Archive for the ‘Paul Wheaton’ Category
The State of the Jungle
By PAUL WHEATON - The more stuff I create and post online, the more people need to give me their feedback. Just reading their feedback is bigger than a full time job. ... more
Swords, Iron, Missoula Blood and Pie
By PAUL WHEATON - Turns out I have too much iron in my blood and it's leading to exhaustion. So I get the idea of just donating blood to see if I then feel supercharged. ... more
Jumping Spiders and Daddy Longlegs in Your House Keep Away Brown Recluse
By PAUL WHEATON - This video is of a jumping spider that found its way onto my monitor. I used to kill all spiders, but here's why I don't anymore.... more
Struggles, Hurdles, Challenges and Observation
By PAUL WHEATON - I'm not yet of retirement age, but I suppose I could say that I am retired .... from being a software engineer. Sorta. ... more
Junkpole Fence: Freaky Cheap Chicken/Deer Fence
By PAUL WHEATON - We needed a permanent fence that would keep flighty chickens (layers) in and keep the deer and the wild turkeys out. This fence went up mighty fast and cheap.... more
Quest for Land: My Advice for Permies and Homesteaders
Part 3 of 3
By PAUL WHEATON - I want to grow the future of permaculture. Not just with my ideas, but with 20 different artisans in seed and soil. Each permie would have their own vision for what is “best”.... more
Quest for Land: My Advice for Permies and Homesteaders Part 2 of 3
By PAUL WHEATON - When it came to picking a piece of land, I have a powerful bias. I just love Missoula, Montana. Someday I want to be able to say that I grow a lemon tree, outdoors, in Montana.... more
Quest for Land: My Advice for Permies and Homesteaders Part 1 of 3
By PAUL WHEATON -Decades ago I was obsessed with gardening and outgrew my urban lot. I needed more space. Not only for my horticultural endeavors, but I needed to expand into all sorts of animals.... more
Rocket Mass Heaters: The Absurdly Efficient, Cheap, and Comfortable Way to Heat Your Home
By PAUL WHEATON - So what’s the big deal? Well, Rocket Mass Heaters are one of the most sustainable and affordable heat sources in the world! ... more
The Dark Side of Native Plant Enthusiasm
By PAUL WHEATON - What’s wrong with native plants? The problem has nothing to do with advocating for native plants, but in advocating against all other plants – not just for oneself, but for all people.... more
Did you Just Should on Me?
By PAUL WHEATON - The word “should” is seriously embedded in our culture and habits. And I think it is possible that it may have slightly different meanings for different people. ... more
Infecting Brains with Permaculture 52 Cards at a Time
By PAUL WHEATON - When I give gifts, rather than giving people stuff that they might like, I tend to give them things that I like them to have. Check out this gift idea:... more
Capitalism, Gift Economy, and Prices That Are Too Damn High
By PAUL WHEATON - My feeble understanding of capitalism is that I can work super hard for a year, save up all my money and then live without working for several years.... more
Flies Really Bite. Are they Bugging the Cows?
By PAUL WHEATON-Biting flies can sure make life miserable for cattle, horses and even people! Big or small, those insects can inflict painful sores. Here are a few solutions for getting rid of biting flies:... more
20 Tips for Staying Cool and Saving Money in the Summer
By PAUL WHEATON-It’s hot! So it is perfect timing to talk about how to stay cool on the cheap – both long term and short term. Here are 20 tips on staying cool this summer and saving money too.... more
Keen on Mason Bees
By PAUL WHEATON-And now boys and girls, it is time for Uncle Paul to tell you about the birds and the bees. Or, more accurately, the flowers and the bees. And, even more accurately: Flower sex.... more
Reversing Desertification
By PAUL WHEATON - Man-made desertification impacts climate change more than the burning of all fossil fuels. This includes contributions to greenhouse gasses, and overall warming.... more
Passive Annual Heat Storage
By PAUL WHEATON -When heating or cooling a home can a comfortable temperature be obtained year round with far less energy use? Can we get it down to a tenth of the national average?... more
Apple Trees from Seed
By PAUL WHEATON -There is this story going around that if you try and grow apples from seed, then there is only a 1 in 20,000 chance that you’ll have an edible apple. ... more
REALLY Saving Energy
By PAUL WHEATON -Recently, I was invited to give a TED Talk. I chose to speak about the fact that pollution and war are icky and both are rooted in energy. Here's what I said:... more
Electric Versus Compressed Air Vehicles
By PAUL WHEATON - Electric Versus Compressed Air Vehicles...that is the question. Some pros and cons to both plus some cool video!... more
Is Black Locust the Ultimate Permaculture Tree?
By PAUL WHEATON - You can spot where the old homesteads are in Montana by the stands of black locust trees. They're famous in permaculture circles as nitrogen fixers.... more
Hand Washing Dishes Versus Dishwasher: Which Saves More Water?
