Zaadz + you + what you've been up to.
Posted on Jul 16th, 2007
by 
Gaia Team
Gaia Team
It's Siona again.
I wasn't going to start out by mentioning this, but you know what? I will anyway.
This past weekend I ended up at conference on online communities. I had a good time there (I love conferences solely for the coffee breaks; they're a fantastic excuse to meet new people ;), but what I appreciated most about the day was how grateful it made me for Zaadz.
Nearly all the presenters talked about the unique features of their social networking sites, or the technology they were most excited about, or what techniques they used to "get viral." Obviously these things are important, and they undoubtedly have their place. Still, I kept being struck by how different my own reaction was... and I how lucky I felt as a result.
Because when people asked me about Zaadz, the first thing I mentioned was YOU.
It's true. To me, what defines this site, more than anything else, is the community itself—all of you who are writing and connecting and conversing and supporting each other, who come here for inspiration and who inspire me (and, obviously, the entire team) every day, to grow more and be more and love more. And I came home feeling so, so fortunate.
So thank you for that. Deeply.
And now we'll get on to what I really wanted to update about: what's going on in the community itself.
Remember Jeff? He's the Zaadz member working to provide safe drinking water and basic health care to children in Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the Americas. He wanted to extend a thank you to everyone who donated as a result of the last note. (If you'd like to contribute to either the dialogue or the project, check out the blog entry here ... if nothing else, you might want to just acknowledge the importance of his work.)
And then you might say hello to Haydn, an artist on the site who recently started a foundation with the name of Great Hearts Afire, which provides a venue for honoring those who are making the world better. Or Sherry, who wrote to share her currently work in Nicaragua opening medical clinics with the donations from individuals and small fundraisers, and to say that two weeks ago another young Zaadz member, Ben, just flew down to their clinic in Julgalpa to open a botanical pharmacy there.
Finally, there's Alix, who's just embarked on a Peace Scooter tour. Peace Scooter? If you're curious, check out her profile to see how one new Zaadz member is "putting peace on the map."
What I said before about inspiring? Exactly.
And one more thing about this group. Last week you got a note about conscious capitalism. Here's a little followup. We've got somewhere around 250 zPro users, with another batch due in this week.
Is it obvious, yet, how excited I am about this? I'll tell you a little secret about one of my dreams. I know Zaadz is filled with people who've read books like Eckhard Tolle's Power of Now, or who feel some resonance with Neale Donald Walsh's writings, or Dan Millman 's work, or Peter Senge's Presence , or, perhaps, who've been affected by Byron Katie's The Work. I know that I, personally, love connecting with those who "get it"—who are open to those marvelous synchronicities and alert to their meaning.
So how wonderful is it to think about bringing this into business? Or into your work?
What if you could do more to increase the connections you have to others who are tapped into that sense of purpose, and being, and compassion, so that the interactions you have in the marketplace—when you buy and sell and make and spend money—are infused with that same sense of connection and fulfillment?
I know. In many ways its already happening; you've probably noticed yourself. But, well, it's a dream of mine that Zaadz become a nexus for these exchanges. I think zPro will help. And I think we're already well on our way. But it's exciting, still, to imagine what lies ahead.
That's enough from me, though. Because you know what? If YOU have any ideas about how to help create this marketplace, and what tools or features we might build to enhance or facilitate this, please please please let us know. What do you want to see? What do you dream of? Just leave a note in the comments here. We're all ears.
Love, as always,
Siona
and the whole Zaadz Team.
PS. Business peeps? Our survey's still open. :)
I wasn't going to start out by mentioning this, but you know what? I will anyway.
This past weekend I ended up at conference on online communities. I had a good time there (I love conferences solely for the coffee breaks; they're a fantastic excuse to meet new people ;), but what I appreciated most about the day was how grateful it made me for Zaadz.
Nearly all the presenters talked about the unique features of their social networking sites, or the technology they were most excited about, or what techniques they used to "get viral." Obviously these things are important, and they undoubtedly have their place. Still, I kept being struck by how different my own reaction was... and I how lucky I felt as a result.
Because when people asked me about Zaadz, the first thing I mentioned was YOU.
It's true. To me, what defines this site, more than anything else, is the community itself—all of you who are writing and connecting and conversing and supporting each other, who come here for inspiration and who inspire me (and, obviously, the entire team) every day, to grow more and be more and love more. And I came home feeling so, so fortunate.
So thank you for that. Deeply.
