I am one of thousands of people affected by @quinneaker's visionary community the @gardenofeden. As we clean and organize in preparation for a big move towards Eden 2.0, it's time to let go of my own incredible history here:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10 👇🏽

It is New Year's Day, just hours into 2016.

I am meditating alone in my space, replaying the past year - my first full year here at the @gardenofeden.

It was...it was quite a time, to say the least.

Fighting with my ex consumed fucktons of energy, for me and the entire community. I feel...tired. Guilty and sorry. We are done with that now; I want to move on.

There is so much MORE than our narrow drama that happened here over the past year.

I was actually a pretty decent contributor to the community as a whole, despite my frequent hostilities. That's because I trained myself to be really great at focusing on "work" so I can ignore real feelings. There was a lot about that relationship I didn't want to face, and plenty of "work" to be done around the @gardenofeden - a perfect recipe for me!

I say "work", because at the GOE it's all play - we do only those things we want to do.

Things like building rocket stoves out of mud on which to cook über dank food outside in fresh air and sunshine.

^{@everlove builds a sustainable outdoor kitchen appliance out of dirt.}

Assembling hugel mounds which remain prolific, abundant, rich garden beds for decades.

Growing and harvesting mulberries, blackberries, radishes, cucumbers, peaches, watermelons, figs, yellow tomatoes, okra, arugula, carrots, lemon thai & 6 other kinds of basil, rosemary, moringa, oregano, sweet potatoes, beets, sage, gourds, garlic, kale, green onions, spinach, Swiss chard, 7 kinds of mint, hackberries, and pecans.

Feeding 40,000 free meals to hungry people.

Keeping chickens and preserving food.

Constructing domiciles and facilities out of repurposed materials, just a fraction of the 200,000 pounds of valuable resources we save in a year.

Catering mouthgasms to the vendors at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, serving entrees du jour such as buffalo meatloaf stuffed with chicken, feta, & spinach sausage stuffed jalapeños, wrapped in bacon and topped with homemade ketchup made from our own fresh herbs & tomatoes, with a side of lavender mashed potatoes.

Taking our wares to national festivals and local farmers markets, and launching a new website to showcase them and this awesome project 24/7 to people all over the world.

Those are just a few of the things we did in my first year here, but most significant to me of all the accomplishments is the space @quinneaker held for growth, empowerment, and evolution of not just me, but everyone in this community.

All of those things added so much more value than the countless, selfish fights I engaged over the past year.

As it is New Year's Day 2016, I'm thinking about resolutions. I want less conflict, and more of those valuable things in my life. I am committed to choosing a better way than that last relationship; thankfully, a better way is already surrounding me here at the GOE. This will be a year of redirecting focus.

I feel myself still tied up inside, and I know I need to free up more energy so I have more to give to the people who have supported me so deeply.

For my 2016 New Year's resolution, I pledge to forgive my ex to set us both free.

TBH I don't really know what that means yet, because I still feel angry - but I am dedicated to learning.

And I have access to one of the greatest teachers I could imagine, a woman who has done a most radical thing in the name of love:

Her name is @everlove.

Do you want to know why I live at the @gardenofeden?

Join me in the next post, and I'll get to the really good stuff.


Part 11














✨💛✨ Sara!