I apologize it has been so long since my latest post. I have had some serious life changes in the last month and have had to take some time to rethink my plans. The MBMHC will still be in the planning phases, but after a divorce I am stepping back to do some overseas healthcare work. I will still be posting sustainable living ideas, recipes, updates on my overseas work, and a variety of other associated topics as I have time.
Thank you for understanding, and keep reading and making small changes towards a better future!
Best
Tara
Monday, March 31, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Modern Homestead Communities and Emergency Management
The storms on the East Coast, as well as a great Emergency Management special on local TV have gotten me thinking about the role of a MHC in case of a disaster...
The MBMHC will have it's own power supply through solar and other renewable energy. It will also have heat from rocket mass heaters. Additionally there will be large spaces (barns, community hall, classroom spaces) that can be converted into emergency shelter space, and large food stores combined with renewable food sources such as the gardens/greenhouses and animal products like eggs and milk. The MBMHC will have an infirmary with basic medical supplies as well as trained resident medical staff to care for injuries and those with medical needs. These features will allow the MBMHC to be a strong resource for the community in an emergency or disaster scenario.
In addition to being a resource during and after an emergency, the MBMHC will promote community preparedness through classes, drills, and promoting public health. There will be classes on gardening, water-catchment and renewable energy, herbal medicine, and nutrition as well as emergency response. This knowledge will promote resilience and preparedness in the community: people will have the tools to be healthier and more self-sufficient. A healthy population is a resilient population, and the MBMHC plans to holistically address community health through nutrition and education.
Are there any other suggestions on how a Modern Homestead Community could factor into community emergency management?
The MBMHC will have it's own power supply through solar and other renewable energy. It will also have heat from rocket mass heaters. Additionally there will be large spaces (barns, community hall, classroom spaces) that can be converted into emergency shelter space, and large food stores combined with renewable food sources such as the gardens/greenhouses and animal products like eggs and milk. The MBMHC will have an infirmary with basic medical supplies as well as trained resident medical staff to care for injuries and those with medical needs. These features will allow the MBMHC to be a strong resource for the community in an emergency or disaster scenario.
In addition to being a resource during and after an emergency, the MBMHC will promote community preparedness through classes, drills, and promoting public health. There will be classes on gardening, water-catchment and renewable energy, herbal medicine, and nutrition as well as emergency response. This knowledge will promote resilience and preparedness in the community: people will have the tools to be healthier and more self-sufficient. A healthy population is a resilient population, and the MBMHC plans to holistically address community health through nutrition and education.
Are there any other suggestions on how a Modern Homestead Community could factor into community emergency management?
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Starting a Residual Income Stream
So, I am brand new to the idea of learning about Residual Income Streams, but I am going to start some and am very excited to share my experiences with you!
So what is a residual income stream? It is basically income that you get from doing work once... like royalties from a book or ads on a webpage. You write the book or put up the ad, and then wait for the money to come in. Another cool idea is doing affiliate programs... you link to someone's store and you get a percentage of the sales purchased through your link. These are not new ideas, but are still great ways to help break out of today's cycles of working for someone else and then coming home too tired to do anything for yourself to improve your situation.
Obviously different items will produce different levels of income. The size of your audience is also a huge factor (are you reaching 100 people or 100,000?), as is the quality (do they have money to spend on the topic, is the topic relevant to your audience?). Additionally, the more streams you have the more income... The idea is to play around and find out what works for you. Can you write a book? Do you have cool plans or brochures to put up for sale for a few bucks? Or maybe just doing ads or affiliate programs... Whatever it is you decide to do, I encourage you to start something new today to improve your situation.
On this blog I am going to dedicate a page to awesome affiliates. All funds raised through this blog are dedicated to the MBMHC project. It may go towards other projects to generate funding or awareness, or directly towards building projects and items/livestock needed for the community.
Here are some great stores to check out...