And now we'll get on to what I really wanted to update about: what's going on in the community itself.
Remember Jeff? He's the Zaadz member working to provide safe drinking water and basic health care to children in Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the Americas. He wanted to extend a thank you to everyone who donated as a result of the last note. (If you'd like to contribute to either the dialogue or the project, check out the blog entry here ... if nothing else, you might want to just acknowledge the importance of his work.)
And then you might say hello to Haydn, an artist on the site who recently started a foundation with the name of Great Hearts Afire, which provides a venue for honoring those who are making the world better. Or Sherry, who wrote to share her currently work in Nicaragua opening medical clinics with the donations from individuals and small fundraisers, and to say that two weeks ago another young Zaadz member, Ben, just flew down to their clinic in Julgalpa to open a botanical pharmacy there.
Finally, there's Alix, who's just embarked on a Peace Scooter tour. Peace Scooter? If you're curious, check out her profile to see how one new Zaadz member is "putting peace on the map."
What I said before about inspiring? Exactly.
And one more thing about this group. Last week you got a note about conscious capitalism. Here's a little followup. We've got somewhere around 250 zPro users, with another batch due in this week.
Is it obvious, yet, how excited I am about this? I'll tell you a little secret about one of my dreams. I know Zaadz is filled with people who've read books like Eckhard Tolle's Power of Now, or who feel some resonance with Neale Donald Walsh's writings, or Dan Millman 's work, or Peter Senge's Presence , or, perhaps, who've been affected by Byron Katie's The Work. I know that I, personally, love connecting with those who "get it"—who are open to those marvelous synchronicities and alert to their meaning.
So how wonderful is it to think about bringing this into business? Or into your work?
What if you could do more to increase the connections you have to others who are tapped into that sense of purpose, and being, and compassion, so that the interactions you have in the marketplace—when you buy and sell and make and spend money—are infused with that same sense of connection and fulfillment?
I know. In many ways its already happening; you've probably noticed yourself. But, well, it's a dream of mine that Zaadz become a nexus for these exchanges. I think zPro will help. And I think we're already well on our way. But it's exciting, still, to imagine what lies ahead.
That's enough from me, though. Because you know what? If YOU have any ideas about how to help create this marketplace, and what tools or features we might build to enhance or facilitate this, please please please let us know. What do you want to see? What do you dream of? Just leave a note in the comments here. We're all ears.
Love, as always,
Siona
and the whole Zaadz Team.
PS. Business peeps? Our survey's still open. :)
Access: Public
community
August 2008 
Hi Sonia,
Darren Meade of Zaadz and I have recently launched a collaboration to bring Plasma Activated Water (PAW) to the world.
Since this is a GLOBAL task which can solve many problems in the world, we are discussing utilizing zPro to bring into being the beneficience it can bestow upon the world. Thus we look forward to creating a special humanitarian “Community of Caring Dual Global Citizens (DGC) many of whom can be from the Zaadz community!
Having met Darren online because of an amazing picture he displayed, “God's Water Colors,” within 36 hours after that he was drinking PAW! and then feeding it to the Hummingbirds who make his home their home!
How special is that?
Cordially,
Burt / ABC4All
Facilitator
Hi, Siona,
Carlos and I (Wavegarden) are eagerly awaiting our addition to zPro…any idea when it will be? We are looking forward to directly tying in with more people, to get our sounds out into the world!
For those (probably all except Sandra) of you who have no idea who I am and what I’m talking about, see www.wavegarden.net. Carlos and I are the core of a group making sounds with crystal singing bowls, wooden and silver flutes, and tabla, and occasionally with other instruments (with the help of others). The vibrations from the bowls have a deep effect on body tissue and brain function, and invite (some would even say push) people to reach a deeply relaxed state that can be profoundly healing….we call our events “concerts”, but several people who experienced the sounds recently said “it’s not a concert, it’s a full body experience!” We’re having a lot of fun and will be playing events in NYC, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and California during the coming six weeks, for those of you who are interested…we also have two CDs almost ready which will be downloadable via our site or iTunes. (Search Carlos Michael on iTunes now and you’ll find one of Carlos’ CDs from a few years ago called Healing Vibrations.)
