In Between

There is a delicate space in between. In the midst of order you can also witness complete chaos. There are ways to view the future. There are people to inform. There is knowledge waiting to be touched and had and shared. There is truth that can be experienced through choosing oneself as the messenger of whatever one has chosen. I am seeing so much beauty in all the spaces in between. That is how I know. Being in between spaces of order and disorder is my daily experience. For every in there's an out, every conversation is a stable interaction among infinite possibility. The space between where we make sense and not (in our own heads) of what is going on is a very subtle place. It feels important yet subdued, moving but still, distant and close. This is my idea of balance. I find that speaking that which I am feeling come through me in words is almost so still that even the slightest but of ego trip is caught with a tear of justice.

How does this relate to anything. I am a mere observer of that which is taking place. Take it for what it is, please. If the truth is what you seek then go and seek it. Maybe find it in a book, but make sure to tweak it to fit your own circumstance. There are things happening in the world. There may be things that you did not see coming or anticipate as reality, but know that they are happening. Because awareness is all around and it's just a matter of tapping in. Please read all of this with the intention of only taking in what you choose. This is not the truth. It is only one version of it.

If you want to know what this possible version of truth looks like, got to http://guymcpherson.com/. This guy also named Guy, is not only an avid viewer of our blog, but a Being who has a lot of important information in this version of what we call reality. He knows a lot about resources, economics, and time frames. SO if you're looking for facts that have all kinds of things like credibility, importance, and RELEVANCE, please talk to Guy. He's a real guy and he'll actually be happy to talk with YOU.

Thank YOU for listening as best you can to my strange utterances of words and ideas. I feel it serves me well to speak to an audience, so I do. Hopefully you will spread the information you feel compelled to. That is all I hope lucky 9. And YES, we officially have 9 readers. Key word- officially.

Seek community and gratitude. Say thanks with good attitude :)

Thanks4Giving,

<3 Niki

Blog Title Change

Hi all,

The decision was made recently by the collective project members to change the title to one that encompasses ALL areas of focus for this independent/co-dependent study. Again the range of topics/concepts addressed and shared are:

Locational analysis of where past civilizations/communities developed; including what led to both their population growth and decline, techniques/technologies enabling water supply and use, the 5 major factors that support and enable off-grid sustainable community living, resource conservation and allocation, bio remediation, how to create abundance with food and soil, vermiculture, permiculture, durable cooking techniques, how to work with farm animals, community organization and communication, education through psychology, human interaction with self and environment, group leadership skills, the understanding of child and adult consciousness, the impacts and abilities of thoughts on manifesting realities, the meaning of Being and co-creation, and why the concept of Love and Gratitude are so important.

This is obviously a very wide array of topics and quite frankly that's what we (or at least I) like about this collective effort. We are challenged to think outside the box and seek ALL the elements which gel to create the most idealistic yet realistic-topian- sustainable community and model society.

We encourage the blog readers to participate in any way possible in this open forum discussion, as we are aware that learning comes from all sides, not just in the traditional idea of a classroom or through student via teacher. We are all students as well as teachers and it is our right as well as duty to seek and share truth wherever and whenever possible.

Thank you to all of you who have been reading and/or leaving wonderfully insightful comments and teachings. We are humbled by your desire to help make this blog and world a better and more truthful place. Know that even if we do not reply to a specific comment, your sharing in itself is helpful, impactful, and important. The only way to truly spread change is by acting upon it, and the power of free speech and common curteousy are great ways to transform a culture.

So, the decided upon new title of "This is How we Live" is nothing more than our expression of wanting to change the way we live to ensure the most fit survival and thrival for humanity and community, while simultaneously realizing that we ARE in fact co-creaters in this learning process. Thus the title both implies a state of acceptance of our lives as they presently are, as well as what we could choose for them to look like in the very near future.

Thanks for your support,
Much Gratitude,
Niki

The Art of Photosynthesis

It seems to me lately that people are either naturally or unknowingly finding more ways to work together. The time factor is interesting. So many people that I speak with lately are describing the reasons why things just seem to be moving faster or feel accelerated in some way, and I couldn't agree more. It's almost like we are being pushed or pulled in some direction which allows for us to see the clearer picture. However this isn't the case for everybody. I feel that now more than ever those who have sought a lifestyle of independence and disconnection are now up against the concept of actually having to work with others- whether in the physical, emotional, or spiritual realm. I do feel some sense of resistance playing out for these individuals in the form of frustration, stubbornness, and fatigue. I see people beginning to question systems and ways of Being that have worked in the past but no longer serve the same relevant purpose or give the same desired effect. These ways of Being are subconsciously and consciously being questioned along the lines of reason. Within these soon-to-be-outdated ways of Being the dots are not quite connecting like they used to because the logic of those ways do not seem to override reason anymore, as perhaps they once had. And the reasoning for this reason translates to: Energy.

