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Imagine having a garden of Eden in every neighbourhood where communities would learn to sow seeds together, grow together, harvest together and eat together?  Free plucking instead of free parking?   City gardens and parks containing mainly edible or medicinal plants, vegetables and fruit trees?

Well, these visions are not mere fantasy.  Though my own green thumb is green from lack of gardening experience, I have been tuning into the growing trend of communal gardens sprouting up in the urban jungle.  This is not a new concept for ancient civilizations have long explored the agricultural capacity of city centres from Egypt to Machu Picchu.  Good ideas age well and these stories of communities co-creating free food gardens remind us of old ways of’ ‘being and doing’ that revive our connection to each other and invoke appreciation for Nature’s abundance.

Here is the latest free garden project  that I heard about (from my friend Mimi):  http://www.takepart.com/article/2012/02/21/its-not-fairytale-seattle-build-nations-first-food-forest

About the Shared Gardens* in Oregon:  http://www.treehugger.com/green-food/sharing-gardens-offer-free-food-to-all-who-need-it-video.html

*A great quote from the featured video:  People often say “you must be such good people to do this”. We seem to have forgotten that we are all good people.

Inspiration to grow food no matter how small your space – this awesome article covers balcony gardening to guerilla gardening!   http://earthfirst.com/urban-gardening-you-can-grow-food-no-matter-where-you-live/

Five eye-opening facts from this article:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_agriculture

1)  50% of the world’s population lives in cities.

2)  800 million people are involved in urban agriculture world-wide and contribute to feeding urban residents.

3)  Low income urban dwellers spend between 40% and 60% of their incme on food each year.

4)  By 2015 about 26 cities in the world are expected to have a population of 10 million or more. To feed a city of this size at least 6,000 tonnes (6,600 tons) of food must be imported each day.

5)  250 million hungry people in the world live in cities.

My friend Sajini at Sreedhari Ayurvedic Retreat Centre agreed to teach me how to wrap a saree. I had actually learned many years ago from some ladies at a saree shop in Vancouver but like language, without practice, one forgets…

What amazes me is how the women of India manage to wear it so gracefully while doing such a wide variety of tasks! I’ve seen women wearing sarees while riding motorbikes, doing laundry in the river, swimming, cooking over a fire, doing construction work… I can barely sit in one – much less walk! Yet everywhere in India, the brightly colored saree continues to adorn women in both rural and urban landscapes.

Here are a few Vancouver-based resources in the field of Permaculture and Herbalism.

1) I met the aptly-named Garliq one year when he participated in my Healing Garden project.  Recently, a friend took his herbal program and simply raved about it.  It’s a wonderful hands-on opportunity to learn plant wisdom and plant medicine…

About The Herbal Integration Course
This course is designed to help beginner and intermediate herb students develop an intimate and personal relationship with 8 medicine plants.  These 8 plants create a tremendously diverse tool kit and are the backbone of a home apothecary.  Students will learn to treat a variety of common ailments from injuries to colds & flus to rashes & bug bites and so much more.  This 8 month course runs from March – October.  Each month will be themed to explore a specific plant medicine and will include 1 Field Class and 1 Lab.
1 Weekend Intensive per month + the occasional homework. Deadline to apply:  March 1, 2012  (only room for 12 students)  Details at:  http://www.urbanherbschool.ca/herbal-integration-course

2) Another amazing person to mention is Delvin Solkinson, a devoted practitioner and teacher of Permaculture on the Sunshine Coast.  I’ve posted his courses on my newsletter and appreciate the important knowledge he is sharing.  He offers Permaculture Design Certification and an Advanced Permaculture Diploma Program.

Some info about the Advanced Dipolma program:
This is the first course of its kind in the world, a seasonal course where we meet up for a full day every 3 months over 8 seasons. This advanced course in learning will offer support, inspiration and content for you to complete a two year Permaculture Diploma through one of the Permaculture Institutes. Open to Greater Vancouver, Sunshine Coast and Gulf Island residents.  Visit http://www.gaiacraft.com/

Cost : $555 in advance or soonish ($655 with extended payment plan)
Register now to secure your space and join our learning ring.  maximum class size : 13
March 2011 – June 2013
Full day meetings in March, June, September and December

My Western Astrology birth chart was done by Mac McLaughlin in Vancouver (who used to write a regular column for the Georgia Straight stars).  He is a wizard who rides a Harley and I still remember the delightful stories he told me as part of my session many years ago.  Please visit:  www.macsstars.com

Rose Marcus has been recommended by some friends who know of her work in Evolutionary Astrology.  She offers readings, talks and classes.  Visit:  www.rosemarcus.com

Rob Brezsny is a world-reknown astrologer/writer who has a quirky sense of humor and a book called “Pronoia is the Antidote to Paranoia”:  Visit:  www.freewillastrology.com

