This week's roundup of the @ecoTrain posts are as interesting as ever. Our passengers continue to bring such great value to Steemit, with their amazing posts and insights. There is always something for everyone and on a diverse range of topics.
If this is your first time reading the ecoTrain magazine you are in for a treat! We post on anything that helps to make the world a better place, and this weeks we have covered many topics such as lifestyle, spirituality, parenting, cooking, art, education. organic gardening, women empowerment, homesteading.... and much more!
Remember to follow the passengers that you like, so you can catch their posts on your feed. Happy reading!
@stortbeker
Meanwhile Back at the Ranch
This is a post I prepared when I came back from the mountain to Mazunte, but couldn't post for a number of technical difficulties. Is it ever too late though...? Anyway, here it is:
I was excited to come back to Mazunte and see all the changes I’d only heard stories about. There were supposedly a bunch of interesting volunteers with amazing skills, enriching life on the property. Some of them I’d already met at the construction site of the tire wall, making me want to hang out with them for a while. As things turned out, however, my last day on the tire-wall was also their last day in Mazunte. Though in the end they managed to stay half a day longer.
Mexican Murals - New Images Covering Old Ones
Back again in my neighborhood of San Miguel Chapultepec (Mexico City), I noticed a new mural. It is painted on a wall that has had a number of changes during the past year, which I addressed in my post regarding respected and less respected murals. At first, it hosted an elaborate mixed-media artwork, with styrofoam reliefs of birds added to the painting. This artwork was tagged over almost immediately, which I guess must have had to do with the fact that it was created by a recognized gallery, and commissioned by the local government, presumably for money.
Next Year’s Construction? - The World’s First Fully Self-Sustaining Theater
To wrap up my Mazunte series, and give a little teaser for the future, here are some details about the often-mentioned Earthship Theater, planned to be built in Mazunte by Itínera in cooperation with Earthship Biotecture.
Not Your Everyday Earthship
For most people, Earthships are buildings with lots of slanted windows on the southern side, and bermed up tire-walls on the other three sides. And true enough, in the high desert of Taos, NM where these autonomous buildings have been developed, this is the design that works best. It captures the heat of the sun in the daytime, and releases it at night. But that doesn’t mean this is the only way to build an Earthship.
@trucklife-family
Today Was St Patricks Day: So How Should We Have Celebrated It
St Patricks Day is recognized nearly all over the world and it is the most celebrated national Holiday in the world. The day itself is when St Patrick Died. He is seen as the Patron Saint of Ireland, for his role in helping to introduce Christianity into the country.
I remember being at home in Ireland and all the excitement about the day. Lots of shamrock was to be wore and the your finest green items of clothing. The shamrock is symbolical as it has three leaves and was apparently used by St Patrick himself to explain the holy trinity to the Irish people when he first arrived. Then off to church and after that we would head over to the local hill, which was apparently visited by St Patrick and has a well the other side named after him.
Welcoming New Steemians to this Great Platform
Steemit is such an amazing platform that has created a huge global community.
It continues to bring together so many different people from all over the world, from all different walks of life.
It is a true representative of the great diversity we have on this great planet.
I continue to learn so much from everyone's blogs and to be truly inspired.
It has had such a huge positive impact on my life.
Connecting me with so many amazing people .
Another week and 7 great people to introduce to you all.
Celebrating The Spring Equinox and My Birthday
I have always felt very lucky to have my birthday fall on the equinox. So on my birthday I wish to share with you the importance of the equinox and how we can embrace this magical time and create the changes we wish to see happen in our lives and in the world around us. We are the ones to take action, we are the ones we have been waiting for.
The Spring Equinox is a time of Awakening, awakening from our Slumber, from the cold where we have hibernated, planted our dreams, our visions for the year ahead. Where we have envisioned them, nurtured them. And now they begin to take shape, where they will grow with the raising warmth of the sun, because after this the days will get longer.
@hopehuggs
Who is She? Will the Real Hope Huggs Please Stand Up
For those of you who wonder who Hope Huggs is, this is my re-introduction written for @ecotrain, as they'd like you to know their passengers better... So for the people who'd like to know.
This is who I am today, it might be different next week, next month, hell it will even be minutely different even later today, but this is today's snapshot...
Well, my real name is Helen Doherty, but the Hope Huggs personna was meant to be the better side of me, my pen name, for a whole lot of books that are still in the process of being produced, part of the one day idea pile.
Although it didn't work out quite like that, as what I have shared on Steemit this past year or so has been a rather warts and all and it ended up being totally me.
