For the Love of Technology

I am ever so grateful to live in an age of technological connections. The ability to connect with others so far away, known so long ago, or who just would not have crossed my path otherwise, has been a blessing personally and professionally.

So much of Nurture has been built by way of connecting and communicating with others through the wonderful world wide web. Amazing networks promoting community and sustainability have been formed and continue to form in our hip and adventurous city (I am thinking specifically of the Timebank and Supportland, but there are so many others). Nurture's e-Village has been growing steadily and providing an e-space for connection as well as organization for future plans, and we have only scratched the surface of that site.

Technology, like everything else, has limitations and matters that need to be attended to. My family recently found ourselves in need of a serious technology upgrade, which has proved to be an, ahem, adventure to say the least. You may or may not have noticed and you may or may not continue to notice that Nurture's web-presence will be shifting to meet the ever-advancing progression of technology. Stay tuned, send good thoughts, and please be patient as we make some much needed changes.

We have so many exciting new programs and projects being created right now; I am really looking forward to sharing them with you, through our updated and fancy web structures, of course!

How appropriate that this just happens to be the 300th Nurture blog post. Cheers!

H1N1 How are You Coping?

H1N1 has hit the town, even, I think, my household. There has been a lot of talk about prevention, but now that it is here, I am curious about what your strategy is for coping with the swine flu. As a parent I am wondering...

• What herbs, medicines, homoeopathic, vitamins, etc. you are giving your children to get them through and hopefully avoid complications?
• How you are keeping your energy levels up after long nights of comforting sick children. How do you keep going during the day?
• What do you do if you are also sick?
• If you work, how have you dealt with missing work? How long were you out? How were your employers helpful or not helpful?
• How long did it last?
• What was the worst part?
• Were their any surprises?
• Did you have a confirmed or suspected case?
• Did you or will you now vaccinate?

To join share your experience, join us at: http://nurturepdx.ning.com/forum/topics/how-are-you-coping-with-h1n1

I also wanted to share this link, posted on FB by Lyla Wolfstien of Zennana Spa and Wellness Center. It is an abstract about a study of the anti-viral benefits of Elderberry in preventing H1N1. If you are looking for Elderberry, Rebecca at Portland Green Parenting has a 40% discount, through October, for members. You can also find it at New Seasons.

Wishes of wellness to you and yours.

New and Improved e-Community Space!

(painting courtesey of Johanna Wright)

We have found an even better on-line community space, our e-village. A special thank you to Dre from Swap-n-Play for introducing Ning to us. If you haven't discovered Ning, you should check it out; it is like Facebook, forums, web and blog rings, and more all in one!

Please join our nurturing on-line community and find a place to tend to your heart, mind, and body, a place to create, learn, nourish, and grow within a supportive group of families.



We have a virtual tour of Nurture, a special space for each of our groups, this blog feeds right onto the home page for news updates and more, and there is a forum for discussions, questions, suggestions, ideas, and sharing resources. Wow! It is so exciting and will be such a great way to connect; I am very pleased and think you will love it!

Children's Book: Stone Soup

Jon J. Muth's community-building Stone Soup is my favorite version of this tale. Set in China, three monks, Hok, Lok, and Siew are roaming about the misty mountain paths, come across an insecure village made weary by war, famine, and floods. The monks start a pot of stone soup in the village square and the villagers respond, first with curiosity and then with generosity, to the subtly disguised lesson of cooperative spirit. Muth has filled this book with symbolism both in the story and in the illustrations.

In his informative author's note, Muth shares his inspiration for this book,

There have always been Zen poet monks wandering through cloud-embraced mountains, and it seems to me they must have at least once found a village with sad houses and done just what Hok, Lok, and Siew have done here.

At Nurture we have just started a small pot of stone soup; it is not quite boiling. Come by for a bowl and fill your community spirited heart.