My first Vedic Astrology birth chart was done by Jeffrey Armstrong in Vancouver.  Jeffrey is a devoted astrologer, scholar, poet, teacher and treasure of Vedic knowledge – offering weekend workshops and a regular Wednesday evening drop-in (satsang).  Please visit:  www.JeffreyArmstrong.com

My second Vedic Astrology birth chart was done by Ajithan, an astrologer in Kerala, India.  He does speak basic English so it may be possible to have a chart done by email or phone.  Please visit:  www.ajithan.com

Chakrapani is a Vedic astrologer recommended by Yogi Cameron.  www.chakrapani.com

Some Vancouver-area Ayurvedic Resources:

a) My friend Ocean creates beautiful Ayurvedic products & is available for related consultations & workshops:  http://www.seaweedsalon.ca

b)  I met Todd Caldecott through a mutual friend and he has also taken part in the Healing Garden project.  He has recently written a book called Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life. Visit his website for all kinds of resources:  http://www.toddcaldecott.com/

c) I don’t know Madhuri but she does offer various Ayurvedic services in Vancouver and we both belong to an online women’s group:  http://madhuriayurvedayoga.com/

d)  I’ve heard about Dr. Shivakumar Varman, another local practitioner of Ayurveda.  I haven’t met him but I hear he is now based in Richmond.  Here is an article:  http://ayurvedavancouver.wikispaces.com/Dr+Varma

e)  Jeffrey Armstrong offers Ayurvedic workshops as part of his vast repertoire of Vedic knowledge:  http://JeffreyArmstrong.com

Ayurveda in India & Beyond:

a)  Sreedhari Ayurvedic Retreat, Kerala India. www.sreedhari.com
(I stayed 4 weeks at this retreat in January 2012 – please search “sreedhari” on this site to find the various articles/videos I did about the centre)

b) While I was at Sreedhari in January 2012, I had the chance to meet Yogi Cameron.  He will be sharing Ayurvedic wisdom with audiences across the globe when he launches his new Ayurvedic Reality TV show in the summer of 2012.  Visit his website for details:  www.yogicameron.com

I have been a member of the Modo car co-op (formerly known as the Cooperative Auto Network) for a few years now… On average, i need a car about twice a month and the rest of the time, i take transit. It’s very convenient and affordable – a great service which keeps getting better as Modo seems to make consistently beneficial business decisions.  They are truly looking out for the interest of their coop members!  I’ve written at least 2 letters of appreciation for the outstanding customer service i’ve received so you know they are doing something right!

Of course, I’ve heard about the other 2 car-sharing options in Vancouver so I thought i’d do a bit of research to compare prices and services.  Here is a summary for your consideration in case you are thinking of getting rid of your car and primarily using transit/bike/walk to get around. Read more

Urban Beat Dance presents
West Coast Swing Dance Classes (beginner’s)

Most classes are at Let’s Dance Studio – 927 Granville St. (at Smithe), Vancouver, BC. Go up one flight of stairs and enter through RH doors.  (not two flights! They’re a different studio).

West Coast Swing is a contemporary style of swing developed forty years ago on the West Coast – California. It spread throughout the US and is now the most popular form of swing dancing in North America with WC swing clubs in most North American cities. Its popularity stems from the amazing variety of styles: it can be slow and elegant, silky and sensual, hip and funky, fast and furious. It has been danced with a nightclub, ballroom, or country style depending upon the region you’re in, the music playing or your mojo!

BEGINNER requires no experience. You will learn all the foundation steps for this dance) as well as the principles of ‘connection’, leading and following. This class teaches only 100% leadable moves.

Funky Swing (aka West Coast Swing)…IS a partner dance

…IS NOT the swing you saw in old movies.
…IS modern, fast n’funky, or slow and sensual.
…IS incredibly practical: you can dance it to: Top 40, blues, Hip Hop, R n’ B, big band, jazz, country – you name it.
…IS famous for giving women much more freedom than other dances.  Encourages improvisation

Urban Beat teaches level 1, 2, 3 and 4.  (Level 3 and 4 have different material each session so you can repeat infinitely)

Double Your Classes, No Extra Charge:
As we have two Funky Swing classes running at the same time, once you’ve paid for one series – say Sunday – you can also attend the Tuesday class for no extra charge. This gives you a great deal more flexibility and practice time.

To Register: http://www.urbanbeatdanceco.com/lounge/register.php

Other Ways To Register

E-mail us at: graeme@urbanbeatdanceco.com

Call us at: 604-299-2199
We are not always available to take the call, but leave your name, phone number, email address, and the class(es) you want to register for and we’ll get back to you.

Visit us at:
Let’s Dance Studio – 927 Granville St. (at Smithe – Go up one flight of stairs (not two flights! They’re a different studio) and turn left) on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday evenings.