Homesteading and Permaculture by Paul Wheaton

Unable to be contained to a mere one two-part podcast, Alexandra is back with another one. This time covering the local cats, their new rocket-ajacent houses, and Alexandra’s experience raising her kids on site without the sometimes expected Paul-daycare. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information and discussion of this podcast […]

Paul and Alexandra keep going down her list of knickknacks to discuss, which include how BBs are accepted or rejected, what to do if one of yours is rejected, how much faff the SKIP project is compared to college, and a surprising amount of people that do SKIP to help with depression. Support the podcast […]

Paul talks with Alexandra about her experience staying at the Fisher-Price house with her kids, her experience with running the Rocket Mass Heater for a month for a BB, the cost of doing SKIP (or lack thereof), and how engineering planners like her can face unexpected complications. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and […]

Paul, Mike, Tim, Rebekah, and Clay continue discussing Paul’s GAMCOD programme, where they started from, their time investment, and what should be grown in such a garden to get as many calories as possible, why soybeans are blacklisted, and any qualifying video that gets used can get $400 per minute used in the upcoming film. […]

Paul, Mike, Tim, Rebekah, and Clay discuss Paul’s GAMCOD programme, in which you show that you can grow food on a 200 sq ft plot of dirt and record the process on video, their experiences with it, and attempt to dispel a few common misconceptions about it. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and […]

Paul, Alan, Stephen and Clay continue discussing faecal management systems, with the goal of making one that can scale up to deal with lots of people. They also discuss other poop loving plants like bamboo, or maybe creating a much more spread out system and using it as pasture. Support the podcast on Patreon Show […]

Paul, Alan, Steven and Clay continue the discussion about poop, with Paul aiming to replace sewage plants even in areas that ban compost toilets, and Alan feeling that the alpha testing is complete, and discussing weather humanure or willow feeders are safer in regards to pathogens. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion […]

Paul sits down with Steven, Clay, and Alan Booker to discuss other methods of dealing with human waste, aka poop. There’s a lower limit of about 1m3 for a compost heap, so why not put it underground and put a willow tree in it to keep it in one place? Support the podcast on Patreon […]

Paul, Steven and Alexandra continue discussing the Fisher-Price house Rocket Mass heater, and how to effectively fuel it, how much it costs in terms of time spent, fuel used, what sizes of wood to burn when, and how to avoid turning the feed into a competing chimney. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and […]

Paul sits down with Steven and RMH-expert-aspirant Alexandra to discuss her experience with running the Rocket Mass Heater in the Fisher Price house for a month so she can get the BB, her fascination with the fluid dynamics inside them, and dispelling some perceived flaws with RMHs. Paul, Steven, and Alexandra discuss running the Fisher-Price […]

Paul and Steven still have a variety of notes to go over, such as Rocket Mass heaters needing a better PR spin, getting GAMCOD off the ground with a 3-boot startup, appreciation for all the support he’s been getting, and some slight hypocrisy around compost toilet bans. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and […]

Paul and Steven continue their discussing of a whole jungle’s worth of topics, covering everything from reworking the Building a Better World book, GAMCOD, Hugelkultur, BEL, server and email maintenance, Youtube plans, and a bit of bot bashing to round things off. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information and discussion […]

Paul is with Steven and they discuss the state of the jungle, which in this case is mostly about plans for the next kickstarters, including either a willow feeder movie or book, a Rocket Mass Heater book with Uncle Mud, or a GAMCOD movie Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information […]

Paul is with Bo, Fred, Dez and Steven doing a fundraiser for BEL (Bootcamp Experience Log), a rolling fund which pays out to boots who make 100 posts in their BEL thread, while also discussing the new GAMCOD programme and a new big prize for a new boot that shows up and sticks around. Support […]

Paul and Katie continue to talk about Hawaii and how it’s different from Montana, such as the year-round growing season, (although there are ways to extend it if need be) and potential for massive 10″ rainfall in a night. And the lack of parasites in Montana. That’s a big plus. Support the podcast on Patreon […]

Paul and Katie skip clambering up to the caldera and instead sit down to talk about Katie’s experience with her now home of Hawaii, the problems caused by the prevailing wind, the wet and dry sides of the islands, fungal and ant plagues, and the side-effects of becoming a state. Support the podcast on Patreon […]

