BeachForest Harmoney

This logo for BeachForest Harmoney was done by a local graphic designer (www.gdillustration.blogspot.com).  Community banks are a great way to develop real wealth and keep productivity from leaving.  BeachForest Harmoney continues to dedicate energy to balancing the natural environment with human infrastructure design through pattern recognition and creative entrepreneurial solutions.  

Ron Paul's advice to young people was not to go into politics, but create businesses that directly compete with the federal government.  Here Ron Paul shake hands at a book signing at the Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama.

Locally Imported & Exported Art

Some people are raised on the Emerald Coast and then leave, some people grow up in other places and then move here, some people never leave the state, and then others travel and return.  All these environments help shape the art & culture in our area.  Exporting our musics and business to foreign regions while importing their lifestyles and media back to our homeland serves both parties, in both directions.  The video above was created from an individual (Luke Bessey) who has moved out of the region, yet makes his work still accessible via the Net.

The local artist above (Ryan Ivy) serves as an example of travel and return.  Surf travelers of the region make their way around the world.  Since the surf consistency lacks in the area, many pay to live and experience places where the waves are first class. 

The Web allows people to connect for the first time, disconnect for the last time, or reconnect a time again.  Cultures thrive when the trading of information is done correctly.  The artist above has dedicated an entire blog to his creations. (www.charlesvincentisspeechless.blogspot.com)

When dreams and work are put together, ideas can become tangible.  With technology becoming more accessible and cheaper, things that were only once possible in Hollywood can now be done at home.  Above displays an example of local music and art from Nothing Short of Pure. 

Green Empire

After meeting one of the authors at a locally developing eco-hostel, I was excited to read this book.  With St. Joe Company in so much control of our land, their influence on our lives is enormous.  Green Empire isn't an entertaining read, but a reference of both sides of the story.  Tediously I flipped through the highly informative pages.  The authors deserve a lot of recognition for their extensive research, which I imagine will be appreciated more and more as time goes on. 

St. Andrew Bay Watershed

Bruce Means (above) of the Coastal Plains Institute gave a speech in Tallahassee over a year ago on the regional biodiversity update.  This naturalist serves as an example to all in the area.  In attendance, I seemed to be at the same conclusion as he was.  Our infrastructure and reckless new construction constantly depletes valuable ecosystems.  We can do better

Int'l Travels

In Costa Rica it fires in the water and on the beach.  A Central American flair to the Gulf Coast is heavily welcomed.  The beauty of its lush landscape and simplicity of architecture could be and should be emulated.  With the most centenarians in the world, its no wonder the people live so long!

Panama, I've been told, is like Costa Rica in the 1970's.  Still very raw and untouched overall, this isthmus attracts many U.S. citizens.  For a month this country showed me fantastic hospitality as well as many smiling faces.  For a third of the living price as the United States this destination remains alluring.  

Chicama, Peru (shown above) boasts the longest wave in the world.  This picture might be five percent of the total wave.  With a forty-five minute walk back to the peak, two wave sessions were usual.  On this wave your legs will fail, not your arms.  Wow!  Stay healthy and get in the water any way possible.

Chicama and Peru as a whole are extremely impoverished.  This ginormous solar wind turbine powered almost an entire town; it seems like it would work awesome in Northwest Florida.

Blue Mt. Beach

Stopped and took a wheat grass shot two days ago at For The Health Of It in Blue Mountain Beach, Florida.  I had heard a lot about this place, and now I know why.  This establishment is on it!  The location from home is quite a distance, however I can see why it 's worth the drive.  Semi-local meats were offered and local organic produce as well as food & smoothies and herbal supplements; I can tell the only reason everything wasn't super local was because the supply hadn't yet entered the market.  Thank you For The Health Of It! 

Mises, Florida Liberty Summit, & Tom Woods

The Mises Institute of Auburn, AL (www.mises.org) has dedicated their energy to sound money through the preservation of liberty. Judge Napolitano gave an excellent speech at a seminar that I attended at the Mises Institute.  Not long after that he was given an opportunity to host a show on Fox Business called Freedom Watch, very compelling.

