Ep. 134 - Surprising Small Business LLC Tips

Next week is the election. Once again it is being billed as the "most important election in our lifetime!". And four years from now they will tell us the same thing. If every election is the same way, then maybe they are not as consequential as they say that they are.In Oct-27's homily/sermon, my pastor, Father Nikolai Meyers talked about the election (starts at 1:30:00, if it is not cued already).We are sold that there are only two sides to this. But Life has many sides.We got rain in NE Kansas after weeks and months of drought. The storm brought down trees. Neighbors helped each other to clear the downed trees. Maybe that is more consequential than the circus 2000 miles away in DC."If voting could actually upset the power of the establishment, you wouldn't be allowed to do it." - CyprianCyprian (aka Vin Armani) and I talk about the "Invisible Enemy" from an Orthodox Christian perspective.The Invisible EnemyFor totalitarianism to come into power you must have an Invisible Enemy.In 2020, Trump called Covid the "Invisible Enemy".Who is the Invisible Enemy today?For the Left, it is White Supremacy. It's the white guy with a rifle asking, "What kind of American are you?"For the Right, it's Trans people or "illegals".What about the homeless and the poor - are they the Invisible Enemy?Fear of the Invisible EnemyThe fear of the Invisible Enemy is fueled by social media, especially Twitter. You get more Likes and Views when you scare people with it.This pattern of declaring someone (or specific people or groups) as an Invisible Enemy and then declaring (social or real) war against it usually happens right before a big upheaval, and usually leads to some form of totalitarianism. Examples in the 20th Century are many: Germany, Russia, China.The Real Civil War is Within You. What are YOU going to do?Positive solutions to face your own personal Civil War:Pray. Pray for humility and discernment.Avoid the mind virus trap of thinking of groups of people as the Invisible Enemy. It never ends well.Give.We discuss: do you give to the homeless person if he will likely spend it on drugs?If you have an issue with this:How about asking his name? Greeting him with his name would be acknowledging him as human being.How about having a meaningful conversation?"The rich exist for the sake of the poor. The poor exist for the salvation of the rich.” - St. John Chrysostom.Read the daily Lives of the Saints. Their strength in trials and persecution will be a guide and model for you as you face the same. Because it is coming. (Didn't you learn anything from Covid?!)You may think you are winning. You don't think it will happen to you, but someone will be asking you, "What kind of American are you?" and you likely won't fit their definition.Episode website and show notes: https://thrivingthefuture.com/civil-war2If you like this unique topic, shoot us a tip on Venmo @ThrivingtheFuture or CashApp $ThrivingtheFuture. Or join the Thriving Patreon at Patreon.com/ThrivingtheFuture.Sponsors:Thriving Food Forest Design: Let us create an edible foodscape, perennial paradise for you so you can grow more food and be more self sufficient. Schedule a free consult session with me

It's been almost a year since Grant and I shared about How to Propagate your own Trees, Plants, and Flowers for Free, and Sell the Extras as a Side Hustle (recently as a Flashback episode on Oct-11.What has changed with our nursery businesses in the last year? I started my food forest design business and have my first paid design client.We share about becoming an "expert".Finding your niche: you are an expert in something (or more expert than others).How to position yourself as an expert.One way to start is to speak to audience or perspective client as you would to yourself several years ago.We also talk nursery biz:Hostas, trees.Grading nursery stock based on pot size and tree caliper.Episode website:Ep. 145 - How to Position Yourself as an Expert - with Grant PayneSponsors:Grow Nut Trees - Chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, elderberry - all adapted to the Midwest.Thriving Food Forest Design - Let us create a low maintenance perennial paradise for you so you can grow more food and be more self sufficient.Permies digital marketplace is YOUR source for all things permaculture for your homestead, side hustle, and designing your intentional life: from video courses, to blueprints, to books.

