Free PDC for deep roots, ants and their gappers!

More news soon, but this event is now:

DEFINITELY HAPPENING!


Okay, here is what I wrote earlier today. Keep in mind that this information is now about two hours old:

A PRI certified instructor that has taught a bunch of PDCs offered to come to the lab and teach a free PDC for people working on the project. His motivation seemed to be to help fill out the ant spots and move all projects forward.

We talked about June 21 to July 4.

Since it would be limited to people that are already here, then there would be no need to worry about feeding people. It would be more of a thing where people could just attend class stuff and everybody would feed themselves.

I got to thinking that I would gladly promote it. And I bet could get some awesome people to come and help with a day or two of instruction. Maybe Ernie and Erica. Maybe Thomas Elpel. Maybe Neil Bertrando. Maybe Jacqueline Freeman. Maybe Alexia Allen. I have about 20 different people in mind. I could even help out with instruction. Wofati 0.8 could be modified to be a classroom ...

This is gonna be great!

So, somebody has to take care of the details. And it sure as hell won't be me - I'm already drowning in projects. And jocelyn is drowning in projects. Evan thought about maybe doing it for a couple of days - but in the end he felt it would be too much work and he already has a lot on his plate.

The end.

So, I guess this isn't happening. But it was so close.

I wanted to mention this to paint a picture of what is possible.

The instructor, Howard Story, contacted me to say that he will run point on the project. He will take care of all registration. He will show up a month early to make sure that this event is properly prepared for.

Plus, with him here for the month before the event, plus the full PDC, we will have STRONG PERMACULTURE LEADERSHIP on the lab.

His reasoning: he wants to make sure that the ant village program has a strong launch!

So, this PDC is free for:

- all ants
- all gappers and friends-of-ants that have been here for at least four weeks before the PDC starts
- all deep roots people

There will be a limited number of spots for this free PDC. So the earlier people register with Howard, the better chance that they will have a spot. We talked about the number of spots being something around 25 - but I'm going to leave the final number up to howard.

We talked about the possibility of allowing a few people in that don't meet the requirements for "free". Possibly for something like $400. More news on that, in this thread when we know more (you might want to click on the "watch" button for this thread).

Since ants, deep roots people and gappers that have been here for more than four weeks already have a bunk and their food systems worked out, then we don't have to worry about that. Everybody just keeps doing what they were already doing.

So, just to be clear: this is a free PDC with theme of: Go Ant Village!

As of this moment, there are 11 ant spots still open. Full details for ant village here. And one of those people could get their plot converted to deep roots with the ant village challenge.

Here is a short bio for the PDC instructor, Howard Story:

Born in Canada Howard has traveled and lived in 30 countries. In his previous life he was an senior executive with International Business Machines (IBM). He holds a BA in Natural Resource Economics a BSc. in Science and a MA in Education. He has turned his talents to Asia. He is the founding Director and CEO of WWOOF Thailand, a member of the International Federation of Organic Associations and Movements (IFOAM) and a student of the IFOAM Academy for Organic Excellence. He holds a PDC (Permaculture Design Certificate) certification and a International PDC teachers certificate with PRI Australia. He is an expert trainer, community mobilizer and community capacity building consultant. His experience includes the top Fortune 50 International Corporations. His last ten year passion has been mobilizing rural poor families and communities in Se Asia thru Permaculture and bio ecological education. His skills include community mobilization, fund raising and capacity building. He believes after the basics have been met that English and basic computer skills to Asia's rural poor children will change their futures.
Past Experience: National Education Coordinator for IBM Canada Ltd. with 11+ years experience in Asia teaching and working with Asia's children and rural poor in areas such as Issan's rural farmer's and families, Thailand's rural NW mountain refugees. His "hands on" style, experience, leadership skills, cultural awareness and insight means your best results happen. Inexpensive methods of implementation, accurate program design, result oriented in community empowerment, improved collateral support and increased community income thru connection and communication.
FoodTank.com adviser SE Asia, Sustainable community development Asia, Food sovereignty expert Asia/Africa, Community empowerment using what locals already know put to use thru local plants, food security, expert Asia small family farm incomes thru design.

Howard is a PRI certified permaculture instructor.

Howard,

With the registration, I think it would be wise to keep 12 spots open for ants for the next two weeks. If you get a lot of people waving $400 at you, maybe keep a possible waiting list. ??

Hello Everyone, Great news, an exciting time awaits us all.

contact me to register for the course at GoAntVillage@gmail.com

DATES: June 21 to JULY 4, 2015

More information to come shortly.

