In this first episode of Season 2 on the Shambhala Living Podcast, I, Craig Hubbard, sit down with the incredible Heidi Merika, a passionate herbalist and author of Wildcraft and her latest release, From the Wild. Heidi shares her profound knowledge about wild plants, their medicinal benefits, and how we can reconnect with nature's wisdom.

We dive into her recent workshop at Shambhala Farm, where I learned firsthand the healing powers of the wild weeds growing all around us. Heidi reveals how to identify these plants and turn them into food and medicine, along with the energetic connections they hold.

Heidi's workshops and teachings inspire a deep connection with the Earth, urging us to tune in to nature's call. We also explore her philosophy on working with natural materials in art and the role of intuition when communicating with plants.

Join us for an inspiring conversation filled with practical tips, ancient wisdom, and an invitation to unlock your creativity through nature.

🔗 Check out Heidi's work at: https://heidimerika.com.au

🌱 Explore her books Wildcraft and From the Wild

📅 Don’t miss her upcoming Everyday Herbalism Courses workshops: https://everydayempowered.com.au/everydayherbalism/

📷 Follow Heidi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidimerika?igsh=MTdyNHo0N3BkMDZlMQ==

This episode, we gonna share about the 8 billion mark that we just past this month and what does it mean and where to from here...

This episode I'm gonna talk about, Blockchain and CSA. So community on economy and community on food system coming together...

In this episode, we're gonna talk about soil, survival, the fate of civilization and also an excerpt from the movie "The Big Short"...

In this episode, we're gonna discuss the backyard food sufficient challenge that we're doing at home, right now. We're transforming our backyard into a place that we can grow all of our food...

 In this episode, we're going revisit an old fable, the story of the golden goose, because I think it's gonna lot to do what's going on right now in the world...

In this episode, we're gonna talk about intuition, your heart and how to tap into this amazing inner GPS system...

This episode is on a concept that flashed to me today when I was driving. I was listening to a long audio book, a long form book from David  Attenborough on Our Planet and it was pretty heavy about where we're heading as civilization. I had this flash and it was prepare for impact but in both the good and the bad. I wanna open that out cause this flash hit me like a both from my scary point and from my inspiring point of what can we do, how can we leave..

So today, on the day I'm recording this is Earth Day 2022. So whenever you're listening to this it could be nice time to check in with Earth Day today! Cause everyday can be Earth Day...

In this episode we're gonna discuss compost tea. This is a more practical episode so we gonna talk about what is compost tea and how to make your own compost tea to use in your garden...

In this episode is all about, slowing down and coming back to into the centre...

In this episode, we explore the micro biome and the connection that has with it in our intuition...

This episode is all about growing big harvest from tiny gardens and it's inspired by a recent video that went live on the YouTube the channel Living Big In A Tiny Home, Bryce came out to an episode with one of our tenants on the farm, Vicki, and from that it really inspired me to share with people just how smaller garden can have big harvest...

https://youtu.be/G6QD4hk6gz0

In this episode we're gonna talk about a little practice, it's making a huge different in my life and I wanna share with you..

In this episode, we explore living with the end in mind. We come at it from a different perspective, a perspective of fantasy, a little bit of magic and imagination...

This episode is gonna be about flowers, sunflowers and marigolds and that's what's growing in abundance at the farm at the moment and experience I had recently...

In this episode, I talked about a time when I used to be a magician, and how that is connected to my journey now as a regenerative and organic farmer...

I ask you a challenge in this episode and this could be the tap on the shoulder this opportunity to take your life to whole other level..

In this episode, I wanna share with you the experience I had this morning out in the ocean with the dolphins and what that has to do with growing foods...

In this podcast we gonna talk about wealth, the real wealth what's worth more than the trillion dollar industry out there and it's right beneath our feet...

This episode is a little bit different, its recorded in 2020 just after Birdie Skye was born. We were walking around the farm, I had my mic on and we just went for a deep dive through lots of different topics in the areas of sustainable living, regenerate living, the magic of photosynthesis and so many other concept..

In this episode, I'm on the outside late at night, under the stars and we explore stars our place in this universe and what a call one breath meditation practice... 

In these episode, we're gonna discuss seed saving and how can you setup your own seed bank to protect the future of your plants your food and your health for your family...

In this his episode, I want to share some questions and answers or one particular question that came in today and the answer about practicalities of building out a garden bed...

In this episode, I joined Paul of The Paul's Body Engineering Podcast, where I shared practices and learning on sustainable organic growing, overcoming the lockdown period and establishing our Shambhala Food Growing Course.

In this episode, we're gonna discuss, how to increase the yield in your vegetable garden to the few simple tricks...

