CURRENT MISSION

love self. love others. love the earth.

ABOUT ME

i'm writing a book on sustainable living, i own a health food store, i keep a blog at www.rachelpontin.com, i run workshops in permaculture/nvc/soapmaking, and i used to sell soaps and bodycare products at local markets. i homeschool my son. I train bjj and mma 4-5 days a week.

PHILOSOPHY

i try to live lightly on the earth, and support others to do the same. there is no right and wrong. make your own life. leave shame behind. if in doubt, rainbows go with everything.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

i've been part of couchsurfing for nine years, mostly hosting and a couple of surfs with my child. we had a break while we lived at an intentional community. now we're active again.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

i've travelled with my child using couchsurfing at four places. over eight years, we hosted about three hundred travellers from all over the world. it's been an interesting experiment in trust for me. i've made many beautiful connections, some for life. couchsurfing is my tribe. :)

Interests

permaculture, montessori education, non-violent communication, bellydancing, drawing, painting, writing, sustainable living, soap and natural medicine making, martial arts.

• writing
• books
• dancing
• blogging
• painting
• drawing
• live music
• sustainability
• permaculture
• community
• homeschooling
• herbalism
• nonviolent communication
• sustainable living

Music, Movies, and Books

kim scott's 'benang', about growing up aboriginal in australia. amazing scope and a compelling voice. you can't ignore a book like this.
also:
'the quiet girl' by peter hoeg.
'memoirs of a geisha' by peter golden.
'the god of small things' by arundhati roy.
robert drewe and tim winton's books. and jostein gaarder, brigid lowry, john marsden. haruki murakami.
i read a lot of non-fiction (gardening, education, sustainability, permaculture, psychology, economics, cooking, biography... anything).

favourite movie: 'little miss sunshine'. awesome.
favourite tv series: 'please like me'. awkward and funny.

music: cat empire, pink floyd, mister & sunbird, katiej white, caravana sun, dreamtree collective, hot little hands, katie noonan, siskin river, coco's lunch... have seen all of those live except pink floyd!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

given birth to my baby in a birthing pool in the dining room! having a homebirth was the most empowering and enriching experience of my life.

Teach, Learn, Share

i can show you how to use art to express things you can't put into words.
i can teach you how to make soap and natural bodycare products, and which ingredients are more healthy for you.
i have studied nvc and can offer you empathetic listening if you need to talk something through.
i can talk to you about how to live with less plastic or waste in general.
i've completed a permaculture design course and would love to share that knowledge with you.
i'm open to learning new dance moves. show me your favourite!
i'm interested in learning anything about sustainable living. how do you live and travel lightly on the earth?
i can give you some self defence skills.

Countries I’ve Visited

Indonesia, Japan