Erica and Ernies
These folks are working on Rocket Mass Heaters. This is absolutely BRILLIANT work providing easy, sustainable, low-carbon heating options. Rocket Mass Heaters are the future of home heating. They will cut your energy bill, wood use, and carbon footprint.
http://www.scubbly.com/store/ernieanderica/?affid=8666
Paul Wheaton's Permies
Paul Wheaton is "The Duke of Permaculture." He is responsible for the world's largest permaculture site and for inspiring hundreds if not thousands of permie newbies, including myself. He has lots of informative podcasts. Check him out.
http://www.scubbly.com/store/permaculture/?affid=8666
You can also check out this discussion thread at my favorite website: www.permies.com (by Paul Wheaton) on residual income... And explore any of the many many topics there.
http://www.permies.com/t/16439/financial-strategy/building-residual-income-streams
Have a great day!
Tara
So what is a residual income stream? It is basically income that you get from doing work once... like royalties from a book or ads on a webpage. You write the book or put up the ad, and then wait for the money to come in. Another cool idea is doing affiliate programs... you link to someone's store and you get a percentage of the sales purchased through your link. These are not new ideas, but are still great ways to help break out of today's cycles of working for someone else and then coming home too tired to do anything for yourself to improve your situation.
Obviously different items will produce different levels of income. The size of your audience is also a huge factor (are you reaching 100 people or 100,000?), as is the quality (do they have money to spend on the topic, is the topic relevant to your audience?). Additionally, the more streams you have the more income... The idea is to play around and find out what works for you. Can you write a book? Do you have cool plans or brochures to put up for sale for a few bucks? Or maybe just doing ads or affiliate programs... Whatever it is you decide to do, I encourage you to start something new today to improve your situation.
On this blog I am going to dedicate a page to awesome affiliates. All funds raised through this blog are dedicated to the MBMHC project. It may go towards other projects to generate funding or awareness, or directly towards building projects and items/livestock needed for the community.
Here are some great stores to check out...
Erica and Ernies
These folks are working on Rocket Mass Heaters. This is absolutely BRILLIANT work providing easy, sustainable, low-carbon heating options. Rocket Mass Heaters are the future of home heating. They will cut your energy bill, wood use, and carbon footprint.
http://www.scubbly.com/store/ernieanderica/?affid=8666
Paul Wheaton's Permies
Paul Wheaton is "The Duke of Permaculture." He is responsible for the world's largest permaculture site and for inspiring hundreds if not thousands of permie newbies, including myself. He has lots of informative podcasts. Check him out.
http://www.scubbly.com/store/permaculture/?affid=8666
You can also check out this discussion thread at my favorite website: www.permies.com (by Paul Wheaton) on residual income... And explore any of the many many topics there.
http://www.permies.com/t/16439/financial-strategy/building-residual-income-streams
Have a great day!
Tara
Monday, February 10, 2014
Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline
Hello everyone,
As some of you may know, the State Department recently released a report that the creation of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline would be devastating to our environment and have a huge impact on climate change. President Obama had stated that if this report indicated there would be a serious environmental impact then the project would not move forward. Despite the release of this report which stated what we already know (that a massive tar sands pipeline would be devastating to the environment and global climate), President Obama is now trying to accelerate the creation of the Southern half of the pipeline.
This goes against everything he has says that he stands for. This is a crime against nature and against all of us. We all share this planet. We MUST rise up and do everything in our power to stop the Keystone XL pipeline. If we don't then our children and grandchildren will pay the price. This is too important not to care.
Tar sands have been show to pollute watersheds over 50 miles away and are one of the dirtiest fuels to refine and burn. The US continuing to invest in dirty oil is insanity...
Please take a moment to sign this or any other petition pertaining to the Keystone XL... This is one of the biggest environmental challenges of today: we must stop it.
This blog is not about politics, but the Keystone XL would affect every person on the planet and therefore it is the responsibility of everyone on this planet to step up and say something.
