Vermiculturist looking to ‘make up ground’ and change the world with the help of extraordinary soil allies, an opportunistic landowner, creative innovation, and good timing.
I’m a 44 year old single, partially disabled, anglo male, naturalist/artist/restoration and remodeling carpenter/handyman/groundskeeper/caretaker shifting, or at least adding careers into the commercial vermiculture/vermicompost sector with some very big ideas and opportunities, and a main focus of increasing worm populations while producing high quality (ideally OMRI certified) worm castings from happy and healthy epigeic worms.
I’m searching for a place in and around the Veneta/Crow/Lorane area both to reside at full time and set up shop for at least 1-5 years in order to grow as a worm farmer and vermicast business startup.
What I’m seeking in a farm is not acrage, but the appropriate and relevant infastructure or facilities and housing options typically found on farms and rural lands; available spaces aleady in place (or easily adaptable) for a mid to large scale vermiculture operation to emerge, flourish, and enrich all involved.
These key components include:
1. A building or enclosed structure of some sort, (preferably insulated) with plenty of linear space available, electricity (nothing too significant) and water access (nothing even close to frequency or volume typically used in crop production and no irrigation is needed whatsoever). Said building also at least has the potential to become climate controlled and pest proof, if not already.
Other outbuildings that are not fully enclosed and or uninsulated are also useful. Greenhouses and hoop houses that can be shaded/rolled up and or climate controlled or not, pole barns, sheds, stalls, coops, pavilions, qounset huts can all serve many purposes if they aren’t already being used or can be deticated.
2. A space(s) outdoors (perfered) or indoors to collect, store, mix, process, and cure feedstocks (in amounts approved by the landowner(s) of course), sourced from locally vetted and documented inputs, if not just directly used off land and it’s going ons with organic wastes, as I will be conducting both thermophillic and mesophillic composting on a regular basis. Initially I would be using smaller 5×10 neat covered piles or columns for thermophillic purposes (no windrows, but could graduate to that if a turner is accessible and or desired).
3. Private, non-communal, one middle aged well-trained fixed adventure-feline-friendly housing with hot running water, electricity, heat for winter and the ability to gain internet access (even if by satellite or tethering).
4. If not available in (#1) said building, an additional space for a small workshop/studio/garage, anticipated equipment, design, storage, and tools would keep things organized, secure and protected.
(5.) Optional: Random spots on the land to grow a handful of perineal nutrient accumulators/medicinal herbs and or native pollinator plants in smaller quantities (no feilds or acrage is required for this.) All these can be tucked away in unused areas, windbreaks, field edges, forest edges, in landscaping or companion planted around trees, and shrubs, etc. as most are natives and do just fine without much maintenence once established.
(6.)optional: place to provide nesting for native solitary bees (mason/leafcutter).
(7.)optional: place to try my hand at the many avenues of fun with fungi.
Repurposing, land and resource management, regenerative and resorative ag, ecological restoration; native plant, pollinator, beneficial insect, fungal, and wildlife habitat; combating the great climate change monster, food security and equity all while improving healthy overall biodivesity and soil whereever and however I can are things I’m committed to and hold value in. I strive to take better care of the things that take care of us, which in most circumstances puts the land and biodivesity before all else.
Some good news is I won’t be taking up actual crop land doing this, so landowners would still be able to utilize that however they see fit. Additionally having an on-board world’s-best-fertilizer-machine up and running adds plenty of options and enticement for whomever is looking to amend soil, grow crops, improve yields and or increase land value.
I’m open to leases, but am partially disabled and prefer work trade, long term partnership, or other equally beneficial arrangements.
Besides the above criteria, I’m hoping to catch a wise landowner’s attention that is tuned into this approach and is aware of its potential and urgency. Someone who can think a bit outside the box, and has an eye for opportunity, not only to incorporate this irreplaceable dynamic into their own soils and operations and circular systems, not only into the larger community of growers regionally and globally, not only in it’s almost guaranteed demand and high value in a climate changing world, but the implications for the environment, the climate, and our future as a species.
An excellent fit would be the same as it’s always happened: someone who needs/wants/could benefit from my assistance, help, diverse skill set and knowledge; my trustworthiness, my reliability; my dedication and commitments; only in addition, there is our conversion of waste into superior end products and services that would be accessible.
Be it a partnership in this venture, a simple lease, a list of chores and or projects, more than enough material for landowner use, or something unthought of, I’m open to variability and dialog, have much more to present, discuss with, and offer potential landowners, am available somewhat immediately, and am eager to get to work turning major problems into beneficial solutions as soon as possible.
Infastructure: buildings barns/structures, water, electricity, no herbicides or pesticides use, housing with a few creature comforts.
I've lived on farms for most of my adult life but most were no longer operatable, abandoned and neglected, converted, or on their last legs. So therefore most of the work I've done on farms has been around restoration and remodeling of the houses, offices, and outbuildings; bringing gardens back to life, groundskeeping, handymanning, upkeep, maintenance, event set up, animal husbandry (runner ducks/chickens/guinea fowl), foraging and wild-crafting, and along the lines of personal assistant, hired creative, and 'right hand man' type of work.
The last farm I was on was an organically certified medicinal herb farm for one of the oldest herbal supplement companies in the country for over 6 years doing all of the above, and never had a single complaint, only thanks and praise.
Establish buisness, apply for seed and grant funding, increase worm populations, fine tuning feedstock recipes, advance development of equipment mostly in the realm of low-impact and automation, packaging and marketing; to produce and test consistent high quality worm castings.
I look to change part of the game in a very significant way as to how vermiculture is used to solve major environmental issues and provide unmatchable value added benefits, and I anticipate being a very busy and sought after service/product, with a multitude of soil amendments and services. Eventually leading to multiple chain operations in many counties up and down the PNW, providing livable wage eco-friendly green jobs and education to low income/rural and urban communities.
I'll be sharing all I know with whomever wants to learn and continuing to contribute to regeneration and restoration in anyway I can.
Private non-communal, one well-trained, fixed adventure-feline-friendly housing with hot running water, electricity, heat for winter and the ability to gain internet access (even if by satelitte or tethering). Prefer rural to remote locations, but can adapt if wild nature is somewhat nearby.
The lands and elements connect us. Nurturing things connect us. I will focus on what connects and be available to build bridges were we differ. I will observe, welcome, and listen first and foremost. I will do my best to learn about and give whatever form(s) or respect and space each individual defines and needs from me. I welcome and value different perspectives, philosophies, and approaches, and ways I haven't been able to see or experience reality. I will check my privledge as often as I can and continue to further my education, becoming informed, and being aware.
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