"The ancient knew something, which we seem to have forgotten", "The more I learn of physics, the more I'm drawn to metaphysics", "One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike. We still do not know one thousandth of one percent of what nature has revealed to us. It is entirely possible that behind the perception of our senses, worlds are hidden, of which we are unaware”. These are some quotes from Albert Einstein and in this episode, I'm gonna read some more of these and have discussion about energy, matter and the world of metaphysics in which we live...

In this episode, we're going to talk about the cycles of nature and how to understand the cycles of nature, that it can be so much easier to grow food and abundance and health for your family...

In this episode, we explore growing with nature and living as part of nature. First, we look at what is nature? What is the biosphere? What is an ecosystem? We explore the sun and it's role in this amazing phenomenon called nature. We also look at the role of the moon and how that has an affect on not only the tides but the water in all of life including us as a humans, and the plant life, and the soil life...

We've all heard of the word "prepping". Prepping often brings to mind bunkers and doomsday ideas, but actually prepping is just simple, smart, it makes sense, that's what our parents' used to do, having our food storage on hand. So in this episode, we're gonna talk about what are the things you would want to have on hand if there's time of disruptions...

In this episode, I'm going to share the time that I was in Nepal, searching for Shambala and I found myself in a Buddhist monastery facing my death. It was 2008, I had Isaiah, I had a one year old. I was living in Shambala, one that I call it and I had an opportunity to go to Nepal. I already had an experience with the concept of Shambala. I'd read a few different books and perspectives, and I was in love with this concept, this magical way of living this place that we could potentially visit in real life, but also to uncover and grow into internally and a way of life...

This episode is all about turning our biggest waste into our most precious resource. Humanure is basically the science behind composting toilets. A compost toilet requires no water, plumbing, pipes, vents, drains, electricity, or urine separation. It's a toilet that makes gardens. It's designed to collect toilet material for composting in a separate location. This 11 minute video provides a brief overview on the toilet and the processes. You can read the whole book in our course library for free if you are member. Otherwise check it out here https://humanurehandbook.com/ for the past 14 year we have been using simple compost toilets to transform l humanure into amazing compost. I would highly recommend it and we have had way less problems then our council approved liquid system that using electricity, pumps, water and costs thousands and requires twice yearly maintenance, compared to the static, zero water, zero problem zero cost system we have used and so have hundreds of our staff, guests, trainees and clients. Compost toilets can provide a sanitation solution when water or electricity are not available, or when you simply want to make more compost or less environmental pollution. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shambhalaliving/message

This episode was recorded on Father’s Day 2021. I reconnected to the 3 times I witnessed my children being born. I realised how that birthed my deepest journey so far in a quest to provide them the healthiest life possible. I found the best way to nurture their health and future was by nourishing the soil and plant life that provided them with the best food and natural life possible. My life as a regenerative food gardener was born.
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In this episode I share the final days before the launch of our recent Shambhala online 12 Week Food Growing Course and some of the stories about this. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shambhalaliving/message

I'm sitting in the garden this afternoon, the sun is going down, there's a little wind around and birds are getting ready to bunk it down for a night and go to sleep, we've just chopped our wood ready and we've got our suit on, harvest on and I thought I'd come out here and share some of my thoughts...

In this episode I share a meditation I had 2 decades ago when holding a piece of meteorite. I was with a good friend Paul Barnet and we were at the time doing a year long meditation and energy healing course. I sat in meditation this particular night and went deep inside to another plane of existence. It felt like it wasn’t so much a planet like I call it in the episode but more a level of existence within my own heart. Another plane of existence that my higher self was existing upon or within. I was met by a Spirit guide and shown around this plane like I would be shown around a peaceful garden setting. I understood there was a purpose that each of us had there. I share some of the insights that came from that vision and how they shaped the next decade of my life. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shambhalaliving/message

This episode explores the amazing work of Syntropic food forests and how we can work with nature to regenerate the land and grow food. I share my story of seeing this practice for the first time in a video called ‘Life in Syntropy’ https://youtu.be/gSPNRu4ZPvE I believe this way of working with the land is the most important way we can regenerate our connection to this planet.

