazing once in a lifetime opportunity :)

I want to say "we have two openings right now".  But it might be three.   There are so many people and stories and human stuff.   But, yes, there are, at this moment, at least two openings.  

Are their restrictions on house cats? If not then I can most definitely post a payment in 2 weeks and we'd be on our way!

Michelle Montero wrote:Are their restrictions on house cats? If not then I can most definitely post a payment in 2 weeks and we'd be on our way!

Welcome to the forums, Michelle! We're so glad you're interested in the bootcamp!

Currently, we do not allow any animals in the Fisher Price House (FPH)...for loads of reasons. The tiny shared bunk bedroom in the house has been where most boots stay in the winter/early spring, then as it gets warmer, a lot of boots prefer to camp outdoors in tents.

We have some cabins where we have allowed boots or other residents to stay, and we have allowed animals in the cabins. The caveat for staying in a cabin is that unless you are renting the cabin yourself (paying monies over and above your bootcamp contribution), the cabins are only available if we have not rented them out, and you might have to move if we do rent them out. Plus, any cabins that boots are staying in (without rent) must be kept in tour ready conditions at all times. That's because we have RMH's and other innovations that we might show people at a moment's notice.

It's also worth noting that we have an outdoor-only cat at base camp currently who LOVES people, but might be a bit of bully with other cats. We've tried to teach him, but...he's a cat.

I understand your concern for your property's top condition and I absolutely respect that. I do also want to let you know that we have 2 cages for them as well. They are very well trained and are comfortable with leashes as well. They come in and out of the house on command. This would really be a dream come true for my husband and me. We're both in our early 20's and we want to do things differently than how things are done in the cities. I never been but my husband grew up in 'el campo' in Dominican Republic picking the freshest fruits right from the trees. Is there any possibility of discussing this further?

Michelle Montero wrote:Is there any possibility of discussing this further?

It's so cool you've found a way to travel with your critters! I really do admire that and think that's awesome. And I just have too much on my plate to discuss it further or to allow animals in the FPH, sorry.

Like I wrote above, cabins (IF available) or tents would be amendable to cats, so there are options.

One of the perks of being a boot, is that after a month you can pick a plot and do stuff on that plot on evenings and weekends.   Maybe plant seeds.  Maybe build something.   Maybe do PEP stuff ...

Robbie is taking lots of pictures and doing just that:

https://permies.com/t/90/102602/permaculture-projects/Robbie-Permaculture-Bootcamp-experience#914546

Is any of this business still going on? Sounds like a heck of fun; laboring away making a living living. I’m just window shopping for the moment, but the second I can get my lower class ass in gear; I’d love to give you my money

Yup, there are currently spots open.  

A few updates:


- there are still two spots available

- i expanded the section "a little jingle in your pocket" from one thing to ten things

- the new BRK just for boots has over a dozen pledges now:  https://permies.com/wiki/114138

- i added a section about a tie-in with the bootcamp and the PEP stuff

- i added something to the FAQ about a guaranteed spot

- i added something the FAQ about accomodations

- i did a little polishing here and there


Any suggestions for further improvements?

the perks of being a boot:

  - after two years in the bootcamp you can leave the bootcamp and get a one acre plot of your own
            . kinda like "rent for life"
            . you can sell the "rent for life" thing
            . you can improve it and sell the "rent for life" and the improvements
            . you can gert it

  - after four months in the bootcamp you can get an acre and plot with rent and deposit paid through the end of 2020
            . after the end of 2020 you can sell your improvements or keep on renting

  - you can knock out PEP BBs during the bootcamp

  - you can earn money in ten different ways

  - there might be some value to the experiences.  :)

  - hang out with like minded folks

  - we get some super cool natural builders and permaculture folks stopping by from time to time


What else goes on this list?

