Zia Parker

About Zia Parker

Transition skills for earth~body healing : We provide workshops, training, and private sessions in applied knowledge for healing the land and healing our bodies, and understanding the connection between them. The common thread in all of these offerings is that they help us shift our way of being in the world so that we sense and are sensitive to the living world around us. Thus, enabling us to integrate the information coming to us-both from our bodies and the earth-and respond with contributions toward a healthy, harmonious balance with all beings.
We need to recognize that developing a love-bond with the Earth is part of developing into a happy, balanced, healthy human being.   In the 1950’s, psychologist Ashley Montague did research to establish that human touch is an actual need for healthy human development. His research showed that infants that don’t experience loving human touch have developmental problems. This work had a very important influence on Western culture at a time when white men in white coats in the profession of Western medicine had virtually usurped women’s choices in relation to breastfeeding, childbirth and infant care. Now, over 50 years [[read more]]

Bond With Nature

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Zia Parker, MA, CAP, CMT www.vidaverde.info    ziaparker@zoho.com    Skype: ziaparker **FOR HOLISTIC BODY THERAPY, scroll down.** ENVIRONMENTAL / SUSTAINABILITY / PERMACULTURE WORK & TRAINING: Initiator, Yupaichani Network, Five projects in Vilcabamba that serve the people and serve the Earth. see http://vidaverde.info/yupaichaini-network/ Designer, Finca Vida Verde Permaculture, Vilcabamba, Loja, S Ecuador, Sept.2012-present. Initiation of Water Retention Landscaping model on one acre at 5,500 ft. altitude subtropical zone. Designer and contractor for two Earthbag homes & gardens, including composting toilet, greywater, berm/swale, terracing, food forests. Providing the Permaculture Design Certificate Course annually from 2013 through to the present with participants [[read more]]

Resume, Zia Parker

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Robert David Mceldowney 1970 BA degree in Religion and Philosophy, Maryville College, Maryville Tenn. 1971 US Peace Corps training in sub-tropical agriculture and animal husbandry in India 1972 Crew labor worker on a large commercial landscaping company, Duncan Landscape, Youngstown, Ohio 1973 Counselor at a large innovative state-run school for the specially challenged in Enumclaw, Wa. my ward was with the most mentally and emotionally challenged. 1974 Began studying sub-tropical organic agriculture full time on the Big Island,Hawaii 1975-1985 Created and managed several small farms and gardens in Hawaii 1986 Completed the foundation year training for Waldorf teachers (Steiner Education) [[read more]]

Resume, Roshni

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There are so many compelling reasons, that fuel the massive gardening movement worldwide: Food for the table, food security, access to organic food, supporting biodiversity, saving & exchanging seed, good exercise, connection with nature. Vandana Shiva refers to seed saving as “the most important revolutionary act of our time”. For us, these are all good reasons. It is a practice for us to make our choices with awareness of our connection to the web of life. When we live with the awareness that we are related to everything that is “Nature”, we can FEEL that when we are wasteful, [[read more]]

Why Garden?

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WORKING WISELY WITH WEEDS JULY 15, 2016 BY JONATHON ENGELS & FILED UNDER PLANTS Weeds are the fighters of the plant world. They are the pioneers, setting off in uncharted territories and cutting new pathways into lands bare and scorched. Then again, they, too, are sometimes the most firmly rooted, digging themselves deep into the fabric of the soil or spreading out far and wide. Perhaps that is why they are also the most misunderstood, the wild and wily, regularly showing up where they are not wanted then simply refusing to leave. Ultimately, though, the term “weed” is a [[read more]]

WORKING WISELY WITH WEEDS

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by Bill Pfeiffer Our times, the Age of Separation could also be called the Age of Forgetting. Modern humans have severe amnesia; we have forgotten who we are in relation to everything else. Martin Prechtel, the maverick cultural historian and artist, calls it “the amnesia of modernity” and says our task is a “Holy Remembrance [which has been] forced to survive homeless under bridges.” In truth, each one of us is vertically connected to everything through the present moment, and horizontally connected through time to all of our ancestors (and descendants). And what a lineage that is! Not only [[read more]]

There Is Power in Remembering Ancestral Wisdom

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Here are some possibilities for further involvement with our projects in Ecuador. A brief description follows. Please write if you are seriously interested. ~~Cabana Resident Interns/Partners–Our second Earthbag structure ever, the Rasta Muffin Hut is available to be cared for, loved up and lived in. We envision a strong and informed young couple joining our endeavors. The Cabana & all our garden veggies you can eat in exchange for $150./mo & and 20 hrs/week work in the gardens x two people. One month minimum. 3 months, better. In this internship program, Roshni and Zia provide a one-on-one coaching session [[read more]]

Further involvement with our work in Ecuador

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This is a deep and thought-provoking article about plant intelligence, written by Michael Pollan, author of “Omnivore’s Delimma”, and others. I think it elegantly exposes some of the limitations of science (without actually coming out against anything), yet also some of the benefits of genuinely rigorous scientific research. My question is: Michael, how about including a segment about the indigenous perspective on plant intelligence? The perspective that does not question, even for a second, that of course plants are intelligent, and can also provide guidance for our adolescent and sometimes reckless species. The article brings to mind this quote [[read more]]

Article on Plant Intelligence by Michael Pollan, plus Zia’s comments

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The benefits of mycelium are huge. Briefly, the root-like structure of the mycelium can multiply the circulation of a plant by 1,000 times. It also provides protection against non-beneficial fungi, virus and bacteria, and breaks down soil nutrients, making them accessible to plants. For more This is a method for propagating indigenous strains of mycorrhyzal mycelium. Mycelium is very abundant in primary forests. Take a small amount of soil from a primary forest, or any woodland setting that has not been disturbed for several years (2-3 liters would do it) I always like to tune in to the forest, [[read more]]

Mycelium, advantages & propagation

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Blackberry, leaves Blackberry Rubus, many varieties from around the world Rubus fruticosus (a common European variety) Rubus villosus (a common American variety) Brief Astringent, tonic, helps treat wounds, burns, mouth sores, sore throat, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, menstrual cramps Medicinal Properties There are said to be at least 40 European varieties of Rubus and numerous American varieties. These include many species of blackberry, raspberries, dew berries, cloud berries and thimble berries. Most people are familiar with many of these berries for their eaten fruit which may also be useful in syrups to soothe sore throats. Rubus leaves, roots and bark are [[read more]]

Medicinal Herbs

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We have designed a Water Retention Landscape Plan for a 17 hectare property on the San Jose burn area, and are now implementing it. We are including the project report here, if you are curious to learn more. Mirador Design [pdf] On this degree of slope, our swales are very narrow, and have a .4-.6% slope within the swale.

San Jose Fire : Our Response

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