Hello again dear ones,

The awesome work continues, thanks to the support we are receiving from each of you. The sanctuary is transforming rapidly as we are moving through our list of enhancements to the already magical zone. We are approaching the projects in a sequence to meet our immediate needs and bolster the goodness that is already in place, then expand into new parts of the growing sanctuary.

All the while, we are continuing to hold the good works, keep the gardens going and sweat lodges cooking us. It has been a fun and well-planned dance thus far.

First, we fortified and beautified the kitchen space so that it can immediately serve us in more diverse ways and require less energy for ongoing maintenance. It is really cool as is, and in the future will have a large open second floor above the kitchen . . . a multi-purpose movement/yoga and music space (that can also be a space for kids and helpers to hang out if there are other activities on the farm). We are working toward having events that can nourish and support whole families in an easeful way.

After phase one for the kitchen, we loved up the bathhouse by adding an extra shower and closing in surrounding the space with beautiful cement and river stonework. It now has a layer of insulation from the encroaching plants and weather, a cozy and safe little nook for caring for our personal needs.

From there, we jumped to creating the totally new storage/workshop hub for ongoing operations. The "Bodega" will serve as the engine for the rest of the building projects and upgrades to the sanctuary. A close friend donated a bunch of metal laminas that we re-purposed to be the walls, and the funds that came through the GoFundMe made for a rapid build that is super buttoned up, with welded metal shelves and storage racks, (some designed specifically for our long term fire-wood storage, and others scaled for the particular size tools and containers we use most) proper drainage, an outdoor covered workspace and large doors to be able to back the truck right up for ease and efficiency.

Everything is designed to incorporate the existing materials that we have accumulated and is then built to mitigate the challenges of our unique climate and biodiversity. Now, all that is left to complete the bodega is to paint the exterior, and add rocks to the new parking zone around it. This space is already helping everything to feel more organized, allowing us to get certain materials in advance or in bulk that will help the ongoing work in numerous ways.

I love creating spaces that highlight the beauty of the earth around us. Today we are recreating the path down to the river and temezcal/sweat lodge zone. This time it is being made of river rocks and cement and weaving through the boulders that cascade down the hill. It will be fun to plant all kinds of palms, flowers, and herbs along the path once the rains begin again.

Part of my experience thus far is getting to re-connect with all the plants that surround each area where we are focused. The sanctuary zone has a wide variety of medicinal trees, plants, and flowers throughout. As the new paths come into being, we plan to increase the diversity of medicinals, flowers, and light up the whole area with more magic of the incredible plant kingdom.

As we build these spaces that provide beautiful shelter, comfort and artistic inspiration we are also creating spaces in between, devoted to the waters and the plants that nourish and sustain us. We are devoted to harmonizing with the incredible diversity of life that can exist in this region.

May you feel the harmony inside and outside when you come here or even consider this place. May it be a reminder of the beauty of your true heart and your basic goodness.

By the end of this week, we will be setting the grid for the first casita in the sanctuary. It will be perched above the temple and kitchen, with a view out to the sea, and a deck for taking in the breeze and the musical tropical sounds. After casita 1, we are all set to continue with more accomodations and the other cool items on our master list. These upgrades will allow folks to have a very unique, beautiful space that supports the deeply transformative work we offer and another level of immersion with the plant kingdom and all that mother earth has to offer us.

We are currently in a full-time work flow so now is a great time to show your support through the GofundMe site. We are so grateful for all of you, for the chance to continue to share this work with you and our growing family. Thanks for being a part of this!!

With Love,

Kevin, Melissa and family

Thank you so much for being part of this community and part of our lives. We are humbled by the support from each of you and excited to bring the next expression of this sacred land into existence together.

As we started to see more clearly what's being called for on this land, we began to have visions of all of you, and all the times we have worked, sat, prayed, laughed, and cried together over the years. We see your shining faces and crystal drops of sincere tears as you did your work and together held the container as each brother and sister did theirs. We have also watched you bless-up your families and communities as a result of your own deep transformation. We offer a deep bow of respect and gratitude for your walk. We see you. Thank you for walking this path of love with us and becoming family.

Just like you, we have received much guidance from the medicine, from sitting in ceremony with you all, and from this beautiful land we call home. We are now being asked by this sacred land to bring forth the right environment, structures and experiences to be most supportive and healing for your personal growth and that of this community's.

Below you can find the details of the plans for the land.

