Locations to do PEP/PEX

I am 76 and have 15 acres, most of it wooded. This idea feels daunting to me, some of you have posted some great ideas but boy o boy keeping unwanted city managers noses out of it is a big deal to me. I don't want to break laws but also I don't want someone else butting in on how I live regarding city big shots.. Does anyone else have this issue and if so how do you manage it?

Also I want to build a root cellar/tornado safe spot on my land,  I want to keep it hidden so that thieves don't have a clue. I may live in it until things are safe which means there are probably some laws I must follow. So would this fit in the pep thingy? If so how, I'd love some help or even some kind of viable exchange if someone wanted to build it for me/with me to earn their badge/badges.

I also have a small spring fed creek that stays so cool even during the hottest part of the year because it is old and has eroded over the  century/decades down deeper than the land surrounding it. A spring house would be awesome if anyone is interested in doing that here.

There is a spot in the woods where we have camped, very rudimentary and walk in over a creek bridge, it could be available.
I would definitely purchase insurance to cover if this became a reality.

I'm not sure if this belongs here since, initially, its a one off. Who knows, it could blossom into more! Let me know if not.

Hi Rosemary, I think it sounds like you're in a different situation.  The PEP BBs are pretty specific and none sound like the particular projects you're after.  Maybe someone will still read your note and contact you though.  Otherwise you could make a post in the Volunteer Offerings or Land Shares forums to try to find someone.

I thought not but also thought 'why not start here?'
Get some kind of direction as to where if it is at all possible.
So yeah you steered me in a good direction!
Thanks!

I am one of those who are looking for people, to be precise organize a group of people to whom I could give my land away. It's not so much of an inheritance, as I am too young for planning on dying anytime soon, but I would like to transfer ownership to a group of dedicated people who would are interested living and creating by the PEP. Believe it or not, not an easy task!
Any advice on that?

Erik Ven wrote:I am one of those who are looking for people, to be precise organize a group of people to whom I could give my land away. It's not so much of an inheritance, as I am too young for planning on dying anytime soon, but I would like to transfer ownership to a group of dedicated people who would are interested living and creating by the PEP. Believe it or not, not an easy task!
Any advice on that?

Hey Erik— if it’s in upstate SC you could just Moosage me 😊

But really, I would send a PM or an e-mail to Paul Wheaton with a bit more info and he will be able to give you some valuable guidance I’m sure.

Dave Burton wrote:Who would be interested in having PEP/PEX done on their land?

This is a wiki page that anyone can edit. If you would like your site to be included in any of the following categories, or to make a category of your own, please edit this post.

People Who Want Full PEP/PEX on Their Land:
Paul Wheaton - Missoula MT
JT Lamb - BonCarbo, CO (see comments below for details)
Michael Chicoine II - New Hampshire (see comments below for details)
Jonathan Leonard - WV
Leaf Bailey - Southern Oregon, USA
Tranqvillium, Sustainable Living Educational and Research Community, Tecopa, CA - erik@tranqvillium.org
Amanda Wright- Dawsonville, GA snookerflyfarms@icloud.com

People Who Want PEP/PEX on Their Land BUT Are Currently Full:
To Be Announced

People Who Think Some Badges Could Possibly Be Done at Their Place:
Mike Haasl - Northern WI, USA
Lina J - Annapolis, Md, USA
Skandi Rogers - Northern Denmark
Ash Jackson - Denver, CO, USA
Trish Beebe  -  Gabrovo, Bulgaria
Bonnie Farrell - Upstate, NY
Lex Eastwood - Rural NV
Hans Quistorff - near  Pierce, Mason, Kitsap counties WA  Swale improvement.
James Sullivan - north of Toronto CA
Sondee Grande - Southern WI, USA
Raphael Blais - Qc, Canada
Nautilus Guild Jennifer Markestad  in Tacoma WA
Chris Vee - Upstate South Carolina
Liam Hession - Missouri Ozarks (near Alton, MO)
Jarrett Hadorn - Etowah, TN (SE TN) - I think most of the full PEP projects are probably doable here

People Who Are Just Thinking About PEP/PEX on Their Land:
Joshua Myrvaagnes (non-profit I've been involved in, I don't make the decisions myself) -- Capital District, NY State, USA

People Who Might Be Open to PEP/PEX On Their Land Given Some Time:
Shawn Klassen-Koop - Somewhere in a flat part of Canada
Michael Holtman - Tennessippi

People Who want to meet other permies/pip people in their area:
Craig Soderberg-Dallas TX area craigggg at gmail dot com

Dear friends
I am interested in meeting other permies.com people in the Dallas TX area. Please connect with me if you are interested. I would also be willing to drive to Waco TX, waxahachie tx, Denton, TX, Arlington, TX etc.
I would like to get some help and advice on getting started earning the pip badges mentioned in the SKIP book.
Thanks
Craig

Are there members in Missouri that we could team up with? We're looking to get started with the program and have been homesteading for a few years but don't have the space or the land to do the more advance badges. We are located in St. Louis Missouri.

