[rotala]

Hi Patti, I just want to say like everyone else here that your show sample is outstanding. I see you as the 21st century Martha Stewart. You've got two important factors going for you: presentation and content.

Presentation -- You're upbeat but not a blindly optimistic Barbie doll like a lot of TV hostesses. That's because you've worked to gain your own knowledge. You are intelligent and speak well. I imagine you get along well with a lot of personality types and that you'd be a good interviewer too. You're attractive and I think your Puerto Rican heritage lends credibility to your endeavor & increases the potential reach of your message.

Some people will respond to your sexiness as a cheap stunt for attention; that's unavoidable and I think you should prepare for it. Misogynistic jerks like Mr. Blister are just trying to be hurtful. I think most people are going to realize that's just who you are, it's no put-on act, and it will be no problem for them. And there will be plenty of people who don't even notice.

Content -- You've put in years of experimentation to develop a unique gardening system that works well. That's really central to what your show has to offer. It's a lifestyle you believe is better, more healthy, more fun, and more environmentally responsible. Your pride and pleasure in what you've built comes through the screen. That would be enough to make me want to see every episode.

Your mother and the advertising guy represent a certain point of view, call it mainstream, call it generic America, whatever. A lot of people buy into it -- the idea that working with the soil and with animals are wierd, substandard activities. To that mindset, only poor people and mixed-up hippies do the kinds of things you're doing. Obviously you are far beyond that attitude, because you've spent 10 years developing your own system. That takes a special determination and your TV show will move many other people to start on their own unique paths.

You don't even need the possiblity of Peak Oil and global warming to find pleasure and satisfaction in urban permaculture. And there will be a sizable audience for your show even if those frightening scenarios do not come to pass.

But I think they are going to happen, one way or another, and the impact on our culture could be mild or strong. Either way, the interest in your TV show is bound to increase. You might have a niche audience now, but a useful, upbeat how-to show like yours will grow and grow in popularity.

I really hope you will make your shows available on DVD. That's a whole business in itself, but the costs aren't too high and the exposure is great. You can fit 4 half-hour shows on a recordable DVD, eight half-hour shows on a pressed DVD. People will pay for that if the information is really useful.

If there's just one piece of advice I can offer for the content of your show, it's MORE PEOPLE! Lots of one-on-one time with you explaining and showing your garden is great, but let's also see the people who help you, people who learn from you, and other people doing similar gardens. The relationships you've developed with your neighbors are important -- everyone has to deal with neighbors and their potential complaints about noise, smells and unsanitary conditions.

Dealing with the law is an important issue that I hope you'll cover sometime. A lot of people are working on this, for instance City Chickens at http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychick ... nlaws.html

Check out Darryl Hannah's "Love Life" show -- a similar orientation as yours, and Ms. Hannah is almost as good-looking as you!
http://www.dhlovelife.com/v2/show/archive/index1.html

The essential difference is that Ms. Hannah is acting as an investigator and an interviewer, finding out what other people are up to in lots of different fields. That's interesting, but the show doesn't have a clear focus ("green lifestyle" can mean almost anything), and it doesn't directly give people the how-to knowledge to start urban permaculture on their own. Ms. Hannah has not (as far as I know) developed her own gardening system, while you are an expert on a focused topic. That's makes a big difference.

One other piece of advice is to be more clear about what your needs are to get this project going. Are you looking for loans, technical help, networking, what? Please be specific and I think there will be quite a few people who see great potential and will want to assist.

[Scrounger]

Very nice AND interesting! I'm hoping you will get on PBS or a "non-cable" channel (we don't have cable or dish)!
I'm pulling for ya! Good Luck and God's Speed!
How do you leave a comment on the video site?

[FilmShack]

Can someone do me a favor and put a new comment up on the google site for me? My buddy just left a post that bothers me.

Thanks again,

Patti

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 4236943883

Scrounger: I love the baby goats and the building you "Scrounged". Good stuff, stay in touch.

I'll be back with more response and stuff soon.

[topcat]

FilmShack said: $this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') figure the best bet is to get a sponsering station signed up before I contact corporate sponsers, but maybe not.

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('FilmShack', 'C')an someone do me a favor and put a new comment up on the google site for me? My buddy just left a post that bothers me.

Thanks again,

Patti

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 4236943883

Scrounger: I love the baby goats and the building you "Scrounged". Good stuff, stay in touch.

I'll be back with more response and stuff soon.

[LunaFarm]

don't forget:

the weedwhacker
the lawn mower
the teen working on his junk car

truly, i enjoy hearing my rooster crow every morning than to be gardening and listening to any of the above!

it has nothing to do with noise levels or smells, it's just what society (mainstream) deems worthy of recognition and tolerance. since they have to keep up with the joneses, a lawn mower is music to their ears.

kristine

[FilmShack]

Does anyone know anyone who works at a company that could sponser this show? Anybody?

Thanks for the kind words Aaron, your the best!
Kristine, I can't keep a rooster...but I'd prefer him to the noises I have any day!
TopCat: I'm thinking, any companies come to mind?

