Posts Tagged ‘Kingston’
14/06/2013
Tom on board his yacht in Bluff, New Zealand
I had the good fortune to meet Tom Shepherd yesterday, here in the little town of Kingston, New Zealand.
Although he won’t admit it, Tom has a remarkable story to tell, which actually isn’t over yet. He’s half way through a “figure-8 circumnavigation” of the North and South Islands of New Zealand – and he’s learning to sail as he goes along. What’s more impressive is he’s approaching his 84th birthday next month, and, he has been diagnosed with cancer. Seven years ago he was given six months to live. Every six months after that, for two years, nothing happened. He finally decided he wasn’t going to sit around to see would happen. Learn more of his story:
When he sailed in to the docks in Motueka, near Nelson, people were gathering and walking down the dock to greet him with “You must be Tom Shepherd, the fellow sailing down the coast.” Word had traveled before his arrival. Since then he’s been interviewed by the Maori Channel here in New Zealand. He was kind enough to grant me the interview (see above), but, half joking, said he was considering going into hiding.
The next leg of his journey would provide an opportunity as a recluse, as he heads from New Zealand’s southern tip into the deep fjords of the the west coast. I want to keep track of this man – who is an inspiration. He’s getting out there and doing something. He’s not posting on Facebook or blogs, he’s just doing it. Tom’s adventure is about being alive as much as it is the uncharted journey on his yacht. It reminds me of the quote by William G.T. Shedd – “A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.”
Please see the pos
t interview clip, (below) of how Mr. Shepherd “rubbed off” on a bummed out cab driver in the Christchurch area. It’s been said that one of the tenants of a spiritual person is to serve as a fire that helps kindle the soul of another. Tom Shepherd humble, but the results around him seem to be clear. He’s making this place a better world, just by living.
See this great video piece on Maori TV’s Native Affairs about Tom’s Journey
Tags:A ship is safe in a harbor, bucket list, cancer, inspiration, Kingston, life, Maori TV, Mountain Spirit, Mountain Spirit NZ, Native Affairs, New Zealand, Randall Richards, Tom Shepherd, what now, william G.T. Shedd
Posted in 1- Video Posts, Boating/Water, Health, Holistic Living, Indigenous Wisdom, Inspirational People, Leadership, New Zealand, Spiritual | Leave a Comment »
12/07/2012
Mountain Spirit Institute Offers Upcoming Programs and Special Events
Mountain Spirit Institute of the Dartmouth Lake Sunapee Region and Queenstown New Zealand area, is offering programs this summer and fall in New Hampshire, based on its mission to “help people reconnect with the environment, each other and a deeper connection to one’s self”.
The first program, on July 22nd , is an Adventure Educator’s Sharing Symposium open to teachers, students and outdoor educators who would like to share, learn and apply best practices of group processing and facilitation, especially with a holistic approach. There is no charge, as MSI is offering this as a public service.
Mountain Spirit will also be offering a Reconnection with Nature Hike on July 24th where there will be hiking to a local mountaintop, and participants will have a chance to relax with a short meditation and powerful nature reading. Again, there is no charge, as MSI is offering this as a public service.
On July 28th there will be a one-day Solo retreat starting at eight in the morning with a basic orientation and safety talk. Participants will then be shown their own “solo spot” where they will spend the day with minimal gear and distractions. There is a nominal program fee for this event. There will also be an Overnight Solo on August 24th and 25th where participants spend the night under a tarp in a beautiful local setting. The goal for Solo’s are to reconnect, unplug, contemplate and be present in nature with few distractions with the safety net of experienced facilitators and guides. Solos will also be offered as an on-demand basis.
Lama Miller
Mountain Spirit Institute is collaborating with Lama Willa Miller of the Wonderwell Refuge, in Springfield NH on an outdoor adventure program called Mindfulness in the Mountains. The Natural Dharma Fellowship has a retreat center, where the program will be based for the weekend of Oct 12-14th.
