James Slade DPV

Preliminary Application

Note that the goal of a Dedicated Project Visit is to produce tangible, significant results that contribute to the creation of the GVCS. We are a development laboratory for producing results that can be applied to the world. We are pioneers in our work, and take our work seriously because of the profound implications that the GVCS can have on the rest of the world. We are looking for independently-driven individuals capable of initiative, competent in their proposed program, and with a demonstrated track record of delivering on their promises. If you are not ready for this type of challenge or do not have the commitment to take on the development of important and globally-relevant work, please do not apply.

• Name, age, gender, location, contact info (phone, email, Skype). Please include a photo of yourself.
  • James "Bunny" Slade; 38; male; Cedar Creek, Texas; Cell FiveOneTwo-695-9254, Jameswslade at gmail dot com

• Please list schools you have attended, degrees and/or major areas of study or training, and independent studies that you have done.
  • Gulf Coast Trades Center 1990 - Horticulture
  • ITT 1 semester of Electronics

• Please attach a resume or provide a list of work experience, both paid and volunteer.
  • Creation Flame, current - Co-founder. Church and farm.
  • NCsoft 2 years - Tier 3 CS and Outsource liaison for AAA MMO
  • Sadhana Forest 1 month, Auroville - Volunteered for reforestation project.
  • Help Exchange, Petroio, Italy 2 1/2 months - Volunteered on a local farm.
  • Help Exchange, Lugo Spain 2 weeks - Volunteered on organic farm.
  • Koetter Fire Protection 6 months - Installed commercial fire protection systems.
  • Multimedia Games 5 years - Hardware/Software QC and Operations Specialist.

• Please provide 3 References with email and phone number - 2 work references, 1 personal reference
  • Personal - Wes Bellanca, Thoricatha@gmail.com, 512-565-5306
  • Work - Barbara Mariotti, barbaraemariotti@gmail.com, +39 338 5336055
  • Work - Charles Porter, cporter@ncsoft.com, 512-623-4829

• How did you hear about the program? Why are you applying for a Dedicated Project Visit? Why are you interested in our work?
  • Marcin's TED talk, I wish to help make GVCS a reality and a DPV can make that happen. I see the GVCS a a major step in changing the world as a whole in a very positive way.

• Describe practical skills you may have - from agriculture, workshop, industry, organizing, hands-on, CAD, manufacturing, computer skills, etc.
  • Hands on mechanically minded.
  • Farming experience
  • Ability to use most construction tools and very quick at learning new ones.
  • Computer tech
  • Hardware and software quality assurance and control. Can really help make solid products.
  • Novice CAD and learning Inventor 2012
  • Shade tree mechanic
  • Horticulture
  • Heavy machine operation
  • Chainsaw operation

• Have you designed and built anything that you use?
  • Yes, most of the animal housing, fencing used on our farm was designed and built by me. Have designed a few prototype digital LED systems for local fire spinners. Can't use fire in a burn ban so LED's have to do. Also our art installation, I designed all the lighting.

• Which of your skills are particularly relevant towards creating the GVCS? Please view the San Francisco Presentation of 2010 and recent update for the latest on our approach and on-the-ground work.
  • I have a genuine enthusiasm about this project, which I find highly relevant.
  • The ability to work with others and on my own.
  • Construction skills. I've been able to build a lot of things and able to replicate work.

• Do you have any organizational skills and experience?
  • Am able to setup processes for keeping a flow going. Useful in a shop environment.

• Can you cook or grow food? Can you cover your food expenses?
  • I am able to cook basic meals and can grow food. Unable to currently cover food expenses due to no income.

• Do you have resources to support yourself while volunteering with us?
  • Not at this time

• Do you have any medical conditions or physical disabilities which may affect your ability to do physical work? Do you have any emotional, psychological, or mental issues which may affect your ability to act effectively and with good judgment?
  • no

• Are you easy to get along with and can you get along with other people?
  • I think so. Lots of experience dealing with a large variety of people.

• Do you have strong ideological views (political, religious, feminist, etc.)?
  • I have my own beliefs, but they are my own and I don't push them on others.

• Are you a team player - or someone who understands that the work we do at Factor e Farm is for a much greater purpose than for our own self-gratification, indulgence, or agenda? This implies a level of maturity in the participant which allows one to remain not only aligned with the long-term vision, but also to remain motivated in this work. Historically, this has been one of the key challenges for participants.
  • This whole thing, GVCS, is greater than any of us. I understand that and would not allow myself to be more important than that. Being human, there may be times where the ego may step in. However, I am aware of who I am and know how to remove my ego from things. Am also of apologizing and admitting my faults if they arise. I personally am not looking for fame here. GVSC is something I feel must happen to better the world.

• Do you smoke? Do you have any dietary restrictions? Will you eat meat raised at our farm?
  • I don't smoke, no dietary issues or issues with eating local livestock.

• Do you have transportation? Will you be arriving by car and leaving the car on-site?
  • I have a car and will most likely drive it up and yes it would remain on site. I could also attempt to drive my 83 diesel blazer there and could make a project out of refitting it to bio-diesel.

