About this blog -- use the menu at the right!

Use the navigation menu at the right to find what you want on this blog, which I'm trying to treat as a website. You'll want to view the following in this order:

1. Valhalla Vision -- a general overview of the project

2. Property -- how it will eventually be acquired, and what'll happen next

3. Construction -- a preliminary introduction to some Valhalla construction projects (ironically this is a webpage still under construction, but understandably so since it's a very large topic to consider)

4. Energy -- some notes on how we intend to eventually bring Valhalla completely off the grid and self-reliant

5. Water -- rainwater harvesting basics, will add grey water recycling and other related topics to this webpage soon

6. Farm and Garden -- currently limited to soil information but the future home of everything having to do with food production at Valhalla

7. Animals -- very briefly describes how the Valhalla work ethic will apply to all animals on the property. Single species descriptions and detailed information about every animal planned for the property will be added as time goes on.

8. Frugality is Fun -- a groundbreaking program describing how the Valhalla Project will be carried out not just through fundraising, but through saving individual dollars.

9. Governance -- how all these activities will be accomplished under the guidance of a nonprofit 501(c)(3) Board of Directors and key advisory committees.

History: the original Valhalla property search

Property

The Valhalla property itself will obviously serve as the heart of the entire project. It must be large enough to accommodate hunting, fishing, farming, and facilities for comfortably housing an average of 50 people at a time. We further describe exactly what we are looking for in a "Valhalla Desired Property Description" that has already been sent to a couple of real estate brokers in Northwest Arkansas, and will continue to be circulated to the real estate community there in the coming months.

Note that the property should not be acquired until Valhalla is first incorporated as a non-profit, public benefit 501(c)(3) and then formally recognized as such by the IRS. This process typically takes six months or so, thus providing us with adequite time to thoroughly investigate and research a wide variety of candidate properties. On the other hand, although more complicated, the property might be acquired and then transferred later into Valhalla's name.

Once narrowed down to two or three candidates for possible purchase, Valhalla board members will be requested to join us in assessing each possibility before a final selection is made.

At that point we should have our financing assessments together, and the required deposits would be made into the Valhalla bank account to cover the downpayment for the property under a 30 year mortgage (which would be very manageable while freeing up funds for site preparation and construction projects).

Valhalla would thereby own the property, not the donors. That said, two acres somewhere on what would otherwise be Valhalla property would be purchased under our own names, thus reserving our right to live there regardless of any future changes on the Board. Upon our deaths, our two acres would then be gifted to Valhalla.

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Examples of "almost-suitable" properties we've found on the web, FYI only:

As described by the realtor: "Amazing 160 acre property in the Ozark Mountains with over 1/2 mile of beautiful Jimmy Creek flowing through it. This property has distant views of the surrounding countryside with two long ridges for two seperate building sites, each with it's own private drive to the creek. This property is covered in deer & turkey too!"

Pros: it's a hunting property with a creek suitable for running a hydroelectric system, evidence of basic driveway and cleared building sites, apparently secluded, plenty more photos that are very impressive available here. Price is right! Love those rock formations! 

Cons: not big enough, we need at least 200 acres. Also, we'd rather choose where to put the driveway, interior access roads, and building sites ourselves.

Example #2:

As described by the realtor:"120 acre, secluded homestead. Wooded with some pasture. Has a unique house (3BR/2BA) with round living room and made with many native materials such as decorative rockwork and flooring. Two storage sheds, pole barn, large basement (1170 sq ft), full length screened porch. Guest rooms have exits out onto the deck. Fireplace. Wonderful, private location, gated. Get back to nature here!"

Pros: sheds and a pole barn, huge basement, enough room to accommodate 20 Valhallans right away!!! The house with the circular living room could become a public visitor's center / museum some day. For temporary accommodations that house looks awesome, love the bathrooms and the enclosed patio! (Additional photos are available here).

Cons: the property itself is way too small, we need at least 200 acres. We won't need a visitors center / museum for a long, long time anyway (even though having shelter in the early days would be a huge plus). Not enough information about the land, looks flat and uninteresting to me, and there's no mention of water sources suitable for hydroelectric.