Tyler Ludens wrote:Just let me know what is needed for a site to host people and I may be able to offer a space in the coming year.

Tim, what part of Texas are you in? I am in Duncanville, near Dallas. I would love to have you over for a lunch or a coffee if you are ever in the area. Just let me know.

Once again you offer things that its hard for those with to find those that need. I would be interested in having folks come now, but how do I sign up?

Jausonne Spencer wrote:Once again you offer things that its hard for those with to find those that need. I would be interested in having folks come now, but how do I sign up?

As per this thread, you need to send a message to Mike Haasl and he can talk you through it.

I understand that some folks are trying to work within the skills to inherit property framework.

I was wondering if any of you have looked into our "Experienes forum?

https://permies.com/c/experiences

This forum is not within the skills to inherit property framework though this forum might help some to find folks to come now.

Folks post to this forum looking for help by explaining what they are looking for and their general location.

Take a look at the "Volunteers forum" and the "Volunteer offerings":

https://permies.com/f/274/volunteers

https://permies.com/f/271/volunteer-offerings

You might also find some by doing a search for your location here:

https://permies.com/f/273/volunteering

https://permies.com/f/276/jobs-wanted

I hope you will find what you are looking for.

Dave Burton wrote:Who would be interested in having PEP/PEX done on their land?

This is a wiki page that anyone can edit. If you would like your site to be included in any of the following categories, or to make a category of your own, please edit this post.

If you click the button with the three dots in the top right corner of the first post in this thread you will see an edit button appear. You can then add your location for doing PEP/PEX.

I'm in southeast Michigan along the Ohio border close to Indiana. I have 75 acres—half tillable, half wooded—with a stream running through it. Most of it is flat but the stream is on a lower plain. I'm in the process of establishing a teaching homestead. I'm just learning about the SKIP program; but, I think my property might be a good fit to allow others the opportunity to earn badges. How do I get added to the list?

I just added you to the list Lynne, thanks!

If anyone wants to contact someone from this list, send them a PM (private message)* to start chatting

*technically it's called a Purple Mooseage here on permies but it's the same idea...

Could use some help and would like to make like-minded friends in south Pierce County, Washington State.

IS MEXICO AN OPTION FOR YOU?

We fall in the category of People Who Think Some Badges Could Possibly Be Done at Their Place:  Northern Mexico. Sierra Tarahumara. We have lived in Mexico since 2015, just not here in the mountains.   We love living our dream her; itt is just harder because we are starting over AGAIN!

First, I have to confess, I have been stalking the SKIP pages for over two years.  This is the first time I have ever posted. Second, I hope I am submitting this to the right place and that I am doing this the right. If, if not, I am open to discussion, reprimands, suggestions, ideas, etc.

We have two locations. We built a 16 x 22ft log cabin last year that we currently live in on a piece of land about 3 miles from the Labyrinth. This will eventually turn into the Herb Cabin or perhaps a cabin for visitors. We are currently building a warehouse on the Labyrinth land and will. move there and hopefully start on a log/adobe forever home. We expect to build some small adobe/cob/log buildings this year - depending on who wants to come and help what they want to learn and what we can afford to build.  

We have lived on this land in Mexico for less than 10 months. (Cabin completed last May, Labyrinth land acquired last May) We have been doing homesteading in NM since 1990 and moved to Mexico in 2016. My husband is 75 and has been the human backhoe his entire life. Animal husbandry. Small organic farming. Some carpentry, construction, and plumbing (if allowed to curse and make up new languages.) I have been a midwife and herbalist all my life. Finished raising up many women in a nearby town as trained midwives in 2022. Those women have gone on to successfully change the maternal health of this region! These midwives changed an incredibly bad health system into a humanized birth community, raising the VBAC rate, raising the breastfeeding rate, lowering the CS rate, increasing the opportunity for out-of-hospital (OOH) births, and increasing the number OOH births from under 5 in 2015 to over 200 a year in 2023,  This group has also created 5 successful birth centers in the area.  

I have also been running an herb clinic adjacent to the birth clinic in the town.   I still do herbs and herb clinic in town once a week. I no longer do births because I do not drive down the mountain at night and I am 68! I still teach online midwifery and herb courses several nights a week for money and joy.  

We hire local neighbors and community for a lot of outsourcing - like digging holes and construction.   We do a lot of bartering.

Now we are being asked to help make a difference in the Sierra. We have the start of a first aid clinic/herbal clinic for the community that is barely starting. Still collecting supplies and herbs. We have a good start and word of mouth has already started happening. We need help with that = lots of skills to learn.

