UPDATE ON OUR ACTIVITIES 14th October, 2011

Hello Everyone!
I am now going to post regular updates on this blog so that you can keep abreast of developments.  I have been receiving a lot of interest from people wanting to join and  I am copying below the list of those who have sent recent enquiries and who will be joining us in the forthcoming meetings at the chateau.  There are, so far, 17 adults and 8 children who will be coming to participate and find out more over the autumn and winter and they have an amazing range of skills, abilities, qualifications and interests between them.  If you check out the list below, you will see what I mean!  Thank you all for your interest and enthusiasm and keep passing the message on.  We will have an amazing first group of community members to start the project off next year, I am absolutely sure of that.

This was the veggie garden this summer - more flowers than veggies! Lots of bees and butterflies...


Main recent news...

• I have just been to the first meeting of the local planning steering group and I am one of the committee members along with 12 others.  
• The first meeting last week was a presentation which covered the planning laws and the local and regional strategic objectives, within which the activities of this project fit perfectly – promotion of ecological initiatives, tourism, education and local economy.  There is a public exhibition in the local community hall in November where we will have the information about Eco Chateau displayed.
• I have meetings planned for Eco Chateau for those interested in joining the co-housing at the end of this month, in December and in February and, already, places are being booked up.(link to the new calendar of Eco Chateau: http://www.eco-chateau.com/co-housing-calendar.htm)  The latest newsletter was sent out two weeks ago and I am getting new enquiries daily.  Below is a list of the first people to confirm they will be coming ...
• I have decided to add another meeting date in April when the weather will be getting warm and the spring will be manifesting. Dates to be confirmed 
• One couple has already confirmed their intention to join.  They are a French couple who have lived and worked all over the world. They are totally committed to the project having been to stay twice. (I will post further information and photos of these two very special people soon)

Here is a view of the south-facing slope where we will build our first 'eco' homes, nestled into the hillside, semi-underground with large windows for catching all that warmth and light of the sun.....

Please keep your expressions of interest coming in and pass the message on to all friends and those you feel might be interested in joining.

The project is developing and getting closer to fruition daily.  Keep your dreams of what this world can and will look like alive in your minds and hearts and send your dreams out into the ethers.  Thank you all for your heartfelt positive thoughts.

Warmest wishes

Ruth

Message for the day:

"Personal responsibility is the keynote of freedom.

Cooperation is a natural phenomenon as long as the need to control

is absent. The need to control is a learned activity that

becomes habitual through the experience of it.

How does one transcend this habitual activity when it is

deeply engrained at a planetary level?" - Handbook for the New Paradigm 

ECO CHATEAU

AUTUMN AND WINTER CO-HOUSING MEETINGS

PARTICIPANTS

NB This is only an initial list of those who have confirmed so far and I will be adding new names as they come in – if you would like an update on this, please let me know.  Last update on 13/10/11 (17 adults & 8 children) 

Bernard & Agnes from France: Bernard has been a practising water engineer for many years, working on projects all over the world.  Agnes has an amazing talent for growing things amongst many other skills. (more detailed info to follow)

Janet from the UK: I am a good organiser, administrator, budget creator/manager and an excellent haggler. I can organise courses and produce good, clear materials.  I can support those who have expertise in practical eco-skills to teach them to others (I used to run courses for adult education tutors). I could (depending on what fitted with the group) organise holidays with external tutors (eg music, dance, horticulture, medicinal foods…), run therapeutic groups or do administration for self-programming visiting groups. I speak reasonable French and some Spanish

Hrysi from Greece: Studies in Archeology and Art history in the University. Diploma in Life Coaching from the University of Athens. For the last 14 years I am working with Colour counsultations, Reiki, Flower essences and I am teaching courses about colours and their use (decoration, healing, self knowledge ect.) and also Reiki. For about 10 years I was training people to become colour practitioners. I speak English, German and Greek.

Sherina &  2 children (4 & 5) from the UK: I am a trained Teacher, currently teaching children with special educational needs.  My degree is in Early Childhood Studies so I would also be able to assist with the home schooling aspect.  In addition to this I am a trained and experienced ESL Teacher, which I could potentially work as for the initial year if necessary

KATHY & ALVARO & 2 young children from UK and Guatemala:  My husband is a surveyor and civil engineer with much experience in the planning and construction of drainage and water installations in remote upland communities as well as lowland housing developments, and, as a Guatemalan, he's well used to working with locally available and limited resources! Over the last 3 years, he's also gained experience in many aspects of building construction in the UK, and is currently working as a stone mason.  I'm a plant ecologist with a PhD in habitat creation and restoration. I now work for the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group as an assistant farm conservation adviser and project officer, and I have much experience in organising and promoting community events.  We have 2 young children as well as a small flock of free-range, rare-breed, hens!

Annie from Belgium: Trained and practicing Ayurvedic medicine, energetic therapy & bio-energy feedback

Information to follow…

Naomi & Joss & daughter (18 months) from the UK: information to follow Dawn, Anthony & Luke from the UK:  I am a raw food chef and studying Naturopathic Nutrition and Raw Nutrition.  I teach workshops in live foods as well as catering for events, festivals and groups.  My business is young but developing well and I am due to begin writing my first book in the next few weeks.   I also teach belly dance!  Anthony is a great administrator, people person and good in retail positions and loves to be of help to anyone who needs it.  His passion is in his music and writings and out in the wild places developing deep connections with Nature.  He loves to help in the kitchen and at events and in the garden too! Luke is 29 has a deep spirituality and understanding of natural cycles.  He has a passion to create amazing eco-projects, from compost toilets to solar showers and beyond to building hobbit houses.  He is a qualified plumber.

Noelle from the USA: I have a proven sales and marketing track record that I know could build the businesses at the community.  I would be very interested in developing the tourism business and any other cottage industries.  I have both worked for myself in sales and for a large company so I think I have what it takes to contribute excellence in this arena.  I’ve developed shamanic leadership skills and would love to contribute a ‘circle’ to the community and offer spiritual leadership.

Paul from the UK: I first trained as a joiner, and worked through to a director position as a practising chartered building surveyor, with a plc (the rat race). Having left the industry (before the 72hrs per week put me in a box),  I went on to retrain as an electrician, (only low voltage systems up to 230v which essentially allows me to work on any domestic / small commercial property. I now undertake energy assessment work on a part time basis having taken semi retirement.

Anna, René & 3 children (1, 2, 12 yrs) from Holland: We are a dutch family. René (50) is a massage therapist and massage teacher since more than 20 years. Anna (34) is a writer, dream therapist, teacher in understanding dreams and she gives HypnoBirthing classes. She wrote a book about understanding dreams and this year her book about conscious birth was published (vrije geboorte: birthing in freedom).  We are both doing our work with joy and gratitude and continue to grow in it.  Our children are 1 (Jana, girl), 2 (Lotus, boy) and 12 (Chadim, Anna's son). We are vegetarians and eat organic foods. In our little garden we are growing many sorts of vegetables and edible plants.