Example #3:

As described by the realtor: "2 Caves and numerous springs with an A Frame Cabin. Waterfalls and wildlife in the Ozarks start your adventure." The property is 245 acres. With such a brief description it is necessary to click on the "view all" link to look at the many photographs of the property here.

Pros: plenty of opportunities for hydroelectric power generation! Appears to have a lot of useable timber and the caves could potentially be useful for cold storage and cheese making. The A-frame cabin could serve as a temporary headquarters for a couple of years or more. The property size is also right within our target ballpark!

Cons: we need a lot more information before assessing the cons.

CONCLUSIONS: we need to supplement our already promising internet property searches with what may turn out to be weeks or months of on-the-ground surveys there in Arkansas.
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So what will happen after the property is finally acquired? An extremely thorough survey of every rock, hill, creek, tree, and other terrain feature, with the intent of constructing a large topographical model of the entire property for planning purposes. This process could take months, yet it will be essential for proper placement of plumbing and electrical systems, buildings, barns, septic tanks and leach fields, cisterns, cabins, parking areas, gardens, memorial walls and groves, maintenance access paths, and hunting zones.

The results of these intensive survey activities will become the basis of projects that may take many decades to complete.

We will all need a lot of help to accomplish this critical task, and thus must find a way to reach out to the first Valhalla soldier volunteers (particularly those who have their own GPS units). It will also be necessary to establish a temporary camping area with basic facilities (rented porta-potties and drinking water tanks).

Once surveyed to the satisfaction of the Valhalla Board with additional input from the Building Advisory Committee, timber, rock quarry and natural gas experts will be asked to assess the property.

Strategic timber thinning could potentially contribute funding for the first Valhalla building projects while at the same time serve to remove dead, dying, or diseased trees. Assuming that many Valhalla projects will require gravel, rock, and granite, it would only make sense to use our own rather than pay someone else for the same materials. Finally, central Arkansas is the home off Fayetteville Shale, which is currently the subject of significant natural gas extraction operations that have their own pros and cons involved. We would therefore want to know if any oil, gas, or mineral resources were present at Valhalla, and how to protect the property for only uses deemed appropriate and desirable by the Valhalla Board.

Next steps: establishing Valhalla's basic inferstructures, then constructing the first pole barn and mini straw bale cabins (small yet useful structures to practice various building techniques).

More on these activities will be added to this webpage "soon."

Animals: Wildlife Management

Wildlife Loves the Ozarks!

Known as a wildlife paradise, the Ozark area of NW Arkansas provides excellent habitat for popularly hunted species such as whitetail deer, turkeys, quail, squirrel, and rabbit. Elk have been re-introduced and populations are growing at a surprising rate. Where prey animals abound so do major predators, and coyote, fox, bobcat, and black bear are thick in the region.

Naturally any woodland will have a high population of smaller predators, too - raccoon, possum, skunk, mink and weasel, and abundant birds such as migratory and resident songbirds, raptors, and waterfowl.

Good Habitat is the Key to Success

All wildlife specialists agree that appropriate available habitat - cover, water, food, shelter to breed and raise young - is the most vital yardstick to measure the ability of wildlife to thrive in an area. The good news is that lots of good habits exists in NW Arkansas and owners can make some fairly basic changes and institute wildlife-friendly policies that can dramatically improve habitat.

A lot of habitat improvement could fall into the common sense category, but landowners don't have to guess. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is one of the most pro-active in the country and has very dynamic out reach programs to assist landowners with planning, planting, and managing their habitat to encourage multiple game and non-game species alike.

The Commission even has specialty biologists on staff that visit interested landowners, discuss and formulate goals and objectives, then provide plans - and in some cases material support - for habitat improvement. They can even teach us how to establish wildlife food plots to enhance their populations the natural way, as shown in this short video:

Planning and Working for Wildlife

At Valhalla we intend to bring these agencies early into the planning stage and to work with them and our sustainable timer advisor and geological assessment to produce a comprehensive, multi-faceted plan that will permit maximum game harvest potential as well as decades-long plans to harvest marketable timber and other natural products that may occur on the land.

Sound wildlife management practices encourage much direct participation by those living on the land. For this reason Valhalla will offer Soldiers formal and informal programs in the field ranging from lectures and programs by the Commission, Cooperative Extension, and academic presenters all the way to simple but fun tasks like making brush piles, clearing and planting, and building bird and small mammal houses.

