Live the Possibility

Letter 34: The Architecture of Your Fraudulent Self – Part 3: How the Defenses Become the Identity

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change…

a month ago · 4 likes · Ronit Herzfeld

Recent Interviews for the Land Steward Alliance:

Pura Vida,

Edward Zaydelman

Live the Possibility

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My mission is helping visionaries like you bring sustainable land projects to life. After 18+ years developing properties and communities here, I’ve learned that success comes from balancing bold vision with practical execution. I support clients in creating projects that honor both their dreams and the land itself. Every decision should consider impact on the local community, environment, and future generations. This means taking time to listen to the land, build trust with neighbors, and develop clear strategies that work for all stakeholders.

058: Voyage Beyond...

Edward Zaydelman — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 20:45:24 GMT

Hey Friends,

I recently returned from a trip to Bali, Indonesia, where I visited a property called the Jungle Palace that my client and friend Edward Blair is building.

Bali touched my soul!

It wasn’t just the beauty of the land—it was the reverence of the people. The way tradition and devotion are woven into daily life. You feel it everywhere: in the offerings on the sidewalks, the prayers, the quiet care. I visited water temples, witnessed fire ceremonies, explored ancient ruins… but what stayed with me most were the people I met—whose presence is now etched into my heart.

This trip stirred something that had been brewing in me for a while.

I keep noticing these “acupuncture points” around the world—places people are activating with intention. And it’s powerful to see how differently people are approaching their work today: thinking about what the world actually needs now, rather than building a fantasy they pinned to a vision board years ago.

One thing I love: when clients start with what already exists instead of defaulting to a new build.

Because the truth is… the world already has a lot of retreat centers!

From a sustainability and regenerative perspective, remodeling (when possible) is often the wiser move. It saves time, money, and it saves Mother Earth from carrying yet another pile of materials on her back.

And it also forces more honest questions:

How many more retreat centers does the world need?
What are we retreating from?
Are we actually creating positive impact—for the land and the people who live there?

Which leads me to something I’ve been saying more and more out loud:

My real contract is with Mother Earth.
She’s the primary stakeholder I answer to.

After her, it’s the people—local community, neighbors, and the Indigenous stewards of the region. If what we’re building doesn’t benefit them, we might as well not begin. And I mean that literally. I pause as many projects as I build. Sometimes I downsize a vision. Sometimes I tell someone, “Not yet.” Sometimes I tell them, “This isn’t the right idea.”

Because these projects—especially in the “eco-luxury / regenerative development” world—can quietly turn into an eco rat race. They can drain your nervous system, strain friendships, and stress marriages. They can turn into a decade-long ordeal that reshapes your entire life for better or worse.

Now—this specific project feels different. It’s not “another retreat center.” It’s more like a laboratory for civilization design—a place for people creating real impact (in their own lives and in the lives of others) to gather, connect, and collaborate. Think less retreat… more mastermind space for humanity. A space for unique humans optimizing health, deepening relationships, and gathering around conversations with real gravitas—work that can actually ripple outward.

A BioArc Designed Harmonic Dome at the Jungle Palace Campus

And as I visit and support these projects around the world, I’m seeing a bigger pattern emerge: a network of intentional places—acupuncture points around the world—forming a richer tapestry than any one property could create on its own.

Someone recently told me, “You should connect them all.”

And… yeah. That may happen in due time but…

This isn’t about building a hotel collection or running a regenerative business scheme networking hospitality and real estate around the world. It’s about responsible land stewardship—and using spaces to convene the right people for the right reasons. Because honestly, it’s not a time to mess around given what’s happening in the world. We are at a tipping point…

Lessons and Ideas that emerged from this travel:

Greenfield projects from scratch vs. working with an existing place to remodel. Starting from scratch is time consuming and riskier.
Taking care of all of the stakeholders - from the land to it’s people.
Rethinking the relationship between living and hospitality. When the lines blur. As people are looking to retreat less, and connect more.
The rising desire for a connected, semi-nomadic life—and what that means for land projects worldwide.
We are in a critical time for humanity - a tipping point. If and when we gather, it should be for a damn good reason. Don’t you think?