The sun, plants, and mobile co-creators of the Earth (other humans) are the three main sources in which people attain energy. The sun not only allows us to absorb nutrients through our surface bodies to enhance our "light bodies" (which refers to both our physically illuminated bodies and our energetic auric fields) but it also gives us a natural state of comfort and warmth. The plants of course provide oxygen and it is through the process of photosynthesis that this light energy (held in water) is absorbed and reacted with carbon dioxide to produce oxygen and food (in the form of sugar). So plants, with the help of the sun, directly feed and nourish our multi-layered bodies. Our final energy source, that is each other, is what feeds our soul bodies- that which contain our emotions and connection to a vaster consciousness. Human connection is our reminder that we exist and work with energy. The way in which we work with this connection energy (as we'll call it for now) is much like the way plants work with sunlight energy- through absorption and conversion into something else. The only difference is that we contain an operating system that allows us to work with free will. It could be argued that plants too have operating systems that allow them to choose whether or not to undergo a certain process or uptake a nutrient based on their physical condition, however they do not posses the organs of brain and heart which allow them to voluntarily create an emotional response like we do as human beings. Most plants and animals abide by the laws which cater to instinct and sensory responses, yet humans are gifted with the laws of reason. We have the abilities to decipher based on reason, what essentially makes us and thus others feel a certain way. Our free will directly controls and oversees how we absorb, convert, and eventually disperse our free will energy.

When we have the law of reason working on our side, we are able to clearly realize how abundant we are by nature in terms of all the various ways in which we get to create an experience. It is more beneficial and more energy conscious (in my experience) to create an experience which is based on making others feel good in some way. When I am being conscious and use my free will energy in this way I notice that the response among my co-creators is also one that is positive. For me (and as I am now seeing for many others) this positively conservative form of energy usage is one that relates back to simple reason.

How much more energy does it consciously take to ignore someone versus to smile when they pass by?
To think up a lie as opposed to being honest?
To me, the "greener" option directly supports: synthesizing positivity.

Question of the Day/Evening: What experience are You consciously creating for yourself right now?

For good reason,
Niki

Choosing to Be- Who me?

For the past four days I've been house sitting at my parents' house which is not in the town which I live in. Being here has given me time to truly isolate in a way that I hadn't done in a long time. Accept for the dogs, I haven't had more than 3 hours of human contact (which was a doctor's appointment) in the past 3 days. This might not seem like a long time, but for me it is. So- I've been talking to the dogs. I'm not used to this relationship where one talks and the other responds with an emotion, a sound, but no actual words. Hearing myself out loud reminds me of my own thoughts and reactions. It gives me a chance to observe myself completely without having the judgement of others, which often times skews our own perceptions of our true natures.

I think it's maybe a good thing that we sometimes talk out loud without having a response or an expectation of any response with maybe the exception of that which is just- our own Being. In the end really, does it matter what other people think? Not if it interferes with our Being. Our own Beings- or complete natural states where we experience logic, morality, love and peace- should show us what is true for us in nature. That is without comparing ourselves to others in a way that gets us away from our Being. Every 'human being' has their own way of Being which is unique to them and their personal state of fulfillment and peace. When human beings are at that state of peace and fulfillment they are able to access other natural states such as logic and love.

So what does it mean to Be something? Being something is a wonderful notion because it allows us to slip into a state which we choose {key word}. It could be one of service, gratitude, or cooperation, just as it could be one of disservice, resentment, or selfishness. These are all states, none good or bad, they are simply what we choose to choose. So the idea that someone would 'Be Love' just implies that they are "trying on" what they think 'Love' would feel like, or what 'Love' would do. Just like I call myself Niki (because that was the name given to me), 'Being Niki' is what I get to Be all day long as long as I'm sporting this title. People choosing to 'Be Love' is the exact same idea {only there is less emphasis on changing their material name to 'Love' as far as I know :-)}

Question of the Day: What are You grateful for?