Dear Paul Wheaton and those at the Lab,
 
  I am absolutely star struck at Wheaton labs, no exageration. This has to be the best oppurtunity on Earth. Since december, after dropping out of College, I've devoted all of my energy into reading these forums, watching youtube videos, studying biodynamics and Rudolph Steiner's "spirit science" and through this reevaluating the way of life I was living on Long Island. Although LI is 118 miles and that is my birthday, this island has served its purpose and I truly believe me and my older sister Taylor have gotten all we can out of this place. People here are very emersed in the mainstream way of life that leaves them tethered to this absurd wasteful system, I seek to disconnect from that and move onto a new sustainable chapter in my life for I know that is the only way. Ever so often I hear my tribes call. The hardest part is going to be leaving my younger two sisters who are in high school and are already begging to come with us...one day. After researching and developing an innerstanding of permaculture which seemes to have been apart of my path as it was just so natural for me,  I also began a permaculture food forest, hugelmound and back to eden garden among other things. However my parents are "leveling" it because it does fit into their narrow minds, I guess they dont want free food?  Its okay I made sure my younger sisters will get to have the food they deserve as I planted 1000s of seeds around my property. That is one of the reasons I had to leave and have been camping and being a nomad as clearly they arent aligned with what I want to do with my life, sorry Mom and Dad but I dont want to go to medical school and waste my life on chasing the cash. (Not sorry)
Nevertheless, with their support or not, community living is definetly calling my name. All I've ever dreamed of was to live off the land and recconect with Nature and nobody can hold me back any longer I am going to do what I am meant to do. I am 19 and Taylor is 21 and both of us are ready for this coming journey and I truly feel that we have found where we are meant to be. We are eager to get on the road and begin our adventure and all it will entail. We are motivated like never before to bring this about. I've been working at 7/11 to acquire the funds to go cross country and although its been quite the learning experiencs, I have had enough being around that energy...lotto, cigs and alcohol... I am definetly at a crossroad in my life and I feel as though there are infinite poissibilities. Both Taylor and I want nothing more than to be apart of Wheaton labs and leave the rat race FOR GOOD never to return. So much to say!!! So many layers to peel back!!! I just love writing its so powerful in manifesting. Before I leave I have a few more things to do to leave my mark on this island...all will know that community oneness is the answer and permaculture is one of the keys. There is just so much for me to learn I shall continue binge watching your podcasts and youtube vids. I anticipate any response.

Cheers!

~Zach and Taylor Simone

I think the podcasts are the best way to see if our spot is a match for you.  

It sounds like you have certainly done a fair bit of research.   And I especially like the part about planting the seeds.  

If you arrive in the next couple of weeks, you will be a boot during the ATC - which means that you are sorta in the ATC.   Boots usually do the tasks to build things for the ATC that the instructors and students don't wanna do.  But the education factor is probably triple of regular boot days.

I've been watching all your youtube vids since December, What youve created is truly magnificent. This is so perfect! One of the main reasons I "dropped out" of college is because it is too slow paced and I was learning more useful information myself on the side. The ATC was one if the first things I found when I started exploring oppurtunities but money was short, it has come full circle. We are very serious about this and are leaving very soon, within next few days. I am waiting for Taylor to finish up working at her job, one more day!

~Zach

You guys will need to pay $120 ($100 for the first person and $20 for the second) in the gapper fee.  Page one has the thing-a-ma-bob for that.   Then you will be subjected to the questionnaire.  

Say someone wants the boot education (being guided by whomever teaches the boots, with the structured labor boots perform) but opts out of the bunk and meals, are there any benefits to doing so?

We have allowed other residents to join the bootcamp in this fashion.   We arrange "fysh" - so they can get use of the tractor, excavator, etc.  But I think this is not a guaranteed thing.  

And there are a few dozen other variables mixed in to all of this.   I suppose the correct answer at this time is "maybe - it depends."

Without the bunks and meals, and besides "fysh," in theory, a boot could work off their shallow or deep roots acre more quickly.

Hi there,
  My name is Taylor, my brother Zach had posted above about our interest in the bootcamp! We've submitted a deposit but I just couldn't locate the questionnaire. I'm just wondering how to move forward from here !? I've also been listening to some of your podcasts and reading the posts about the bootcamp:)!
Thanks,
  Taylor

I'm thinking Paul or Jocelyn or maybe Fred will email you guys the questionnaire? They're currently gearing up for the Permaculture Design Course there, so it might take a day or two to email the questionnaire?

I asked jocelyn and she said coco will be sending the questionnaire this morning.

I updated the main page to show 11 ways a boot could make a little extra coin while they are here.

hello!

I just came across the bootcamp info from being on the emailing list from having supported the book kickstarter.. I’m currently in a stable (steady income, fulfilling work) but transitory (scanning the horizon for where to go/what to do next) period in life and have also recently become interested in permaculture and homesteading at large.

so my question: I currently live in a well-equipped van that, if I were to come out to the lab, I would be unlikely to want to leave behind. could I arrive with my van and either use it as my living space on the land or park it somewhere out of the way?

I ask only to feel out the situation and to see how I could make it work. I probably wouldn’t be coming out there this season, but who knows. just wanted to test the waters. thank you!

Lots of places to park a van.  No problem.

wheaton labs June 2019 Boots


Robbie, Jaqi and Jeremy (The Ant)


Robbie and Jaqi getting ready for 2019 PDC


Jaqi and fred working on peeling a tree from the PEP1


Robbie and Jeremy (The Ant)


New to bootcamp Talyor and Zach

For More on our Boots click on the name!

Robbie

Jaqi

Taylor & Zach

Our Ant Jeremy
Jeremy the ant

For more info on being a Boot click here!
 

Moving brush piles from last years fire to help with Fred's fence

The boots Helping with the PDC