The Campaign for Liberty sponsored the first ever Florida Liberty Summit in Orlando, FL.  There were three days of speakers who conversed on many different topics of Libertarianism.  This event focused on grass roots leadership training.  Kirk Shelley (www.yourpoliticalguru.com) spoke on Sunday and introduced a brand new business model combining Libertarian political agendas with creative entrepreneurship.  Bruce Fein (above), a lawyer who specializes in Constitutional and International Law, sure knows how to play to a crowd.

Thomas Woods (above) knows American history like no other.  His intellectual and articulate rants resonate through liberty loving patriots in a manner that will send chills down your spine.  Fearlessly, he defends sounds currency.  I've seen him speak at the Mises Institute, Florida Liberty Summit, and once in Tallahassee; and I always leave inspired.

Just Fruits

Just Fruits & Exotics of Crawfordville, FL (www.justfruitsandexotics) has an abundant selection of edibles to choose from. Here, Brandy, one of the owners, cuts into a local persimmon.  Just Fruits & Exotics hosted a short introductory class to permaculture via the Apalachee Permaculture Network not too long ago.  If you have never been to Just Fruits, GO THERE!  It's an adult playground.  This place serves as Northwest Florida's premier nursery.

Spiral Ridge

Here is Cliff Davis of Spiral Ridge Permaculture (www.spiralridgepermaculture.com) in a five part video series introducing permaculture design and ethics.  After apprenticing under him for two months at the Ecovillage Training Center my understanding grew exponentially.

Approximately one year after my apprenticeship I returned to Tennessee and work-traded for three weeks on their family farm.  Their greenhouse was just getting up and running and I was lucky to be able to help put in the vermiculture composting system.  Thanks to Jennifer and their children for allowing me to integrate in to their beautiful home.

ARP

The ARP (Accelerated Recovery Performance) works in partnership to the In Balance method.  After snapping my ACL I found out how this thing really works, WELL!  As a non-invasive alternative to surgery the connection between mind and body are totally fused; the intensity of this program goes as far as the individual allows it to.  This little machine packs a punch, to say the least!  While in Tallahassee, FL I had a full recovery in way less time than surgery would have been.  The philosophy of movement taught in this program is elite, plain and simple.  After experiencing firsthand the miraculous transformation of all my injuries I became a "lifer." Two sets of broken ribs, a snapped ACL, and a broken wrist all due to unnatural force on the rugby pitch were no match for the ARP.  (www.arpwave.com)

Tim Russell (above) trained me in the ARP & the In Balance system.  As a personal trainer, team trainer, and ARP technician for six months I learned how to move bodies under fatigue, stress, and PAIN.  However, pain recognition disintegrated into intensity through understanding. Tim, himself, has an intense personality with a passion for health & fitness.  As a retired professional rugby player from Wales and a former roommate & coach of mine, I have a lot to be thankful for.  He means business. (http://pstudiotest.com/abouttimrussell.html)

New Leaf Market

While living and working in Tallahasse I found myself in New Leaf most days of the week.  Either walking from work or riding my bike, I became quite a patron.  The buffet was so scrumptious as well as healthy, and the buffet also allowed for you to choose your own portions and pay by weight.  This is quite a large store, but works well for the large population of Tallahasee.  One of the major drawbacks was the surrounding environment; large blacktop parking lots, busy roads, and strip mall scenery detracted from the beauty inside.  New Leaf sponsors local farm tours every year, go New Leaf!

Ecovillage Experience

Thanks to Albert Bates for creating the Global Ecovillage Network (www.gen.ecovillage.org). Without that site I would have never been able to find EcoTruly Park in Peru (www.ecotrulypark.org) or my apprenticeship at the Ecovillage Training Center on The Farm in Summertown, TN.

Eco Truly Park was a Hare Krishna community that welcomed visitors and worktrade on the Peruvian coast. In 2008 this place served as my intoduction to ecovillages for a week.  I left the country in a wheelchair after an intense soccer match.  I was very sad to leave, but the kindness and hospitality shown to me shall never be forgotten.

Eagle Oak

Although the permaculture project fell through on Eagle Oak Ranch due to lack of interest from the investor, a lot of production went on.  This was a 6000 sq. ft. greenhouse that was all tricked out and never used for any commercial endeavors.  Winter crops were germinating in here including broccoli, kale, lettuce, chard, mustard, and many others.

