Chad Hellwinckel's Page

Hi Chad!

I am a co-founder of the Tennessee Youth Environmental Network (TennYEN), a coalition of high school environmental clubs.  We are holding our first Youth Empowerment Summit this June and are looking for ways to get the word out.  Would it be possible for me to promote it through the Knox Permaculture Guild in any way?  I suppose that the conscientious citizens on this site might know of some motivated high school or middle school students who might be interested in coming to our summit.

Let me know what you think is most appropriate!

Thanks,

Laura

Chad,

Please contact me as soon as you can couponingincriticaltimes at gmail dot com.  Today I had 2 officers come to my home address.  Within 30 seconds I answered the door and the officer said that we had requested an application and they hadn't heard anything back from us.  I said that we were planning to wait until the fall to get the permit for the coop and the spring for the hens--waiting until things were cooler to start building.  I offered to show the officer where we plan to put the coop, but she said that wasn't necessary.  At about that time another officer (the second one) came around from the back yard.  I asked what she was doing in my backyard without my permission.  (I realize that once we get the application completed that they have a right to come on our property and check, but that has not been the case yet).  She said that she was trying to locate me.  Given that I had answered the door so quickly, I can't imagine that is actually the case.  I didn't get the officer's name but explained that they had no right to go to my backyard without my permission.  Again, I had offered to escort the other officer to the back, and I'm not hiding anything.  When I phoned 311, I was given the contact info for Officer Pappas.  When she returned my call, I learned that it was SHE  who had gone into my backyard.  She said that she was sorry, but I expressed my frustration on how it was handled.  She said that they have had many people who have requested the application, not completed it, and they've shown up to find chickens on the property.  

This experience gives me the creeps.  Very Big Brother, and I'm left wondering if we should complete the application or not.  If this is how they conduct business, then I certainly do not want to give them access to my property.  

 

Your thoughts on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Gabrielle

Hi Chad, No, seeing the actual structures only reenforced the need for planning.  The structures we saw were haphazard and a bit unrefined.  While the free form style will appeal to some people it probably would not appeal to the majority.  For this to be a viable answer to the housing issue it would have to be more mainstream. The houses we saw in England had that refined quality that we are looking for. With such a low building cost, the ability to be off the grid and the potential for no mortage all that is really needed is a bit of refinement. The cob itself has a wonderful organic-ness (is that a word?) that has an appealing comfort in the structures.  We hope to incorporate the best of each building method and have a living sustainable building that people can see and touch.  It may not be THE answer but it could make a huge difference to the people working 2 jobs and still can't afford a home. We were thinking of naming the house "Hope House" because that's what it's all about, Hope.  Love your pics by the way...you may be pressed into service when the time comes!! Lol.

Hi Chad, Do you know of any research or demographic studies that estimate how much "local" land would have to be under cultivation if all "factory" farms were dissolved? Just wondering how much progress we would have to make to reach the break even point of US food production.
Thanks, Jennifer

Chad,
In case you don't already know about these follks:
http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/
A non-profit legal defense fund for small farms trying to supply directly to the public. Champions of the local food causes...

Thank you Chad !!!
God Bless you for all you hard work, that you do for as!!!

Thanks Chad!

Chad- I am organizing a rain barrel workshop to take place during the Market Square Farmers' Market on August 14th, and still need some people to sign up. I created an event, but am not sure how to send it out to the entire permaculture group. Can you guide me or forward on the event? Thanks, Jessie

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