Our Gardens. We live in the pines at 8000 feet. We have a 90 ft diameter 7-circuit labyrinth which serves as our garden beds (beds are 3 ft, walkways are 2 feet). I know it is weird, but it has been a dream since the late 90's. The focus is on perennial medicinal herbs because of my work, but we will be doing a variety of vegetables for our vegetable market planned for this summer. We are mostly doing experiments this year to figure out what will grow here. We have 8 varieties of tomatoes started and will be experimenting with many squash varieties this year as well. We have planted over 30 fruit trees this year (we won't see fruit for 3 years most likely). Watering is always a challenge. There is a lot of work. We do a lot of Chop Wood, Carry Water here. We haul water from a local river for the plants and from the town well for our drinking water. We water by hand and by gravity feed. It is what it is. We are working on a mulch project for summer and fall 2024 to lower water needs. We also will do some shading as needed. Yes, a lot of work. We are constantly moving mulch into the garden and onto the land.    

We are starting a new adventure with the local community requesting our help with an agricultural teaching project. Yes. Permaculture. This project involves working with the local population teaching kitchen gardens, seed saving, weekly garden markets, possible CSA projects, possible worm/composting production farm, and more. For someone who speaks Spanish teaching Permaculture gardening at a school is a real possibility. (That would be a volunteer position).   We speak English and are working hard on getting our Spanish better - ALWAYS. We do not know anyone in the Sierra who speaks English. Our day-to-day with each other is in English, with everyone else, in Spanish. If you speak Spanish, great. If you don't you must have a great desire to learn Spanish to be here. You will be working with local folks - you have to be willing to work at the language.   There is not much opportunity to get work here. The whole point of the greenhouse is to teach some skills to keep folks in the Sierra and not moving to the city. I teach medicinal herb growing, plant production and propagation, and all herbal medicine-making skills.   I can teach those to locals and you.   I have over 30 years of herb experience to mine out of me (and you can attend any of my classes for free!). So there is that. (And if you are interested in midwifery, we should talk.
The weather is cold and windy at present. We have two tents we can keep you warm and dry.   We are looking for single folks or couples and would welcome children, but this is not an easy place. No whiners!   We have a nice 10 x 14 canvas tent and a larger bell tent (that honestly could use a bit of repair)
We cannot offer payment. We can offer tent shelter, safety (in numbers and we have a large lab/shepherd mix that everyone respects.), and several community meals a week. Access to bulk foods (rice and beans, oil, anything in gardens) and an outdoor stocked kitchen. The land is about a mile from a main road with a bus service where they stop to pick you up. We live close enough to the beautiful Copper Canyon to bike there (50 miles?) if you need a break. We are pretty flexible, and have always had folks live on our land in NM, it seems appropriate here too.
I am all over the place trying to give you an idea of what we are doing, hoping to give you enough information so you can decide if we should have a conversation.   I recently looked over the skills list from SKIP. This is a great workshop/opportunity if you are interested. If you are interested send me a message at katialemone@gmail.com and we can zoom and start talking.  There is so much more to talk about.  Please send a note if you are interested.

IS MEXICO AN OPTION FOR YOU?
Side note.  I keep thinking of other things I should have said....
animal note and food processing:

We have 2 llamas.  2 burros.  several rabbits.  a few quail and plan on chickens this year.  Ranch eggs are a income source!

We also have dogs and a cat.

We have a medium-sized freeze dryer and a freezer at a nearby electrified building.  We will be doing a huge food processing project this year.  If you haven't done freeze drying it is quite a process and a learning curve.  Fun!

So talk to me.

I don't know how to edit that list but I live in Pierce County, WA state and would welcome like minded people to come play on my place. Contact me if you're interested.

Hey Carmen, I went to add you to the list, but someone had already added you! Anyone can edit the list. But you have to open up the ellipsis at the top right of the post to find the edit button.

Jeremy VanGelder wrote:Hey Carmen, I went to add you to the list, but someone had already added you! Anyone can edit the list. But you have to open up the ellipsis at the top right of the post to find the edit button.

Thanks so much. 😊

I've added a farm I'm helping design to the list:

Healing Creek Farm in Toms Brook, Virginia, USA.

Here's a run down:

HCF is a Permaculture demonstration center being designed and built ~1hr west of Washington DC in the Shenandoah,

There's potential for Badge Bit "PEP rallies" and hosting of sustainability workshops and DIY co-creations to build the farm while building community,

Glamping stations, off grid camping, eco-tourism etc. are in development and coming soon (~2025),

Note: HCF stewards would love to have their farm be handy-capable as practical as we design and build it,

For more info, or to inquire about specific Badge possibilities, Purple Mooseage me here.

I have 2.7 acres on Whidbey Island that I'd love to add to this list. If this message is sufficient to do so, yay! otherwise please let me know what I'd need to do to add my land.

Hi Shahar,
Have a look at the first post of this thread again:

This is a wiki page that anyone can edit.

At the right along with the thumbs up and quote button you should see a 'hamburger' icon: If you click on that it will open up a few more options inculding 'edit'. You can add your name to the appropriate section - it is possible to do this as a link to your original post, your profile, or any other information you wish to include.
If you have any problems, please start a new thread in Tinkering with this site , which is the forum all about how permies works, suggestions and discussions of the site itself. I hope this helps!