Thank you
The Planet
http://www.savebiogems.org/stop-the-tar-sands-pipeline/?__utma=21902308.107480561.1390587822.1391619899.1392068493.4&__utmb=21902308.2.10.1392068493&__utmc=21902308&__utmx=-&__utmz=21902308.1392068493.4.4.utmcsr=link|utmccn=email|utmcmd=alert&__utmv=-&__utmk=155505016
As some of you may know, the State Department recently released a report that the creation of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline would be devastating to our environment and have a huge impact on climate change. President Obama had stated that if this report indicated there would be a serious environmental impact then the project would not move forward. Despite the release of this report which stated what we already know (that a massive tar sands pipeline would be devastating to the environment and global climate), President Obama is now trying to accelerate the creation of the Southern half of the pipeline.
This goes against everything he has says that he stands for. This is a crime against nature and against all of us. We all share this planet. We MUST rise up and do everything in our power to stop the Keystone XL pipeline. If we don't then our children and grandchildren will pay the price. This is too important not to care.
Tar sands have been show to pollute watersheds over 50 miles away and are one of the dirtiest fuels to refine and burn. The US continuing to invest in dirty oil is insanity...
Please take a moment to sign this or any other petition pertaining to the Keystone XL... This is one of the biggest environmental challenges of today: we must stop it.
This blog is not about politics, but the Keystone XL would affect every person on the planet and therefore it is the responsibility of everyone on this planet to step up and say something.
Thank you
The Planet
http://www.savebiogems.org/stop-the-tar-sands-pipeline/?__utma=21902308.107480561.1390587822.1391619899.1392068493.4&__utmb=21902308.2.10.1392068493&__utmc=21902308&__utmx=-&__utmz=21902308.1392068493.4.4.utmcsr=link|utmccn=email|utmcmd=alert&__utmv=-&__utmk=155505016
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Upcycled Food Container Gardens
So today I thought I would share a fun tip for using up old plastic food containers...
While I try not to buy items in plastic packaging, on my tiny budget (and in my tiny apartment) there are some things I still do buy in plastic, like gallon milk jugs. I'm sure there are plenty of readers out there with all sorts of plastic containers sitting in the recycle bin.
I don't currently have access to many pots, so I decided to take my old food containers and put them to work so that I can use less of them in the future... Some containers, food scraps, and a little organic potting soil have been transformed into a pretty cool window garden. Mine aren't the prettiest, but one could easily decorate the containers to spruce it up a bit.
Here's how its done...
Step One:
Gather clean plastic containers (I like gallon jugs, large spinach containers from Costco, peanut butter jars, etc) and non-recyclable packaging (like Trader Joe's produce packaging)
Step Two:
Cut small holes/slits into the bottom of the container to allow water to drain out. If this is a basic container, move onto the next step. If it is a gallon container, cut around the top of the jug where the handle connects back in.
Step Two Part B
If you have a small yogurt or peanut butter container, you can cut off the handle of the milk jug and cut a hole near the base of the handle to allow the smaller container to sit in the jug. No need to be precise; just cut off the bottom of the smaller container and stick it in the hole. Seal it with duct or electrical tape. This is a simple tip for maximizing container output: replacing the empty space of the handle with planting space big enough for items like lettuces, basil, cilantro, etc.
Step Three:
Fill the bottom of the container with non-recyclable packaging like the TJ's produce bags or lids from plastic containers to substitute for rocks in providing drainage... also nice because it's lighter-weight than using rocks.
Step Four:
Cover the plastic with non-bleached compostable paper (brown paper bags or used napkins are great for this). This is an optional step, but it adds biomass to the container while helping prevent dirt from coming out through the holes in the bottom of the containers.
Step Five:
Add in ORGANIC food scraps (some of my favorites are eggshells, coffee grounds, and banana peels). It is important to use organic scraps to prevent residual pesticides in the soil... I learned on Paul Wheaton's Survival Summit Talk that the pesticides can remain in the soil for years. And yes, I do throw "raw" compost in my pots and have gotten pretty good results. Why let all that heat, water and other nutrients go to waste?