You’ll see a timeline for projects that puts us ahead of the rainy season this year. The first 3 months of the new year are when we will have the biggest push. As funds arrive (via this campaign and our regular temple work), this is roughly how we will proceed. We will do as much as we can with the gifts and resources as they come and will adjust the flow as needed. We have a solid plan and feel we have followed the guidance given as well as made achievable goals.

We hope you will consider making a financial contribution that is aligned with your desire, commitment and call to partner with us in bringing balance, harmony and healing to each of us, our larger community, and our amazing Mother Earth.

With love,

Kevin and Melissa

THE PLAN

The temple has opened the healing current on this land and inside many people. Now it is time to expand our ability to support everyone's preparation and integration to optimally benefit from their experience.

We will build cabins and structures that allow for people to stay on the land, create spaces for bodywork and movement, enhance our ability to feed the masses (YUM!), and to expand our capacity to grow and cook medicine. Our aim is to increase everyone's comfort, ease, flow and joy while visiting the sanctuary.

Below you'll find:

The plan is detailed and interconnected. Each structure supports others and brings the vision into clear focus. Additionally, there is an economy of scale available when purchasing larger quantities of materials and having the work crews overlapping projects during a given period of time.

To create this holistic, supportive, and healing ecosystem, we will:

Details of each project and how they fit integrally together are below. As you will see from the gifts we want to offer you for your financial contributions, this is designed to be a community project that brings everyone together to further each of our healing and growth.

It's not only that we could not do this without you, but rather that we are doing it for and with you.

More Details on Each Project

Here is more about what we intend to do in each domain, so the vision can come alive for you as well.

1. Upgrade the Temple. We intend to seal the concrete floor, finish the rafters, replace the roof cupola, and sand and varnish all wood. A cup washing station will be added out back, along with a back door and cubbies for storage. A new handrail to the bathroom and some improved drainage will be installed, along with paths and landscaping to have easier access to a deeper relationship with the land.

2. Expand the kitchen & bodega. Phase 1 will transform what has served as the rustic kitchen and medicine cook space into a relaxing hangout space with comfortable eating and dining spaces and a proper kitchen. Phase 2 (not included in this fundraiser) will be a semi-enclosed meditation, movement, workshop and yoga space. We will use these congregational spaces to relax before and after sessions, host other healing modalities, and have a comfortable place to deepen community when on the land.

3. Enhance the bathroom area. We will sand and re-varnish the counter, install a new sink, add windows and solar fixtures into the toilets for more light. The shower will be enclosed, adding another and installing hotter, Yay! We also plan to add some extra personal sinks as well as cubbies and storage.

4. Build a new cookhouse. As we expand the kitchen we will move the medicine cook space into its own new location. There we will be able to expand our capacity to cook and to serve medicine.

5. Build 6 new cabins. We will add eco-beautiful, well-appointed cabins to provide more private space for you to integrate, process, and be inspired. This will allow people to stay on the land between sessions and during retreats.

6. Expand the plant nursery. We will expand the garden areas and greenhouses, installing an irrigation system, to continue to cultivate the plants for making the holy sacrament, other medicines and food.

7. Build a storage bodega. We will build a working and storage space for tools, implements, retreat equipment, etc..

8. Install a new gate. The new, enclosed, gate will create more privacy and have a protective covering above it, so everyone stays dry while opening and closing it during the rains.

9. Build a movement pavilion and kid's activity zone. Nothing like this exists in the area. The idea is that parents and kids can come as a family to the sanctuary for time on the land together and also enjoy separate activities. (Medicine...skateboarding... you get the idea. And hence, Family Camp is born!)

10. Build a recording studio. We have long dreamed of the ability to record songs with our team, and with guest musicians. We wish to be able to create music within the vibration of the sanctuary and capture it on audio tracks to share with the family at large.

11. Build an 8-person sauna. We dream of a wood-fired sauna and water features to optimize the healing and integration experiences around the medicine work and communing with the land.

TIMELINE

THE BUDGET

THE INVITATION

As you can see from these plans, we want to wisely and holistically bring forth a space that is conducive to integrating what we are learning in ceremony.

There are some of us in this community for whom a $10,000 or $25,000 gift is a fit financially and energetically. For others, making a $150 or $500 gift might be a stretch. We invite you to make a gift that feels in alignment with your vision for this future.

THE BENEFITS

If you saw this campaign earlier, when there were gifts-for-gifts listed here in this section, we are very sorry to report that we have been required by GoFundMe to remove those. We were not aware that the platform doesn't allow it. We are sorry for any confusion this caused and still very much appreciate the GoFundMe organization for making this all possible.

No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made to our campaign.

We thank you for your consideration and your love!