Best regards,
Howard

So awesome

Wow!! There are so many stories from how this whole 'thing' has unfolded in all the events that have occurred in 2015. At least, I'm learning a lot.... and I think I know the Big Teacher ;) ox

Now, that right there is some ant candy.

Trying to line up some celebrities:

Jacqueline Freeman and Joseph Freeman - they might be able to come. Maybe even the full two weeks.

Helen Atthowe - might be able to come for a day or two.

Jacob Wustner - maybe

Mike Oehler - maybe

Josho Somine - definitely for four days

sweet. wish I could be there, but, can't, so... forwarding the news...

So not sure I fully understand the 12 spots, open for non qualified people, is that for random people that have been dieing to attend a PDC and desperately longing to come check out the lab?

brandon gross wrote:So not sure I fully understand the 12 spots, open for non qualified people, is that for random people that have been dieing to attend a PDC and desperately longing to come check out the lab?

Gonna leave this one to Howard.

brandon gross wrote:So not sure I fully understand the 12 spots, open for non qualified people, is that for random people that have been dieing to attend a PDC and desperately longing to come check out the lab?

My exact question!!

I think that the very first people to get a spot in the PDC should be ants, deep roots, shallow roots and gappers that get here by the deadline. But those people HAVE TO stand up and tell Howard that they will take that spot. And howard will confirm with me that they qualify.

Remember, the primary mission of this PDC is to offer greater incentive to get ants started here.

Next, I suspect that people will email howard and make arrangements to pay the $400. I hope that the people that are paying the $400 will arrive a week early to help ants and to help Howard get things set up for the PDC.

I am not sure, but I suspect that howard will accept a few students that fork over $400 now.

What PayPal account do we use to pay the deposit?

brandon gross wrote:What PayPal account do we use to pay the deposit?

To come out as a gapper? paul at richsoil.com

To sign up as an ant? paul at richsoil.com

How is the $400 fee to be paid?

the $400 thing is definitely a question for Howard. Howard?

Free PDC!yes! I - Jesse and I, have kept you in heart and mind since last summer. It was never "goodbye", and both of us felt it likely that we would be back. Now that Jesse has been seriously considering the Ant challenge (seriously serious) I'm getting all excited about Montana again - yippee! And a PDC to boot. meow.

I've been dialed in with the changes with the gapper program and ant village, and I am whole heartedly aligned with the developments. People have to choose community and make a commitment to communicate and communally share the surplus of skill, love, and wealth. Eh.


I'm still Canadian and um, fuck the border, so I am unable to seriously commit to anything beyond a few months, but I'm keen to fill some gaps at the lab, so to speak, during and after the PDC for a time.

I am interested in helping out for the PDC,especially when it comes to food and feeding the peoples. If there are more areas that require assistance from some magical boobies, do let me know.

Really, I just wanted to express how excited I am. I was dancing all day after receiving word.

Thank you thank you.

Looking forward

Carol-anne - it will be great to see you again! When might you arrive?

Howard has been here for several days. This morning we talked about a lot of stuff. I'm going to try to convey a few points and then howard will provide the official word later today.

I think today was the last day for a gapper to arrive and be able to get the free PDC. Today is also the last day for deep roots people to be guaranteed a spot. Deep roots people can still attend the PDC for free, but you have to register with howard before the remaining tickets are sold.

If a person signs up for ant village (put putting up their money) at any time up to the PDC, they can attend the PDC for free if there are remaining spots.

This is now open season on the remaining spots. For the next seven days (through midnight, mountain time, on may 31) the price is $400. After that, if there are spots available, it is $600.

Everybody here for the PDC will get a chance to drive the excavator and the tractor with the loader.



We are also looking into renting a bulldozer for the week before. All PDC attendees are invited to come a week or two early to help prepare for the PDC. One of the projects will be to build a brand new road at basecamp. Through rock. It will be part of a paddock shift alley system. So if you are here when we are doing this, you can have a go at driving a bulldozer.

Apparently there was some confusion about the start date. We will start at 9am, Sunday, June 21. We will finish on the evening of July 4.

This will be an official PRI certified PDC taught by a PRI certified instructor. So it will follow a strict PDC format. We have already lined up several guest instructors. I will do some guest instruction. A PDC often has some hands on stuff. Today we talked about creating a willow bog off of the pooper and showers; and a hugelkultur bed.

Thanks again to Howard for doing this. Very generous!