I will refresh the question every time I post if you guys find this to Be interesting. Please play along :)

In service and at peace,

'Niki'

Another Perspective

In the United States and all around the world you can see evidence of previous cultures that we just don’t understand.  In the southwest US there are cliff dwellings that were abandoned all at once.  We know when it happened but we don’t know why.  Large monuments, like on Easter Island were deliberately crafted and strategically placed and we can’t know why.  There are arguments that say that civilizations collapse for many different reasons, but one option is common: human-induced exhaustion of the land.  Humans demand food and water.  They demand community and a comfortable living.  When their demands exceed the land’s ability to give they must move on and have in the past, as is evidenced by the many prehistoric monuments scattered across the globe. 

Current populations have defied this model.  Urban centers, which do not produce their own food or water but instead have it shipped from other locations, have disrupted this process.  As they continue to grow (and quickly, even China is reaching a point where there are more people in urban city centers than rural areas) and stress the land we must look to the future of these areas.  Since nothing we practice is sustainable and only the buildings we construct are permanent (to a point) we must look to the past to see our future.  Will we exhaust all our resources and need to desert our cities?  Where will all these people go? 

In my studies I will look at the past civilizations in 6 distinct areas, one per (occupied) continent.  In these areas, I will in turn study present human practices with regards to water conservation and agricultural procurement.  No area of the world is the same but I will try to cross reference different sustainable practices from different areas so that in the end you will find a guide for the future.  I want to answer the questions that we will need answered in the future if the urban centers do collapse.  How will we survive in hostile places? 

As I study international politics, environmental factors and languages at the University of Arizona I have a passion for learning about the entire globe, not just my own corner of the world.  I look forward to hearing your respectful opinions and adding information to this forum. 

Go far,

Tiernay

Teach Man To...Sound

Lately I've been toying with the idea of how people talk. Not just what they're saying but the sounds that come out of their mouths when they say whatever it is that is on their minds. In my brain I realize I must listen to the words but when my attention shifts it moves towards sound. The sounds we make are like the actions of our speech. The deliverance of whatever was chosen at that moment. 

This to me becomes profound in just knowing that our words have such impact in regards to their packaging. They directly influence how we're being heard and thus a possible end result to our self engaging conversation. My point here is that if we could shift our attention more towards the flow of the words rather than the literal words being spoken, we could actually be engaging in a completely different conversation. If "first was the word, and the word was G0D", then their must be some sense that "was the word" is different from "the word was". If we consider the concept of "was the word" we can imagine that the the word existed before it became something else. This implies the existence the something before meaning is given to it. This is the idea of Being.  

In this blog I will use the term Being quite a bit as it pertains to the self, or someone's absolute state of being. It centralizes not on the doing of that person (we'll stick with communication among people for our purposes), or the literal words of speech, but rather on the being of that person- they're complete state of consciousness. Awareness of consciousness is something I will address in later episodes. 

Stay tuned. Stay sound. 

-Niki 

Creative Cunstruction on a Saturday Afternoon

I am reading a book about Gaviotas.  It is a physical place, a community located in the llanos of Colombia, but more importantly it is a unique space.  In Gaviotas innovation, creation, rehabilitation, and regeneration are integrated into the very core of being.  An anything-is-possible and a you-don’t-know-until-you-try-it atmosphere create characterize this community where people act upon their creative whim; channeling their thoughts into actions.  Its members have creatively attempted to solve questions and have successfully forged a community out of a barren landscape.  Their mentality is that problems do not exist, just questions.  Limitations are mental constructs that create the idea of failure.  It is a child-like desire to discover, the conscious choice to redefine failure as opportunity, and a creativity that knows no limitations that has captured my attention. 

            I am inspired to engage with my surroundings, let my creativity loose, and play with the available materials.  I read a pamphlet about constructing a hanging planter out of recycled goods that maximizes growing space.  This seemed like a creative way answer my question of how to grow more with the space available to me.  The pots are perfect for fresh herbs, whose pungent flavor and aromatic smell are not needed in large quantities. 

            The distinguishing characteristic of these potted plants is that they have widows cut out of the sides so that seedlings can germinate from the top and from the walls of the planter.  The important thing to remember is to give each plant’s roots enough room to grow.  If you are using a particularly large container, it may be necessary to insert a PVC pipe with holes drilled in it in the middle of the container to allow water to reach all of the roots. 

