Personal Ecology and Principles
of Permaculture

with personal ecology pioneer and permaculture
authority Trathen Heckman

Why not indulge in the felt power of learning to grow your self, your home, and your community strong and resilient each day, through each act? To restore and restory our world we need inspired and empowered people ready to cultivate, nurture and balance the vital aspects of their lives. By shifting our focus from what we do in the world to the tools and practices of reverent self-mastery we stay present and centered in that place where the poetry of our lives meets the principles of ecological design. These practices include moving from your purpose, vision and strengths with a focus on self-care while deepening your relations with the social and biological communities that sustain life. We’ll use Tai Chi, Permaculture and other tools to help participants develop and strengthen their personal ecology practices. With the help of our OARS trip leader, we'll investigate ancient rock art and archeological sites and learn about the natural history of the Canyonlands as well. Our goal is to live richly while enriching life.

Northern California singer/songwriters MEGAN SLANKARD and JEFF CAMPBELL will play much music, and Megan will coordinate our nightly campfire "open mic" and guide a weeklong community songwriting exercise.

(Curriculum is calibrated for college students, although we welcome participants of all ages. This provides for a diversity of perspectives and insures that our floating temporary intentional community actually feels like a community.)

Itinerary at a Glance

• Our Cataract Canyon rafting trip begins with a scenic and instructional drive from Salt Lake City to Moab
• Overnight in Moab and depart in the morning for the put-in at Potash
• Enter Meander Canyon and watch for petroglyphs
• Float leisurely into Canyonlands National Park
• Spectacular side canyons, prehistoric ruins, seasonal waterfalls and incredible vistas
• Lathrop Ruin and ancient pictographs of solstice calendar
• Explore Indian Creek’s fascinating Native American ruins
• Float past Pyramid Butte, the mighty Goose Neck and Dead Horse Point (immortalized in the movie Thelma and Louise)
• Meet the confluence of the Green River where Cataract Canyon begins, hinting at the whitewater to come
• Major rapids begin at Spanish Bottom where it is possible to see a fading 1893 inscription from the steamer, Major Powell
• Enter the Maze District and hike 1,200 feet up to the Doll House where you can view the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park from a unique vantage point
• Challenge Brown Betty, Mile Long, Capsize and the legendary Big Drop Rapids
• Enter Lake Powell at Hite and transfer back to Moab