Thanks all,

Patti

[LeadEagle]

Like to sponsor you, or able to
Green Clean would love to!
However another year and some real income would be good first!

But in the mean time,
I have a friend that works for Dewalt, and will send info along.

Cheers

www.GreenCleanUSA.org

[FilmShack]

Thanks for the spirit Green Clean! We'll see where this goes. I talked on the phone to NH public television. Those people were cool, the coolest so far.

Thanks,

Patti

[topcat]

Patti -- As for tool companies, first think about each and every item you would use in your show. Then ask yourself, who is best known for that tool. I am sure we all have preferences, I kinda listed mine earlier. Dewalt for rechargeable and electric, Senco for air nailers, Troybuilt tillers, Craftsman hand tools, Rigid pipe wrenches, Millwalkie sazall, etc.

I think Dewalt is a prefect example of 'color branding.' You can spot and identify that bright yellow color from a distance. Same with John Deere green.

When you marked that boad to cut, it could have been a 'bright yellow' square and the conscious/subconcious message would have been there.

No I do not work for or are affiliated with Dewalt, I don't even own any of their tools, wish I could afford them. If I did work for them, I would cheerlead for you.

And consider the other 'props' as in hat, T-shirt, pop, water bottle and such. Granted it is a little more on the cheesey side but you gotta wear something and taking a break with one of the helpers is always allowed. Scooping feed from a big Purena (sp) bag is not that blatant but just might be free feed and a dinner out once a week (check not feed).

Same with the farm truck, although starting off you should not expect a new Honda Ridgeline. But, remember Hawaii 5-0; does Hawaii only have Fords? Guess I'm dating myself here.

Do you have a small yard/garden tractor that you use to pull a cart to haul brush, feed, rocks? If it were JD green there is another message to the viewers, a nice tractor for you and maybe more dinners out, whatever. (No don't have one of these here either.)

I'm not saying you have to be a whore to commercial/marketing, but you said you need funds and you are going to be using tools. You don't think PBS Norm paid for all the great stuff in his beautiful shop do you?

Same goes for the contractors. Will you be doing any projects that require materials? Another potential source for things and maybe even labor. Contractors love to have their shiny trucks and signs on TV. Most folks have heard of Tyvek, Pink insulation, Weyhauser (sp) lumber. With the building industry circling the drain, the local/regional supplies might welcome a little more exposure. OTOH they may be cutting back on expenses. Heck, I would settle for a deep discount on materials to start.

And if you were to get in someone's door, let's just say Dewalt, and they are kinda receptive but balking at the total dollar amont of tools, remind them that they will write it off, and if that doesn't get them, offer to take 'refurbs' tools that were sent back and refurbished or were 'seconds' off the line. If that scratch or dent shows on camera, well you do want a tool to look used.

Gonna get going, this post is getting long enough. Later.

[Dre]

Hey Patti,

Let me say that I am impressed with both the content and the presentation. I've sent the link to everybody I know, whether I think they will be interested or not! This is far superior to other do-it-yourself shows I've seen and it's something everybody should be aware of. I applaud you and your crew for a job well done! I can only hope that there are more shows to come and that your endeavors are fruitful!

Best of Luck,

Drizzle

[Sean_Galt]

This is an awesome little demo. I, too, was quite bummed to find out that nobody has picked this up yet.
Found the link off of a blog on Myspace.
Looking forward to more; Hell, the Gates foundation should just give you a blank check for this project.
I would actually go back to turning my televison ON and watching it if I knew this was on the air.
Good TV=
Smart Host- check
Good Delivery-Check
Good Content-Check
Lighthearted-Check
Beautiful Host-Check

Yeah, I don't really see how this will NOT get picked up somewhere,. Avoid the narrow focus on one specific backing souce. There are other markets & backers besides WGBH. Is there any merit to checking with the foundations that back PBS directly? Or something like the Oxygen Network (I'm not all that familiar with it; I barely watch actual TV & don't have cable.)

I look forward to more, and hopefully, soon!

[FilmShack]

Just a quick thanks. It is turning out to be a very busy week. I have found a contact at Martha Stewart, so I'm trying to get them to check it out. I'll respond shortly with more details!

Thanks,

Patti

[topcat]

Working with Martha would make a good fit (IMO).

Heck, call up Oprah, she has the money to do it.

[Charu]

Hello Patti,
I found out about your video through http://community.livejournal.com/urban_sustain/
and I’m forwarding it to yahoo groups I participate in. So that’s one for the squirrel guy to get his rabbit head! Maybe, I’ll get one too, if I can think of more places to promote you.

There has been a lot of speculation about your target audience and mainstream acceptance of your message.
Rotala, said it well, “To that mindset, only poor people and mixed-up hippies do the kinds of things you're doing. Obviously you are far beyond that attitude, because you've spent 10 years developing your own system. That takes a special determination and your TV show will move many other people to start on their own unique paths.”