People are asking about how to send funds to howard. When I talked to Howard earlier today, he said that he would post that info in this thread. After using my sharp permaculture observation skills, I have deduced that he has not yet done so. Be sure to email him at GoAntVillage@gmail.com and say "I invoke the right of dibs to a PDC spot and will pay actual paypal moneyish things the moment you give me your damn paypal address."

Paul/Howard,

I just came across this thread thanks to the Dailyish email and would be very interested in participating but had a few quick questions. I actually already shot them to Howard but thought they might be useful for other folks as well:

1. What exactly does the PDC cost cover (ie...food, lodging, a place to pitch a tent....etc?) $400 is an exceptional value but my flight is going to be expensive and I want to make sure I can afford the 'package deal.'

2. Since I would be flying, is there any chance I could arrange transportation to and from the airport from someone on the farm? I could get a rental car but suspect it would sit there for 90% of the time.

3. Is 25 still the class target size?

4. On my education background, I have consumed lots of podcosts (Paul's and Jack Spirko's) and have read a couple books (Sepp Holzer and Toby Hemingway) but that is about it. I assume novice is OK but don't want to be a boat anchor is everyone else is much further along.

Thanks in advance for the help and I will hope to see you fairly soon!

Steve

Are there any options for those of us that can't commit to becoming ants or gappers (already committed to my own land) but would like to share some of our freakishly good skills and/or equipment to lessen the out of pocket cost? I'm an Arborist and small tree service owner with big chainsaws and lot's of rope, rigging and tree knowledge.

I also have a wife who might not be so happy about me spending money on a class/transportation/food/etc. as well as leaving her to run the farm and kids. It'd be a much easier sell to say "I have a job that I'm going to go do." and then when she say's "Oh, Okay." I say, "Did I mention it pays in the form of a PDC (and perma-street-cred)?" To which she'll reply "We could really use the money but okay, it'll be an investment."

At that point it's a sealed deal so I'll be able to go, I just have to be ready with the list of 'thing's I'm going to do for you' when I mumble "Oh yeah, it's in Montana and I'll be gone for three weeks."

Would a gapper fee be necessary in addition to come out early? (& possibly stay past)
Sent Howard a note, but had planned on coming out as a gapper. Looks like I may have missed that window, unless I jump in the car today & head out. I'm only a few hours away, near CDA.
Had some other obligations that are dragging on longer than I had hoped.

I'm sitting here with Howard, discussing accommodations, and he wants everyone to know his PayPal account is howard.story AT gmail DOT com.

S Finn wrote:
1. What exactly does the PDC cost cover (ie...food, lodging, a place to pitch a tent....etc?) $400 is an exceptional value but my flight is going to be expensive and I want to make sure I can afford the 'package deal.'

Place to pitch a tent. Access to pooper and showers. No food - although howard said something about coffee/tea.

We can line up some rocket stoves for cooking.

For people that want an authentic bed, I know that today I arranged that once a person has paid howard, they would then ask howard and howard would need to make arrangements with jocelyn - and there will be some sort of fee for actual beds.

There is some other paid lodging within about ten minutes or so.

2. Since I would be flying, is there any chance I could arrange transportation to and from the airport from someone on the farm? I could get a rental car but suspect it would sit there for 90% of the time.

If you paid a gapper feed of $100, I would make sure you get a ride to and from. If you pay howard $400 instead, then howard will make sure you get a ride to and from.

3. Is 25 still the class target size?

Yes.

4. On my education background, I have consumed lots of podcosts (Paul's and Jack Spirko's) and have read a couple books (Sepp Holzer and Toby Hemingway) but that is about it. I assume novice is OK but don't want to be a boat anchor is everyone else is much further along.

This will be a very formal PDC - by the book. Therefore it assumes you are pretty much an absolute beginner.

Earlier today Howard and I talked about my role. If I sit in on the class and interrupt every time my philosophies deviate from the official PRI course, then the class could take months to get done. Therefore I will do my best to keep quiet. Although the students that have listened to my podcasts can make infinite comments and ask infinite questions! (devious laughter goes here)

Michael Newby wrote:Are there any options for those of us that can't commit to becoming ants or gappers (already committed to my own land) but would like to share some of our freakishly good skills and/or equipment to lessen the out of pocket cost?

Our experience so far has taught us that "freakish" can be relative.

We do have lots of stuff with a bounty on it. I think somebody with "freakish" skills will be able to earn $400 in two days. While unskilled folks might take more than a week to accomplish the same thing.

paul wheaton wrote:

Michael Newby wrote:Are there any options for those of us that can't commit to becoming ants or gappers (already committed to my own land) but would like to share some of our freakishly good skills and/or equipment to lessen the out of pocket cost?

