CURRENT MISSION

I am Chris, a certified permaculture designer, sustainable development professional and DIYer. Join my mission to go beyond sustainable, one project at a time!

www.TheGrowingDutchman.com
www.facebook.com/TheGrowingDutchman
www.instagram.com/TheGrowingDutchman
www.twitter.com/GrowingDutchman

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ABOUT ME

I currently live and work in the Dominican Republic, where I am involved with various projects that aim to promote healthier, more sustainable lifestyles. For more information about my story and my work check out www.TheGrowingDutchman.com/about

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Old About Me:

In whatever free time I have I love to do some of the many things that enrich life: listening to music, jamming (the guitar goes wherever I go so be sure to have some tunes come your way when I'm around), reconnecting with Nature, watching animals play, (cooking) good & healthy food, sustainable living, getting to know people, doing the occasional sun salutation, meditate, enjoying the Arts, and spreading the love!

I find happiness in sharing (whatever it may be, there's nothing like sharing it in good company), seem to have a natural born curiosity in (understanding) the Other, usually take my time to fully enjoy experiences as they come (I prefer NOT to be in a rush) and am pretty organized (without being a neat freak). Cleaning up is something of a Zen thing to me.

I've seen too much poverty and inequality to ignore it and not be affected by it. I try to be aware and find moments/ways to make a positive contribution to the world around me. For me doing so starts with seeing that in our wonderful, colorful diversity we all really are ONE.

PHILOSOPHY

- Be Here Now
- Ubuntu (the philosophy of South-African origin, not the operating system for computers...)
- We are all different manifestations of the same thing.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Through hosting, surfing, and using the network to find like minded people and meeting up with them. Also by occasionally inviting CSers for parties I organize. And by at least trying to help out people when I can't host or they simply need some information.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

Love it. Lots of positive experiences. Both while hosting and while being on the road myself.

Interests

If you've read until here you should have a pretty decent idea by now. Then again, everything in life is interesting if looked at carefully, innit!

For those who really need a list: Music, Nature, Inspiring Positive Change, Creativity, Arts, Photography, Philosophy, Spirituality, Sustainable Living, Permaculture, Social Enterprises, International Politics & Development, History, Traveling, Fighting Poverty, Oriental Philosophy, the OTHER, Basketball, TED, RSA Animate, Late Nite Sessions...Most of all I'm interested in YOU.

• animals
• arts
• design
• photography
• dining
• cooking
• recipes
• meditation
• partying
• politics
• traveling
• music
• guitar
• piano
• surfing
• basketball
• swimming
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: Starting with some wouldn´t do justice to others. I´ll stick w some of the styles I listen to most: Jazz, SOUL, Neo-Soul, Funk, Improv, Singer Songwriter, Gypsy Jazz, Bossa Nova, Instrumental, Underground Hip Hop, Beatz, Percussion, Music with a message...Music that carries me away...Generally, the shit that´s real and makes you feel.

Books: same here, Hesse is very nice though (Siddharta), (Buddhist/Oriental) philosophy, ALAN WATTS, Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Krishnamurti, Saramago, too many...

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

All the people that have made my life what it is. If you really care to know about things I´ve done, let´s meet up for real so we can exchange some stories and experiences sometime!

If you insist on a list:

- Swimming with whale sharks off the coast of Mozambique
- Driving from Holland to Ghana, crossing the Sahara desert.
- Spending 5 months in Brazil without a dime
- Working in post-earthquake Haiti (2010) ...and ending staying on the island of Hispaniola for the past 9 years.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can share knowledge & experience on:

- Permaculture Design & Sustainable Living
- Making furniture from reclaimed wood and other materials
- Website design
- Project design + funding proposals
- Healthy food recipes (glutenfree, low sugar, etc)
- Music: piano + guitar

What I Can Share with Hosts

See above.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Western Sahara

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Netherlands, Rwanda

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