While on the ranch many of the mares were foaling, this philly unfortunately lost her mother after birth and we had to take care of her for a little while.  Benito (left) and Tido (center) were hard workers and became good friends, not to mention they were great with the horses.  Feisty was one of the strongest babies of the bunch, and the cutest.  It was fun to get to use my rusty Spanish again!

Here I am laying out the infrastructure on a field.  Swales were dug on contour in a combination with hugelkultur underneath the berms.  Compost had begun to be added to the plot with curvy pathways.  Twice on the ranch I had been given permission and the go-ahead to begin construction of swales in two different spots, yet after many days of extensive labor the project was terminated.  Permaculture promotoes pattern recognition as a means to saving energy.  I did not start swale building a third time.

Ron Paul Book Signing (Tallahassee)

Here we are in Tallahassee, FL at a book signing before Ron Paul's speech at the Ruby Diamond Auditorium.  Leta designed and fabricated the sporty dress she is wearing and my tank top as well, which reflects the Gulf Coastal beach view.

Florida State University hosted the event, and the place was packed! The message of liberty is alive and well.

KMO & The ETC

In 2010 I stayed at the Ecovillage Training Center in Summertown, TN for a two month advanced permaculture apprenticeship.  Here is KMO of the C-realm (www.c-realm.com) speaking before an audience.  The C-realm is a weekly podcast where such topics as the re-localization of community, entheogenic exploration, permaculture, and individual conscious autonomy are discussed.  Living with him at the Ecovillage Training Center accelerated my knowledge and wisdom on shared interests. 

Here are the dorms with facing greenhouse. Eco-building, gardening, and communal cooperation were practiced on a regular (www.thefarm.org/etc/).   

Local Nurseries, Markets, & Cafes

Bioregionally specific nurseries, organic cafes, and local markets are key to regenerating economy.  Nature's Touch in Templeton, CA  (www.naturestouchnurseryandharvest.com) was small and quaint yet packed with high quality goods.  Local beef, lamb, and pork were offered as well as in-season produce.  The owners of this business care a lot about their food and health, very passionate!

Zen Garden Market (www.zengardenmarket.com) of Panama City Beach, FL was really similar to Nature's Touch.  Working and living at The Zen for seven months in 2010-11 served as invaluable experience.  Organic cooking, smoothie making, property maintenance, permaculture gardening, and project managing  provided me with multiple duties and allowed for high flexibility.  The Zen's atmosphere for dining in the beautiful gardens was much more enjoyable than Nature's Touch eating area, yet the food offered at Nature's Touch was way more local. 

Here's Leta at Nature's Touch checking out the plants in front.  Central Cali has many more local biodynamic and organic farms than we do on the Gulf Coast.

Fiber

In San Luis Obispo, CA we visited two alternative fiber stores, Hemp Shak (www.facebook.com/hempshak) & Bambu Batu (www.bambubatu.com). I purchased a pair of Simple slip-on sandals made from industrial hemp at the Hamp Shak, a product that can be sold domestically but not produced domestically.  The fabrics were relatively inexpensive and felt extremely comfortable. 

Bambu Batu's store was very serene and holistic, while Hemp Shak was more like an alternative surf shop with some of the best art I had ever seen on the wall.  In talking to attendants at both places, there was a general consensus that cotton subsidies were a major obstacle in allowing these fantastic products to emerge in the marketplace.  Diversity in markets promotes resilience, which provides stability as well as choice.  Bamboo grows excellent in Florida and has an abundance of uses other than just clothing.    

Farm-to-Table

On our recent trip to California we were very fortunate to be able to experience so many awesome places. Mt. Olive (www.mtoliveco.com) happened to be one of them, a farm-to-table family ran business that sold a wide array of products at the markets and their farm.  We love this concept and want to emulate these types of businesses in Northwest Florida.

In downtown Paso Robles, CA I also dined at Thomas Hill Organics Market Bistro & Wine Bar (www.thomashillorganics.com).  This fine dining farm-to-table restaurant was a great example of how to combine elegant cuisine with down and dirty farm-work.  Although this establishment had a pricy menu, the atmosphere and quality of food proved to be well worth the cost. 

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