We do have lots of stuff with a bounty on it. I think somebody with "freakish" skills will be able to earn $400 in two days. While unskilled folks might take more than a week to accomplish the same thing.

Found the list of things your willing to pay for, looking it over intently.

J Hymay wrote:Would a gapper fee be necessary in addition to come out early? (& possibly stay past)
Sent Howard a note, but had planned on coming out as a gapper. Looks like I may have missed that window, unless I jump in the car today & head out. I'm only a few hours away, near CDA.
Had some other obligations that are dragging on longer than I had hoped.

Pretty sweet drive to get here from "core-duh-lane".

This is one of those things where you pay the gapper fee or the $400 to howard. Not both. Unless, of course, you have already been here. ??

On the other hand, if you fork over the $400 to howard, then you have a fer-sure spot in the PDC. Then come over and rack up some sweet, sweet bounty action. Maybe a lot more than $400.

I know that brian is about to begin work on the berm shed and would like some good hands. He might be willing to share some of the bounty. Of course, brian is extremely knowledgable in a lot of stuff, so he seems to get a lot of people willing to just work beside him on stuff.

Michael Newby wrote:
Is there a list of "things with a bounty on it" that I would have access to on the permies site? I did a quick search but didn't come up with much looking for "bounties"...

I changed the name of the thread so it would be easier to find:

https://permies.com/t/46286/labs/bounty-list-projects-pay

Awesome, that was quick.

I asked some questions in that thread since they'll be relevant there even if it doesn't work out for me doing the PDC.

paul wheaton wrote:Pretty sweet drive to get here from "core-duh-lane".

This is one of those things where you pay the gapper fee or the $400 to howard. Not both. Unless, of course, you have already been here. ??

On the other hand, if you fork over the $400 to howard, then you have a fer-sure spot in the PDC. Then come over and rack up some sweet, sweet bounty action. Maybe a lot more than $400.

I know that brian is about to begin work on the berm shed and would like some good hands. He might be willing to share some of the bounty. Of course, brian is extremely knowledgable in a lot of stuff, so he seems to get a lot of people willing to just work beside him on stuff.

Went for the guaranteed spot, since Murphy seems to be peeking in on me recently. Some bounties wouldn't be bad.
I had hoped to pick up a trailer after finals and head out, but my craigslist-fu is too rusty and slow apparently. Main issue for me is canines, laptop, and a spot to take care of some heavier summer reading. Plus it seems I'll need a few days to head back & help an aunt move into storage. So even if I bolted out today, can't guarantee a full 4 weeks of efforts.

What tools, etc should I bring out once I get my obligations cleared? Or should I discuss that via email when I get the directions to come out? I am looking fwd to the drive, I think it's been night the 2 times I've been through that stretch.

I have had some people say that they have not heard back from howard. If 24 hours has passed and you have not heard back from howard, post to this thread so that howard can attempt to mend his email.

I got some questions in my email which I will answer here.

Is there a chance I could grab some fridge space for some fresh stuff or possibly a cooler?

We currently have fridge set up for folks here.

Let me know what you might have on the bunk front. Pitching a tent is fine but sleeping in a bed for a few days ain't bad either.

You must ask for this through howard. Howard will verify your payment and then pass the request on to jocelyn. Jocelyn will let you know what is and is not available and you will pay jocelyn directly for the bunk.

Do I need my own transportation once I get to the farm?

No.

What is your address and would mailing something to myself ahead of the course be an option?

You will get the address after payment is confirmed. You are welcome to receive mail here. Keep in mind that UPS and FedEx are glad to deliver stuff without any issue. USPS can be weird.

I'm waiting to get the official word from howard, but I think the PDC might now be full.

Hi Paul/ and everyone,

We still have a few more seats.

Paul,

I would love to attend this PDC above all the others I have looked at. Would there be a place to park an RV? I would not need any electric or water hookups, just a parking spot

Also, may have wife and two kiddos with me, if they come they would not be attending the PDC and would find things to do nearby. Any issues with this?

Thanks

there is some timber company land nearby that allows camping for several weeks. You could park your RV there. And while you're at the PDC your kids can play in the woods.

Why pay $400 for the PDC when for just $400 more you could become an Ant? Then you would get the PDC plus have an acre to permify for the next year and a half and all of the candy that includes.

Between info from howard and jocelyn, it sounds like there might be as few as four seats still available. The price is $400 for a few more days and then it goes up to $600.