We're very happy to say that we're beginning to create GAIAYOGA GARDENS a holistic teaching center, intentional community, and sanctuary of sustainable living, natural beauty, personal growth and healing, and genuine relationships. GAIAYOGA GARDENS is located on a wonderful forested property on the Big Island of Hawaii (on the east side, near the town of Pahoa) that's in a rural, alternative lifestyle area.
As a teaching center, GAIAYOGA GARDENS is a place where adults and children can learn about holistic and sustainable living through presentations, classes, workshops, retreats, internships, and especially through experiencing our lifestyle first-hand. We offer instruction in sustainable homesteading (permaculture, appropriate technology, bio-fuels, etc.), organic & raw foods diet, nonviolent communication, hatha yoga, Tantra, spirituality, and cooperative living.
For residents, we envision a life-rhythm that's a balanced integration of Spirit, self, community, and Earth. Some highlights are:
· Living simply, sustainably, and connected-to-nature. This includes growing, foraging, or trading for food; using solar power, water-catchment, and composting toilets; living in low-impact eco-dwellings; and running vehicles on bio-fuels.
· Integrating spirituality into our communal life through shared activities such as group rituals (e.g. solstice & equinox rituals), group meditation and inner-journey work, prayer occasions, hatha yoga, rites of passage, healing occasions, spiritual courses or presentations, etc.
· Living a lifestyle that cultivates a healthy self through eating an organic, natural diet that's either exclusively raw or based on indigenous wisdom (like the Price-Pottenger diet); having a positive, life-affirming orientation toward sexuality and being clothing-optional; actively engaging personal growth (including "shadow" work); maintaining a balance between autonomy and cooperation; and being active in one's work and/or service life.
· Establishing a land-sharing community that's intimate, caring, and feels like family. This encompasses practicing consensus decision-making; cooperating relative to finances, resources, energy, and land development; operating community businesses together; practicing honest-and-mutually empowering (nonviolent) communication; sharing childrearing; supporting each other in our individual and collective growth; and having fun together!
Though GAIAYOGA GARDENS is still in its early stages, we have great faith in what we're creating and the wisdom behind it. If you're interested in learning more about the GaiaYoga teaching or becoming involved with GAIAYOGA GARDENS, please visit our website at www.gaiayoga.org.
"The only devils in the world are those running around in our own hearts, and that's where all our battles should be fought."
-- M. K. Gandhi |
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| setting |
legal structure: partnership
surroundings: farmland
land ownership: self-owned
building ownership: self-owned
neighbors: neighbors are friendly
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| population |
total number of people: 2
ideal or planned maximum number of people: 20
adults (20-60): 2
females: 1
males: 1
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| housing |
number of buildings: 3
number of housing units: 1
number of bedrooms: 1
house sharing: seperate building for each unit or family
roommates: one room per family or unit
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| sharing |
income sharing: limited income sharing (less than 100%)
communal meals: one meal a day is communal
communal food: all food is communal
tools and machinery: all tools and machines are shared
motor vehicles: all vehicles are shared
bicycles: bicycles are private property
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| ethnicity |
ethnic diversity: open to all yet unintentionally not diverse
white / caucasian: all
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| spirituality |
spiritual diversity: open to all yet unintentionally not diverse
meditation: some people meditate regularly
paganism / earth religions: some people practice this faith
eclectic (integrates pieces from many religions): some people practice this faith
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| government |
selecting leaders or centrals: elections
decision making: done by consensus
rules: a few maxims which decisions and agreements must respect
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| activism |
cyber-activism: some people
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| sustainability |
self-grown food: 25%
organic food (grown+purchased): 100%
self-produced energy: 100%
energy from renewable sources: 100%
self-produced fuel: 95%
building material which is salvaged: 50%
waste which ends up being recycled: 95%
sewage which is treated ecologically: 100%
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| income and money |
income generated within: 100%
personal expenses
savings
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| agriculture / garden |
livestock
crops or produce
fruit trees
permaculture methods
fukuoka (natural farming methods)
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| diet preferences |
common diet: some diet restrictions apply to all
omnivore: 2
whole foods: refined and artificial foods are prohibited
coffee and caffeine: prohibited
sugar: prohibited
salt: limited use
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| love and sexuality |
polyamory / open relationships: respected and welcome
polyfidelity (group marriage): respected and welcome
bisexuality: respected and welcome
homesexuality (male): respected and welcome
lesbianism: respected and welcome
heterosexuality: respected and welcome
monogamy: respected and welcome
celibacy: respected and welcome
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| parenting / children |
co-parenting: encouraged
home education: open - a personal choice
breastfeeding: extended breastfeeding encouraged
home birth: open - a personal choice
cloth diapering
corporal punishment: will not be tolerated
childhood vaccines: a personal choice - equally open to all
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| seeking people |
seeking people: yes
people with children: welcome
people with disabilities: welcome
elderly people: welcome
single parents: not at this time, but keep in touch
need capital to join: no
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| drugs / stimulants |
marijuana
psychedelics
tobacco / nicotin: prohibited
liquor: special occasions only
wine: special occasions only
beer and cider: special occasions only
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| dress / tidiness |
nudity: anywhere anytime
tidiness: reasonably tidy
cleanliness: reasonably clean
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| visitors |
visitors without intention to join: welcome
paying visitors: welcome
working visitors: welcome
wwoofers: welcome
prearrangements: contact a few days in advance
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last updated 2003/08/26
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