Garden Meditation and Inquiry

If you have an extra few moments, get out there and hang out with your potential garden space. Get in the dirt, sift through it, smell it, notice whats popping up. The soil is the immune system and the backbone of growing potential. Find a spot that speaks to you in the garden and be with the garden. Sit still and open all your senses. Be in wide curiosity and receptive to the energy of the garden. Also, check out the space from multiple perspectives. As you observe the garden,notice light movement, motion, evidence of water and weather, postive aspects, neglected aspects, feminine and masculine...It would be great to record these observations and share them. Ask the garden how it can be stewarded and how it can fulfill its potential? Like any endeavor, we first seek to understand and connect with our core being.

Sheet Mulching Playshop TBA

Thanks to your passion, we are ACTivated! Who has trouble growing here? Start your garden strong with energized soil. The practice of sheet mulching has been used to transform vacant urban parking lots into productive veggie gardens. 

Can we have a Sheet Mulching Work/Playshop at the Project MANA garden to learn about this permaculture practice and build healthy and productive soil. Bring the kids and lettuce make garden lasagna! The ingredients can be newspaper, grass clippings, straw (horses eat hay and straw is the byproduct, the husk), cardboard, aged manure, and compost. The cardboard and straw can be gathered at no cost. Can we manifest gifted manure and compost? Lettuce put it out there! Crank up your connective powers! With whom can we collaborate for these resources?

WHAT IF?

WHAT IF AS A COLLECTIVE, WE SYNERGIZE OUR EFF-ART, WE GROW MORE SUSTAINABLE, MORE ABUNDANT AND PROSPEROUS, AND MORE JOYFUL?  WHAT IF PROSPERITY IS GOVERNED BY A SYSTEM OF VALUES THAT REJUVENATE HUMAN HEALTH, AND PLANETARY SUSTAINABILITY? WHAT IF PROSPERITY IS MARKED BY CREATIVITY AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER? WHAT IF THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR INSPIRE OTHERS TO PARTICIPATE MORE FULLY IN THE CREATION OF OUR TOWN, OUR WORLD? WHAT IF WE INVITE PEOPLE INTO A NEW WAY OF BEING, A PARADIGM THAT VALUED PARTNERSHIP, COLLABORATION, AND COOPERATION? WHAT IF OUR COLLECTIVE EFF-ART WAS SHOWCASED, CELEBRATED, AND WHAT IF HOMEGROWN TRUCKEE BECAME A BRILLIANT EXAMPLE OF SUSTAINABLE AND SACRED COMMERCE IN THE HIGH SIERRAS?  WHAT IF?

What Arnold's been growing in Olympic Heights since the 60's

Each year he adds compost to amend his soil. Squash will grow but "the kids" don't like it :)
Perennials
lovage, chives, walking onions, horseradish, rhubarb, strawberry, raspberry, Currants! come and get 'em, gooseberry
Annuals
Zuchinni, cucumbers, beets, carrots, cabbage, kohlrabi, spinach, chard, tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkin

Healthy Group Dynamics

Because one of top three reasons sustainability efforts fail is because of group dynamics, like people being frustrated, poor communication, and unconscious ways of working together….
Here’s a list that we can add to as we root and rise and root and rise!

1. Gather in a circle, where all energies are equal. Honor all new members as family. Help invite them into a safe space.
2. Find an opening and closing activity that binds the group, allows laughter, movement or some other creative experience.
3. Choose a facilitator for each gathering and a recorder, scribe, or note taker.
4. All ideas and visions are valid and perfect in the moment.
5. ???? Ask Questions??? Invite collaboration, co-creation, and participation.
6. Rather than telling, or demanding, “Use the Inquiry” and our energy is inviting, and invokes critical thinking and creativity
7. Allow space for each person’s unique contribution
8. Take a deep breath before sharing, remembering that we all think and process as different speeds
9. Notice open and closed body language, relax, breathe, and use eye contact
10. When listening, use empathy and compassion. Try to truly listen, rather than thinking about what you will say next.
11. Keep an open mind and resist judgements and making assumptions. Each of us functions and makes decisions based on different perspectives of what’s right and wrong in the world. Honor new perspectives just as you honor yours.
12. When sharing an idea, instead of using BUT !….. use, Yes……and……
13. Seek clarity in thoughtful, slower statements with less words. And be aware of how much of the floor’s time you are holding.
14. See each person as a student and a teacher.
15. The “right” people are those who came to participate in the moment
16. The perceived problem is the solution.
17. If two people are butting heads, kindly take the dialogue outside the room until settled.