Our philosophy of "everyone works" extends to the wildlife also, so we fully expect to see many participants during hunting season. Arkansas game laws permit bow, crossbow, black powder, and shotgun and rifle hunting, and we will establish hunter friendly structures like stands and blinds, as well as manage the wild areas for maximum participation commensurate with reasonable safety precautions.

Animals: Why Heritage Breeds?

While many organizations fret over supposedly shrinking or endangered wildlife species, few focus on another real genetic resource, rare and endangered livestock species. Why should we care? Primarily because these are species and breeds most influenced by human intervention and many have extraordinarily unique characteristics that warrants their preservation.

The American Livestock Breeders Association notes that as agriculture has become increasingly industrialized and based on a corporate model fewer and fewer breeds are accounting for more and more of the base herd. For example, more than 90% of all dairy cattle in the US are Holsteins. No problem unless something hits that breed and it crashes. In the scramble to replace them we could come up short on genetic diversity needed if alternative breeds are extinct.

Typically these breeds - often referred to as Heritage breeds - are multi-tasker animals or fowl. Heritage cattle will give meat, milk, and pulling capacity. Chickens meat and eggs and are good breeders. Goats, meat and milk, and so forth. Animals that perform a multiplicity of functions fit well into Valhalla where everyone works - most often at several jobs! We won't get a break, why should the critters? Ain't fair!

Another great reason for Heritage breeding is that there are grants out there for organizations that focus on expanding the breed lines as well as the fact that they are usually people-friendly, very hardy and disease resistant, make a good living on free range or pasture, and take care of their needs - breeding and raising young - without a lot of human intervention. All good.

Having Heritage breeds tends to spotlight the facility in a positive way and attracts attention for its own sake. If we can leverage some of this attention into support for Valhalla then so much the better.

While many are difficult to find and a bit more expensive to purchase than "ordinary" stock, that is to be expected. Rare means rare. On the other hand, their self-sufficiency also equates to lower feed and vet bills and less labor intensive attention. As a plus whatever doesn't go into the cook pot can be sold to bring a small income stream into the project.

We're looking at several major categories of livestock and poultry to have on Valhalla. Naturally these will be phased in over time. I've already been to the movie where 250 animals are waiting for pickup and the farm isn't ready for them! Since the second kick by a mule is not a learning experience we'll definitely have our act together on the receiving side and bring them in slowly over time.

Species under consideration are the following: donkeys, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, rabbits, and honeybees. Raising quail and pheasant is being researched. Our jury is out on horses. They seem like awfully big eaters for little return. We'll see in time.

We'll have to have guard animals for the predator issues, and donkeys and dogs top that list.

We're going to post some information on all these species including specific breeds we're looking at and why on these pages.

Animals: Chickens are Fun Essentials, Too

Chickens: Dominiques, Delaware, Buckeye, Barnevelder, Cochins
(25 each to start)

Buckeye Rooster

Delaware Chickens

Dominique Hens

Permanent Duty Assignments

Feed the residents

Egg production (average of 250 each hen annually!)

Meat (got lots of recipes handy!)

Reproduce themselves

Chicks (we'll incubate or let hens brood some eggs so we'll only have to buy once)

Bug, insect, and rodent control

Kill creepy-crawlies and nasty mice (if it flies, crawls, or
is small enough - they'll kill it!)

Soil enhancement program

Supply a nitrogen-hot manure for the compost pile (won't have to worry about running short!)

Temporary Duty Assignments

Follow the larger animals on pasture and clean up manure

Police up nasty insects in the garden

Entertain with antics

Be available for petting

Chase an occasional cat or dog

Chickens are one of the most bang for the buck additions to the facility

We like chickens for a lot of reasons, some of them even practical. The birds are fun. They can be a bit zany at times, are pretty, will come up to be hand-fed, and occasionally chase the cat or dog. On the useful side, chickens produce eggs, meat, and a very hot manure that helps nitrogen-loving plants thrive.