MSI will offer again its MSI Film Series, one of which will be Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. This remarkable film follows two men, one an Australian and other an American truck driver, on their amazing path to recovering their health through juicing and healthy lifestyle choices . There will be some testimonials and discussion after the film. They do what their website calls a “reboot of your body”.
Rock Climbing will be offered to parent/children pairs, as well as families up to four, on the local crags in the region by appointment.
Mountain Spirit Institute is an insured non-profit educational organization started in 1998. Their first program was a cultural immersion trip to Peru. All of the summer and fall programs will be facilitated and managed by internationally recognized guides and facilitators. For more information on any of these programs or on Mountain Spirit Institute, visit their website at www.mtnspirit.org or call 603-763-2668
Tags:Darthmouth Lake Sunapee Region, Fat Sick and Nearly Dead, Hiking, Kingston, Lama Willa Miller, Meditation, Mountain Spirit Insititute, Mountains, MSI Film Series, Natural Dharma Fellowship, New Zealand, Queenstown, Randy Richards, Rock Climbing, Solo, Sunapee, Tibetan Buddhism, Wonderwell Refuge, Zen
Posted in Climb/Ski/Mntneering, Experiential Education, Film/DVD, Focus on MSI People, Health, Holistic Living, Indigenous Wisdom, Inner Work, MSI News, Power of Place, Spiritual | Leave a Comment »
14/01/2012
Check out the South Coast Environmental Society, and stay tuned for the video, “Welcome to the Food Forest”. There are tons of volunteer opportunities as well.
YOUR FOOD SUPPLY #31: A Modest Kiwi Environmental Centre Note: (This video series started in 2010, while listening to the audio version of the book, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”, when Amanda and I were driving across the U.S. and were seeing the effects of industrial farming in real time while listening to the book. Here’s that first entry Your Food Supply #1 To see the whole series, click on the category “Your Food Supply” in the category section of this blog on the right of your screen.
Tags:Invercargill, Kingston, Mark Baily, Mountain Spirit, Randall Richards, Randy, Riverton, Robert nd Robyn Guyton, South Coast Environment Society, South Island, Volunteer opportunities, Your Food Supply
Posted in 1- Video Posts, Conservation, Environment, Experiential Education, Health, Holistic Living, New Zealand, Sustainable Living/Communities, Your Food Supply | Leave a Comment »
14/01/2012
An Outpost of Sustainability
Robert and Robyn Guyton were determined to start a food forest instead of mowing a front lawn. And a forest did they grow, when in the mid-’90’s, they purchased some land and a house in the small coastal town of Riverton, New Zealand. Riverton along with its neighbor, Invercargill rank as one of the southernmost towns in the world, and back then Riverton was an affordable place to buy land. It still is compared to the northern resort towns of Wanaka and Queenstown, the latter which graces its runway with private jets, rivaling Aspen Colorado.
The Guytons worked in earnest on their two lots planting trees and plants based on permaculture practices. When they first started, they received some odd looks from the neighbors, as their front yard started to take on the forest look. There were no other like-minded people in Riverton when they arrived, but undeterred, they started a cooperative learning center called the South Coast Environment Society.
YOUR FOOD SUPPLY #30: Build it & They Will Come Note: (This video series started in 2010, while listening to the audio version of the book, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”, when Amanda and I were driving across the U.S. and were seeing the effects of industrial farming in real time while listening to the book. Here’s that first entry Your Food Supply #1 To see the whole series, click on the category “Your Food Supply” in the category section of this blog on the right of your screen.
