Desert Lady Diaries

We start with an amazing story of a random Memorial Day car ride that ultimately brought Evelyn and her family to the desert. Evelyn is a retired Marriage and Family Counselor who along with her husband, Frank, now spends her days enjoying quiet desert mornings watching the birds in the backyard. After retiring, Evelyn spent some time taking writing classes at Copper Mountain College and had some of her writing published in HOWL, the college's annual publication. In this episode, Evelyn shares one of her wonderful desert poems with us - don't miss it! A seeker with an interest in meditation since the 1960's, Evelyn was a Reverend with The Institute of Mentalphysics, now the Joshua Tree Retreat Center. The Haggards continue to teach mediation at their Center for the Open Rose and Evelyn shares the inspiration for the name. Mentioned in this episode: Multiwave Oscillator Vipassana Meditation & 10 day Silent Retreat

Sant traveled through Joshua Tree on her way to Arizona in the 1970's ~ little did she know then she would eventually make it her home. She and her husband, David, began retreating to Joshua Tree on weekends to escape stressful lives in San Bernardino ~ one day, they just decided to move permanently. In this episode, Sant talks about desert quiet, education of park visitors and something at her place that causes her to drop what she's doing to go and take a look. A sci-fi fan, Sant recommends some binge-worthy Netflix shows. Sant is working on a large solo exhibition and book called: Prana: Life with Trees, which opens at MOAH Lancaster on May 12, 2018. The exhibition and book will focus on trees as a major subject in her work since the 1970's including the forest of over 1000 ponderosa pine trees she planted 25 years ago north of Big Bear in Holcomb Valley. Obsessed with "water" as it relates to living in the desert, listen to her interview on the subject with KCOD's GreenTHINK here. Here are a few current and upcoming exhibitions, featuring Sant's work: 1. The Visual Metric, Griffin Museum of Photography: Lafayette City Center Gallery, Boston, closes January 23, 2018 2. California Nature, Fresno Art Museum, curated by Jay Belloli, opens January 27 to June 10, 2018 3. Solo exhibition and Monograph / Book published by Griffith Moon in Santa Monica.: Prana - Life with Trees, MOAH Lancaster, curated by Andi Campagnone, opens May 12 – June 15, 2018 Sant Khalsa's website: http://www.santkhalsa.com/

Pat grew up loving nature and visiting the desert with her family, so it would stand to reason that she would go back to school at age 35 and get a degree in Biology and be placed as the first friendly face visitors came in contact with at Anza-Borrego State Park in California. An extremely active advocate for the desert and it's natural ways, Pat is a wealth of information on everything from the importance of sand transport paths, to desert dust, to local flora and fauna. After a long time as an educator in the San Diego area, Pat was looking for a place where she could be involved more closely and deeply in her community and with family in the area, Joshua Tree was her choice. In this episode Pat also suggests visiting the Old Schoolhouse Museum to meet some of the decsendants of the earliest homesteaders in the Basin or contact the 29 Palms Inn and meet her for a free nature walk and talk on the weekends. If you live in our community, she invites you to the monthly Municipal Advisory Council meetings to be informed. Mentioned in this episode: Sand Transport Paths Old Schoolhouse Museum Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council 29 Palms Inn Nature Walks

Hilary heads back to Tanzania Africa next week for three months, so I was thrilled she made the time to be on the podcast. In this episode, Hilary discusses the life-change she experienced, bringing her to the desert permanently in 2009. With a 35-year career as a producer and stylist for print, film and commercials in the rear view, Hilary is now creating in a different way after using her first year in Joshua Tree to learn German and take photography classes online. Her photography is in galleries in Joshua Tree and Los Angeles and her writing has been in the local Hi-Desert Star, Luna Arcana and Palm Springs Life. Hilary's trips to Africa are with an organization called Raleigh International whose mission is to educate and empower youth. Hilary also has a long-term project call "America - In Land We Trust" focusing on Land Trusts and conservation in the American West. Mentioned in this episode: Hilary's Photography Website Hilary's Blog Hilary on Instagram Creativelive MasterClass Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion

Helen, on the left, new homesteader in Twentynine Palms; right, Minerva Hoyt, "Apostle of the Cacti". Helen learned to love the desert, coming here in 1927, with her husband Frank (due to his health issues) and three young boys. Helen and Frank ran a grocery store in Twentynine Palms, or '29 Palms', and made a life here from scratch. Among other things, they dug a well, built a school and, after years of living in and running the grocery store out of a double garage, built a house and made a life for their family. Helen wrote 'Sand In My Shoe', with remembrances of the people, places and customs of early homesteader life. Minerva, a member of the Garden Club of America, found great solace in the desert in the early 1900's, visiting often from her home in Pasadena. Her efforts to educate children and adults alike about the preservation of native plants and animals of the desert included elaborate exhibits in various garden club shows, like the 1928 International Flower Show in New York's Grand Central Palace, New York Botanic Garden, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and the Chelsea Spring Flower Show in London. Her biggest project was the preservation of Mojave Desert land now known as Joshua Tree National Park. In this episode, I read an excerpt from each of the listed books. Helen's is first and will give you an idea of her life with Frank and some of the challenges of early homestead life. The excerpt about Minerva is from 'National Parks and the Woman's Voice', by Polly Welts Kaufman, and shows Minerva's commitment to the desert and to seeing that it was preserved for future generations. Below are links to these books on Amazon. Raven's or Sagebrush Books, in 29 Palms and Yucca Valley, CA respectfully, may have them on the shelves from time to time. They may also be found at your public library. 'Sand in my Shoe' is a bit of a collector's item. 'Sand in my Shoe' on Amazon 'National Parks and the Woman's Voice' on Amazon

Marge credits much of what she has done with her life to her Aunt Helen. When Marge was sixteen, Aunt Helen got cancer and Marge played an important role in caring for her medical needs. This experience inspired Marge to become a nurse where, through the years, her people and leadership skills combined bringing her from nurse to healthcare administrator. Today she not only works opening HIV/Aids clinics across the country, but is also President of the Board of the Morongo Basin Healthcare District and Treasurer of local Kiwanis. Marge's Website Donate to Marge's Campaign for Congress Marge on Facebook The Boys Tale

Yolanda walks her talk as you'll hear in this episode. Born in Los Angeles, Yolanda came to the desert with her husband, a now-retired Marine. They moved away to Washington D.C. for awhile, then moved back to the desert - Yolanda didn't just like the desert - she loved it. With the little free time she has, she hikes, runs and walks her chihuahuas. After last years election, Yolanda felt compelled to leave her political complacency behind and joined Indivisible Morongo Basin. Yolanda is Co-Lead of the Immigration Team and most of her work involves improving conditions at Adelanto Detention Center and raising bail and post-release funds for detainees. Yolanda is committed to social justice. Mentioned in this episode: Indivisble Indivisible Morongo Basin Fundraiser for Adelanto Detainees Detainee Visitation Program Help Emmanuel - His Story

Kim was born in California, but spent her younger years in Missouri. She'd visit California, helping at her grandmother's restaurant in Big Bear, California, where she met her husband, Ryan, who was born and raised in Joshua Tree. One winter, after working together at Snow Summit, Kim and Ryan moved to Joshua Tree and have made their home here. Kim works at the 29Palms Marine Air Ground Combat Center, assisting Marines and their families with any special needs the family may have when they arrive in the Hi-Desert. Kim and her husband are also partners in Joshua Tree Candle Company, with their neighbors, Kurt and Suzette Koptis and, as you will hear in this episode, the candle business is definitely a family affair. Kim also has a unique sign and home decor business called The Tiny Cactus. Joshua Tree Candle Company The Tiny Cactus on Instagram

Gabriella came to the states from Hungary, where she practiced yoga with a group of like-minded individuals, even though the practice was not permitted by the government. She was only to stay for a few months, to work and save money to visit the Mexico's pyramids and experience Mayan spirituality. Gabriella fell in love with the freedom and opportunities here, deciding to make her home in New Jersey. A few years later, a cross-country drive with her son landed them in Santa Monica, where they soon moved. She met here husband on a retreat and they now reside in Joshua Tree. Gabriella thrives on learning and this path has led her to practice many different forms of art like Yoga, Meditation, Chanting, Storytelling and the Art of Knotting, also known as Macrame. In this episode, she talks about how the desert kept calling her back, and the process of finding her home, "El Corazón del Desierto" (The Heart of the Desert), where she and her husband live and host visiting guests and conduct workshops. You'll find a link to Gabriella's Maitri Macrame Etsy shop below. Mentioned in this episode: Maitri Macrame El Corazon del Desierto Airbnb