If you want to see more of where I’m putting my energy, check out the Future Human Institute—this is where I invest about 80% of my time. The “for-profit game” of earning as much as possible and winning the capitalism-of-the-year award is getting old. There are so many ways to be of service.

Recent Podcast: Lead with Heart with Dr Jesse Hanson

From Hustle to Heart: Redefining Leadership Through Purpose and Presence w/ Ed Zaydelman

In this episode of Lead With Heart, host Dr. Jesse Hanson sits down with Edward Zaydelman to explore the deeper journey behind authentic leadership — the one that begins long before titles, success, or recognition. Edward shares his path from Brooklyn nightlife promoter to advisor and guide in regenerative communities, retreat centers, and land-based projects focused on human and planetary wellbeing. The conversation dives into how early family expectations, emotional intelligence, and the search for belonging shaped Edward’s drive — and how burnout, health crises, and failed ventures became catalysts for transformation. Together, they reflect on the tension between achievement and meaning, and why true leadership isn’t about proving worth, but about presence, integrity, and self-awareness.

Watch this Episode

Recent Interviews for the Land Steward Alliance:

Resource Section: Dear Future Human

In many newsletters and emails, I’ve share a lot of valuable insights and lessons from Leap Forward and it’s founder Ronit Herzfeld. Dear Future Human is nothing short of a compass for life. These letters ring an alarm bell of sorts in the soul, and provide a variety of practical tools for anyone to benefit from. I dedicate most of time to this initiative and the Future Human Institute. Anyway, what else would I be doing in such a critical time in humanity’s evolution?

Letter 31: Turning On the Lights - How to See Your Unconscious Patterns

“What are we failing to see? And what does it cost us…

3 months ago · 2 likes · Ronit Herzfeld

DearFutureHuman.us

Pura Vida,

Edward Zaydelman

Live the Possibility

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Discussion with Edward Zaydelman on Mental Health & Coaching

Edward Zaydelman — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:01:03 GMT

A delightful conversation with Margaret Williams, MS, ACC’s via Substack!

We dove into taking leaps of faith, mental health, and a bit about the state of humanity… I was not expecting us to go as deep as we did!

For more information and resources from the conversation, please see the work of Ronit Herzfeld via Leap Forward & Dear Future Human.

In Deep Gratitude and Appreciation,

Edward Zaydelman

Live the Possibility

Important Links:

Questions? Just hit reply - I read every email personally.

Reserve Your Free Seat Here

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Homesteading without the Hustle

Edward Zaydelman — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 20:29:47 GMT

Hey friends,

I hope you’re doing well and enjoying the holidays! I recently had an awesome conversation with my dear friend Ceibo — who is a land steward, homesteader, and a multidisciplinary creative. His “finca” and homestead project is located in Zaragoza, in the Nicoya Region of Costa Rica. He speaks in quiet sentences that carry weight. No jargon, no rush, just presence. And he walks barefoot—a lot! The man is slow, tapped-in, and full of practical wisdom which we dive into together.

View of the Nicoya Region’s Mountains from the Bath House

Twenty years ago, I came to Costa Rica wanting exactly what Ceibo built: a home, a garden, land that could provide for myself and others. I got caught up in a lot of projects, life’s adventures, and big dreams and didn’t start my own home and garden until many years later. Visiting Ceibo’s place reminded me why I came here in the first place, to live on and with the land!

Please enjoy the lessons and key takeaways from our conversation below and check out the resources and free goodies section at the end of the Newsletter!

Homesteading Without the Hustle

What if your next move was to slow down, listen, and let the land set the pace? That is where my conversation with Ceibo began, and where it kept returning.

Before you move earth, move your body. Walk the site at sunrise and again at dusk, learn the wind, the water, and the footpaths people already use. Sit with the people in your community, understanding both their needs and their gifts. Share meals. If you do this, decisions get clearer and simpler. If you skip it, you pay later with conflict, rework, and fatigue.

The “Homesteading” definition that landed

I asked Ceibo to define homesteading…

His answer: “Creating a steady home.”