By PAUL WHEATON - The misconception that washing dishes with a dishwasher saves water is an great example of how people succomb to greenwashing myths.... more
Horticulture of the United States of Pocahontas
By PAUL WHEATON - The foundations of sustainable horticulture seem to include permaculture, bio-dynamism, respectful harvest, and a symbiotic relationship with nature.... more
Humanure and Composting Toilets
By PAUL WHEATON - Recently, I visited Missoula’s wastewater treatment plant to learn about the reuse of treated wastewater as a source of irrigation and fertilization.... more
Compost-Based Bio-Energy Systems
By PAUL WHEATON - When done properly, composting creates a great deal of heat – heat that can be harnessed to heat water and create usable energy.... more
How to Keep Deer from Eating Your Stuff
By PAUL WHEATON - The creative ways people attempt to control deer seem endless, but they aren’t generally effective. There is ONE thing that really gets it done.... more
This Winter, Save Energy with Just a Tiny Bit of Knowledge
By PAUL WHEATON - The real solution to energy sustainability is to get information passed as far as possible. This, friends, is saving the world with a bit of knowledge.... more
Solar Food Dehydrators for the Fall Harvest
By PAUL WHEATON - The fall harvest is upon us. Apples, plums, kale, and tomatoes abound. In the quest for sustainability, solar-powered food dehydrators are on the rise.... more
Replacing Irrigation with Permaculture
By PAUL WHEATON - There are scads of ideas of what permaculture and irrigation are. For me, I see a good permaculture system as one that has eliminated irrigation.... more
The Many Benefits of the Amazing Sunchoke
By PAUL WHEATON - Sunchokes (aka Jerusalem Artichokes) are one of the best homesteader crops, especially for those wishing to be self-sustaining.... more
Paul Wheaton on Polyculture
By PAUL WHEATON - A polyculture is a mix of plants all trading their unique goodness with other plants. All plant-eating animals are designed to eat plants from a polyculture.... more
Tired of Tilling? Try Seed Balls
By PAUL WHEATON - Ever thought of lobbing seeds into your field? No tilling, just a good arm? Seed balls are used in no-tilling cultivation to get seeds established.... more
Eliminate the Cost of Chicken Feed
By PAUL WHEATON - I used to sell my chickens for nearly the same price I paid for feed. I found ways to not only eliminate feed costs, but provide higher-quality feed! ... more
Can Pigs Build Ponds?
By PAUL WHEATON - Don't even THINK of using a pond liner if you have pigs around. Paul Wheaton shows us a better way to seal a pond using pigs.... more
How NOT to raise chickens
By PAUL WHEATON - This comic artist is exceptionally brilliant at capturing very common and complicated issues that can arise for people who have never raised chickens before. I think the desire to steward chi... more
Greenwashing Light Bulbs
By PAUL WHEATON - The object propelling the greatest greenwashing scheme of all time is the CFL.... more
Keep those branches, twigs, rotten logs, and Christmas trees!
By PAUL WHEATON - Paul Wheaton shows us ways to recycle wood. These tips sure beat making a big pile and burning it!... more
Testing to see if you are an Eco Poser
By PAUL WHEATON - It's cool to be green. Especially in Missoula. Here's how to test to see if you are an Eco Poser.... more
Being Noble
By PAUL WHEATON - Paul talks about people, community, intentional community, being nice, mean and even noble.... more
How I Cut 87% Off My Heating Bills Last February
By PAUL WHEATON. Paul tells us how he cut is electric bill by 87% last winter. Try his simple ideas for yourself.... more
Diatomaceous Earth: Bug Killer You Can Eat!
By PAUL WHEATON. Paul tells us all about Diatomaceous Earth. ... more
Organic Lard is Health Food!
By PAUL WHEATON. Learn about the surprising health benefits of cooking with good old LARD... if you can find it... more
Green Your Kitchen with a Cast Iron Skillet
By PAUL WHEATON. Learn about the benefits of Cast Iron cookware and watch an egg fry and not stick!... more
Mullein Heals the Earth
By PAUL WHEATON. Mullein is a biennial plant with fuzzy leaves. Often called "cowboy toilet paper," mullein will grow in the worst soils on earth -- improving the earth as it grows. More about this amazing pla... more
The Tiny House Movement
By PAUL WHEATON. People are saving money by downsizing their house. How far can you take it? Take a look at these Tiny house. One was built for $15!... more
The EdgeMaster: How to Sharpen a Serrated Knife Blade
By PAUL WHEATON. Watch the EdgeMaster sharpen a serrated knife blade in record time!... more
How to REALLY Save on Your Summer Utility Bills
By PAUL WHEATON. Learn more than 20 great tips to save energy and save on summer utility bills too. Cooking, cooling, lighting tips and more -- all for REAL utility bill savings.... more
20+ Things to Do for Kids Visiting Missoula
By PAUL WHEATON. Paul has family coming to visit. He could go on and on about how great Missoula is, and this post lists some of his top attractions!... more