Step Six:
Add in organic potting soil, or get some quality organic dirt from a friend. I sometimes mix in a little bit of compost/food scraps throughout the soil (except the top layer to prevent flies).
Step Seven:
Make sure there is a tray or plate under your container so you don't ruin your floors with water dripping out of the pots :)
Step Eight:
Plant, water, love, and enjoy your delicious harvest
Pics coming soon :)
While I try not to buy items in plastic packaging, on my tiny budget (and in my tiny apartment) there are some things I still do buy in plastic, like gallon milk jugs. I'm sure there are plenty of readers out there with all sorts of plastic containers sitting in the recycle bin.
I don't currently have access to many pots, so I decided to take my old food containers and put them to work so that I can use less of them in the future... Some containers, food scraps, and a little organic potting soil have been transformed into a pretty cool window garden. Mine aren't the prettiest, but one could easily decorate the containers to spruce it up a bit.
Here's how its done...
Step One:
Gather clean plastic containers (I like gallon jugs, large spinach containers from Costco, peanut butter jars, etc) and non-recyclable packaging (like Trader Joe's produce packaging)
Step Two:
Cut small holes/slits into the bottom of the container to allow water to drain out. If this is a basic container, move onto the next step. If it is a gallon container, cut around the top of the jug where the handle connects back in.
Step Two Part B
If you have a small yogurt or peanut butter container, you can cut off the handle of the milk jug and cut a hole near the base of the handle to allow the smaller container to sit in the jug. No need to be precise; just cut off the bottom of the smaller container and stick it in the hole. Seal it with duct or electrical tape. This is a simple tip for maximizing container output: replacing the empty space of the handle with planting space big enough for items like lettuces, basil, cilantro, etc.
Step Three:
Fill the bottom of the container with non-recyclable packaging like the TJ's produce bags or lids from plastic containers to substitute for rocks in providing drainage... also nice because it's lighter-weight than using rocks.
Step Four:
Cover the plastic with non-bleached compostable paper (brown paper bags or used napkins are great for this). This is an optional step, but it adds biomass to the container while helping prevent dirt from coming out through the holes in the bottom of the containers.
Step Five:
Add in ORGANIC food scraps (some of my favorites are eggshells, coffee grounds, and banana peels). It is important to use organic scraps to prevent residual pesticides in the soil... I learned on Paul Wheaton's Survival Summit Talk that the pesticides can remain in the soil for years. And yes, I do throw "raw" compost in my pots and have gotten pretty good results. Why let all that heat, water and other nutrients go to waste?
Step Six:
Add in organic potting soil, or get some quality organic dirt from a friend. I sometimes mix in a little bit of compost/food scraps throughout the soil (except the top layer to prevent flies).
Step Seven:
Make sure there is a tray or plate under your container so you don't ruin your floors with water dripping out of the pots :)
Step Eight:
Plant, water, love, and enjoy your delicious harvest
Pics coming soon :)
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Land
Hello everyone,
Today I wanted to share some information about that land that I would really love to acquire for the MBMHC...
I have found a parcel in North Bend, less than an hour outside of Seattle. The land is close (but not directly adjacent) to the freeway and town, which is great as it reduces commute time for those who have outside jobs without dealing with freeway noise and in-town traffic.
Holy moly that's an amazing deal! And you could rent on some of the land (for work exchange/affordable rates) to help cover costs and/or have an extra hand.
The land itself is around 160 acres, and is subdivisible into 16 parcels. The total cost per approximately ten acre parcel would be about $62,000 (before tax). Ideally buyers would contribute around 25% down, but that can be flexible. It is mostly lightly wooded, with some gravel roads. Gentle slope or flat; north and west facing.
I ask that buyers be willing to commit to working with the MBMHC, sharing resources (not shared financials, but may contribute financially to group projects if needed/possible/etc), utilizing sustainable/permaculture methods, and giving the MBMHC members first option to buy if they want to leave (if MBMHC members are unable to purchase the land, buyers agree to sell to someone who will utilize the land sustainably).