How To Feel Alive: Feel a Rainbow
https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmYfXcdSLeUrcwjhJR14HVPCapweYd9hkKxZjGtSf6RjJN
My question to you is what has made you feel alive today?
I did my video in comic book mode, as you couldn't see the spot in the middle of my forehead so glaringly.
I make it my mission to feel a rainbow of emotions everyday and not be stuck on autopilot, but live and enjoy life and all its opportunities to feel, whether it’s simple things, or more complex.
Today, I felt joy at a craft course I go to. I am making a story sack. Both my girls love the book “The Highway Rat”, so I am making props and toys that will make the reading experience more interactive for kids.
@sharoonyasir
Every Once in a While, it is Okay to Slow Down a Little...
From a young age, we are told that we must not stop working hard or running in the race of life with the world because if we stop and become stagnant, we will be crushed in this stampede. I agree with this- it is important to not become stagnant and to keep moving forward. It is important that we strive for improvement and excellence in whatever area we wish to become good in or pursue and for that, we must keep working hard. However, a little time back, I felt that this need to keep moving forward and advance to a new and better level, and to keep growing better to achieve a bigger goal after some period of time was weighing me down and then I observed that this pressure was dragging down many others around me and was suffocating them from within.
Why I am Thankful to My Struggle with Obesity....
I have struggled with obesity for a long time, since I was 9 years old to be precise. It was when I was in grade 3 when I realized I was fatter than most kids my age and did not look just as pleasant or attractive as believed by some of my relatives. My friends at that time never really insinuated this in any way and were quite nice, but some relatives I had found fun in humiliating me about my obesity. I wasn't obese at that time just chubby but they enjoyed calling me fat since it was funny for them. I remember being quite conscious about my weight then and when I turned 11, I started trying different ways and regimens to lose weight.
I Don't Have a Perfect Child and That's Just So Beautiful..
Parents love their kids and they should love their kids too. However, often, some parents, well most of them considering the lot I know go too far in this love for their kids and put different labels on their babies. 'You are my perfect boy', 'You can never do anything wrong', 'I know you can never fail' and the likes are examples of the labels I am talking about. While such statements often come out of love and do boost the kids' self-confidence, they can at times lower it too.
@sashagenji
Who is @SashaGenji?: a women-traveller and writings with heART. Re-introduction and my #ecoTrain journey
I believe the question: “Who am I?” is one of the most difficult questions. I personally never found it easy to answer it. Well, how can I describe in detail who am I? What criteria should I use? Can I answer it at all or do I have a sort of illusion on who I really am? It seems to me that any person has so many different layers, directions in which he/she develops, that it is difficult to put it one concept which will be able to give the reader a full understanding.
My Art vision of W.O.V.E.N - a fantastic initiative by @rensoul17 to women support and expressing their creativity
Life is an amazing thing and it probably never stops to amaze me. Last week, while a #ecoTrain passengers me including concentrated on answering the question: What Is Matriarchy? What do you think a matriarchal society would look like? I got an interesting request - a proposal to create a collage for an initiative I immediately fall in love.
I am always pleased with such synchronicities. For me, they are a sign that you are moving in the right direction. That what you do is important on the level which is beyond your understanding and you can hardly ever get it in full.
And here I got a chance to experience it again. While I was trying to put into words that amazing experience of unity, abundance, co-operation and harmony I found in the matriarchal world that existed in the distant past and where the women were respected, my subconscious tried to find a way to express the concept of the other female union - the initiative that existed HERE and NOW, right on Steemit called W.O.V.E.N
@sagescrub
Who wants Elecampane seeds?
I have an abundance of Elecampane seeds which I acquired last year from two friends who were growing it. Way more than I need to get a some plants started for myself this year.
I have been using tea and tincture of the Elecampane root as an expectorant and anti viral for my lungs. Elecampane root has tons of beneficial qualities but it is best known for its qualities of healing the lungs.
How To: Starting Fruit & Nut Trees from Seed in a Temperate Climate
I'm starting a small personal tree nursery in pots this spring that I will take with me to a future homestead.
I've found a strong calling to propagate and plant trees in my lifetime. Our planet can use more trees badly and in a hurry.
- Enough new trees in the ground can halt and reverse global warming through carbon sequestration.
- Spending time in the forest reminds me how good it feels to be in an oxygen rich environment that trees can provide.
- Trees can provide food for me in years to come and especially for future generations.
- The more food we harvest from trees, the less need there is for industrial agriculture (which is damaging to the environment and adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere).
- Trees provide food and habitat for nature's creatures.
