15 hours and $400 later...

Well ok, I didn't raise $400 in 15 hours. But, thanks to all the generosity you've all demonstrated, I have raised over $400! I know, the progress bar on my ChipIn widget only says $355... but that's because it's not counting the cash donations I've received. I tried to find a way for it to include that but apparently they want to charge me service fees for that little transaction, so... I'll just keep it where it's at!

In exchange for that four hundred plus dollars, I've racked myself up a healthy bit of consultation hours. I'm excited about the prospects of this little experiment. This is a great opportunity for me to put my current permaculture knowledge to good use, expand my experience a bit, and really get myself thinking critically about various topics related to my upcoming ventures. Not only is it a good chance to test the proverbial waters of permaculture consultation, it's a good way for me to dip my toes in the models and systems I'll be completely immersed in before too long.

In the meantime, I've been continuing my work with Community Cultivators and ape99 at the Permaculture Park (aka Deadend Homestead and Farm) on the East Side of town. Every Sunday at around noon we break into whatever new or unfinished project that still needs doing... and believe me, there's never a shortage of projects to work on! After the work is done, there's great potluck food (almost always fresh and local) and occasionally some live music and/or campfire to help fuel a great community spirit.

The past few weeks it's we've been finishing up a natural building project for the future greenhouse. If you haven't had the opportunity yet, check out the video and write-up I did on that project as published on the Permaculture Research Institute's website here!

In addition, I'm currently working on a story about the happenings of the Co-op Think Tank project as well as a more complete video documentation of the Permaculture Park. You can check out the Community Cultivators blog to follow those projects and various others that might crop up over the course of the next few months.

An outdoor shower made from woven bamboo...
one of many projects we're working on at the
Deadend Homestead and Farm

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in checking out any of these projects first hand. We're always happy to have extra hands helping out but we don't expected it of anyone. Everyone has their own priorities and we just want to share what we're learning and hopefully inspire others to start their own projects (we're more than happy to lend a hand with those as well!!)

If, for some reason, Sunday afternoons don't work well for you but you're interested and want to get involved, just drop me a line! We're normally putting on potlucks and other events throughout the week and we're always interested in new peoples and new ideas!

Thanks again to those who've contributed to my fundraiser! It really is amazing to see generosity of the world in action. I'm looking forward to the adventures and opportunities your contributions will open up for me... and I'm looking forward to sharing your kindness and generosity with the world at large!

If you haven't contributed yet, you haven't missed your opportunity. For only $50 you get two hours with me talking your ear off about whatever permaculture subjects are of most interest to you. I promise, I'll make it worth you're hard earned investment!

In addition to getting some quality permaculture time with yours truly, you'll also get to see your contribution go to good use as you follow along with my adventures through this blog. The $405 I've collected so far are currently resting safely in a savings account. With this blog, I plan to detail what each dollar donated goes toward. Forget the Red Cross, I intend to spend each and every penny on real aid work! On top of that, I intend to show where and how each of those pennies is being spent so that you'll know your contributions have made a real impact on the lives of those in need.

If you've already contributed and are waiting to collect those consultation hours, you should have seen an email from me explaining how you can collect. If you haven't seen an email, not to worry, it's really easy. Just shoot an email my way! I'm happy to make myself available to you and work with whatever areas are of the most interest to you. If you happen to have a curiosity about a particular permaculture technique or field of practice for which I am not experienced I'm happy to spend some time researching for you so that I might be better equipped to provide you the best possible knowledge and advice on the subject. Besides, it helps to fulfill my goal of becoming more versed in permaculture theory and application prior to my excursion down under.

Thank you so much for your interest in sharing this experience with me and for all your support, be it monetary or motivational... I honestly couldn't do it without you!

Raising aid...

For those of you that know me well, you know that it has long been my dream to be the most effective contributer to the cultivation of abundant livelihoods as I can be... If you didn't know this about me, welcome to my vision! In pursuit of this dream, I have plotted a course that will take me to the other side of the world to engage and learn from some of the most accomplished experts on the subject. But my journey only begins there. Through my participation in the Permaculture Research Institute's internship program at Zaytuna Farm in Australia this October, I'm looking to immerse myself in an established and proven system of "regenerative" design. And, although I see this model to be far beyond the simple idea of "sustainability", it is only a single milestone in a long journey toward the realization of my vision.


Something you may also know about me is that I'm not really big on asking for handouts. Maybe it's just the way I was raised but I think we each have a responsibility to earn our own way in life. In the same vein, I also recognize that, without the generous help of friends and family, I would hardly be where I am today!