And really excellent news: chickens are great mousers - some breeds kill as many mice as the most seasoned barn cats! Don't believe it? Take a look for yourself:

Given a bit of free range, chickens will de-bug the garden faster than a computer geek on a Windows malfunction. They also like to eat a lot of what we would otherwise toss: eggshells, whey, fish parts, and stuff teenage girls describe as "gross." In return they grow, reproduce themselves, and give almost daily eggs. Not a bad tradeoff!

In keeping with our philosophy of encouraging breeding rare and endangered heritage livestock breeds we have our eyes set on some very interesting breeds of chickens. We like Dominiques and Delawares, and we're looking at perhaps some Buckeyes and Barnevelders. Maybe a few booted Cochins around for elegant looks. I had several running around my farm in the Catskills and they always got attention, plus laid great eggs.

Some of the essential qualities we seek, with chickens and other livestock, are that they are gentle, easy to manage, and can make a living free range for the most part, all characteristics that typify heritage breeds. We want excellent layers and quick growers for meat. We value independent birds who are smart enough to find a bug or two and to stay out of the way of predators.

Naturally, they will have a house for nighttime security. We may even employ a "chicken tractor" on an as-needed basis to allow the chickens to follow other species on pasture, cleaning up the mess - (Teenage Girl Gross-out Alert - chickens scratch through manure, eating the maggots, seeds, and other critter in the stuff, and breaking it down for easier processing in pasture lands), and all the while growing bigger and more productive.

Our strategy is to bring on a single species at a time, give the chickens time to adjust, learn how best to manage from a limited number, evaluate how many we will need eventually for meat, reproduction, and eggs, and keep breeds true. If all goes well we envision separate flocks of different breeds working rotating areas of the land simultaneously.

There are some very reputable breeders in the Midwest who can help us get started with chicks, and we are already in touch with three farms in the Missouri Ozarks who have welcomed visits from us after learning about the Valhalla Project.

Frugality: Valhalla's Institutional Frugality

As leaders of the Valhalla Project it is incumbent on us to be strict practitioners of institutional as well as operational frugality. What do I mean by this? Well, one of the most troubling items for prospective corporate and individual donors is the frequently damning line on many non-profit annual reports that reads "Salaries and Benefits." In many highly publicized examples - too often from respected organizations like United Fund - directors and employees have outlandishly lavish salaries and overflowing baskets of benefits. Other investigations report that some organizations direct less than 10% of funds donated to actual mission-oriented projects while the rest is wasted of extravagances.

Some of the concerns are perception: since non-profits don't actually manufacture and sell anything other than services the normally high "Cost of Goods Sold" and "Profitability" lines are absent from the accounting page, thereby making S&B seem excessively high by comparison.

Valhalla will move beyond challenge: we will not only fix the perception, but the reality of the situation by some simple but effective measures. For example, Board members will not receive compensation for their efforts, nor will on-the-ground leaders (i.e., Gordon and Chris) draw a salary. By zeroing out these accounts Valhalla will graphically demonstrate sincerity of purpose and focus on mission to any and all who wish to peek inside our operational structure.

At some future point it may be necessary to have an on-site, permanent manager or two. In these cases a salary is acceptable but we would work with the prospective manager to make sure that while adequate, salary is low. Considering that housing and food will be provided in whole or in part and that retired NCOs will be the most likely candidates, we ought to authorize sufficient compensation to supplement military retirement and benefits without raising a red flag to donors. Just as we are making certain sacrifices and commitments, so will a qualified manager have to do.

By institutionalizing such practices we are going to be in a much stronger position to appeal for donations and contributions in kind and we will be more in consonance with the letter and spirit of our mission: Of the Soldiers; for the Soldiers.

Our IRS application for nonprofit status is being processed, 
yet you can still donate to help Valhalla today!

Valhalla Community Outreach Activities

The Community Needs to Know Just Who We Are

As part of Valhalla Project's non-profit, public benefit character it is essential that local opinion formers and members of the community understand the mission and operational profile of Valhalla, who will be managing and leading the project, and who the prospective residents of the property will be. Accordingly, a community outreach plan is necessary.

By taking the initiative to outreach to the community and inform and educate them about the mission, Valhalla leadership will be in a position to dispel potential rumor and possible fears about what the project represents and how it may impact the community.

