About Us
Our Vision
To seed a future where we live in integrity with ourselves, each other, and nature – and in appreciation of their intricate connections.
Our Mission
To cultivate a living process of inquiry exploring resilient and regenerative forms of embodiment, creativity and ecology - to discover what it means to live in a more harmonious and connected way of being.
The Land
Nestled deep in the forest atop Mt. Tuam, on Salt Spring Island, we make our home in the unceded and traditional territories of the Coast Salish People (Hul'qumi'num and SENĆOŦEN speaking people). Surrounded by nature reserves and a Buddhist Retreat Centre, we enjoy magical vistas and daily sunsets over Vancouver Island and the Coast Salish Sea.
We operate as a rustic off-grid community and strive to live, work and play in harmony and respect with nature and the mindful consumption of elements (water, wood, power, etc).
Our Ethos
We believe in living, working and playing mindfully with ourselves, each other, and the natural elements around us.
We strive to consider how our actions and choices affect others and strive to listen to those with quieter voices. We strive for self-sufficiency and regeneration as we make our decisions regarding our power and water use, waste management, building materials, and food systems. We believe in inclusivity, sobriety, compassion, self responsibility and honesty in all our relating.
Embodiment
The practice of being aware of ourselves and responsive to outside stimuli at the cellular level.
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- Inquiry into the soma, the psyche and our choices in any given moment
- Workshops in:
- Meditation/Mindfulness
- Contact Improvisation
- Authentic Movement/Relating
- Body Mind Centering (BMC)
- Functional Movement
- Clowning
- QiGong
- Breathwork
- Therapeutic Touch/Healing
Ecology
The study of relationships between organisms and their environments.
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- Understanding optimal and viable regenerative potential
- Growing food forests and employing permaculture principals for nourishment, medicinal support and symbiotic relationships.
- Working with the natural resources available for building, power generation and water management.
- Learning from first nations about traditional ways of life and practices.
- A hub for workshops and learning/lab-ing opportunities related to permaculture and regenerative agriculture.
- A trading station for food, medicines, etc with other like-minded communities
Creativity
A canvas for residencies and immersive creative offerings in diverse modalities.
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- Immersive art, performance, music and storytelling events on the land
- A retreat for artists in residence, researching new forms of their offerings
- A collaborative workshop and studio lab - to bring into being new forms and artworks
- A hub for workshops and learning/lab-ing opportunities
- A canvas for residencies and immersive creative offerings (story telling, performance, architecture, musique, visual art and more)
Community
We are co-creating the magic we envision by coming together. This project grows through the wonderful people who offer their time and expertise to help craft the landscape, plant gardens and make magic happen.
Our Stewards
Selena La Brooy
Pattern interrupter and realignment guide
Selena is fascinated by patterns in nature and behaviour. Believing in the inherent desire for peace and harmony in all beings and perpetually curious about everything, she is passionate about creating a container for on-going inquiry into how to live in a more symbiotic and regenerative way with all of life. She has a deep love of Contact Improvisation, performance and holistic healing. She is a dancer, a healer, a teacher, an entrepreneur, a herbalist, a gardener and a clown.
Our Partners
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SSI Contact Festival
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Forest Gardens
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Phoenix Domes
Thank Yous
It truly takes many, many hands to have brought us just this far. We are deeply indebted to each and every being who has spent time with us, working to bring this vision to life. Thank you, amongst countless others, to:
Nick Adamson-Jones
Nomi Adamson
Chris Aimone
Michael Bean
Kale Beaudry
Paul Bonnici
Tovel Boucher
Marty Briere
Tristen Cachat
Devin Coverdale
Joni Cooke
Javier Horacio
Sashah Klapkew
Lindsay Henheffer
Colin James
Garret Jones
Lele Julian
Ari Lazer
Iain McIntosh
Alec Mitchell
Valerie Mongrain
Diana Palafox
Patricia Parkinson
Jordan Pastor
Jeff Cuddebeck
Chris Delgatty
Annie Delorme
Isabelle Desrochers Stein
Harley Dunn
Jacinda Duque
Betty Durieux
Phoebe Fae
Francesca Focke
Jose Fonseca
Maikan Forest
Julien Gagnon
Krystal Patience
Pablo Ochoa
Reed Richard
Leland River
Manuel Rochette
Chris Seguin
Jasper Sircus
Freyja Skye
Andy Smith
Brodie Smith
Halit Soykut
Barbara Streisand
Brandon Strickland
Chris Telford
Alex Theocharides
Adam Tree
Esat Tuerkoglu
Ian Waller
Ivy Young
Special thanks to Donna Moroz, without whom none of this would have been possible.