[regularemployee]

In January, I took 2 weeks PTO from work to visit this community to checkout what they do: https://wheaton-labs.com/

What I saw was incredible! They were making homes that keep cool during the summer and warm during the winter and you can grow crops on the roof because the house is covered in mud (wow!).

For 2 weeks when I was there (during the winter in Montana) I woke up earlier than everyone so I can light up their rocket mass heater. A few blocks of wood heats up this mass that dissipates heat throughout the day. The house stays between 66 degrees (coldest) to 72 (warmest) in the morning when the fireplace is on. As a Californian, I never thought there were so much efficiency to be gained from something as simple as a fireplace.

They lived a healthy lifestyle with minimal waste and energy usage and it helped inspire me to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

Just a really cool experience! I'm going back again this summer for their conference: https://wheaton-labs.com/permaculture-design-course/

Permaculture is really awesome.