- Trees are a natural source of fuel and energy.
@mountainjewel
Florida Food Forest (DTube & Photos Galore!) | The Future of Food for Humanity! What is a Food Forest? Answered!
Today we had the opportunity to visit the FGCU (Florida Gulf Coast University) Food Forest!!
We had heard about this from a friend of ours who is creating a Food Forest in Hawaii. First, this food forest is 5 minutes from the highway and there were signs when you entered the University Campus directing one to the food forest- how cool is that?!!?
@eco-alex
Learn The 8 Brocades Qi Gong Practice: Part 2 of 8
https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmQ9sPNhyWgxzW3nYc2w3kAPn1RKEvUK9KtazMcQRtEuFP
This 800-year old exercise, which the ancients likened to a beautiful brocade, consists of eight sections, is very popular among the Chinese people. Each section can be practiced on its own and each targets a specific organ or health need. The whole set of movements are fine and delicate with moderate intensity. It is like yoga, but is performed in a standing position and does not require much space or a yoga mat. The 8 brocades are also known as the silk brocades because of the very slow and flowing movements. I have been practicing the 8 brocades regularly for several years, and have found it to be one of my great pillars that keep me physically, mentally and emotionally in balance.
Watch it here
A Compilation of All my eco-building and workshop posts on Steemit
As many of you will know, I am an eco-building enthusiast and have written SO many posts documenting and sharing my stories and experiences. Since 2006, I have built 4 earthships and held workshops during each build. We learn so much about building every time we do anything, and I have shared many of my lessons and given my best advice within these posts. If you are thinking about one day starting on the path to living off-grid and becoming self sufficient, then this post will be one to read and bookmark!
This post is a compilation of all my eco building post that I have written on Steemit. It can be so hard to piece them together from my blog page, that I think it is very worthwhile putting them all in this one post, for you and everyone who may find this page now and in the future.
It is our choice what our futures look like, and the decisions we make today will shape our tomorrow. So if you are reading this, a post can change your life!
@solarsupermama
Shifting our Perspective on Ecological Commitments
One of the ways I make money is referring people to local solar companies. I get a referral fee, a small business goes a little more in the black, and a family gets the satisfaction of getting off coal.
In most cases this is net metering. Let me explain a little of what that means. Batteries are still pricey, so most people are still connected to the grid. All day long your solar panels are happily converting sunlight to electricity. You almost certainly aren’t able to use it all even if you try. So what are you going to do with the excess? Well, if you have batteries, you can store it in the batteries to use during the night or on cloudy days. Like I said, though, batteries are still quite pricey, so depending on where you live, you may need a lot of them to get through winter or a rainy season. Net metering is another option. Basically you send the extra electricity you produce during the day to the utility company, and they send it to you when you aren’t producing enough. If you make more than you use, the utility will buy it from you. Of course they don’t pay as much as they charge, but it’s something.
Finding an Educational Paradigm that Works for your Family
A couple people have asked me to share my thoughts on education. I think mostly new friends. I guess it's been a while since I talked about it. I was sitting here thinking about how I could go at the topic from another angle. I can talk about it for days, but I like to look at it from different views. I decided I wanted to really just go through the line of questions starting from the very beginning of what we are actually trying to accomplish with education and take it step by step to the most logical way for that to happen. Then I realized there is a great variety of outcomes people are hoping for for their children, so I will really only be speaking for what I want for my children. Hopefully some things will resonate with you.
@clara-andriessen
celebrating the first day of spring/Ostara with healthy home made chocolates!
Yoohoo! We've made it to spring!
Lets celebrate it with some healthy chocolats!
Real easy! ( I swear)
Only four ingredients:
@stillwatersart
Late post to answer the question - What Is Matriarchy? What do you think a matriarchal society would look like? @ecoTrain question of the week.
Last week I read so many wonderful posts on the @ecotrain question of the week! I was so inspired, but having a busy week so I didn’t get to post. Yesterday as I was painting in my studio I was looking for something interesting to listen to and happened to find a series of videos about the work of a Lithuanian-American archeologist named Marija Gumbutas.
Gimbutas gained fame and notoriety in the English-speaking world with her last three English-language books: The Goddesses and Gods of Old Europe (1974); The Language of the Goddess (1989), which inspired an exhibition in Wiesbaden, 1993-4; and the last of the three, The Civilization of the Goddess (1991), which, based on her documented archaeological findings, presented an overview of her conclusions about Neolithic cultures across Europe: housing patterns, social structure, art, religion, and the nature of literacy.
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