What are you doing to put your garden to bed for the winter time?Maybe you are luck and your growing season is still in swing. We are nearing the first frost date. It has been too hot and dry for my Fall greens to germinate so I will need to start them in the greenhouse, where they can grow until Jan or Feb.How do you clean up your garden beds?For Milpa beds, I chop and drop the beans and other plants for mulch, cover with a little compost, and then some woodchips.In the main garden:I loosen the soil with a broadfork. Not too much. I add amendments like lime, rock phosphate, and liquid kelp.Then a thick layer of compost.I add a thick layer of leaves that I collect from the curbside in town once the leaves drop. Then I cover it with a layer of woodchips.If I am creating a new garden bed, I use the lasagna method:Break up or turn over the soil with a broadfork.Like Nick Ferguson, I may add a layer of animal feed pellets.I adda layer of compost or horse manure.Then I add a layer of molasses mixed with water to feed the soil bacteria.I cover it all with leaves and woodchips. What do you do to put your garden to bed for the winter time? Share your wins and losses on our Telegram group. Sign up at signup.thrivingthefuture.comI also share in this episode - What happened to the podcast?My tour of Charlie's Chestnuts and the hybrid chestnut called Revival, which is almost as big as the palm of my hand.Episode website:Ep. 143 - How I Put My Garden to Bed for the WinterSponsors:Grow Nut Trees - Chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, elderberry - all adapted to the Midwest. Thriving Food Forest Design - Let us create a low maintenance perennial paradise for you so you can grow more food and be more self sufficient.Permies digital marketplace is YOUR source for all things permaculture for your homestead, side hustle, and designing your intentional life: from video courses, to blueprints, to books.

This flashback episode with Grant Payne has tips that you can also use on your homestead to save and propagate trees and plants, with enough abundance to sell the extras. Create your own nursery side hustle,Propagation - from cuttings - elderberry, mulberry, figs, berries, and discarded trims from nursery plants.Flowers, mums, and bulbsObtaining seeds and plantsWhere to sell - FB, Craigslist, ebay, and creating a popup website. The pros and cons.Episode website: Ep. 144 - Flashback - How to Propagate your own Trees, Plants, and Flowers for Free, and Sell the Extras as a Side HustleSponsors:Grow Nut Trees - Chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, elderberry - all adapted to the Midwest.Thriving Food Forest Design - Let us create a low maintenance perennial paradise for you so you can grow more food and be more self sufficient.Permies digital marketplace is YOUR source for all things permaculture for your homestead, side hustle, and designing your intentional life: from video courses, to blueprints, to books.

What are you doing to increase your self reliance and self sufficiency?Jack Spirko's definitions:Self Sufficiency – The percentage of your needs met by your own systemsSelf Reliance – The duration in time you can live well without systems of support (or to live well with YOUR systems of support)Let's face it - the 2024 election is not going to go well. The side that loses is not going to accept the results. There will be civil unrest. Plus WW3 conditions are looming.Change is coming. People can feel it.What would you do in another 2020-type situation? What lessons learned can you apply from the last time?What could you do to be ableLong term/short term -Plant treesCultivate gardensTend livestockMore short term:Look at your gaps in energy, food, water. What can you improve so that you can live well with your systems of support?Fight the mind virus and the fearPrepare mentally and spirituallyBuild communityLearn skills through self study and networkingExpand your other forms of incomeI share what I am doing to become more self reliant and self sufficient.Episode website: Ep. 142 - How Are You becoming More Self Reliant?Sponsors:Grow Nut Trees - Chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, elderberry - all adapted to the Midwest. Now taking orders for shipping in Sept/Oct.Thriving Food Forest DesignPermies digital marketplace is YOUR source for all things permaculture for your homestead, side hustle, and designing your intentional life: from video courses, to blueprints, to books.

Lindsay Brandon, CEO and Permaculture Consultant at Permaculture Canada joins me to share about Armagarden, her new project to integrate community design into the permaculture design.We discuss Armagarden and how it contrasts with the usual permaculture design. From the website:What is Armagarden?Armagarden was born from the desire to get back to the land and live a lifestyle that is connected to family, place and community. Through strategic design methods considerations are made through the design process towards food/water security, community resource management, and holistic design from a community perspective. With the recent increase in people desiring a homesteading lifestyle many realise that self-reliance is best when combined with the skills of their community. That we are stronger, more resilient, and can accomplish much more when we pool our resources, talents and skills together.The community resilience is created with elements including food production, on-site (off-grid) energy production, infrastructure for community events, educational courses and sustainable construction and energy efficiency practices for all buildings.Episode website: Ep. 141 - Armagarden - Regenerative Community Design, with Lindsay BrandonSponsors:Grow Nut Trees - Chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, elderberry - all adapted to the Midwest. Now taking orders for shipping in Sept/Oct.Permies digital marketplace is YOUR source for all things permaculture for your homestead, side hustle, and designing your intentional life: from video courses, to blueprints, to books.