Siona and all of you incredible Zaadsters, THANK YOU for what you’re doing!
with love,
LeAnn
hi siona!
you asked for ideas, and new features to think of:
what came immediatly to my mind was a dedicated place
to find projects (if i want to work, help donate and so on)
and to find resources (if i need help, money, knowlege,ideas and so on).
perhaps something between browser and jobexchange.
tags would propably be needed to find something.
even if one wasn't getting involved,
it would be inspiring to see whats going on on zaadz.
keep up the amazing work,
love and light
benjamin
really cool post Siona!
about ideas on new perspectives of work, here's an article I'd written for a friends website… it presents a different perspective of work - any work… hope zaadsters here like it and can relate to it! :)
Work is an opportunity
Your vision already is so exciting! Re: Networking, use my Global Peace Global
Healing at www.MySpace.com/Sakanta and /or put up a space on MySpace -
because MySpace is the 11th largest 'city' in the world.
Many conscious, spiritual world shakers are there. Will have more time to
give feedback after I return from the July 18-22 VisionForce Austin Event.
Sakanta Running Wolf
Take It Higher : Take It Sacred
Hi Sonia,
I agree with Benjamin. I am looking for support for my idea and would love a spot to network on the site. I have what I think are very manageable requests, if people wanted to be a small part of it, or a large part. I want to travel the globe and interview people who are making a difference and put them in an inspirational book with the money being donated to their projects. I need a photographer to travel with me or teach me to take photos for example. I also need places to crash while I travel on this adventure. I would be on a tight budget. A place to post requests would be fantastic.
Hi Siona,
Can someone update me and let me know when I'll have access to zPro? I feel like I've been waiting forever (or at least 3 weeks).
Thanks!
Trudi
It is great that zaadz is always thinking of new ways to improve “our” communication with each other and even better sharing with each other how to better the world; that is greatly appreciated im sure by all of us. As a subject a little bit off topic, i was wondering if anyone had an answer to a crucial (or at least to me) question i need to know. While shopping for hairspray, i always check the back for CFCs emitted from the can, and during my exibition to find the best spray if found that a couple like garnier nutriesse didn't display whether or not they contained environmentally damaging subsances. Of course i didn't buy it, but does anyone know whether the unmarked bottles/cans have CFCs in them?
Hello Zaadz,
Well I have not said a word, because really I don't think this site can help me. In fact I don't think any site can. People are too wrapped up in their own projects and work. Doesn't matter how many doors you knock, it becomes rather bland knowing people can not help even if they wanted to. Rich guys never respond to help, and so blaaaaahh kind of like death nothing you can do about it. Its the shits I think.
Any way I have good ambitions, started a company to grow Ethanol on the Ocean. my website: http://www.sugarcitycane.com but no one is interested. They have their own Global Warming friends, and they don't like sharing. I am no salesman, I am a realist. All I can do is tell the truth and hope…but no body listens….. Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa to death.
Dominic,
Your webpage is interesting, what are your ideas? Global Warming is an issue I definitly want to be a part of changing. Would love to hear where you are going with this.
Lori
I agree, it is the people who make this site what it is. Hey, you know, we should mention others like Barry, remember him?
Yeah, I will never forget him, he met my wife here, told her she was an “Zaadz Ambassador” they ended up running away together and after that, he kills himself. Yeah, we should remember all of the people who have made our lives just that more special on Zaadz.
Hi, I've got an idea, and I have an idea about having ideas. That would be a “meta-idea”?
Geez. My little ideas have been sitting in tiny brain since yesterday, trying to get out. And just now, I read Mr. Bulldog's problems above. Whoa. Gotta send him some LOVE and then find my ideas again…
OK, the “Meta-idea” first. And if there's already something like this, then I wish I knew about it. But I think we need a Zaadz Snack Tray. ZSnacks? You know I love food… anyway… this is about Conscious Capitalism Snacks. It would be nice if there were a place where people could post their epiphanies (not their fannies) if they have COOL business ideas that they, themselves don't have any intention at all of carrying out, but somebody could do it, and that would make the world a better place. For example? OK, that's where I share the little idea…
We all know about student loans. People borrow money at really low, fair, interest rates for the purpose of obtaining their education, and then pay it back over a long period of time. OK, I'm a college instructor, and most of my students are at the very low end of the socioeconomic spectrum. I see them struggle a lot with so many things. Especially single moms and young parents… I see them dealing with cars that break down or don't exist, not having access to a decent computer at home, and not having health insurance. A real killer is not being able to get dental care, or the evil “I missed class because I sat in the emergency room all day because I needed antibiotics because my teeth are abscessing again because I can't afford to go to the dentist.” Ohmygosh. How are people supposed to study and realize their potential, when they end up dealing with the bottom third of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs all the time?