I’m your target audience. I want to live more responsibly on the planet. I don’t have the financial resources to homestead, buy solar panels, or convert all my household appliances to energy star (as recommending when mainstreamers go green.) The changes I can make in my life are more about giving up something (sacrifice) than going out to get something (consumption.) Since this lifestyle can’t be sold, it’s stigmatized. I have the fortitude to take it, but many people who want to change their lifestyle wont cross that threshold. Right now, we need a role model. We need someone out in the mainstream media who redefines how we live as “responsible” instead of backwards, weird, hippie, or greenie.
When I started moving my life in this direction, it was only the poor people who were doing it. Since I was intentionally becoming one of the poor, I took advantage of what was common around me. The immigrant families and a few retired seniors were the only ones with gardens or chickens in their back yard. I was very happy to see Rotala mention City Chickens. That site told me where to look for the answers to my legal questions. I want to add this site
http://www.foodnotlawns.com/lawns_to_gardens.html
because it took my garden from the backyard to the front. When I did that, it inspired several of my neighbors. I started giving away my extra veggies door-to-door last summer and this was also copied. Role modeling works, despite language barriers and cultural differences.

Right now, it seems that the term “sustainable” has negative connotations. Where “being green” is gaining some ground. I don’t think that it would be hard to demonstrate that these lifestyle choices are “responsible” choices. I think it’s important to show the audience that it is attainable and acceptable. I think your show could change the perception that inhibits more people from adopting this lifestyle. We need to see ordinary people who live ordinary lives but do so in a more responsible way.

I can’t wait for the stereotype to shift. One day soon people will call me “Garden Girl,” instead of just shouting “hippie” when they drive by.

Charu

[FilmShack]

Well, I was spinning fiber from my bunny Heather(I'm putting photos of me shaving the rabbit on the web tommorow), doing my best to make Annicat's hat. I keep the lap top next to me so it dings when a message is made. I wasn't gonna look at it (I have so much fiber!) but then I said what the heck.

Charu: Jeez, I feel like I owe you money! Did I bribe this person? I really hope you left a comment on the google site. Well I am so happy that you liked it, I decided to forward this to my Mother with the subject "HAH! I told you!". Well thank you, please help my shameless self promotion, send it to everyone you know.

TopCat: You are the best. Meow. Purrr. I have so much to do, I think I'm going to concentrate on broadcast first, start shooting in March, make some webisodes. I figure if I can show traffic on that I can first begin a relationship with them(sponsertypes) having them advertise on the sites. Eitherway it is a bunch of work. I admit I have said Martha Stewert save me a couple of times, but I'm moving forward no matter what so we'll see what happens.

Sean: Thank you for chiming in! Post me somewhere! I am finding that there are some significant gate keepers out there in TV land. I have been pretty well jerked around by my local PBS, but I don't take it personally. Some folks who saw the Promo got it to some people that produce for the Hallmark Channell, so that shows that it is getting out there. Who knows maybe Bill Gates will bump into it! I heard he plays poker at Foxwoods at the five dollar tables, so you never know.

Drizzle: Thank you as well!

LeadEagle: Any Luck with your friend at DeWalt? That would be so cool, huh TopCat!

Allright back to HandSpinning, I have hats to make!

Thank You,

Patti

[Chuckmak]

: ) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a fantastic idea for the show and a great pilot/sample! i have a feeling in the next few years it will be a hit because i'm HOPING people will wake up to that fact. as a matter of fact my goal is sustainable living anyway so you know i'll be a regular viewer

[FilmShack]

Thanks for the good words Chuck. It is so cold today it feels like the ice age began sometime last night. Any idea's on how much oil and gas would be saved if everybody made 5% of their own food. Reading some of the Hubbarts I think it might be a giant ammount. I read in National Geographic that one cow requires 5 barrells of oil to raise.

I'd like to make a reasonable estimate so that I can add it to my marketing materials.

Any thoughts?

Patti

[SpringCreekFarm]

My cattle will not take 5 barrels to raise. They are completely grass / hay fed. And although it still takes energy to cut and store the hay, it will not be nearly that much. It is the feedlot methods of modern agriculture that require all of those energy inputs. Cattle, among other ruminents, can take land that is marginal for other uses and through pasture farming, can produce protein, manure and hides etc.

[topcat]

Here is something I read this morning about raising cattle, something I know nothing about.

The Return of the Dust Bowl
By Chris Mayer

"Meat is incredibly expensive to produce, because raising the necessary livestock requires large amounts of grain. According to The Silk Road to Riches, the average cow consumes 2.5-3% of its body weight in grains every day. "A typical 1,200-pound beef steer could consume about 35 pounds of feed per day," the authors write, "or more than 13,000 pounds annually. That's enough grain to feed more than 10 average-sized adults for an entire year." It's also very water intensive. It takes about 6,600 gallons of water to produce just 8 ounces of beef. As you can imagine, this puts meat beyond the pale of many poor countries."

That's a lot of water.

Looking forward to some webisodes.

Keep thinking tools.