Paul and Katie take another hike up to the caldera, this time discussing how Paul’s advocacy for Rocket Mass Heats can have him coming across as a bit of a snake oil salesman (heck even Katie dismissed them at first) and a few hypotheses as to why that is. Support the podcast on Patreon Show […]

Paul and Katie head up the caldera and talk about the progress of on-site food growing after spending so long just building the soil, potential price changes for accommodation, and maybe the start of new plans to add a range of luxuriance to the accommodation on offer. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and […]

Paul and Co continue discussing the progress made at the 2024 Permaculture Technology Jamboree, covering the rest of the Sepp Holzer root cellar, upgrades to the Red Cabin’s RMH, a rocket oven, an attempt to use said oven to heat the kiddie pool, and a new method for thin cob floors. Support the podcast on […]

Paul, JR, and Beau all sit down and go over this years Permaculture Technology Jamboree progress, including the new pumphouse for the well and how it’s kept from freezing, a partner for mycelium insulation, a new Sepp Holzer style root cellar, the roundwood pavilion, and more! Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion […]

Paul continues his discussion with Steven and Clay, talking about the BRK’s replacement program known as the Bootcamp Experience Log (BEL) and what it lets them do, the boot’s standard of living, what they need to progress the world domination plan, and the next step thereof. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion […]

Paul continues his chat with Steven and Clay about Wheaton labs, boot camp, summer/winter coping tactics (slushies ftw!), comparisons to the WWOOF program, BRK’s new replacement known as the BEL program, and welcoming train wrecks to bootcamp, so long as they’re up to standard and leave their baggage at the gate. Support the podcast on […]

Paul talks with Steven and Clay at the labs during labor day weekend, about how the lab is developing into a permaculture theme park of sorts, the new hybrid pickup from a benefactor, and what they were all doing before they came to The Lab as seppers. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and […]

People say Paul hasn’t put out a podcast in a while, so he takes the opportunity to make one at the SKIP event, interviewing Alexandra, Charlie, Rebecca and Rio on what they’ve been up to – with responses including woodwork, building, Rocket Mass Heaters, and willow feeders. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and […]

Paul continues with John’s consultation on his 1.8 acre Georgian property, this time discussing which trees to plant, including peach because that’s obligatory for the state, Sheer, Total, Utter Neglect (STUN) gardening, and maybe even creating a small wetland. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information and discussion of this podcast […]

Paul consults with another poor fool that gave him real money for some reason. Today’s victim is John Tero, with his 1.8 acre property in Georgia and it’s conifer trees aplenty for hugelkultur. And obstacle courses, apparently. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information and discussion of this podcast on this […]

Paul’s latest victim is Molly Mac and her 1.5 acre peninsula in Massachusetts. It’s a windy place but has plenty of various trees and an overall shape that’s not good for berms, so hugelkultur it is! There’s even a convenient space for a Rocket Mass Heater. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion […]

Paul and Uncle Mud continue to discuss the red cabin’s new Rocket Mass Heater and what they want from future modifications and designs, such as a cob hat, a simple instruction set for dealing with cold plugs and such, and maybe a way, or at least a warning, for dealing with the outside of the […]

Paul sits down with Uncle Mud (Chris McClellan) to talk about the new Rocket Mass Heater in the Red Cabin, some history of the prior 4, and what they want from future designs, such as a riser made of firebricks, and bickering on how efficient the mass should be. Support the podcast on Patreon Show […]

Bonnie’s consultation on her half acre plot of clay-full soil in New Mexico continues into topics of apple tree seeding, drip irrigation, hugelkultur, chicken management, the Ruth Stout method of composting, and just how Paul manages to stay optimistic (hint: it involves gardens). Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information and […]

Paul has a new victim in the form of Bonnie Bassan and her roughly half acre New Mexico property. The place has a lot of clay, 10″ of precipitation, and a lot of wind. Sounds like a perfect place for Hugelkultur, just needs a bit of irrigation for a while to build the soil. Support […]

Paul was talking apple orchards and commodity markets with Samantha when she managed to sum it up so well that he had to make a podlet out of it while also touching on the overall state of farmers, their pay, and how they’re getting screwed over by the markets. Support the podcast on Patreon Show […]

