Who we are
photo by Carlotta
Samuel Rotker
I’m a web developer, specialized in conversion-driven SEO, focused on conscious business.
We came with my family from Argentina in 2022 in search of a conscious community that had a good alternative school for our children. In this time, I have realized how good and necessary it is to live surrounded by nature with people with whom we share life values. Being here has been a time of great personal growth and discovery, it has given me the environment and consciousness to slowdown and be present. I feel proud to belong to the Machuca Valley community and I’m grateful to be here.
Oliver Lambeth
In search of community, I came with my family as an avid fan of permaculture, holistic building practices and growing fruit trees in the tropics. I am from England and have had experience working on various community projects around the world mainly focused around small scale farming, agroforestry and permaculture community structures.
For a while now, I’ve had an interest in community dynamics. Especially the way we interact in a closer quartered environment within intentional communities that differs to what the status quo of towns and cities. Questions come up in conflict like, what arises in ourselves during these moments? How can we best operate to hear the other person’s side and find an agreeable middle ground?
With my property management work in London, the South West of England and now here in the Machuca Valley similar conflicts arise between people and as a manager there is a requirement to let go of any arising emotion within you in order to best solve what is in front of you.
I have lived in La Ecovilla in San Mateo for the last few years and have connected with many homeowners and renters and seen, how with careful management, through well thought out agreements we can set the foundation for people to live happily here.
A book that inspired me in my 20’s was “You are, therefore I am” by Satish Kumar and one particular chapter was centred around the death of the local economy in the globalised world we live in. How if we turn our attention to supporting our community members’ businesses, we can revitalise the local economy which naturally inspires connection between others, a sense of belonging in the community and ultimately love for one another.
That’s what motivates me. I have three kids and I want a stable community that they can grow up in and I hope with bringing my best self, and tools like this platform, we can support folks here to be community members for years to come.