Wheaton Labs
A place of permaculture experimentation and home to many Mad Scientists!
Why Wheaton Labs?
Wheaton Labs is called that because in it abides the lead mad scientist, Paul Wheaton. He's always experimenting and leading experiments to gain world domination... with 'world domination' meaning a world full of permaculture!
Wheaton Labs is a place to learn permaculture, and participate in cutting edge permaculture research.
Experiments at Wheaton Labs:
There's a lot going on all year at Wheaton Labs, with new knowledge and technologies created all the time. Here are some of our ongoing experiments:
- Permaculture Design Course -- Two weeks of intensive study to learn permaculture and understand the science and art of permaculture design.
- Permaculture Technology Jamboree -- Two weeks of skill building and innovation to discover how to appropriately use energy and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
- SKIP: Skills to Inherit Property -- A program to learn and be certified in homesteading and permaculture skills. Instead of learning permaculture skills through courses or books, it's learned by creating and doing a bunch of cool stuff!
- Permaculture Bootcamp is a way to learn permaculture and earn an acre at wheaton labs in about 24 months. And, you'll gain a bunch of skills in the process!
Ways to Learn Permaculture at Wheaton Labs
Permaculture Technology Jamboree:
What says Mad Scientist more than technological innovation? The PTJ (Permaculture Technology Jamboree) is a place for:
- collaboration, experimentation and innovation to move permaculture technology forward
- experiences for people new to permaculture technology
- building homesteading skills
Attendees can wander among the lab and participate or observe as much or as little as they like. They can take part in the science, or learn permaculture technology by watching. The mad scientists (i.e. the instructors) will see a project to completion either with or without help.
This is the event to be on the front lines of permaculture innovation, from rocket wood ovens to earth sheltered greenhouses to innovations in natural building to solar technology.
SKIP is a curriculum of experiences you can complete to prove you can do permaculture homesteading. While a PDC teaches you how to do permaculture design and analysis, SKIP is hands-on. You are making things.
When you complete several things, you earn a badge. Sixteen badges will make you PEP1 certified. After several years of progress, you can be PEP3 or PEP4 certified. At that point you are basically self-sufficient and can prove it. Many older homesteaders don't want their property to turn into a strip mall or subdivision. This program will connect qualified candidates with those landowners so you can skip the rat race and skip the debt.
Want to be a mad scientist at Wheaton Labs? Want to learn permaculture homesteading techniques? Bootcamp might be an option for you! Bootcamp is like WWOOFing with benefits. It's a way to take part in epic--and not so epic--homesteading and permaculture activities. And, if you stick around, you get your own plot of land to build and grow on!
This Program is For:
- folks that wish to build hands on knowledge and experience
- folks that have experience with other rural programs and like this style better
- folks that long for community living
- folks that are done with the rat race and wish to live here for a while, or maybe forever
- folks that have a dream of homesteading someday, but they would like to get a feel of whether it is really for them
- folks that have a powerful need to hang out and do permaculture/homesteading stuff with like minded folks for a while
- folks that are bonkers about permaculture and want to build good things rather than be angry at bad guys
- folks that know about what all we are trying to do here, and wish to throw their shoulder in to see it happen
Mad Scientists
Paul Wheaton
Lead Mad Scientist
Paul Wheaton, The Duke of Permaculture, is an author, producer, and certified advanced master gardener. He has created hundreds of youtube videos, hundreds of podcasts, multiple movies, an online permaculture design course, and written dozens of articles and a book. As the lead mad scientist at Wheaton Labs, he's conducted experiments resulting in rocket stoves and ovens, massive earthworks, solar food dehydrator innovations and much more.
Fred Tyler
Bootcamp Leader Emeritus
Fred has led the Bootcamp at Wheaton Labs for three years now. He's directed and taught skills ranging from organic gardening to woodworking to natural building. He is the coordinator of roundwood timberframe projects and food growing systems.
Dez Choi
Bootcamp Commander
Dez has been a boot at Wheaton labs for almost two years! He worked on the round wood wofati greenhouse and the solarium. He helped to build the rock patio between the library and the Fisher Price House and the rolly shelves. Dez says "I do my best showing up with a smile and a water bottle, because attitude and hydration are keys to anything in this game." Check out what Dez is up to on his Bootcamp Journal.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Where exactly is Wheaton Labs?
If I really love it at Wheaton Labs, can I stick around?
Can I bring my kids &/or spouse? Do I have to pay extra for them?
What about my dog?
Smokes? Booze? 420 friendly?
What other things are nearby?
What should I wear/bring?
More questions?
copyright © 2024 paul wheaton, missoula, mt