With tough times, more people are looking for homestead property, or to add gardens, fruit and nut trees, and chickens to their existing suburban property to be more self sufficient.Kerry Brown of Strong Roots Resources joins me to share tips to find your homestead property:Look for off-market properties. Properties are selling before they show up in Zillow or MLS. Contact your network of folks, like realtors to give you a heads up when something is coming available. If you are in the Tennessee area, Kerry recommends Marcie and Jeff Yadon. On FB as on fb as Marcie n Jeff Yadon or email: [email protected] CommunitiesSome have a membership model or you can live there seasonally.FB Group - Homestead RoommatesTSP Land Group on TelegramPermies SKIP program on Permies.comWhat to consider when looking at a property:Water sourceAccessSolar aspectForaging and trees - what is on there now?Suburban tips:Look at space and think of "what else could that be used for?" (stack functions)Avoid HOAsDon't discount garage space (like for aquaculture).Episode website: Ep. 140 - Tips to Find Your Homestead Property - with Kerry BrownSponsors:Permies digital marketplace is YOUR source for all things permaculture for your homestead, side hustle, and designing your intentional life: from video courses, to blueprints, to books.Grow Nut Trees - Chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, elderberry - all adapted to the Midwest. Now taking orders for shipping in Sept/Oct.

Last time, in Ep. 138, Jason Thomas shared stories and we discussed how to design your intentional life.We talked about the main categories - wealth, health, relationships, and spirituality.I was contemplating my journey to design my intentional life and I had more to add.Having an Intentional Life means:Aligning your life and actions with your values, as much as possible.Being deliberate in your actions and forming good habits.Taking positive steps rather than being driven by your circumstances and surroundings.Preparing for adversity - both physically and mentally.Being more at peace and having a positive view of your future.Focusing on your physical and spiritual health.Write down your values.Evaluate things to Change:Make a plan. Start simple.There are no solutions, only tradeoffs. You won't get to 100% (unless you are very lucky, or you have the right situations). There will be some tradeoffs.It's not All or Nothing.Get out of the "I am going to replace my job!" mindset.Redesign your life by changing your lifestyle and expectations:Paul Wheaton's (in)famous "Story of Ferd and Gert"Get out of the "progressive mindset"Grow your own food.Find your tribe - Grow community.Episode website: Ep. 139 - More Tips to Design Your Intentional LifeSponsors:Permies digital marketplace is YOUR source for all things permaculture for your homestead, side hustle, and designing your intentional life: from video courses, to blueprints, to books.Grow Nut Trees - Chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, elderberry - all adapted to the Midwest. Now taking orders for shipping in Sept/Oct.

What does your perfect day look like? Does today look like that perfect day?In this episode, Jason Thomas of Regeneration Nation Costa Rica shares foundational steps to design your intentional life.Needs most people have:WealthHealthRelationshipsSpiritualityWhat does your perfect day look like?We also discuss how to apply permaculture principles to your business or side hustle.Check out Jason's FREE e-book: 77 Ways to Practice Permaculture Professionally. (some may surprise you)Episode website: Ep. 138 - Jason Thomas on How to Design Your Intentional LifeSponsors:Permaculture Business Design Course from Regeneration Nation Costa Rica - This course will guide you step-by-step toward designing a profession that cultivates your permaculture education into a regenerative livelihood.Permies digital marketplace is YOUR source for all things permaculture for your homestead, side hustle, and designing your intentional life: from video courses, to blueprints, to books.Grow Nut Trees - Chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, elderberry - all adapted to the Midwest. Now taking orders for shipping in Sept/Oct.

It's been a crazy week. The assassination attempt on Trump.Now a Global cyberattack (“no, it was just a bad patch!”)What will you do with this moment?Focus on your local Circle of Influence and Circle of ConcernPlant treesCultivate gardensRaise livestockPrepare mentally and spirituallyGrow your local communityBecause Gov’t will not save you.Episode website: Ep. 137 - What Will You Make of This Moment?Sponsors:Permies Permaculture Design Course - 70 hours of videos for $50. Watch what topic that you want to learn for your homestead (water, swales, ponds, earthworks) - without taking a week off of work or getting a certificate.Grow Nut Trees - Chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, elderberry - all adapted to the Midwest. Now taking orders for shipping in Sept/Oct.