So, my idea is that conscious capitalists could get together to promote education loans and car sales and computer sales and insurance sales all at one fell swoop. WHAT IF there were agreements in place, so that a student could borrow money not only for tuition and books, but also for specific good-running autos (maybe with a repair agreement along with the auto purchase) and a good laptop all together in the same package? There could be a variety of possible packages, tailored to the needs of various types of students. There could even be an 800-ADVICENOW number, where the student could call in and talk to that stable mentoring presence that they so often don't have in their life. That would help to protect the loan investment, and provide a very positive link between the lender and the borrower. Kind of like having that Rich Dad who loans you what you need to grow and be safe, but by way of building strength of character, asks you to pay it back…
Anyway, that's my idea. But obviously, I don't have the capital or the network to implement my idea, and it's more or less outside the scope of my life's work. But there it is, nevertheless. And so back to the meta-idea level. Wouldn't it be nice if there were a snack tray where we could post our hair brained schemes, and entrepreneurs who wanted some crazy inspiration could come by and graze to their heart's content.
Hi Siona,
I am not so much of a virtual networker. I recognize and appreciate the profound value of virtual networking, but it is my belief that the real work that needs to get done in the world today is the face-to-face work that we do together and the hands-on work we do with our environment. I am hoping that with the tools provided in zPro, I'll be able to form a more coherant network in my own home and THEN I'll be able to justify spending more time networking with the wonderful people found on Zaadz.
I am trying to create a free-media venue for the world, tentatively called The Paradigm. I am eagerly awaiting my free trial of zPro. I'm really hoping that the tools you have offered me will provide people a place to collaborate on a local scale, which means meeting people face-to-face, hand-in-hand. With just a handful of devoted human beings, The Paradigm can become self-sustained by the ethical actions of the volunteers themselves. Right now you can check out our corporate-sponsored free website that is almost completely inactive due to low publicity and poor functionality. (ato.smartcapital.ca/theparadigm)
Apart from that I am teaching myself bio-intensive organic agriculture as well as natural building techniques. My wife and I have a plan to become multi-disciplinary practitioners and teachers. We will find our own piece of land, build our own multi-faceted and multi-family residence (also acting as a community center, school, art studio, farm and temple), grow our own food, and then teach others to do the same. This is, in our view, bringing human civilization back to Earth.
Simultaneously I am writing a manifesto about the future of humanity. It will go over every aspect of living with a focus on the structures of power we have created throughout history and the natural hierarchy of evolution. The emphasis will be on growing into maturity as a species and finding ourselves not as many families or nations divided against each other, but as one united family caring for each other to continue living indefinitely.
I appreciate your e-mails, and while I realize that from where you are at in your life your job is filled with inspirational reflections, I don't always resonate with the uplifting speeches. Of course it is inspiring to see everything happening at Zaadz for me, but from where I am at in my life it is more important to practice what I preach, and the face-to-face community needed to do that in this city is only just beginning to appear.
I would like to see Zaadz become a more locality-oriented networking site, but that is only because I personally believe it is through acting locally that a global harmony can be achieved. There is a lot of preaching of great ideals and world-changing, but in my home town Zaadz has done little to bring about real change. I know it isn't Zaadz mission to change the world, but rather to unite individuals who wish to change the world. I haven't found anyone on Zaadz who lives in my city though, so maybe you could aim a little of your energy towards Canada's capital?
As the top per-capita users of energy and one of the strongest military powers on the planet, Canada needs a change desperately. Our brothers and sisters of aboriginal ancestry are left to live in slums with poor health and little respect, our farmers are in poverty and our local businesses are struggling in niche markets away from the mainstream eye. I intend to see many things change in my lifetime, but it will take empowered human beings from all across the nation for it to really work.
I hope that when I get my copy of zPro I will be able to bring the enthusiasm and solidarity found among Zaadz members to Ottawa through my own actions, and I hope that in the future Zaadz will connect people not only on far-reaching virtual scales but in the very small and real scale of my home town.
Thank you for all you have done, deeply. There is much more to be done still, but Zaadz has made a great leap on the internet and I look forward to see this frog-like idea mature.
To future growth, may all your harvests be fruitful. Good-onwards!
