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Paul’s Rocket Mass Heater smackdown with Matt Walker continues into some more novel directions, such as the minimum size you can get to work well, installing RMHs in zones with mandatory air intakes, and how feasible it would be to build a mobile RMH in a van or some other vehicle. Support the podcast on […]

Paul and Matt Walker continue their smackdown on the merits of J-Tube verses Batch Box style Rocket Mass Heaters, and although they’re neck and neck in terms of efficiency, they differ when the fires out and the J-tube scores a couple of wins with plugging and simplicity. But no dampers in the chimney, thanks. Support […]

Paul and Matt Walker of Walker Stoves fame take the hot seat and weigh in on the J-Tube verses Batch Box debate. They take into account whatever they can think of, from design and build complexity, to barrel durability, wood capacity, and balancing radiators verses mass. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion […]

Paul finishes up the smackdown with Samantha and Rob by discussing how the chickens will get their protein, how many chickens there’ll be, and methods of population control before taking a few questions from chat, like how cold hardy are feral chickens, and the practicality of a fish trap/farm Support the podcast on Patreon Show […]

Paul, Rob, and Samantha continue discussing bringing chickens to basecamp. Paul’s not too enthused about getting feral chickens thanks to the neighbour’s toxic gick but up at the labs is a different matter, but electric fence is a complete no-go. Junkpole fences? Absolutely. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information and […]

Paul sits down with Rob and Samantha for a smackdown on chickens, why Basecamp went 13 years without them, why they’re coming now, his history with “feral chickens” and how to produce eggs that with a little luck, will be 40x better than store bought, and his plans for a paddock shift system for them. […]

Todd McDonald’s consultation on the subject of wofati construction continues into more general lessons learned from Paul’s experience with building them, such as paranoia about drainage being a virtue, and making sure they have a toilet system within 100ft, or indoors, ideally. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information and discussion […]

One Todd McDonald has foolishly parted with actual money to ask Paul about his experiences with building Wofatis, specifically about the weight capacity of the footings and weather he needs to add concrete or “dead men”, as Paul had added to Allerton Abbey to shore up the posts. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes […]

Paul, Kay, Julia, Samantha, and Ash Jackson continue discussing the challenges of building intentional communities, Paul’s desire to eat at the same tables as everyone else more than once a week, how to filter noble people for the top, and potentially splitting bootcamp into 2 when it fills up. Support the podcast on Patreon Show […]

Paul sits down with Kay, Julia, Samantha, and Ash Jackson, to talk about Permaculture Thorns, his work in progress book about the difficult realities of building permaculture community, and what he’s learned from the online Permies.com community. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More information and discussion of this podcast on this […]

Paul’s discussion with Ash Jackson, Derek T, and Samantha continues with more on community living and finding the right one, some ways to cool a house (Rocket Mass Heaters can still help here), and how to start people off with new ideas without overwhelming them. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion More […]

Paul, Ash Jackson, Derek T, and Samantha continue discussing a selection of ways in which they see people trying to do the right thing and not quite getting it, such as insisting on heat pumps, or not flying under any circumstances, with some more the decline of communities in urban areas. Support the podcast on […]

Paul sits down with Samantha, Derek T, and Ash Jackson to weigh in on the native verses non-native plant debate (with the hidden 3rd option to just grow food), lament on Paul’s rep as the light bulb guy, and some on the environmental and ecological effects of cattle and rotational grazing. Support the podcast on […]

Paul and Stephen continue talkinging about cats, how the semi-feral cats at the lab are treated, the new cathouses built into the Library and the Solarium for both their safety and casual observation, and how many other people (such as Bill Mollison) have very different standards of cat-care. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes […]

Paul and Stephen sit down to talk about the internet’s favourite topic: cats. And how they fit into permaculture. Honest. From Jocelyn persuading one to clear a chipmunk infestation in a day, Stephen’s favourite Donkey, to Paul’s care plan, there’s a surprising amount to talk about. Support the podcast on Patreon Show notes and discussion […]