In this episode I share ways to sow the seeds of change in the soil, the garden, our hearts and our life. I discuss why it’s so important to become a gardener and a guardian of the seeds of diversity. Now more than ever before the Earth is calling us to wake up and plant seeds of change. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shambhalaliving/message

When planning a vegetable garden it’s all too easy to jump in with both feet and try to grow as much as possible in the first year. Many experienced gardeners will tell you that this is just setting yourself up for disappointment as the amount to learn, maintain and weed can quickly become overwhelming. Wholistic garden design is a set of design principles centred on whole systems thinking, utilizing the patterns observed in natural ecosystems. Holistic Garden Design Before you even begin to think about creating your new vegetable garden, it is a good idea to spend some time getting to know your site, and thinking about design. In the first lesson of our course we mention permaculture. Permaculture ethics are not the only thing that can be helpful to keep in mind as you start to plan your new growing areas. Permaculture also provides a series of design principles. The twelve permaculture principles are: -Observe and interact. -Catch and store energy. -Obtain a yield. -Apply self-regulation and feedback. -Use and value renewable resources and services. -Produce no waste. -Design from patterns to details. -Integrate rather than segregate. -Use small and slow solutions. -Use and value diversity. -Use edges and value the marginal. -Creatively use and respond to change. Keep these principles in mind as you begin to plan and create your garden Becoming a regenerative and sustainable food grower is about supporting bio-diversity and learning to work with the planet rather than against her. It begins with a simple premise; that the world is a living planet with core fundamentals that sustain balance. When these fundamentals are understood and met, life begins to thrive. An Introduction to Permaculture. Permaculture is a blueprint for sustainable living that can guide you as you create your new food producing organic garden. Permaculture, which is 'permanent agriculture' or 'permanent culture' is a simple series of concepts and practices that can help you to work to design, create and maintain an organic growing system. At its heart, permaculture has three core ethics: Earth Care People Care Fair share (and return of surplus to the system). We have an opportunity to plant the seeds of change and care for our planet and keeping these three core ethics in mind can help us to do so. By choosing to be a sustainable food grower, you are doing far more than growing your family's food. You are joining a movement of people around the world who care about our planet and are connecting back to earth by planting seeds for change and hope for generations to come. Food growing teaches us the cycle of life and the fundamentals of nature's systems to thrive. Through your own garden and the soil you will connect deeply to nature and the cycles of life that flow through it. If there is one legacy we can leave to our children, may it be the love for and the connection to the earth that comes through growing a garden. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shambhalaliving/message

I share an idea to bring the ‘The magic of food growing’ to an online live audience. I had a conversation with my sister Leanne about how much her little girl loves eating the fresh snap peas from the garden. She asked about me putting on a little garden show online for her daughters day care as they have a garden there. They are all still in lockdown where they live in Sydney. So after that conversation that inspired this episode to share it into creation. A magic and food growing show live on zoom for kids of all ages. With the intention to inspire more children to start a little food garden. Each of us can be the magical guardians (gardeners) and plant the superheroes (seeds) of change that when watered with love, grow and regenerate our connection to the living Earth. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shambhalaliving/message

In this episode I share the Desiderata, a powerful poem and message that was on the wall of the kwoon (our Kung Fu training space) and I would read it often during the time I was training for my black belt. It was a foundational message for my life and reading it again all these years later I still find it just as powerful. I hope you get something of value from this message. Desiderata: GO PLACIDLY amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. By Max Ehrmann © 1927 Original text Desiderata History Desiderata was written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann, a poet and lawyer from Terre Haute, Indiana. The word desiderata means “things that are desired.” Ehrmann said he wrote it for himself, “because it counsels those virtues I felt most in need of.” These virtues have been valued by countless others as Desiderata rose in popularity in the late ’60s and early ’70s. It is making a strong comeback today, as parents and grandparents are passing along this wisdom to their loved ones. The Desiderata history is an interesting one, as there has been confusion surrounding the author of this prose poem. It is often mistaken that it was written by an anonymous author in 1692 and was found in Old Saint Paul’s Church. The Rev. Frederick Ward Kates was rector of the church from 1956 to 1961. During that time he used the words of Desiderata in a mimeographed booklet he gave to his parishioners to read. On the cover of the booklet was the church’s name and year it was founded: “Old Saint Paul’s Church, Baltimore, 1692.” The two became inextricably linked and even today it is hard to tear them apart. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shambhalaliving/message

In this episode I tell the story of how a rare chance meeting I had with a native tribe in Costa Rica saved my life. I share the journey from my lowest point when my world came crashing down and how a transformational journey in the jungle ignited a passion for living in harmony with the Earth. After being on this 3 month pilgrimage I came back to the farm inspired to grow food forests and dive into the practice of Syntropic growing. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shambhalaliving/message

This episode is part 2 of the interview with Chrissy. We talk about what lights Chrissy up, how to connect back to your heart compass and navigate through these challenging times with a peaceful and joyful heart. You can find more about Chrissy on Instagram under @tinyyogi and you can listen to her podcast here https://open.spotify.com/show/7tpKBrq06FqAo6zq9iFNlY?si=Azc0X5m7S7uQEMzGwpgflA --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shambhalaliving/message

