313 – Winter Update from the Labs Part 1

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Paul Wheaton begs forgiveness from Jocelyn since it has been two months since his last podcast. They go over why it has taken them a bit of time to get motivated to do a new podcast. Jocelyn talks about a few updates and also how she was feeling like you need creative space to be ready to do a podcast. Paul commented that working long days he felt it’s hard to get to the podcasts, especially since he felt he needed to slow down in general.

They jump into the topic of the podcast which is the common misconception that there is nothing for people to do in the winter. Speaking about Montana, they talk about how most people have different ideas of what it’s like in the winter in Montana. Paul brings up the example of the sawmill since it requires water on the blade to keep it cool so the sap stays off of it, but in winter, when it’s already cold, you don’t need to be concerned with it since the sap is frozen in the wood, enabling it to still be used.

Paul talks about the tipi, which he hasn’t visited in a while, and how it’s really nice in there. He mentions how it could possibly used for ‘glamping’. Jocelyn points out a thread on permies that Paul started about permaculture experiences and workshops.

Paul shares how there is a long list of tasks to be done for the winter for Wheaton Labratories. He mentions that the highest priorities for the year are putting in food systems and working on aesthetics. Paul goes back to sawmill scenario and the difficulties he was having with running it using the electric vehicles. He mentions that the leviathan would be able to handle it but it’s not yet in operation. Paul discusses some of the updates (and how cool some of them are) to the levianthan’s design, which they think in less than a month it will be deployed.

Paul and Jocelyn discuss a few more updates about the sawmill, mentioning how Tim has optimized the sawmill to make more consistent and uniform wood, and Paul walks us through his thinking of why he wanted a sawmill setup to begin with and what will be the most optimal outcome once everything is in place.

Another winter task they discuss is firewood. They go over all of the places they have rocket mass heaters installed. Jocelyn talks about Ernie and Erica Wisner’s visit after Christmas, and Paul goes over how after a long process they figured out how to manage the exhaust of one of the rocket mass heaters in the house. Paul gives some news on how this rocket mass heater was burning at a temperature around the 3500-4000 degree range. Paul and Ernie are excited about this because the temperature is so hot it could potentially break down plastics, making it a clean way to get rid of toxic material, and also being able to heat your house with different waste products. Jocelyn points out how Ernie doesn’t trust any system that hasn’t run for at least a year and been verified and tested.

They move the conversation into a discussion on rock jacks and various fencing to keep critters from eating your growies. Paul brings up how many use electric fencing in the wrong way, which he feels is heartbreaking. Paul expresses he finds electric fence to not be very aesthetically pleasing, and suggests an idea to source wood from the forest at Wheaton Labratories to make beautiful woven wood fences.

They move on to talking about equipment work in the winter. They discuss different workshop options that could take place, throwing around ideas about doing free workshops for rock jacks and fence making. Jocelyn shares how valuable it can be to be around like-minded people, giving the example of some girl talk that took place during Cassie’s visit to Wheaton labs which had an impact on them all.

Jocelyn and Paul start to talk about some of the aesthetic issues around Wheaton Labs, and the plans to resolve them. This discussion continues in part 2.

Relavent Threads

Rock Jack Fencing
2015: Focus on Food Systems and Aesthetics
What Should Wheaton Labs Plant? You Decide!

Credit: Vida Norris

You can discuss this podcast on this thread at Permies.

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