CURRENT MISSION

Transforming the way people live in community and with nature

ABOUT ME

We are married couple - enjoying life with each other for many years. We love many activities in nature and also enjoy quiet times reading or being with friends. Karen has been a documentary filmmaker and writer. David has worked for many years with children who are unhappy in life and school; he works with them mainly through play, music and nature.

PHILOSOPHY

Too complicated to say in a few words, but always happy to discuss by email or in person! Our website also gives a good indication: www.wild-zone.net

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING
We have mainly been guests so far, but we hope to have our own place and be able to host in the future.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
We have couchsurfed in the South of France - stayed with wonderful hosts and enjoyed meeting many other couchsurfers at a community barbecue. We also couchsurfed in Devon, England before we moved here and enjoyed meeting lovely people.

Please see our references.

We have also done a lot of informal couch surfing! We just joined this network but for many years we have travelled as guests in the homes of friends and friends of friends. We have also hosted friends of friends from all over the world.

Interests

friends and family, mountain biking, swimming, reading, growing and cooking healthy food, community development, reconnecting people with play and creativity in nature,

• writing
• documentaries
• dining
• cooking
• bbq
• reading
• music
• cycling
• surfing
• swimming

Music, Movies, and Books

Too many to name!
Novels: Transatlantic by Colum McCann, The Great Fire by Shirley Hazzard, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon, Time of Our Singing by Richard Powers; Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
Crime Series: Russel/Holmes by Laurie R. King, Inspector Gamache by Louise Penny, Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear, Peter Wimsey by Dorothy Sayers
Non-Fiction: Feral by George Monbiot, However Long the Night by Aimee Malloy, Teaching a Stone to Talk by Annie Dillard, Long Life, Honey in the Heart by Martin Prechtel
Films: Moonrise Kingdom, Galaxy Quest, Some Like it Hot, Most Dangerous Man in America, Muscle Shoals,

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

We were invited to Kosovo by some youth who had survived (with massive wounds) a massacre of 18 members of their extended family. The entire community was devastated by the slaughter. Even after the war was over they were afraid to go into a woodland that was adjacent to park that had been built on derelict land. They asked us to come to help re-connect children and families with play and creativity by making a place in the forest where children could play with natural materials - rocks, branches, mud to make dens, pathways, sculptures. The adults who walked through the forest told us that they also found it very healing to see and hear the laughter of children playing again.

Teach, Learn, Share

I would like to learn about my host's favourite things about where they live
I can share suggestions for wonderful books in many genres and on many topics

What I Can Share with Hosts

Conversation about our lives, adventures, ideas, purpose...
Laughter, curiosity, exploring
Love of nature
(also: see above)

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, Canada, Cuba, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kosovo, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Zambia

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom, United States

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