Graeme
Bulldog, no no no, not me that is dead, but the idea was killed. Hello Lori, my idea is to grow ethanol on the Ocean for the Worlds supply needs. My idea is dead because GW Bush killed it. We have two real wars going on. There is the so called war on terrorism, which GW Bush is fighting to get the Oil for the so called rich USA, and there is the Global Warming War. Global Warming is winning the fight, because GW Bush is not fighting it. He contributes to it. How does freeing Iraq, for their Oil to be used on the market stop Global Warming. In fact it will make the planet hotter. Saddam Hussein was doing us a favor by limiting the Oil supply and that has helped slow global warming, but now it will get worse because of GW Bush.
My idea creates a real fuel that can be used in trucks for our goods to be shipped across the land boundries, and it can be used for cars. It stops Global Warming. Hybrid Hydrogen cars do not really work. It is unstable with its weak membrane problem cracking when temperatures change, and hydrogen takes more fuel to create it, than used, along with the storage tank problem. Ethanol works because it is a renewable fuel. The cane gives O2 into the air, and eats up CO2, where hybrid cars do not contribute this factor. And the energy used to make is less than hydrogen, and ethanol can be stored easily in a regular gasoline tank. No major restructuring is required to transport it.
It is grown on the equator because there it has no hurricanes, typhoons, or cyclones. Granted high winds do come, but satellite monitoring can forcast and warn to allow our ship train to move out of the way. The processing is very easy and automated, unlike growing sugarcane on land. The aquatic rafts float through a cutter, while the cane is squeezed and bagrasse separated. Bagrasse can be used as the fuel to heat the distillery to produce the ethanol.
It is a splendid plan, but GW Bush is in the way. How to get him out of the way…so the world can be self supporting in growing Ethanol on the ocean. Oil should be preserved of what we have left…for space exploration. Nuclear Energy also a limited resource should be planned to build and make on Mars, where waste rods and contamination, and dirty bombs are not a threat to mankind on earth. In fact nuclear power will certainly create a new living planet body in the near future.
But GW Bush is in the Way. How to get him out of the way…..without using terror? In fact GW Bush is Global Warming and the problem to humanity….but he can not reason. He has sent soldiers to their death, when I have showed him how he could of avoided this. He does not want to think his acts were in vain. He can not accept his failure. And yet the denial is ever so apparant. So you see Bulldog and Lori how my idea is so large and great that it is killed by the powers that be. They can not accept the real solution, because it would make them incompetent, make then a laughing stock to the world…..and yet I am dished the plate of shit and stew piss.
Who can achieve the great and the impossible? I think the solution is present, but the devil calls other people devils and the angels fight amongst themselves. How can I proceed….how can I see the vision? GW Bush is in the Way…..How do I get him out of the way, without using terror?
I think Democracy should come to all countries in the world…..but I think Democracy is like George Bush. It is in the way. Democracies will fight against each other. We know Americans fight each other for their own style of Democracy….so how is Democracy really democracy? It is like religion……many religions in the world….but they are not the same…. so Democracy is suppose to guarantee their freedom???…..Yet democracy is not the same…..Who's democracy is the real democracy???? Whose religion is the real religion???
It is Global Warming who is winning the battle, because money used to fight each other is not used to fight Global Warming…As we struggle against and against to establish the winner who has the most money and guns….we lose the battle to Global Warming. Global Warming swallows us like the poor people on the Kiribati Islands. America dropped 33 Atomic Bombs over the Kiribati nad Marshall Islands. There is no such thing as a test. They are real. Chernobyl and 3 mile Island are nothing to the real atomic explosions called tests. How many tests have we done in the world? 2250 atomic Chernobyles, and 3 mile Islands. They were done in the atomosphere to make sure the radiation swept and blew around the planet for us to breath, in the ocean to contaminate our fish and tuna, and to kill our coral reefs, underground to contaminate our drinking water, artesian wells, and veins of drinking waters. Certainly done by all who own the atomic bombs, but no one admits guilt, accepts responsibility, or establishes a government that berids of nuclear development. Rich nations need to be first to dismantle. Stopping is not enough. Dismantling is necessary.
But GW Bush is in the Way. How do we get him out of the Way without using terror?
Death of my idea I think in 3 days it will rise from the dead…..and the world will see the answer….realize we have someting greater to do than honor our counrties tis of thee, but to save the world from our past crimes to humanity. America needs to stop defending its criminal past. Come to the realization we are for each other….not ourselves.
http://www.sugarcitycane.com
I stopped driving a car now for 6 years, I ride a bike……..If you can read my website….see my picture…. maybe we can turn the page and get GW Bush out of the way,…without using terror.