Today the organization modestly states on its website it is an umbrella group for a “several” local environmental groups who have information,displays and meetings in the centre. Those several groups include:
Groups working for protection and enhancement of local ecosystems:
- Riverton Estuary Care Society
- Aparima Pest Busters
- Aparima Nursery Enterprise
- Seed Balls for Restoration projects
Groups working to promote sustainable lifestyles:
- Riverton Natural Health Group
- South Coast Permaculture
- Sustainable Lifestyles project
- Riverton Organic Food Co-op
Groups promoting sustainable growing methods
- Riverton Organic Growers Gardeners Group
- Southland Seed Savers
- Riverton Organic Farmers Market
- Riverton Community Orchard
- Rivertonians for Alternatives to Toxic Substances (RATS)
Robert Guyton
My wife and I met the Guytons when they were giving a presentation on sustainability to the ultra small Garston School, (which deserves its own blog post), New Zealand. We were intrigued with their presentation, which included a movie (to be posted on this blog) called “Welcome to the Food Forest”. We decided to take our chances and take the hour and half drive from our place and show up unannounced. Even though we had a standing invitation, we happened to miss them, when we stopped by to say hi. Nevertheless, I decided to interview Mark Baily while visiting the centre. You can see the video on my adjacent post. We’ll have to get down there again when Robert and Robyn are home, so we can get the proper tour of their food forest!
YOUR FOOD SUPPLY #30: Build it & They Will Come Note: (This video series started 13 years ago, while listening to the audio version of the book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, when Amanda and I were driving across the U.S. and were seeing the effects of industrial farming in real time while listening to the book. Here’s that first entry Your Food Supply #1 To see the whole series, click on the category “Your Food Supply” in the category section of this blog on the right of your screen.
Tags:Garston, Garston School, Kingston, Mountain Spirit, New Zealand, Permaculture, Queenstown, Randall Richards, Riverton, Robert and Robyn Guyton, South Coast Environment Society, Sustainability, Wanaka, Welcome to the Food Forest
Posted in Environment, Inspirational People, Leadership, New Zealand, Service, Sustainable Living/Communities, Traveling, Your Food Supply | Leave a Comment »
11/01/2012
A New Zealand Farmer Does Good by Following His Passion
Tom O'Brien of High Country Walks
Tom O’Brien, owner of Blackmore Farm and founder of High Country Walks has followed his passion by offering up a little hut on the back side of his 5000 acre farm. Called the Chinaman’s Hut, it was restored some years ago, by local volunteers, Tom and his father. The hut is situated on the rolling mountains of the Slate Range, just south of the Remarkables Mountains, on the border of Otago and Southland. Tom took the afternoon to show me his farm, the backcountry and the Chinaman’s Hut. below is a short piece on the hut, and a chat with Tom about his philosophy and passion of sharing this part of the world with others.We’re in hopes, here at Mountain Spirit Institute of collaborating with Tom by running some programs on the Slate Range and Blackmore Farm. We chatted about providing Solo’s and other types of programs.
Thanks for the time you took to show me around Tom!
Note: I’ve met one of the volunteers who helped restore the Chinaman’s Hut, a neighbor of ours here in Kingston named Dusty, who I’ll see if I can get on tape in the next few days. He has an interesting story to tell of not only this restoration project by many others.
Tags:Blackmore Farm, Chinaman's Hut, Garston, Gold Rush, High Country Walks, history, huts, Kingston, Leadership, Otago, private land use, Race, Remarkables, Slate Range, Sluce, Solo, Southland, Tom O'brien, transport, Water issues, Wilderness
Posted in 1- Video Posts, Conservation, Holistic Living, Inspirational People, Mountain People, MSI News, New Zealand, Power of Place, Spiritual, Sustainable Travel, Traveling | Leave a Comment »
11/11/2011
We had 11/11 a bit earlier than most of the planet (if you’re going by clock-time). We decided to kick ours off with a picnic, a short sage ceremony, and finished it off with an evening rainbow. Welcome – The Age of Aquarius.
11 min after 11AM on 11/11
The Author, another tailgate picnic in Roberts Canyon, NZ
Evening Rainbow with Mtn Shadow Cutting In
Double Rainbow on 11/11 New Zealand
Tags:11/11/11, Ceremony, Kingston, Mountain Spirit, Mt Eyre, New Zealand, Pictures of Watch, Rainbow, Roberts Canyon, Signs, South Island
Posted in New Zealand, Power of Place | 2 Comments »
01/11/2011
Nothing to see here, keep moving..