That’s it. Could be the house is organized. Could be your water source. Could be you’re growing your food and detaching from systems that don’t serve you. Homesteading is about settling in, getting grounded, building steadiness in an environment that wants to move fast.

Take it Slow and Steady!

The Music Studio and Yoga Shala Space - Multifunctional Gathering Place

Ceibo’s owned this land for seven years. He’s built one cabin, a music space + yoga shala, and a bathhouse. That’s it! Ceibo didn’t front-load cash into this place. He built as he could afford it, balancing the farm work with his music projects. Some years the farm got more attention, some years less. Life happened. Curveballs came. The project adapted.

People often throw large sums of money at land projects here, hoping for speed, and the results speak for themselves. I’ve seen 80-acre food forests planted in one shot where 70% of the trees died. Scale doesn’t always work when you skip the learning curve. You need to spend time listening to your land.

Ceibo did just that. He walked paths for months before deciding where they should go. He laid out rocks to mark where structures might go someday. He let the land tell him what it wanted before he imposed his plan.

He calls this the “scale of permanence.” Concrete is permanent. So is a jackfruit tree once it becomes a canopy.

Don’t rush into permanent decisions when you’re still learning the place.

Ceibo’s Cabin - A place to call home, with just enough and more than enough!

What actually kills these projects and kills the joy?

It’s not lack of money. It’s not even the bumpy roads or the rainy season.

It’s chaos. Overcomplexity. Too many systems requiring too much attention. Ceibo told me his whole approach is built around organization, simplicity, and not creating reactions that generate more chaos. Ceibo’s systems just work from the food forests, to water management, and beyond. The paths people actually use are the ones he built as he walked the land. Fewer moving parts means fewer failure points and less dependency on expertise that might leave.

What you can actually do, now!

Start where you are. Ceibo was clear on this.

If you’re in New York City, volunteer at a CSA. Go upstate and get your hands dirty. If you’ve got a tiny lawn, do something with it. If you’ve got a window, grow herbs. Watch how the plant responds to light. Move it when it needs moving. That’s the practice.

The people asking me about retreat centers and eco-villages are often missing this step. They haven’t tended anything yet. Start with one houseplant. Learn how it slows your brain down. Feel what it’s like to care for something that isn’t human.

Why this all matters…

I watched Ceibo talk about his farm and the steadiness it gives him. He built something that works on a human level, for his wellbeing, and for the planet’s. In the process, it’s shaped who he is, inside and out. A slow, thoughtful, methodical, and aware human being that I’m grateful to call my friend!

If you’re drawn to land stewardship, if you keep thinking about growing your own food or building a home somewhere quieter, this is where you start. Not with the vision board. Not with the land hunt. With the practice of tending. Of going slow. Of letting the place set the pace.

The Bath House: equipped with a Wood Burning Sauna, Hot Tub, and Shower!

Key Lessons

Go slow on purpose. Walk the land barefoot before you hire the architect. Learn the wind, the water, the paths that already exist.
Measure steadiness, not speed. A steady home beats a chaotic compound every time. Organization and simplicity create the foundation everything else builds on.
Scale of permanence. Let the permanent decisions wait until you actually know the place.
Keep systems simple. If it requires an expert to run it, you’ve over-engineered. Build things your future self can maintain on a hard day when help isn’t coming.
Don’t front-load cash. Money thrown too fast at land creates beautiful structures with shallow roots. Build as you can afford it. Let the project grow with you, not ahead of you.
Start small, start now. Houseplants if you’re in the city. A tiny garden if you’ve got a yard. CSA volunteering if you’ve got weekends. The practice of tending is what matters, not the scale.
Build revenue streams. Homesteading isn’t about total self-sufficiency. It’s about resilience. You still need energy exchange flowing in, whether from the land or from other work you love.

Next time I’m up at Ceibo’s farm, we’re going deeper on specific systems—composting, water, food preservation. If this is your thing, stay tuned.

Handpicked Resources & Free Goodies for You!

Living Systems Design: A permaculture certification for a regenerative generation!

