Hi everyone, we had promised your a virtual farm tour from @Maria do Céu Bastos farm but as we mentioned in the last post, on Tuesday the valley was covered with smoke from the near by fire. But yesterday we sat down by the beautiful water tank and created a short video for you. We really enjoyed our week here! Yes, it's a lot of work, but it's different work. Not mind work, but body work. We definitely want to come back - and hopefully you will join us next time (we're looking at May 2027, more info soon). Thank you @Maria do Céu Bastos for having us and all the important work you're doing here! Warmly Sarah & Nadene

Hi everyone 👋 Greetings from Arcos de Valdevez in Portugal! Today, our desk is set up in Northern Portugal at the regenerative farm of our community member, @Maria do Céu Bastos. Nadene and myself arrived on Monday evening to spend a few days helping Maria on the farm, cooking together, and exploring how inner development meets the land. Yesterday on our 'Virtual Farm Tour event' we had planned to have a thoughtful conversation about resilience and life skills. And then, life handed us the real thing. Shortly after arriving, wildfires broke out in the hills just northeast of the farm. Yesterday, flames were visible from the house, thick smoke rolled into the valley, and Canadair firefighting planes roared overhead scooping water from the river. When an aerial tower burned down, our internet went completely dark. With emergency bags packed and the cats carrier ready, our conversation turned from abstract concepts to what resilience actually feels like in our bodies: - The More-Than-Human Grief: Waking up in the middle of a smoke-choked night, unable to see, hearing an owl call out in the dark—and feeling the deep ache for the trees, wild animals, and mountain cattle living through this. - The Fiction of Hyper-Independence: For years, society told us to "do it on your own." But when disaster approaches, online followers can’t hold a hose or bring dinner. Last night, it was Maria’s local neighbors who checked in. Real physical community is our truest safety net. - Emotional Resilience in the Disconnect: When Maria didn't immediately reply to phone calls from her family, panic quickly crept in for loved ones trying to reach us. It was a sharp reminder of how reliant our nervous systems have become on instant replies—and how vital it is to cultivate the inner capacity to stay grounded in uncertainty. Yet amidst the smoke, the grounding rhythm of the farm carried on: picking sweet grapes straight off the vine, simmering pasta sauce with garden tomatoes and beans, and gathering quince. Rather than dreaming of escaping to bunkers or private islands, real resilience is about showing up right here—for the land and for each other.

@Sarah Santacroce and I will be attending to listen and learn about the connection between inner development and regenerative economics. What have you got planned next week? Hope to see you there too! Kate Raworth, creator of Doughnut Economics, collaborates with the Plum Village community to connect Zen mindfulness and inner transformation with systemic economic change. Upcoming Live Event - Event Name: Inner Change for Systems Change - Date & Time: Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 7:30 to 8:30 pm CEST - Hosts: Kate Raworth and Plum Village monk Brother Phap Linh - Cost: Free to attend (online registration available via the Plum Village Event Page) - FOCUS: Exploring how inner personal transformation helps build regenerative economic systems rooted in interdependence

Since yesterday "world leaders are gathering in New York for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (September 8–28, 2026) and Climate Week NYC (September 20–27, 2026) at a pivotal moment. Amidst rising geopolitical tensions, the looming 2030 deadline, and the escalating climate crisis, a new UN Secretary-General will soon be elected ahead of next year's 2027 SDG Summit. Against this backdrop, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) will host a series of high-impact events bringing together civil society, academics, policymakers, and youth to address today's rapidly evolving global challenges and identify solutions for sustainable development through 2030 and beyond." Two suggestions that may be of interest: Science Across Generations: From Regional to Global Connectivity 🗓️ When: September 16, 2026, 10:15 to 11:45 AM EDT 🌎 Where: Virtual REGISTER HERE OR The Future of Multilateralism: Leadership for a Changing World September 24, 2026, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM EDT | Online & New York, NY | Watch the Livestream This is with Geoffrey Sachs the President of SDSN The discussion will examine the leadership, partnerships, and governance approaches needed to renew international cooperation and respond to the growing complexity of global challenges ID@Work follows the SDSN on LinkedIn, and X (Twitter), to stay up-to-date on their activities throughout UNGA 81 and Climate Week NYC.

Encounters to co-create a future with greater love, courage, and action - this IS Inner Development at Work The Fetzer Institute Environment Collaborative has extended an open invitation for each of us to honor our sacred relationship with the Earth, uniting perspectives for bold climate solutions to address the climate crisis through spiritual and Indigenous worldviews. Together, we will enter a current of spirit that begins from within and flows and grows among us in shared ceremony and dialogue, reflection, encounter and purpose throughout the day. We will celebrate and explore the sacred spirit that connects us to each other, all living beings, and our Earth while honoring the grief and joy, struggle and courage that accompany our work. Through meditation and dialogue, music and movement, and evidence-based stories of transformation, we will discover how spirituality and ancient wisdom are vital forces for meaningful climate action. Together, we will deepen our relationships, chart practical pathways of change, and generate authentic collaborations that emanate from spirit and manifest into effective climate solutions that are necessary for a just, loving and compassionate future. WHEN | September 20, 2026, 8:30 am – 5:30 pm EST WHERE | Columbia University, The Lee Bollinger Forum Attend the event via livestream Register here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-reawakening-humanitys-sacred-connection-with-earth-tickets-1996170289070