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  • From: Mark <mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu>
  • To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] (fwd) The Berkano Project
  • Date: Tue, 08 Oct 2002 13:19:46 -0500

Folks,
At the risk of being labled an ass, I must say this project seems down right nutty, specific comments follow later in the document...


At 03:20 AM 10/8/02 -0700, you wrote:
On Fri, 9 Aug 2002 07:15:10 -0600, in alt.agriculture.fruit "Berkano
Berchta" <berkano[nospam]@netzero.net> wrote:

===============================================================
Primitive Sustainable Agriculture and Survival Research Project
===============================================================

=== AKA: The Berkano Project ===

Many people seem to be interested in the viability of a
lifestyle with minimum impact on the ecology and environment.
It is suggested by countless studies and hypotheses that more
reliance on agriculture and less reliance on sevice and
technology will actually increase the overall quality of life.

Like what studies? I like the 21st century, farms, factorys, cars, computers a mix of medical approaches etc etc.

Mainstream research has been done on methods of farming,
sheltering, production, and consumption, and the common trend
is toward economic efficiency with little or no practical
emphasis on sustainability or gestalt ramifications.

I am dissatisfied with the data currently available and I
believe that too many issues are left empirically
unqualified. Therefore I am beginning the documentation of a
lifelong study on sustainable and ecologically harmonious
living. The purpose of this study is to gather the results of
attempts to live sustainably and publish those results for the
benefit of research.

This is a request for assistance from all parties interested in
the research, preparation, execution and documentation of every
stage of a Primitive Survival and Sustainable Agriculture
venture that I will personally execute. The full experimental
phase of the project will commence after I have gathered a
satisfactory base of information deemed cogent and thorough
enough to ensure the success of the experiment and to minimize
hardship to myself. Please read on for clarification and to
determine if you can help or be benefitted by helping supply
the information I request.

There are many modes of obtaining shelter, food, healthcare,
and satisfying basic human needs. Current human civilization
reflects myriad variations of means to these ends. It is my
task to determine scientifically what means are the most
efficient from a total world view and from a total individual
view.

How? What do you mean by "total world view" and "total individual view"?

Current capitalist societies and economies seek to deliver a
maximum amount of goods and services to the individual, while
entirely ignoring the long-term effects on the individual when
supplying him/her with short-term goods and services under the
description of essentials for survival.

A little simplistic IMO. Capitalism is the "ism" that starts with the proposition that capital (money/means of production/owners) drive the system via markets which set prices. and BTW there are no pure capitalistic systems in operation, all of them have socialist aspects (welfare, social security etc.) This blurb is also pretty simplistic...

I believe that it is
necessary for an individual to test and experiment with all
means of production available for supplying all basic needs and
the maximum amount of wants on an entirely individual level,
using every sustainable means possible, with exacting attention
to the long-term cost/benefit analysis in every action and
transaction.

what will this prove? What is the broader application beyond proving you can do this?

*** A. Experimental Hypothesis:

1. It is possible and desirable for the means of production to
remain based on agriculture with a minimum of technological
innovation.

Possible yes, desirable to whom?

2. An agrarian lifestyle is the most natural and healthful
lifestyle for the individual.

Agriculture is a dangerous occupation. Granted machines kill most farmers these days, but it used to be bulls. Subsistence farmers are one bad year from starvation. I will agree it's a pleasant way to live most of the time.

3. If one is to witness dramatic improvements in the
life-quality of the individual, one can generally assume that
the individual actions that promote that life-quality can be
applied to a group or society, if exported for social economy.

Flat wrong. 2% of the US population farms these days, the other 98% range form those with romantic and unrealistic views of ag to those who have no desire to get dirty whatsoever


4. No society has lived a PURE agrarian lifestyle in recorded
history, with a handful of exeptions on which there is very
limited and obscured data. Therefore, an individual living a
PURE agrarian lifestyle is stepping into rediscovered territory
that will cause effects on quality of life that are heretofore
unqualified by historians and researchers.

Baring a planet killing sized asteroid strike there is really little point to this project beyond the anthropological, The sample size of one makes even this a bit questionable.

5. The definition of 'pure agrarian lifestyle' can only be
codified by the experiment itself.

More like possible pure agrarian lifestyle.

6. Minimum discovery and emphasis on acute observation are the
order for successfully embarking on pure agrarianism, if it is
at all possible and sustainable on an individual level.