Join Ecoversity for a free, live conversation on how to design your life, work, and surroundings to work with nature instead of against it, so that what you build supports both your own well-being and the world around you. Ecoversity is a global education network helping people apply practical, nature-based solutions in their homes and communities.

Hosts: Stephen Brooks, Co-Founder of Ecoversity, and Penny Livingston, permaculture educator with over 40 years of experience
When: Jan 7 at 11 AM PST

👉 Reserve your free seat to the Open House: [Link]

No prior experience is needed. If you care about the Earth and want to explore practical ways to create positive change, this Open House is a great place to begin.

👉 Or Dive Right into the Living Systems Design Program: [Link]

The Living Systems Design Program

To Your Thriving Life,

Edward Zaydelman

Live the Possibility

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Questions? Just hit reply - I read every email personally.

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Community Building Without the Chaos

Edward Zaydelman — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 22:00:57 GMT

Hey friends,

I hope you’re doing well! This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jason Thomas of Regeneration Nation. Jason consults people on the invisible structures and agreements in their land projects, has written the Community Seekers Handbook, and takes people on Ecovillage tours across Costa Rica.

What he shared in this interview was wisdom I wish I’d had two decades ago when I was starting out looking at land-based communities and eco-villages with starry eyes and big hopes! We dove deep into shared learnings that could be quite useful for anyone interested in this topic!

Below are the key lessons and takeaways from our discussion as well as links to the resources mentioned!

The Naive Approach (And Why It Fails)

Most community projects don’t fail for lack of land issues or lack of money, they fail because people skip the hard early conversations, racing to the sexy stuff like vision boards, infrastructure, and land hunts while the invisible foundations that actually make community work get ignored until it’s too late.

Jason calls this “naive community building,” and I’ve watched it play out countless times: someone buys beautiful land, crafts an inspiring vision, even builds gorgeous structures and attracts excited people—then comes conflict, unrealistic expectations, high turnover, and wasted energy.

Why? Because the focus stayed on superficial features (land, amenities, aesthetics) instead of the real foundation: understanding human dynamics. This is a major reason I joined the Leap Forward community!

Most people avoid difficult conversations because they’re uncomfortable. It feels easier to stay in the dreamy vision phase vs get down to the nuts and bolts of the agreements. That “easiness” is what kills projects and stakeholders later.

What Actually Works: The Agreements Foundation

“Agreements are the foundation. They attract aligned members and deter misfits. They prevent conflict by defining expectations and decision-making processes upfront.”

Jason broke down what makes community agreements actually work:

Balance is everything. They need to be detailed enough to create safety and clarity, but not so rigid that they scare off every reasonable human being. Nobody wants to join a community with a 500-page manual of micromanagement.
Process over decisions. Agreements must define how decisions will be made, not just what the decisions are. It’s about establishing a framework everyone can trust.
Conflict resolution must be built in. Jason calls this the “Wisdom Circle”—a clear escalation protocol. When conflict arises (not if, but when), there’s a defined path: direct communication first between the parties, then mediation if needed, then whatever next level you’ve agreed upon in your specific community.
One insight that really landed: well-designed agreements aren’t restrictive. They’re liberating. They give people permission to show up authentically because the container is clear.

Jason also introduced me to permaculture’s “Transition Care” ethic — the acknowledgment that everyone is on a unique journey. The goal isn’t to impose rigid standards on people. It’s to honor individual effort and create supportive systems that help people grow.

Beyond Single Projects: The Bioregional Future

Here’s where the conversation really opened up for me. Jason shared: “The future of community is bioregional—a network of projects collaborating within a shared ecosystem.”

Instead of one project succeeding or failing alone, you’ve got a web of support. When one community faces challenges, the bioregion helps. When one thrives, the whole ecosystem benefits. It builds resilience at a scale that single projects can’t achieve.

This completely reframes what success looks like. It’s not about your individual eco-village becoming the next Findhorn or Damanhur. It’s about being part of a regenerative movement that’s networked, collaborative, and anti-fragile.

The Gentrification Question (And One Remedy)

If you’re building a community or retreat center in Costa Rica—or anywhere outside your home country—you really need to hear this part.

