Our Mission: Living Joyfully Together
Along the years of living together and with the help of many of our friends, we have developed a set of tools which assist our interpersonal relationships. Although we’re far from perfect, these tools have and continue to help us communicate truthfully and share our life journey through joy, pain, harmony and struggle.
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Natural building
Natural building is a powerful way to create a deep felt sense of place, and to build structures that are in harmony with the natural world through building design and construction. Several of the buildings at Full Bloom are constructed with natural building materials, including straw bale, cob and earthen plasters. Full Bloom has hosted four workshops to date, to teach various elements of natural building to the local and international community. Natural building is place-based building and reflects the values of the emerging ecologically based culture.
Somatic arts
We fully encourage the expression of self through the diversity of Somatic Arts. Past trauma held within the body can be released by harnessing modalities such as art, painting, dance, movement, bodywork and performance, giving rise to healing through creativity. Weekly yoga sessions on the land bring the community together and facilitate a centering of the body and mind before we begin work.
Permaculture principles
Eden and Ryan both trained in permaculture and have applied many of the principles to the systems on the land, including gravity fed irrigation, hedgerows, perennial food crops, and biodiversity protection. Full Bloom is currently seeking an experienced permaculturalist to thoroughly integrate permaculture design in the community.
Potluck and Sauna Sundays
Sundays are days where we connect and enjoy much needed leisure time together. Friends and family are invited to join our Sunday potluck dinners, and we enjoy our gorgeous cedar sauna and the refreshing moonlit pond. This is a truly magical revival for body, mind and spirit.
Meditation
Inner harmony extends outwards and meditation is one of the ways of cultivating inner peace. We often start our meetings with a short meditation to, our founding members all practice individual meditation. One of our current intentions is to hold weekly group meditation sessions for both members and the wider community.
Community Dinners
Food tastes the best when it is shared! Every weeknight we gather together for communal dinner to eat together, share stories from the day, and enjoy the food mostly grown on our land. Each community member takes turns cooking for the group once a week, which means we enjoy being catered for the rest of the weekday evenings.
Matrix circles
Matrix circles are based on the idea that the strength and vitality of a group is based on individual relationships. In matrix circles one person shares directly with one other individual while the whole group listens and witnesses. The receiver then chooses to share with another member of the group. Matrix style sharing helps weave a web of connection as individuals. interact directly with each other while the group supports silently. Sharers check in about how they are feeling or offer gratitude to receivers, and receivers offer feedback about what is shared. Matrix style check-ins can also be utilized to open other kinds of meetings, to vocalize and clear anything getting in the way of feeling connected and present. For more info go to: http://matrixleadership.org/
Expressive dance
Two of the founding members, Ryan and Eden are Ecstatic Dance facilitators who actively guide and participate in the local Ashland dance community. Many forms of expressive dance are practiced, including Contact Improvisational Dance and Tantric Dance. These modalities allow individuals to connect to their inner self and each other, and it is just plain fun!
Neighbourhood gatherings
Through neighborhood gatherings we connect with the wider community of the Applegate Valley and surrounding areas. We hold holiday and birthday celebrations, community mapping sessions, music concerts and other community events which help weave and strengthen the bonds between us.
Community work days
Weeding, planting, harvesting, watering, cleaning, and other maintenance, there is no shortage of things to do around here! Community work days are held twice a week and are an effective way to work while also having fun together: many hands make light work.
Rewilding
We are surrounded by thousands of acres of wildland that we are always working to understand and care for more deeply. We are working to source more of our sustenance and living materials from the wild, and to incorporate indigenous ways of tending the forest landscape. We collaborate with a group that establishes camp in our forest in winter and works to regenerate the abundance of the wild lands.
Heart / Sharing circles
Heart circles give us the opportunity to check in with each other on a deeper level; to connect in our truth and speak openly from our hearts within a safe space; to truly express ourselves transparently and give and receive the love and support that we all crave; heart circles create understanding, compassion and a deeper connection between community members and temporary residents.
Organic gardening
The four founding members of Full Bloom met at Green Gulch Zen Farm and Center in Marin County, California. At Green Gulch they learned about several different philosophies of gardening, including biointensive, biodynamic, and Elliot Coleman's Four Season Harvest, as well as the particular styles and methods of the master gardeners and farmers there. Ryan, our current garden chief, has also been very influenced by Steve Soloman, who wrote "Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades,” and master farmers such as Tom Powell at Wolf Gulch Farm and Tom Ward of Siskiyou Permaculture. Organic Gardening is an ongoing conversation with our particular microclimate, soil type, topography, insects and other elements, one we learn more from every year as the conversation unfolds.