7. An individual can subsist in absolute self-sufficience and
self-reliance with the proper education and discipline. Any
mode of living is generally learned by experience, example, and
trial-error.

I'd add proper tools and genetics to the list.

8. A pure agrarian lifestyle will impart hardiness, health, and
longevity far in excess enjoyed by a technologically advanced
individual or group. Less-than-pure agrarianim will not likely
have these benefits.

Bull. scurvy and pellagra ring a bell? I agree that working hard and fresh air are healthy, but there is plenty of evidence that ye olde subsistence farmers last about 30 years and drop dead from the accumulated assaults of a hard life.

*** B. Control Group:

1. Society, including all people, businesses, entities, ruling
bodies, contracts, laws, mores, and everything that makes
society.

whoa! Lots of analyses time once you come down from the hills.

*** C. Experimental Group:

1. Myself, Berkano Berchta, all my ideas, beliefs, convictions,
actions and all input gained pursuant to this experiment.

*** D. The Experiment and Factors of Focus:

1. Goal: Live primitively on the land for a period of no less
than 5 years and gather data on all means of production and
survival during this period.

2. Restrictions: Subsist entirely via agricultural means
without the benefit of any technology above the stone age, with
a few exceptions that will be noted. When enough skill with
stone age technology is obtained, dispense with any newer
technology and continue experiment. Kill no animal of any kind
for food, clothing nor shelter. Procure all necessities from
plant or earth sources.

We learned how to kill animals for a good reason, it makes the stone age much more pleasant to have a good source of protein and fat. Furthermore it allows subsistence in extreme environments.

3. Goal: Maintain optimum health without any modern medical
intervention, including treatment of possible injuries.

Good luck!

4. Goal: Attempt to limit contact with other individuals to
zero if possible. Above that, take every reasonable measure to
limit contact and note the psychological effects.

I hope your mental health is really good, this is pretty extreme...

5. Compare all results to the results obtained by general
modern society and try to explain the differences and
similarities via evidence.

It's the evidence part I have trouble grasping. You are a sample of one, not generally considered sufficient in science. Perhaps you should think of this as demonstration rather than science.

6. The survival experiment will take place in a remote and
rugged region in the Rocky Mountains, situated near the alpine
level where rainfall is normally at least double that in the
arid lower valley and chapparal regions. Shelter and farming
will commence in close proximity to a clean, natural water
supply. I will plant staple foods and attempt to live as best
as possible without any type of cooking, and without heat
preservation of food. The winters are long and harsh, while
the summers are short and alternately hot and cool. It is
generally a cold climate but farming is possible and not too
difficult. Emphasis on food will include subsisting as much as
possible on the local edible wild plants, and farming will be
more for winter foods than spring and summer foods.

This is where you really head off the deep end. You will IMO starve with this plan. Alpine meadows produce good grass for animals and I think you need to seriously consider eating meat and jerking quite a bit of it for the winter. A traditional food like pemican (basically berries meat and fat) will be essential for the winter to get the 4000 calories a day you will need. Cool season veggies that store well like turnips and rutabaga will do alright if your area has the soil for it and you can get enough N on it.

*** E. Precursory Data Mining: (Here is the area where other
individuals can best assist). Any suggestions for the
following queries will be greatly appreciated. When posting to
the Usenet, please courtesy copy to
berkano[nospam]@netzero.net, as some Usenet servers are
unpredictable and do not reliably propogate posts to and from
other servers.

1. What wild plants will serve as food sources, and during
which seasons?

Barssicas, berries, take a field guide to Western wild plants. Burn it to keep warm after you know it well.
t

2. How are plant food sources identified?

see above

3. How are poisonous plants avoided?

see above

4. What are the best methods for harvesting wild plant food?

by hand, acquire digging stick.

5. What are the best plants for winter food storage, and how
are they preserved?

Generally large storage roots hold up well if cashed in pits or rudimentary root callers.


6. What varieties of garden vegetables and fruits will grow
best in the enviroment, and which ones are least likely to
upset the local wild ecosystem?

You need cool loving crops, brassicas, onions etc.

7. What varieties of garden foods are best for winter storage
in primitive conditions without using fire heat to preserve
them?

roots.

8. How can one increase resistance to cold to minimize the use
of firewood for heat?

get fairly fat in the summer, dress well. Please stock plenty of fire wood at least your first year.

9. How can clothing be made from plant sources without tools?

Let animals eat them. Kill the animals, use their skins. Ferment your urine to make ammonia for the tanning or use the brains.