It's in this context that I ask for your help. And, as far as I can tell, there is truly no better reason to ask for help then to ask so that I might be better equipped in my mission to help others. Here's what it's about...

What it's about:
I've set aside enough money for my modest living expenses and course fees while I'm in Australia. The plane tickets and transportation expenses are already paid for and I'm putting $2,000 in savings to cover my return trip as well as any emergencies I might encounter.

All these things are taken care of, all I'm missing is an opportunity to take my experience to the field... I mean, the real field! After a 10 week intensive permaculture internship, I want to take my new found permaculture skills to the people most in need (wherever they happen to be)!

...And that's where you come in!

I'm officially starting a fundraiser on this site to ask for your help so that I might be better equipped to help others!

What it's for:
The money raised through this site will allow me to spend at least 6 months after completing the internship doing permaculture aid work in one of several countries in need. To cover travel and living expenses for 6 months, I'm looking to raise at least $1,000, anything over that amount will go toward extending my aid work or reinvested into the community here, upon my return!

How it works:
Because I love you, I want to give back to you in the best way I can!

So, for every contribution over $50
I'm offering 2 hours of permaculture consultation.

Give $100 or more and get 5 hours on-site consultation!

All you have to do is click the ChipIn button bellow or at the right hand side of the page.




If you like, you can also contribute in a variety of other ways:
Send Cash or Cheque to
Theron Beaudreau
4605 1/2 Evans Ave
Austin Texas 78751

I will also be arranging a fundraising event that includes a yard sale, bake sale, and silent auction sometime this summer.

If you'd like to contribute but funds are tight, you can lovingly donate art, crafts or other items to the silent auction.

It is my personal promise to you that all proceeds received through this fundraiser will go directly toward supporting the vision stated above. If you have any questions or are interested in donating to the silent auction please contact me at theron AT communitycultivators DOT org

Your love and support is deeply appreciated ~!

Developments...

...you know, besides the blog's new facelift!

So I hope you like the new look. I figured it would inspire me to write more, well... inspired? Yeah, so far so good, right?

I suppose I could tell you about all the things that have transpired since my last post. I'd like to tell you that I got all my little ducks lined up and everything is ready to go for my adventure down under. Well, the truth is, I haven't really made much advances in that direction. Don't get me wrong, everything is still go... I've just been too wrapped up in other things to make any headway on this particular aspect of my life.

If you're following this blog and find my lack of updates boring... I hate to break it to you, my activity will probably only decline once I actually leave. I know, I'm not exactly inspiring readership here. I suppose I could fill you full of false hopes and promises of how committed I am to this blog and how I'll be updating every evening to share the play-by-play of my daily activities and fill this whole thing with such valuable and riveting content you wont be able to pull yourself away... naw, you'd see right through that.

Truth is, there really IS a lot happening in my life right now. In the midst of working long hours to package up my position at Wheatsville Co-op for a smooth transfer and continuing to be a committed board member I'm also working on several garden projects; helping to build and establish a sizable aquaponics system; working to establish Community Cultivators as an effective organization that will continue to develop in my future absence; working on several permaculture projects including, most recently, an adventure in natural building; video editing, blogging, and somehow managing to get listed as a assistant/apprentice teacher on the Austin Permaculture Guild website.  In case you're wondering... I'm not planning on doing a whole lot of teaching before my travel plans kick in. And now to contradict that statement, I will be giving a short talk on Permaculture to Wheatsville staff at our monthly communication meeting.

Whew... it didn't feel nearly as daunting until I wrote it all out. What am I doing here blogging? It's spring (in Austin)! There's a million other things I could/should be doing right now!

Well, the honest truth is that I love you people and I want to keep you engaged and hope that my experiences, related through this weblog, will educate and inspire you to follow your own dreams!

Ok, don't want to get too sappy too soon. I'm sure it wont take me long to gush all over this blog about how home sick I am and how I miss everybody and... blah, blah blaaaaaaa....

For now, You'll find I'm probably going to be putting more attention to the Community Cultivators blog space. Practically speaking, it's not going to be easy to keep up with both. So, going forward... I'll only be updating this blog when I have something really valuable to share about my travel plans and arrangements.

In that respect, be expecting an update in the not too distant future about the "Yard Sale, Bake Sale, Silent Auction, Potluck, Party, Fundraiser, Fun Time Extravaganza!"

And yea, I'd explain more, but that would take away all the fun and suspense and leave you with little reason to return.