In this special episode I share the first interview of the Shambhala Living podcast. This late night chat by the fire with the co founder of Shambhala Living and my loving wife and the mother of our baby girl Birdie Skye. Chrissy talks about her journey from the U.S. to Brisbane and her love of yoga, movement and music. We talk about meeting in Bali and coming back to Shambhala Farm inspired to build the Yoga Shala. Chrissy shares how she lives with her heart wide open, and trusting in her heart compass has been her guiding light. Grab a hot drink and join us for this inspiring and raw conversation. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shambhalaliving/message

This episode I've got some really excited news to share, it is about the markets it's a closing over chapter of a decade that has taking me a long time to make this decision and I've love to share that with you and why and also what has what to do with you had could that benefit you...

In this Episode I share the story of waking up in the middle of the night with the light manifesto epiphany. The story is in the episode and the manifesto is here: Shambhala Living Manifesto: I am light in form and in motion as the dance of a flame upon the backdrop of time. My breath is the wind, my body the earth, The ancient ways flow through my veins, Like rivers flow from the nourishing rains, I am the mountaintop and the valley below, I know the ways of the trees, the soil, the flowers and the bees. I plant seeds of hope in this garden of life, that grow into forests for generations to thrive. I am a gardener, a seed saver and a composter too, I am an instrument of light in this symphony of life, I hear the song lines of the earth beat deep in my heart, I hear the sound of the birds so joyful and diverse, All playing in harmony in this grand uni-verse. I feel gratitude and love for this journey I’m on, from sunlight, to plant to human and beyond. I inhale deep and ignite my heartlight, This body is the lighthouse, my mind the light keeper, I Shine bright, I am light!! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shambhalaliving/message

In this episode I share a vision for a new future. A sustainable future where we as humans are living in balance with the Earth. A green and abundant future that supports the diversity of all life on this planet to thrive. We can be part of the solution to making this vision come to fruition. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shambhalaliving/message

In this episode I share a message from a Hopi Indian and I explore the concept of Deep Ecology. A way of looking at the Earth and moving from a human centric to an eco centric.

Deep Ecology teaches us the current way of seeing humans as the dominant species is imbalanced and doomed for failure, deep ecology is about seeing our species as part of the web of life. This concept was resonated during a recent message I received from a Hopi Indian elder. He talked about their own ancient prophecy that this time of cleansing would come.

That only those that begin to understand the ancient ways of the Earth will find ways to live and thrive. That we can only take and take for so long. Once we remember that we are part of nature and not apart from nature that we can find the sacredness of life and begin to live in ways that support the diversity of life on this magnificent planet. 

To dive deeper into the concept of living from a Deep Ecology way join us on the journey via our next Shambhala 12 Week Food Growing Course. This journey is much more than just a food growing experience, its a way of living.

The Shambhala Prophecy talks about a time when the Earth is plunged into darkness! It is then the Shambhala Warriors emerge. Shambhala, which is a Sanskrit word meaning “place of peace” or “place of silence”, is a mythical paradise spoken of in ancient texts, including the Kalachakra Tantra and the ancient scriptures which predated Tibetan Buddhism in western Tibet. Shambhala is said to be the land of a thousand names. It has been called the Forbidden Land, the Land of White Waters, Land of Radiant Spirits, Land of Living Fire, Land of the Living Gods, and Land of Wonders, But throughout Asia, it is best known by its Sanskrit name, Shambhala, Shamballa, or Shangri-la. The legend of Shambhala is said to date back thousands of years, and references to the mythical land can be found in various ancient texts. Hindu texts such as Vishnu Purana mention Shambhala as the birthplace of Kalki, the final incarnation of Vishnu who will usher in a new Golden Age. The Prophecy of Shambhala has particular relevance in ancient mythology about the future which seems very relevant today. The Kalachakra prophesies the gradual deterioration of mankind as the ideology of materialism and consumerism spreads over the earth. As people become divided and battle amongst themselves, resources are plundered, the land is left to die and when the “barbarians” are finally about to take total charge and humanity is at the brink of total annihilation, the Shambhala Warriors emerge. It is said that this uprising is not an external battle but an uprising from within. An uprising of the heart, with not weapons of destruction but with the sharp sword of inner Discernment, held within the wise sheath of Awareness. With these tools the Shambhala Warriors begin to cultivate compassion, wisdom and love. The Shambhala Warriors are not picked or chosen, they are everyday people that choose to rise up and live in alignment guided by their inner heart compass. They bring deeper connection with the ancient ways of the Earth. A time when peace and harmony return back to the lands and the hearts of the people with a new found reverence for the spirit of nature within. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/shambhalaliving/message