CURRENT MISSION

To connect people to each other and the planet through food, education, and community celebration!

ABOUT ME

I am a farmer, a dreamer, an earth doctor, in love with life, and fighting to protect it. I am exploring the world I live in, trying to understand it and find my place in it. I am creative, flexible and passionate.
I grew up in Portland, Oregon, where it is beautiful and soft and green. I left there about ten years ago to travel. Since then I have spent several summers working in Alaska in Denali National Park, which is perhaps my favorite park ever. In between I have spent time in Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, road tripping in my little pickup truck across the USA, traveled in Spain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Two years ago, after traveling in Europe and having the amazing opportunity to live and study with a wonderful yogi and mentor, I returned to the US and got certified to teach Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga at It's Yoga in San Francisco. I have been teaching off and on ever since. Two years ago I took a Permaculture Design Course at Lost Valley Educational Center, and have been continuing to practice and study permaculture daily.
I try to keep it simple. I love to surround myself with good people and good food. I'm passionate about food and community and alternative education. I like to work hard and play hard. And I look forward to sharing stories.

PHILOSOPHY

It's hard to sum it up, but I want to live every moment of my life to the fullest, follow my heart wherever it leads me, and make the world a better place in the process. "In such ugly times, the only true protest is beauty." Your life is your biggest work of art, make it beautiful.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I Couchsurf! I meet new people, try to be the best visitor I can, spread the word and encourage other people to join Couchsurfing as well. I always open my space to wandering friends, and now that I own a home and have a couch to offer on here, I do!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I joined Couchsurfing in January 2008, when I started traveling around Europe, and it has been great! My first host instantly became a good friend and made me feel so at home and welcome. Since then experiences have been exciting, challenging, inspiring and wonderful. I keep meeting such a variety of people, and am glad to be able to share their homes, lives, energy and enthusiasm. Couchsurfing renews my faith in humanity.

Interests

Travel, yoga, farming, sustainable design, dance, rock climbing, local food, dumpster diving, making friends, writing, keeping a journal, cooking, sewing, altering clothing, permaculture, natural building, organic gardening, cooking, love, life, literature, poetry, music, thai massage, photography, street art, energy, the healing arts, good coffee, exploring, adventures, hiking and camping, mother nature, alternative education, unschooling, living outside the box, tea, fire dancing, playing... and lots of other things!

• writing
• books
• literature
• poetry
• theater
• design
• street art
• photography
• beauty
• dancing
• education
• cooking
• yoga
• gardening
• traveling
• dumpster diving
• homesteading
• music
• outdoor activities
• hiking
• camping
• rock climbing
• teaching
• parks
• food
• unschooling
• permaculture
• farming
• fermentation
• plant medicine

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: I rarely watch anything on a television screen, it has to come with several really good recommendations from friends and be guaranteed to make me laugh, cry and think a lot.
Music: anything that irresistibly makes me want to dance. I like indie rock, reggae, bluegrass, hip hop, folk, jazz, electronica, funk, classic rock,... really quite a lot.
Books: I love 'em. Love love love 'em. I like old classics and challenging new works. I like fiction, and creative non-fiction. I like poetry and prose. I like Kerouac, Steinbeck, Coehlo, Kingsolver, Atwood, Orwell, Rumi, Hafiz, Thoreau, Goldberg... just to name a few. What do you recommend?

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have been true to myself and followed my heart, which makes every day amazing and often leads me to surprising new places I never expected to end up. Everywhere I've traveled has been fabulous and breathtaking in it's own way, but I have to say road-tripping across the United States, visiting national parks and friends and camping for three months in my truck was one of the most liberating and fantastic experiences I've ever had. So many times during that trip I would look around and just start laughing out loud with glee at the freedom and joy of being on the road.

Also the journey I have been on for the last four years, of buying property and forming a community and a permaculture homestead has been HUGE! It continues to challenge and inspire me in so many ways. Come visit and check it out. www.squawkinghawk.com

Really the simple answer to this question is Being Alive. That is the most amazing thing I have ever done. And it continues to be.

Teach, Learn, Share

Let's see... I love to teach and share yoga. I love cooking, making meals together, and talking about food, local seasonal eating, sustainable agriculture, permaculture, or anything along those lines. I can teach you about food preservation, such as fermenting and canning things. I know a lot about plants, gardening and organic growing. I'm learning about plant medicine and herbalism and would love to share that. I can help people learning English, and would love to practice my French and Spanish! I'm always happy to have a lively discussion about any of my interests, and yours.

And I'm always down to learn more about just about anything and have my mind changed and expanded.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Enthusiasm, curiosity, energy, conversation, cooking for or with you, yoga play dates, information about gardening, permaculture design, sustainable lifestyle choices, and living in community.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Portugal, Spain, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States

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