Milford Sound is renowned for its world class beauty, its fjords, hikes, and waterfalls, wildlife and dramatic alpine terrain. It’s something to put on your “must do” list, despite its popularity with so many that come to New Zealand. However, the drive through (and under) the mountains, on NZ Highway 97 and its the 1270 meter Homer Tunnel also got my attention. I’m looking forward to getting out into the Darran Mountains soon, where there’s granite and lots alpine adventure to be had.
A sense of perspective and vertical relief from our sunroof
We took a day off, and drove over to Milford last month, and thought we’d share a few images.
Heading back to Kingston, we caught a glimpse of the wind farm, which is somewhat controversial in this area, and stopped to take an image of the huge blades above the fields of sheep.
Yep, we did get out of the car, these are just some images taken along the road. More on the backcountry and Milford Sound in another post.
Windmills in New Zealand
Tags:Darran Mountains, Kingston, Milford Sound, Mountain Spirit, New Zealand, Te Anau
Posted in Climb/Ski/Mntneering, New Zealand, Power of Place, Traveling | 2 Comments »
16/10/2011
The View of Kingston/Lake Wakatipu From Above
“Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.” Walt Whitman
The other day, as the spring corn was coming onto the scene, I finally decided to investigate the moderate ridgetops of our valley here in the Wakatipu Basin in Kingston, New Zealand. The skiing wasn’t the steepest, and the “peaks” aren’t the sharpest in the Southern Alps, but the snow was damn perfect. After all, the first ski hut in New Zealand was just down the road on the Nevis Road. There must have been a reason for that being the first NZ ski field.
What I found after a two hour hike to snowline, were broad snowfields of cornsnow with some minor peaks along the ridge. Evidently this is where a snowmobile/heli-ski operation brought people up last season. I could see them lifting off, just across the road, and thought, “If they’re headed up there, must be something to it.” We live in Kingston, a sleepy little town, home of spectacular scenery, rock climbing, dramatic walks, a long pebble beach at the south end of the second largest lake in New Zealand, and home to an eclectic community that hasn’t been discovered by Queenstown yet. Oh I almost forgot to I mention the Kingston Flyer steam train, which is now up and running, after a number of years in receivership. Look closely at the image on right, the clouds of smoke are from the steam train’s maiden test run, and from the fires it started along side the tracks.
A long, fun day. Rising at 4:40 I hit the DOC trailhead by 5:30, and got back to the car around 18:30 I was a little tired, but jazzed. Fortunately there were freezing temperature up high, so by 10am, there was perfect corn on the northern aspects. I took some pix and video, so decided just to blend them into a movie for the day…Enjoy.
Tags:Avalanche, Corn Snow, Kingston, Lake Wakatipu, Lone Peak, Mountain Spirit, New Zealand, Queenstown, Randy Richards, Ski Touring, Snow Fields, Spring Skiing, Telemark Skiing
Posted in 1- Video Posts, Climb/Ski/Mntneering, Focus on MSI People, New Zealand, Power of Place | 2 Comments »
06/09/2011
It’s been quite windy the last few days, but warming up here in Southern Otago, New Zealand. Spring skiing and ski-touring season. Lenticular clouds (Altocumulus lenticularis) are classic indicators of high winds aloft. As you can see, as the sun set last night, the winds were howling up on the ridgetops just north of the house. This view taken from our balcony.
Lenticular Clouds over the Remarkables as Sunset
Tags:Kingston, Lenticular Clouds, Mountain Spirit, New Zealand, Queenstown, Southern Alps, Wakatipu
Posted in Climb/Ski/Mntneering, Environment, New Zealand | 1 Comment »
26/08/2011
Early Morning Ridgetop Cloud
Lake Wakatipu with snows from the record-breaking storm
Yesterday's Sunrise in Kingston, NZ
Tags:Clouds, Kingston, Lake Wakatipu, Mountain Spirit, Mountains, New Zealand, Power of Place, Scenes, Sunrise
Posted in New Zealand, Power of Place | 1 Comment »
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