            The materials needed are plastic containers, potting soil, a saw or very sharp scissors to cut the plastic, and a drill to punch holes in the PVC pipe (optional) and the containers to thread either wire or hemp to hang them, and seeds.  The plastic containers where generously donated by Epic Café and Raging Sage while the potting soil was purchased at Home Depot.  I would have preferred using compost soil combined with dirt excavated from my yard, but the compost is still in decomposition phase.  A friend of mine conveniently had all the necessary tools and volunteered his house for site of our construction project.  It was an afternoon of experimentation.  I discovered the fun of playing again while enjoyed the opportunity to create something tangible.  We create a lot in our daily lives, but many of us have so-called intellectual jobs that don’t produce actual material results.  I found using my hands to build something useful to be incredibly satisfying and, unfortunately, quite out of the ordinary. 

            Each person lent their own creativity to their creation.  We decorated the containers using spray paint, beads, seed pods, and a little bit of gravel.  This project was relatively simple (I created a web of tangled hemp while trying to string the containers together) and has given me the confidence that I can create useful objects with my hands.

            My inspiration comes from reading about the creative people at Gaviotas who set about transforming a barren tract of land into a bountiful and thriving community.    It is so important to just BEGIN, without judging the “success” of the product.  Condition yourself to leap on your ideas and give them your time and energy.

*For those interested in more information about Gaviotas, the book is titled Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World by Alan Weisman. 

Here is to creation--in any way, shape, or form!
Annie

Introducing Annie

Who am I?  I am complex.  For the purposes of this blog, I am a curious person that is focusing on FOOD, every single aspect of it.  I am in pursuit of knowledge on how to prepare land, plant seeds, protect, harvest, and prepare abundance.  Food becomes a meal when it is shared with others in a community that nourishes the soul as much as the nutrients from food give strength to the physical body.  The beauty of this project is that my two fabulous, intelligent, and innovative partners in this exploration will be contributing their thoughts, research, and insights on the topics of community, creation, and implementation.    

I will be conducting experiments on my own small piece of land in urban Tucson, although my project is farther reaching than my backyard.  Just as this blog is an expression of my thoughts, my garden will be an expression of my actions.  It will be a place to apply the knowledge that I am collecting and sharing.  Innovation is what characterizes this project guided by creativity and empowerment.

How can we learn to enter a partnership with our natural surroundings so that we exist in a mutually beneficial relationship that keeps both us (humans) and nature thriving?  

I am looking for methods of creating abundance that can be implemented by anybody using materials that are easily accessible.  This project will also be shaped by my intention of featuring techniques that require minimal energy use. 

We all have unique situations in our current urban and rural living.  There is a huge gap between what currently exists in my “backyard” and what I would like to be there.  I place backyard in quotations because a more accurate description would be a corner of baked and cracked earth overgrown with weeds that surrounds my elegantly decaying triplex.  Facing this gap can be intimidating to the point of paralyzing.  While I intend to research methods of durable agriculture and food production, I may not be able to mirror them in my own space.  I will parallel my research and my actual implementation with the hope that reality will more closely resemble research as the project progresses.

The message that I hold within me is that empowerment begins with action and grows with experience.  So cheers to beginnings and to a space of shared contributions, experiences, and anecdotes.  I welcome all feedback asking that the author have respect for themselves and for me while pressing the ‘post’ button. 

Why (I) We Communicate

Hello all.

My name is Niki and I'm a senior at the University of Arizona completing my bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies with focuses in environmental science, plant science, and topian societies. My two friends/ fellow students and I set out to, after visiting an almost completely sustainable off-grid community in the southwest region, create somewhat of a manifesto of: How to create, live in, and sustain a community that is not only geographically and environmentally ethical but that is also educationally and socially inviting. The three of us- Annie, Tiernay, and myself decided that we would each address a specific portion in the "how to's" of building such a community as part of an independent study we would each be initiating through the university. For my portion of the project I wanted to focus on the education in, of, and through communities. How do we relate to each other as people given time and space? What does it mean to be human, with ourselves and with others and what really is the difference (in relation to community)?

All of these questions are concepts that I wish to find answers to through research, observation, and personal interpretation. My interest for this stems from my own desire to know what clear and honest communication looks like in this day and age, and to know if it's possible for myself and the "topia" I will hopefully help to create. The word utopia translates to "no place", where the concept of "topia", as proposed by Alan Weisman author of Gaviotas means that it is or that there is such a place.

I am committed to sharing and speaking the truth (as I see it) with my team members and with all of you and am inviting you to be a part of this process and exchange. In other words- don't be shy and let's start communicating :)

Much Gratitude,
Niki