Leaders need to be aware of several key points, including what Valhalla is not. First and foremost, it must be portrayed as exactly what it will be: a rural facility, agriculture and off-the-grid based, that will offer a place of security, retreat, and transition for combat Soldiers. Positive aspects are Soldier support; economic benefits to the community in the form of property taxes, local spending, and perhaps some contract labor; and a solid sense of satisfaction in giving back to Soldiers.

Potential negatives that must be quickly and firmly dispelled are that Valhalla is a cult, militia, commune, or otherwise anti-social facility. The obvious strategy to adopt here is complete transparency and full disclosure including open-ended invitations to visit and participate in Valhalla activities.

We Will Take the Initiative

Preemptive information dissemination is always a better approach. We intend to meet with and fully brief community opinion formers and formal and informal leadership, including political, law enforcement and emergency services, media, medical, veterans, schools, civic, and religious organizations. Our excellent realtor, Dianna Marquis is very supportive of Valhalla and we hope that she and her husband will facilitate introduction to some of these leaders and organizations.

We also hope to work directly with the local area fire marshall and fire department during the survey and planning phases of the project. Designing a solid fire defense plan with assistance from professional fire fighters will be a smart move in case of emergency and may be helpful in moving applications through the local building code enforcement authorities.

Leaders at the county, town, and city level will be approached individually and offered deskside or conference room briefings, we will meet with any print or electronic media corporations, address religious communities and civic clubs like Rotary, Lions, or Kiwanis, seek out vets groups like VFW and American Legion, talk with the police and fire leadership, and generally spread the word about Valhalla and our mission.

We Expect to be Part of the Community

We anticipate that among the vast majority of local citizens that Valhalla will be seen over time as a significant economic, civic, and patriotic asset to the community and will be well received.

By holding regularly scheduled events at Valhalla to which the community or leadership is invited we will build relationships among the local residents. In addition by opening up certain aspects such as firing ranges for use by law enforcement and others we will build a sense of ownership among the community. At some point when they begin to brag about how much their community is doing to support American Soldiers we will know that we are fully integrated in the area.

In time we will also have to show the flag. We will seek to be invited to join civic organizations and participate in local events such as fairs and exhibits. We can have Soldier-volunteers make brief presentations to schools, Scouts, and civic groups. By maintaining a policy of friendship, outreach, transparency, and honesty Valhalla will be a good organizational citizen and major contributor to any rural comminity.

Frugality: Saved Dollar Better Than Earned Dollar

Important fact: a dollar saved is even more valuable than a dollar earned

This is because when you earn a dollar, the government will keep about 35 cents on average - so you get to keep just 65 cents or so for your labor in return.

On the other hand, when you save a dollar, you get to keep the whole thing.

A recent example to demonstrate this point: the other day the Garmin in our car died (yes, we need a Garmin since it translates directly into fuel and time savings every single week that we use it). The poor dead Garmin was three years old and no longer under warranty. We found a replacement, the Nuvi 265W, at KMart for $129.99. But then it went on sale for $99.99! We therefore saved $30 and got to keep it all. If we'd earned $30 then the government would have kept about $10.50 of that same $30 amount.

But wait a minute. As a non-profit organization, contributions to Valhalla will be tax deductible, and if we do things right all of Valhalla's income will be tax-free. So wouldn't it be better to "earn" a dollar through tax deductible donations by dedicating every ounce of our energy on fundraising rather than spending the time required to research and bargain necessary to save a buck?

No.

Here's the logic and hard reality: behind each dollar donated to Valhalla, somebody - *the donor* - already worked to earn that money, and already paid the government about 35 cents in the process. In other words, he or she really had to earn $1.35 or so to give us that dollar. We had better respect that fact at all times.

There is no doubt that we will constantly be fundraising and applying for various grants, but almost as important will be to be frugal and thrifty with every single dollar that we spend. Each dollar gathered and saved will serve as an act of respect and appreciation to the efforts of the individual donor who was kind enough to give to Valhalla, and in turn give them a reason to respect and have confidence in Valhalla as a non-profit organization.

It will be our duty to honor and do right by every single donor who choses to support combat Soldiers, whether they donate a single dollar or a million or more. This can be done, in part, through a solid frugality program.