Another poor fool has parted with cash and gotten a consultation from Paul! Tim Kostamo has a 10-acre property in British Colombia with plenty of trees, water, and poor soil. Paul’s advice includes hugelkultur, conifer removal, taking it slow, and building wavy deer fences. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information […]

Paul and Uncle Mud continue the discussion of the home heating infographic (permies.com/heat), with this episode talking more about how Rocket Mass Heaters compare in terms of market volatility, automation, maintenance, and durability with other heating methods. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information and discussion of this podcast on this […]

Paul and Uncle Mud discuss the home heating infographic which they published on permies.com/heat, although since it was made, the price of electricity has gone up by 30%, and how Rocket Mass Heaters compare to other heating methods in terms of installation, operation, carbon footprint, and a bunch more. Support the podcast on Patreon Show […]

Janelle’s consultation with Paul continues into (surprise, surprise) hugelkultur. Along with using swales and stones to create cold pockets and thermal inertia for microclimate adjustment, soil building, and water acquisition via taprooted trees. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information and discussion of this podcast on this thread at Permies.

One Janelle Quint was foolish enough to give Paul money for a consultation, so he recorded it. She has a property in California with a wide temperature range, wind, poor soil, predators, and a creek. Paul’s suggestions include berms, ponds, goldfish, and livestock guardian dogs, amongst others. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and […]

Paul continues his discussion with a collection of people he’s gathered on the subject of the library’s Rocket Mass Heater modifications, while also taking questions from chat, and comparing Batch Box and J-Tube style heaters from the perspective of newbie builders. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information and discussion of […]

Paul rounds up a bunch of people to discuss Rocket Mass Heaters, specifically the one in the library and what they’ve done to modify it this time, including removing the bypass and guillotine, adding a stratification chamber, and trying out a passive plug that should keep heat in when not in use. Support the podcast […]

Paul’s got himself a new toy and is giving it a trial run on YouTube by answering a fairly large question: if someone from the future came and told him that working 80 hours a week for 3 years would make a big positive change, would he? What about if stopping would result in 10 […]

Paul finishes up the pod with Dez, Samantha, and Steven, talking about the bootcamp program, why boots aren’t paid with cash, comparing new boots to farmhands in terms of experience and ability, and pointing out that bootcamp is kinda unique in all of America. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information […]

Paul, Dez, Samantha, and Steven keep on talking about how they each transitioned from normies to their new permie selves, to such a degree that some find it hard to even approach their old lives and find what some consider laborious demands to be met almost casually. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and […]

It’s Christmas eve, and Paul is up with Steven, Dez, and Samantha to talk about their transition from normies with worky jobs to permies, their experiences with other communities, and why they decided to stick around Wheaton Labs instead of any of the prior ones. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More […]

Paul and Cat 2 continue from part 1, discussing how Paul got into permaculture, his experience with permaculture communities, how good of a boot he’d be, if Paul would have gotten into permaculture if modern courses and materials were available when he were a lad, and finishing off with relationships. Support the podcast on Patreon […]

Paul is talking with Cat 2, who came up with the idea that he should do a more biographical kind of podcast. She has a list of questions for Paul and his history, including his inspirations, how he went from a software engineer to the Duke of Permaculture, and how he got into gardening. Support […]

Paul continues to brainstorm (with Katie, Cindy, and Jay) on the subject of how to spend $500,000 so that it effects a positive change and also earns back the money, going over ideas such as GAMCOD, wofati construction videos, affiliate marketing, TED talks, and a bunch more. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and […]

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, including ideas such as investments, advertising, documentary making, and a whole bunch more. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion […]

Paul sits down with a few of his patreons about a hypothetical investment into Wheaton Labs, namely how he could make the money back so it could become self-perpetuating. Ideas include Rocket Mass Heater installers, Wofati builders, social media presence, and a bunch more. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information […]

Paul and Alan Booker continue their discussion on carbon footprints and how to reduce them, covering topics such as electric vehicles, rocket mass heaters, LEED certification and it’s flaws, refurbishment vs building anew, and food’s impact on a footprint. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information and discussion of this podcast […]

Paul and Alan Booker continue their discussion about carbon footprint, along with some others who are watching by zoom. Booker brings up that heat management is the largest contributor to most people’s carbon footprint, so Paul suggests Rocket mass heaters. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information and discussion of this […]