10. How can tools be made from natural, non-animal sources?

digging stick is simple. might char the end of it. I suppose you could make stone tools.

11. How can well-insulated shelter be made without tools?

Lash the frame with vines, pile on lots of boughs. Take some tools with you as a backup.

12. What are the best fruit and nut trees for high-elevation,
cool climates?

don't know, but even on my 12 foot deep silt loam they take 2 to several years to get going. You need to scout your site well for food resources. Be prepared to at least eat insect foods like grubs and honey.

13. Which fruit and nut trees have the fastest yield time?

Not relevant to your situation.

14. What are some methods for preparing soil for seed?

you again will have to scout for decent soils. build a big fire on the sod to kill it, rake hot coals around to get the most mileage from your burn. Take a pig with you and tether it out, let it chew up the sod for you. As a bonus, eat the pig.

15. What are some useful natural methods of pest control to
minimize crop damage?

your fingers. try bugs for palatability. Study up on the local vegetation, may be a pesticide for you in one of them.

16. What types of domestic animals can live in the Rocky
Mountain Climate with a minumum of human care for their feeding
and upkeep (such as work animals for plowing or animals for
companionship)?

Scottish highland cattle would probably make it, though you then need to make fodder for them. I think you will have enough trouble feeding yourself.

17. Can any indigenous creatures be tamed, and are any good for
productive use other than using them for food?

no. 10,000 years of native American occupation and not one decent beast of burden tamed.

18. How can natural paper, ink, dies, and cloth be made in the
region?

I think you need window screen or similar material for paper making. Cloth? I doubt you have the time, though I guess winter will be long. leather is easier for sure.

19. What medical issues such as prevention, treatment, and
medicines can be explored?

fix all bad teeth before departure, take basic safety gear along (glasses, sunglasses, knee pads, back brace) take an ace bandage or two, rubber tube for tourniquets, and epinephrine pen in case you go into anaphylaxis shock from an allergic reaction. a good supply of beta dine or similar strong antiseptic, aspirin, at least one course of an antibiotic suitable for grerardia. Take a signal mirror and flare too.

20. What location (anywhere in a mountainous region of the
Western United States with afforesaid climate) could be best
for this experiment, and why? What is the best way of
minimizing costs for a land purchase?

Don't buy at all. do it in a national forest. I would look for some place on the edge of a recently burned over area. this will give a broader diversity of habitat and you're less likely to get burned out of it in a dry year.
*** F. Summary:

Basically, I will be taking a minumum of supplies, such as
seeds, first aid equipment, and writing paper to a remote, wild
area and will attempt to live as primitively as possible for as
long as is feasible. Therefore it will be necessary that I am
equipped with a wealth of information and skills for
accomplishing this. I did a similar stint of about 6 months,
but that was for fun, not for gathering data. I expect to do
this for several years unless some emergency or disaster
requires me to quit the project.

One can expect me to live in a sturcture analogous to a wigwam,
tent, teepee, or yurt, depending on which will be best suited
to the situation. Although I do know how to build a log cabin
from the ground up, I do not anticipate doing this as it would
be very, very labor intensive and time consuming. I want
instead to focus on attaining the maximum amount of simplicity
so I can devote attention to the agricultural and health
aspects of such a lifestyle.

Please submit as much feedback as you feel compelled to offer.
I will attempt to answer all questions as soon as possible.
Please be sure to post to Usenet and email me a courtesy copy
of any posts, to ensure everyone can see the discourses on this
subject.

I have started a website to chronicle this project, but it is
under construction and hardly worth looking at at this time
because I am still trying to code the look and feel of the
site. The URL is http://www.veg.101main.com. In the futrure
the site will have a page and discussion forum for this
project.

The irony of a web site for this is fabulous.
Overall I think you need a more realistic plan, more gear, more meat, plenty of books, and ideally comrades to stave off insanity and lighten your load. I also don't think this is science or really even social science, but it sounds kind of fun. Good to be in a free country where such things can be tried. Good luck, and I'll be happy to comment further if you like.

Thank you,

== Berkano Berchta ==

berkano[nospam]@netzero.net

Usenet Key
[8447-5678-7005-5160-6695-3495-5165-4486-8557-3358]

Re: Gardening, Horticulture, Pomology, Herbology, Veganism,
Vegetarianism, Wholistic Health, Natural Living, Live Food,
Survivalism, Primitive Survival and umpteen other subjects for
data mining for the project.













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