CURRENT MISSION - La Biosfera is a multi-faceted healing, science and arts project, emphasizing forest preservation, clean water stewardship, and "Living with Less" (Poverty as Perception). It is an organic-regenerative nature retreat for adventure, arts and music, literature and philosophy, alternative healing modalities, and/or general fellowship.

FIND US - 300m south of the T where the Guayacán Hwy ends 2km south of Jinotega, or 100m south of La Perrera Restaurant, or 2km south of Jtga towards Matagalpa, km.158. From Jinotega, C$7-10 NIO bus, C$50-60 NIO taxi. Or walk, but not at night. Or, if coming from Matagalpa direct without going up the Guayacán (sit on left side for best views), tell busdriver to let you off at La Biosfera, Km. 158; and be on the lookout after seeing a white, ranch-styled Apostolic Church hanging out over a cliff on the left; we are some 8 curves in the road afterwards.

ABOUT ME - I have worked in the war, peace, and development disciplines, am a 3x cancer survivor and alternative health aficionado, and rather solitary but occasionally sociable. I am not pensioned. I enjoy sharing stories, songs and recipes with travelers, especially those seeking higher self-resonance. I have studied and practiced a number of ancient health and spirituality disciplines and my place is a retreat for whatever folks may need it for. I will help where I can. It has often been called "a great place to start your Nicaragua journey." A favorite is "It's um, like, boot camp for Life!"

PHILOSOPHY - Eh... something like Alasdair Grey's call to "Work as if in the early days of a great nation." And, Help Yourself. None but ourselves can free our minds.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

WHY: We are particularly keen on locating those potential emigrants interested in community building or "intentional living companions," refugees with skills or willingness to learn and to co-steward our forest, water and natural resources. Such candidates will find the place quite intriguing, and the concept, at our website, is roughly 'bring a project, build a hut, and live co-creatively, peacefully and sustainably."

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING
-- I HOST. Travelers receive One Night Free Lodging (UNA Noche Gratis) and a Warm Meal in the tradition of the ol' Wayfarers and the Inns and Monasteries they found along the way. Thereafter, Guests are asked to Contribute That Cash Already Budgeted for meals. Everyone gets to feel it out, some retreat from traveling, and a tour, before making a decision thereafter regarding available options... 1-wk minimum commitment for Volunteers (50% off bunk and free lunch, between $7.50-13/day; some wiggle-room on time commitment for CS and WS), and 1-mo minimum for Apprentices (free lodging, and your food/facilities contribution, $5/day). Meals $2-B;$3-L;$4-D. Bunks are regularly $13, Suite $14($28), Camp/Hammock Rent$4 Pitch$3. Meals are communal, vegan-to-carnivore, 8am, 1pm, 7pm daily. Guests may use kitchen, except at mealtimes (communal) unless you're helping cook or clean. Kombuchas, kefir, chai, café, fresh mountain spring water (independent multi-year project serving 300+ nearby homes). Stone plunge pool at lodge near sauna/temezcal, variety meditation spaces, increasing food forest.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE
Couchsurfers are an intriguing, diverse crowd with common threads of humor, honesty, courage.

Some want to assume or negotiate additional free lodging and food, but although working hard daily towards sustainability, we do not count on limitless resources. If you desire to offer Knowledge, Expertise or Talent exchange for additional cost reduction, prep me with a brief description and what specifically you want for this (communications are key!), with possibility of a "No," -- not because we're not interested, but because setting priorities may mean the purchase (yes, cash is vital at times) of necessary supplies, and at the time of your visit we may not need your acrobatics, lifestyle coaching, secret vampire map to the Fountain of Youth, novel interpretation of a sacred text, weaved bracelets, or parlor tricks.

We offer Breathing and Meditation Techniques, Reiki orientation, free-style Yoga and Mayan Calendar introduction/sign identification to anyone wishing to learn; and Free of Charge, because we favor the concept that self-help healing should be in everyone's nerd-pack of tools. Monitored liquid fast, kidney cleanse, massage and others carry some cost. Musical instruments, theatre stuff, Libraries, telescopes, puzzles, chess, nature...

Interests

Philosophy, Music, Food Security, Motorcycles, Justice and Civil Society in a Postwar State, the End to War-Hatred-Xenophobia-Spin and the rest; and Human-Spirit potential once Ego goes Home.

• arts
• folklore
• dining
• recipes
• vegan
• yoga
• meditation
• motorcycles
• chess
• traveling
• puzzles
• magic
• music
• camping
• communications

Music, Movies, and Books

I pretty much like it all, will give most Movies, Songs or Books a chance. Except Bachata and Merengue. Can't stand them. Sound the same and it is always the same song. Vuela Vuela, por otro rumbo!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Swan dove off 60' cliff, rappelled Australian-style, water-fasted for six weeks, shape-shifted, healed from cancer without chemo, survived assassination attempts, brought a scarce and contaminated water supply to clean and abundant, saved the world twice, returned sucker punches to a marine general and a US ex-president, got a wink and a smile from Clint Eastwood and Angelina Jolie, seen Spirits, been published.

Teach, Learn, Share

Everyone has something to teach, even if not that which s/he endeavors to teach.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Sanctuary. Also I can't figure out how to respond to the many nice references...?!