IrishHeron Posted June 10, 2008 Hello My name Is John, I live in Washington State and will be spending most of my Summer in the North Cascade Mountains, Camping on a old homestead I own. It is an in holding in the National Forest. It must be hiked into. It is on a wonderful river, and has a beaver pond with ducks and Blue Heron. I will be out from time to time to pay bills and check email. I may be heading to Argentina, as the rains begin in November. If there are any nature lovers who reside near here and would perhaps enjoy spending some time on the land this Summer, helping out with a host of projects, and enjoying wilderness, away from it all. They should get in touch with me. Woodrow Wilson signed an Executive Order in 1920 to take the land out of the National Forest. It sits alone an Island of private property with National Park above and designated Wilderness near. I find it a very spiritual and magical place and hope to restore an old barn there this year, and other projects. I want to put it in trust to be used for environmental education but since it is such a spiritual place I would also like to see it used with small groups for spiritual renewal. I think the two are compatible So I am not sure what form the trust will take. I am always open to brain storming with others especially if you are a lawyer and can help with setting up of the trust. Or at least getting the land into a basic trust to start. I am not opposed to a national organization taking over it's stewardship, such a Audubon etc, but have not had much luck in getting any response from the Washington State or the local chapter of that organization and the local University that has a college of the environment turned out to be a convoluted mess in dealing with. So I'm putting it out there in the hope that others who value the Spiritual qualities of such a special piece of private land, might have some ideas. I practice mindfulness when I am in the world and am an avid reader of the books written by Thich Nhat Hanh on the practice of mindfulness and being in the moment. When I am down on the river. I find that it comes quite naturally. I am aware of every bird song and feel the wind and sun on my face. I can smell the scents of the river bottom and it is why I feel it is such a spiritual place that has much to offer both in environmental education and spiritual subsidence . I've read some of the Tao teachings my favorite book being the Tao of Poo. I think mindfulness and Taoism interlock nicely. I hope to get some input but will not be on line much soon, but will be checking both voice mail and email when I am out of the river bottom. Be Well, John O'Hern Bellingham WA [email protected] 360 303 4761 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mgd Posted June 10, 2008 Sounds lovely. Would there by any chance be fish in that river? I know of a couple of folks that would enjoy sitting by the water, and be even more content to catch nothing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mgd Posted June 11, 2008 (edited) You know...wouldn't this be a nice way for more bums to get to know each other? We could do a little camping... roll up our sleeves and do a little caretaking... and Scotty could bring his guitar and sing for us as we sit around the campfire. I'd make the trek. Welcome to The Tao Bums John! Gloria Edited June 11, 2008 by mgd Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aetherous Posted June 11, 2008 I will need to attain gold dragon body WITH my guitar so that I can move at the speed of light there instead of making the trek across the country at human speed again! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gendao Posted June 11, 2008 This is in WA? Wow. Yes, the PNW is still a truly spectacular, relatively "pristine" territory. So, it would be great if there was a capable, spiritual, caretaking group for your land. Maybe one day build a retreat center there or something... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mgd Posted June 13, 2008 I was wondering if you had ever heard of Tom Brown Jr. and his tracker school? He teaches wilderness survival skills to adults and children. The teachings focus on survival but also on how to be caretakers of the earth. Tom learned his skills from a native american shaman so the teachings also communicate a great reverence and respect for the earth as well as every living thing. If you've never heard of him please follow the link for more information. http://www.trackerschool.com You are a good person to want to do something like this... I hope you find the right folks to look after your land... who will leave it all a little better than they found it. Peace to you and those who love you. mgd Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IrishHeron Posted June 13, 2008 Hi All, Not sure how this works. If I can reply to my own post? But hope so. I want to thank everyone who has replied, and say that I wish this network allowed larger attachments or photos, since I have a lot of great pics of the land, and a few of myself, but if you write me with your off site email, I can send you an invite to a photo sharing site, where I have about 200 pics, of mostly the land, some repeats, but still enough to give you an idea of what it looks like. Thanks again for replying. I always thought it would make a great Abby. During the dark ages the Irish Abby's served as a retreat from the world, and it seems like we are entering another dark age, so the camp fire and guitar, and people of like mind sounds good. Perhaps by next Summer we could have something pulled together. I hope after this Summer" My Walden Summer" of being alone on the land with just my sweet dog Marblefor company , to head down to Argentina for six months, but be back up for next Summer if I am so blessed. Irish Heron Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoda Posted June 13, 2008 John, What a fun situation! Thanks for offering to brainstorm with the bums! You can post photos in the gallery section or email them to somlor at gmail d0t c0m, our fearless webmaster, and if he has time, he can post them for you if you'd like. Have you talked to the Nature Conservancy folks? I've never looked into doing any sort of arrangement like that, so I don't know what the pluses or the minuses are. If I had an extremely crisp understanding of the legalities, I would certainly consider it. Yoda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mgd Posted June 13, 2008 Hi John, Just sent you an email... Felt my heart tug a little when I read your post...I'd love to see pics of your land...and your sweet dog Marble... Re: the Abby....a retreat from the world? Nah...sounds like what you want to do is create a place where one can more fully enjoy it. Gloria Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Tian Posted June 14, 2008 Hi John, Just sent you an email... Felt my heart tug a little when I read your post...I'd love to see pics of your land...and your sweet dog Marble... Re: the Abby....a retreat from the world? Nah...sounds like what you want to do is create a place where one can more fully enjoy it. Gloria Hi I couldn't agree more with Gloria. Build paradise in your life wherever you are and with whatever you have, then you won't need to spend the rest of your life looking elsewhere for one. But your place sounds great and I wish you the best of luck with it. If I could get over there myself and help out I would, but I don't think that's my destiny. Keep Well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