Some examples of how resources will be shared:
-Animal paddock shifts across entire property will allow greater production. Co-op herds to reduce individual work.
-Trees: fruit/nuts will be shared, as will lumber, sap, etc
-Food forests- all of the bounty of food forests that are developed cooperatively will be shared- there will be different ones scattered across entire property
-Community kitchen/stores/hall/root cellars
-Community barns/greenhouses
-Community teaching and performance spaces
-Community workshops, smithy, and lab
Some examples of how resources will be private:
-Own home
-Own zones 0-2/3. Basically the area surrounding your house is your private gardens/resources
-Own herds if desired and it works into the paddock shift rotation
-Own barn, greenhouse, etc if desired
For those young at heart who think this sounds like a place you would like to live, but can't see yourself tackling a project like this, don't worry! We have plenty of people young in body that are up to it. A nice little home, with a kind community, fresh food, and plenty of space to be alone OR things to do and people to meet. If you don't want to cook for yourself, that's ok... there will most likely be someone fixing something in the community kitchen for every meal, and if not there will be all the fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, and cheese one could ever dream of... And probably some leftovers sitting around somewhere, haha.
As for the location for future community features there are a few options: have 1-3 parcels bought through nonprofit donations for it's use OR cluster community/nonprofit buildings throughout property and have them be rent-free spaces for the nonprofit (I like this one: maximum personal gain and with cooperation there's maximum community gain) OR have all 15 buyers add $4K to their price and one person or organization (title, etc TBD) owns and manages it for the community (this option is possible without obtaining a 501(c)(3), but maybe another 501 (c) option if organization)
So please, if this sounds like an interesting opportunity, contact me!
tara.jupp13@gmail.com
Today I wanted to share some information about that land that I would really love to acquire for the MBMHC...
I have found a parcel in North Bend, less than an hour outside of Seattle. The land is close (but not directly adjacent) to the freeway and town, which is great as it reduces commute time for those who have outside jobs without dealing with freeway noise and in-town traffic.
Holy moly that's an amazing deal! And you could rent on some of the land (for work exchange/affordable rates) to help cover costs and/or have an extra hand.
The land itself is around 160 acres, and is subdivisible into 16 parcels. The total cost per approximately ten acre parcel would be about $62,000 (before tax). Ideally buyers would contribute around 25% down, but that can be flexible. It is mostly lightly wooded, with some gravel roads. Gentle slope or flat; north and west facing.
I ask that buyers be willing to commit to working with the MBMHC, sharing resources (not shared financials, but may contribute financially to group projects if needed/possible/etc), utilizing sustainable/permaculture methods, and giving the MBMHC members first option to buy if they want to leave (if MBMHC members are unable to purchase the land, buyers agree to sell to someone who will utilize the land sustainably).
Some examples of how resources will be shared:
-Animal paddock shifts across entire property will allow greater production. Co-op herds to reduce individual work.
-Trees: fruit/nuts will be shared, as will lumber, sap, etc
-Food forests- all of the bounty of food forests that are developed cooperatively will be shared- there will be different ones scattered across entire property
-Community kitchen/stores/hall/root cellars
-Community barns/greenhouses
-Community teaching and performance spaces
-Community workshops, smithy, and lab
Some examples of how resources will be private:
-Own home
-Own zones 0-2/3. Basically the area surrounding your house is your private gardens/resources
-Own herds if desired and it works into the paddock shift rotation
-Own barn, greenhouse, etc if desired
For those young at heart who think this sounds like a place you would like to live, but can't see yourself tackling a project like this, don't worry! We have plenty of people young in body that are up to it. A nice little home, with a kind community, fresh food, and plenty of space to be alone OR things to do and people to meet. If you don't want to cook for yourself, that's ok... there will most likely be someone fixing something in the community kitchen for every meal, and if not there will be all the fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, and cheese one could ever dream of... And probably some leftovers sitting around somewhere, haha.