• Documentation is key to moving our work forward. This includes video documentation. Can you produce a 1-3 minute video introduction to yourself and what you would like to accomplish in your Dedicated Project Visit? See sample video from WilliamCleaver from a former application. The video can be as simple as a clip uploaded to the web, or uploaded to a video viewer such as YouTube, Blip.tv, Vimeo, or others. If you are accepted, can you produce video updates on your work at least at 2 week intervals, starting with a video upon your arrival?
  • Yes I can make videos and regularly make more to show project updates.

My video *******

• Can you work well as a pioneer under rough conditions, by taking the responsibility to create your own environment?
  • Yes I can!

• When would you be available for a Dedicated Project Visit?
  • ASAP Please

• If you are accepted and things don't work out, do you have other options to pursue after the month?
  • Not currently, but I'm also unemployed atm so I can only go up from here. :)

• List your goals and deliverables for your Dedicated Project Visit, breaking it up by each of the four weeks. Please write a one-page proposal brief summarizing what you would like to do, how you would accomplish it, and what resources you would need to do so.
  • I would like to get a variety of growing spaces setup to increase food production on site. Using the greenhouse I would setup a couple aquaponics systems. A basic setup as I'm outlining here can potentially feed a family of 4 year round. This could be done using already produced commercial equipment for around $500 a table. I feel to hit the ground running it may be a good idea to buy one commercially made setup, then build a second one using as many local materials as possible. Then a third, fourth and fifth to keep improving the design, ease of use, and lower the power use or remove the need for power altogether. I think using CEB's would totally come into play for the tanks and tables. Materials that would need to be purchased for the commercial style and would mirror what I have on my own farm would include:

Grow table 1 4x8 1/2" plywood Water tank Fish Water pump Air pump Fish food Bubble stones Baskets for the plants Test strips for water chemistry Possibly need acid or base to control the PH. 1 4x8 sheet foam insulation. White paint.

Week one would consist of acquiring the prior listed materials, setting the initial system up, and starting the process of stabilizing the water. Would like to use CEB's and the plywood for making the table. Also start looking at the current build and work up the design for every possibly improvement that can be made. Then build a second with that list of improvements.

Week two would consist of daily monitoring of each system to check the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and PH levels. Then make modifications to keep each at its correct level.

Week three would be similar to previous weeks, with adding another system with improvements.

Week four the first table will hopefully completed its cycle and be able to support itself with minimal intervention.

Another project that I would implement would be to setup raised garden beds near the kitchen if possible. To start filling in whatever gaps my exist in the current food requirements. Herbs, veggies and possibly some fruits could be placed there. These would be added in as needed depending on the current conditions during my stay.

Analysis of the land for large scale growth operations would be another aspect of my stay. I'm not a big fan of mono-cropping and much prefer the food forest type of thing. Depending on what is currently there I feel a combination of things will work. Walking the land, seeing the soil, sun, shade, erosion, and studying the yearly weather and researching what plants would thrive in that area would be conducted. This is essential in designing long term plans that would evolve over years. Would also be working on ways to have the livestock involved in the over all growth process. This would all be done in my first week there.

Second week would consist of putting plans into motion. Providing the backhoe is functional, I'd like to start contouring the land a bit to help catch water and stop erosion. Designing a pond would also be great, though we'd likely need more than a backhoe for that. I'll gladly use what is at our disposal though. Can definitely make some bunds, channels, etc to address this. Here's what I've turned up thus far about the contour of the land and visible erosion: http://opensourceecology.org/wiki/James_Slade_DPV_Topo

Third week would consist of continuation of land design, and turning available noon essential growth into mulch. I'm sure there is a fair amount of clearing to be done.

Week 4 see what other improvements can be made at this point to help with erosion, crop growth and live stock.

• Are you willing to publish all the results of your work openly, and to make any of your contributions open source, consistent with our goal of creating Distributive Enterprise?
  • Absolutely!!!!

• How does your proposed work contribute to the creation of the GVCS? How does your proposal contribute towards creating a world of post-scarcity economics?
  • To create a sustainable food, fiber and fuel crop marrying livestock in with land management. This would reduce the strain by keeping everything local and able to share the experience with others around the world. Also would help in coming up with ideas for the equipment used to maintain this aspect of living. Finding ways to maximize output versus input will only help benefit the world. In resource deprived parts of the world being able to take a little bit of a resource and making it go a long ways is critical. I'll do whatever I can to help achieve this as there is no reason to have so many people in a deprived state.

• What are the metrics by which you could assess the success of your work? (prototypes built, documentation produced, resources or funding raised, infrastructure built, food provided, contribution to the community provided, True Fans recruited, presentations given, speaking tours organized, etc.) Note that we are looking for tangible and explicit proposals and results as opposed to 'I will help with whatever is needed' or other generalizations - unless we agree otherwise.
  • Food production and the variety of food produced. This would include fiber and fuel crops as well.
  • Infrastructure - Gardens, beds, livestock areas, water systems etc.

• What do you expect to get out of your Dedicated Project Visit?
  • Experience

• Can you visit us prior to your Dedicated Project Visit?
  • Up for discussion

• Please share three interesting things about yourself.
  • If desired, I am totally honest.
  • I like to inspire others
  • I'm very giving.

• Please share three things you think people should know about living with you.
  • I tend to be quiet in larger groups
  • My humor can get dark and sarcastic, but is never serious
  • I hug everyone.

• Can you bring a digital camera or phone camera for documenting your work?
  • Yes, HD even.

• Any other concerns or considerations?
  • I'm a zen master in training.