Table of Contents
2.1 Specification
2.2 Introduction
2.3 Process of creating The Koru Collaborative
2.3a services
2.3b projects
2.3c education
2.3d team
2.4 Self Reflection
2.5 Conclusion
2.6 Digiphon
2.1Specification
OP 2 is a report of my learning process , intention, and outcomes for creating www.TheKoruCollaborative.com with intent to encourage others who may be techno-phobic to dive in and go for it!
2.2 Introduction
I chose the Maori "Koru" representation of the iconic spiral symbol for my website logo because of my affinity for the Polynesian cultures. These cultures have been examples of highly developed social systems evolved through centuries from a strong collective nature connection. The sprial has always been a symbol that triggers deeper levels of remembering for me of my connection to earth, nature and unseen worlds. I feel certain symbols have the power to jog cellular memories of our true nature and our connection to the infinite spiral of life. My website is an evolving umbrella for my professional work as well as an organized online outline for my intended projects with documentation of my evolving work and learning. TKC is designed to push my edges in developing successful collaborative relationships with my community and my peers while creating a large enough vessel for myself and fellow collaborators to grow into . This project has given me the opportunity to develop desired skills in media management, website design and maintenance, while creating a solid foundation for my professional and educational career. I have enjoyed the collaborative process of working with the young web and media designer I hired to help with the website.
2.3 The Process
My inspiration for creating a website came from my Gaia U advisor Nala Walla of www.bcollective.org who strongly urged me to create my website early on in my Gaia U learning process. My outcome for TKC is to have a professional and attractive website/collaboration platform to document projects, educate, and to aid in marketing my services. As an Eco Social designer, educator, and entrepreneur, I seek to work with others in this field and hope my website will facilitate thiscollaboration. My intention for the process of creating the website was to learn and develop website design and management skills such as uploading and organising media files in the form of photos, video, and blogs which document my various endeavors. I began in early February 2012 by formulating my concepts for the website and contacting a young web designer and social media consultant.
Lauren Sargent is co-founder of www.WyerMedia.com , and at our first meeting I explained that I wanted assistance in creating a website that met my criteria of being both professional and attractive.In addition to creation of my website, I also wished to receive coaching along the way so I could become self-sufficient with it by developing the skills required to add content and maintain my site as both I and it grew. Lauren was excited to help and we began a back and forth process with color and images until we came up with a look we both liked. After considering the options of working a trade with a fellow Gaia U student or hiring someone out of my area, I chose to work with someone local. For me the learning process works much better when I can actually sit face to face with a teacher. I did end up investing more money in this particular project than I originally budgeted and yet I fell it was money well spent because Ihave been happy with the results in the finished TKC product, and in the learning I gained in the process. Additionally I have developed an invaluable relationship with a consultant who is available as needed. Lauren also ended up serving as a defacto accountability partner in that she gave me assignments and deadlines to fulfill so she could do her part. This bolstering of my time- and project-management skills, was a highly valuable and unexpected outcome of our relationship!
I chose www.DreamHost.com as my web site hosting service and uploaded the Word press plugin as the format. I chose Dream Host because they offer many more options and plugins for future development than Word Press alone. During the development of TKC I found some mind mapping software I liked on line from the Buzan Company. which I have begun to learn and use in designing of my projects. I like the Buzan mind mapping system because it was designed to integrate right and left hemisperes of the brain. I enjoy the look of the Imaps and look forward to become more skilful in ussing this versatile and dynamic tool for planning and presenting. I have included one of my first Imaps for the TKC project as part of this OP. Lauren my web consultant introduced me to an online company called Mavenlink www.mavenlink.com which has some great time tracking and project management tools. Both Buzan and Mavenlink offer basic services for free.
There is a lot of work yet to be done and I am glad to be feeling more confident and skilled in developing and managing my own website, in fact I have already helped my wife and a friend get started with their websites. If you haven't done so, I invite you to visit: www.TheKoruCollaborative.com and check back often. I have also had the opportunity assist my wife Claudia with her website: www.TheMuscularTherapyCenter.com . It was very rewarding and useful to be able to apply some of my newfound skills in assisting others. It felt good to go from not having a clue, to showing someone how to do it!
My beekeeping mentor, David Max Curtis invited me to help him bring his vision of an organisation dedicated to promoting healthy bee environments into reality. David was in need of a website and I was able, with my new skills to set up a website and coach him how to manage it. In this collaborative project I have been able to assist David in not only setting up a basic website but also helping to clarify the vision of Wild Bee International. Please visit www.wildbeeinternational.wordpress.com
I will add here, I have been asked to participate as a co-founder of Wild Bee International. This opportunity has the potential to be an OP in and of itself so stay tuned as there is much work to done regenerating and creating healthy pollinator environments.
I welcome all feedback.
Teryl Chapel teryljchapel@gmail.com
2.3a Services
This is the area where I list and describe the following marketable services offered by TKC:
Vision Activation Facillitation is process of blended techniques gathered over the years designed to bring about a clear and powerful vison which is aligned with specific goals, values, and outcomes. Having a clear vision becomes the most important "foundation cornerstone" for any project large or small.
Consulting and Construction Management provides assistance in organizing and managing the building and construction process for both smal and large scale projects http://thekorucollaborative.com/services/consulting/
Design Services TKC offers a variety of design services to meet your requirements and your budget
Beekeeping and Apiary Consulting In collaboration with Wild Bee International TKC offers educational opportunities in beekeeping as well as full services apiary consulting with a focus on natural environments.