As for the location for future community features there are a few options: have 1-3 parcels bought through nonprofit donations for it's use OR cluster community/nonprofit buildings throughout property and have them be rent-free spaces for the nonprofit (I like this one: maximum personal gain and with cooperation there's maximum community gain) OR have all 15 buyers add $4K to their price and one person or organization (title, etc TBD) owns and manages it for the community (this option is possible without obtaining a 501(c)(3), but maybe another 501 (c) option if organization)
So please, if this sounds like an interesting opportunity, contact me!
tara.jupp13@gmail.com
Monday, January 27, 2014
Welcome!
Hello everyone and thanks for reading!
This is a blog about the creation of something amazing, almost magical, for our community... A place where children can play and learn, and adults can get their hands dirty too! Or if they aren't feeling the call of the outdoors, they might learn to can like Grandma used to... or just relax and enjoy a cup of kombucha under the trees.
This is a place where animals, plants, and people function together so they may all be happier and healthier.
This is a place where the past meets the future to create a community focused on making the world a better, more sustainable place to live through positive action.
Marcella Barnes was my grandmother, and taught me much of what I hold dearest today. The three most important concepts she imparted were: kindness, education, and the environment. These values are all applied in every aspect of the Marcella Barnes Modern Homestead Community (MBMHC). She was also a foster mother, and so we plan to eventually develop a foster child home, with space for special needs foster children.
To start with, we need a few things
1) People- to buy into the land as well as to "rent" on the land, and to volunteer and donate
2) Land- a post on this coming soon (essentially part private, part NP owned cooperating)
3) Funding- through donations, Kickstarter, private investors, fundraising dinners/auctions, "taxes" on goods from the MBMHC, etc
4) Become a charitable nonprofit- I am completing drafts of all paperwork required for this, but need people and funding to take it further
5) People! Pass this along, share it, talk about it, ask questions about it! The more people know and get involved, the greater the chances of success!
Please contact me if you are interested in helping in any way:
Services-legal, tax, real estate, building code, web-based, etc
Donations- financial, seeds/starts, machinery use for initial build, construction materials, etc
Involvement- Board Member, buy into land, live-in member, volunteers, etc
Ongoing (largely draft) information is available here:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BzHKKVLW9dERVGF5SWtTOGVxWlU&usp=sharing
Many thanks to www.permies.com for getting me on my way!
This is a blog about the creation of something amazing, almost magical, for our community... A place where children can play and learn, and adults can get their hands dirty too! Or if they aren't feeling the call of the outdoors, they might learn to can like Grandma used to... or just relax and enjoy a cup of kombucha under the trees.
This is a place where animals, plants, and people function together so they may all be happier and healthier.
This is a place where the past meets the future to create a community focused on making the world a better, more sustainable place to live through positive action.
Marcella Barnes was my grandmother, and taught me much of what I hold dearest today. The three most important concepts she imparted were: kindness, education, and the environment. These values are all applied in every aspect of the Marcella Barnes Modern Homestead Community (MBMHC). She was also a foster mother, and so we plan to eventually develop a foster child home, with space for special needs foster children.
To start with, we need a few things
1) People- to buy into the land as well as to "rent" on the land, and to volunteer and donate
2) Land- a post on this coming soon (essentially part private, part NP owned cooperating)
3) Funding- through donations, Kickstarter, private investors, fundraising dinners/auctions, "taxes" on goods from the MBMHC, etc
4) Become a charitable nonprofit- I am completing drafts of all paperwork required for this, but need people and funding to take it further
5) People! Pass this along, share it, talk about it, ask questions about it! The more people know and get involved, the greater the chances of success!
Please contact me if you are interested in helping in any way:
Services-legal, tax, real estate, building code, web-based, etc
Donations- financial, seeds/starts, machinery use for initial build, construction materials, etc
Involvement- Board Member, buy into land, live-in member, volunteers, etc
Ongoing (largely draft) information is available here:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BzHKKVLW9dERVGF5SWtTOGVxWlU&usp=sharing
Many thanks to www.permies.com for getting me on my way!
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