2.3b Projects
http://thekorucollaborative.com/projects/ Here is the place in the website for documentation of various projects including:
TerraVita Springs a 166 acre land regeneration and permaculture project begun in August of 2011 by the partnership of Jeff and Elise Higley and Regina Manian. Last Summer I helped Jeff and Elise move from Laguna beach California to their new land outside Ashland Oregon. I was very inspired by the land and the vision of TerraVita and offered to help with the building side of the project. The vision of Terravita Springs is that of a working, permaculture based educational working farm. I have had the opportunity and priviledge of working on the project as head carpenter and building consultant with my main focus being, the establishment of systems and infrastructure. After a year much has been accomplished through collaborative effort including: improvements to the existing barn to accomodate a workshop, storage, and an upstairs apartment with a kitchen and bath, re-purposing an old timberframe shop to housing, teaching space, and a herb processing kitchen, campsite development with 4 tipis, installation of 30 beehives, erection of a round pole open air teaching pagoda, construction of a 33' solar geo dome greenhouse, clearing and cultivation of 3-4 acres of agriculture field with a cover crop, chickens, vermiculture, composting toilets, showers, the first annual Terravita Plant and seedling sale, grafting of 1,ooo apple, pear , and cherry trees and an intern teaching program all culminating in the hosting of the First Annnual Herbal Symposium @ TerraVita Springs. http://thekorucollaborative.com/projects/terravita-springs/
The Bee Project is an evolution coming from my long time interest in beekeeping to enrolling in the Master Beekeeping program sponsored by Oregon State University and through the OSU program meeting my mentor and Master Beekeeper David Max Curtis. My friend Jeff Higley also joined the program and together we installed 30 colonies of bees at Terravita and two colonies where I live which is approximately 2,000' lower in elevation and near Emmigrant Lake. I developed a good raporrt with David my mentor and very soon he asked if I would be interested in helping to found an organization dedicated to preserving and regenerating healthy bee environments through education and consulting with farmers, commercial beekeepers, and hobbyist.I agreed to help and began the process of establishing Wild Bee international in collaboration with several other interested people. David grew up in a beekeeping family in the Rogue River Valley of Southern Oregon and has been watching the environment change over the years and particularly noticing how effects of climate change and development have affected bees and honey production. It is becoming apparent to many that as the bees are affected by einvironmental changes so are we as humans affected as well. So far I have helped set up a website and worked with David and assisted the group in clarifying the vision of Wild Bee International. http://thekorucollaborative.com/projects/the-bee-project/
Buckhorn Springs
Our first winter here in Southern Oregon my wife and I had the opportunity to live in one of the Creekside cottage at Buckhorn Springs where became friends with Bruce and Leslie Sargent the owners. Bruce asked for my input on some building projects as well as ways to maximize the potential of Buckhorn Springs which is now functioning primarily as a seasonal retreat center.To date I have offered minor natural building consultation and offered to asist with a fresh vision for Buckhorn. www,buckhornsprings.org
2.3c education
Terravita Springs
I am currently collaborating with Terravita Springs to develop classes and workshops for construction practices with a focus on natural and conscious building. The curriculum for these projects is under development. TKC will also promote all future educational programs at Terravita. www.terravitasprings.com
Bee School
I have been participating in The Wild Bee International Bee School and have been asked by founder David Curtis to assist in help with the website and future educational programs. www.wildbeeinternational.com
Eco Nest Homes
Having participated in several of the natural building courses offered by Robert and Paula Laporte I feel Eco Nest offers some of the most comprehensive natural building training available and TKC links to the Econest homes website. http://www.econesthomes.com/natural-building-workshops/overview/
Occupy Zone Zero
This is a project in the works which offers my personal experience with the work and research of the Institute of Hearth Math. IHM has done very comprehensive research into the effect of heart rhythms and our ability as humans to operate in a state of psycho-physiological congruency. This state is the "zone" where we function as we were designed to function, in balance and harmony with our environment. I feel the work of IHM is a great example of "bridging" the gap in consciousness using scientific research, technology, and documentation to teach and demonstrate what many so called "esoteric" and" spiritual" practices have been doing for centuries. Stay tuned as there is more to come http://www.heartmath.org/
2.3d Team Partners
The vision for the "Team Partners" piece of TKC is one of an expanding and evolving team of partners and alliances embodying a diverse collective skill set. The TKC team partners are passionate about what they do and love exploring new ways of collaboration. Our team is only limited by our imagination of who we choose to collaborate with and how together we can realize our dreams and visions.
2.4 Self Reflection
I feel my creation of TKC website was a valuable project which gave me an opportunity to add to my existing skill set. The result of this project created what I believe to be a solid foundation block for documenting future OP's , attaining my Master's degree with Gaia U, and providing support for my professional career.
It is my hope that this OP2 will inspire others who may be contemplating the creation of a website as a daunting task to just dive in!
The process of gathering and editing content for the website empowered me to become better and more timely at uploading my accumulated data. The more regularly I worked on my Gaia documentation the easier and less stressful the process became.
I feel proud of what I have produced so far and excited about what I see coming as I look to the future. I chose collaboration as the main thread in my website and my learning pathway because this is a strong edge for me and one I believe worth pushing. Being a student in my mid-50's I didn't grow up with the technology skills that come so easily to many younger folks and those with more traditional educational backgrounds. Consequently I have experienced both joy and stress while pushing my edges with technology. I have felt empowered knowing I can help others who are maybe just one step behind me on this technology path.It is getting easier with every upload and edit. I do look forward to improving my my writing skills and have made the choice to seek mentorship in this area as well.
2.5 Conclusion
2.6 Digiphon
Microsoft OneNote
You Tube
Picasa Photo
IMindMap5
Mavenlink
Word Press
Android Smart Phone
Comments
Teryl
27 February 2016, 15:14
Attachments (1)
Teryl
27 February 2016, 15:15
Attachments (1)
Teryl
27 February 2016, 15:17
Attachments (1)
Teryl
27 February 2016, 15:25
Attachments (1)