Jason was direct: “Gentrification is a practice of disconnection.”

One remedy? Cultural bridge-building.

Before you even buy land, go door-to-door and engage with locals. Not after you’ve purchased. Not after you’ve started building. Before. Jason shared the gold standard from a project called Brave Earth here in Costa Rica.

Understand their needs. Ask what they care about. Build actual relationships. Jason emphasized this isn’t just ethical—it’s practical due diligence. These conversations will reveal things about the land, the area, and the community that no lawyer or survey will tell you. Plus, you create allies who might want to collaborate or offer services to your future guests.

One of the most practical things Jason said: “when locals see you doing this level of engagement, they become your biggest advocates instead of your biggest obstacles.”

Key Lessons from the Conversation

Do the deep discovery work first - Alignment comes from honest self-assessment work between you and you.
Agreements aren’t optional - They’re the foundation everything else is built on. Start this process early and get clarity!
Define your conflict resolution path upfront - Don’t wait until you’re in crisis.
Think bioregionally - Network with other projects for resilience.
Engage neighbors before buying land - Cultural bridge-building prevents gentrification and creates interdependence
Use modern tools and business practices - Success requires systems.

What This Means for You

If you’re building community—or thinking about joining one—ask:

Have we done the deep discovery work to understand our own values and needs?
Have we defined our decision-making process clearly?
Do we have a conflict resolution path established before we need it?
Have we engaged local neighbors authentically?
Are we building in isolation or seeking bioregional connections?

Building community isn’t about having the perfect vision or the most beautiful land. It’s about creating the right foundations so humans and nature can actually thrive together over time.

Most people get this backwards. They think the land or the infrastructure is the hard part. But the real work? It’s the invisible stuff. The agreements. The communication. The relationships with neighbors. The psychological safety. The conflict resolution. Get that right, and everything else becomes possible!

Resources Shared in the Interview

Ecovillage Tours: Use Discount Code “LTP” to receive $200 Off!
Incredible guided tours to 23+ communities across Costa Rica and beyond. And they’ve just announced their full lineup of 2026 tours!
These tours are perfect if you’re dreaming of joining or starting an intentional community. You’ll visit a diversity of ecovillages, meet founders and residents, and see firsthand how these communities work—from governance and group dynamics to food systems and daily rhythms. It’s a rare chance to build relationships, get inspired, and gather practical tools to move forward on your own community journey.
The Community Seekers Handbook: 200-page guide with self-assessment frameworks, 50-point vetting questionnaire, and guidance on immigration without gentrification. A highly recommended read!

To Your Thriving Life,

Edward Zaydelman

Live the Possibility

Important Links:

Questions? Just hit reply - I read every email personally.

If you’re new to Live the Possibility...

Mindform Podcast #039: Building Sustainable Communities

Edward Zaydelman — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 14:29:39 GMT

Hey Friends,

I recently had the pleasure to join the Mindform Podcast to talk about authentic community and land stewardship. You can listen to the podcast via the Spotify & iTunes links below. I also wanted to share some of my story and key lessons from the conversation with you, as it touched on a lot of the currents and threads relevant to those looking to build communities, retreat centers, as well as homes and lives abroad. You can find the full post after the podcast section.

Mindform Podcast #039: Building Sustainable Communities

SPOTIFY:

ITUNES:

In this episode, Frank Lawton speaks with Edward Zaydelman — community builder, retreat center consultant, and core member of the nonprofit Leap Forward. Edward shares his personal journey from New York nightlife and Burning Man to building intentional communities in Costa Rica. He recounts the rise and fall of his first eco-retreat center and the profound lessons learned about sustainability — not just ecological, but emotional, relational, and spiritual.

The conversation dives deep into the invisible structures that make or break communities — values alignment, communication, integrity, and psychological safety. Edward emphasizes the importance of slowing down, rewiring the human mind, and doing inner work in tandem with outer change. Drawing from his work at Leap Forward, he illustrates how authentic growth emerges in community, not isolation. Together, they explore how our world is at a tipping point — and how small groups of committed people can lay the groundwork for a wiser, more integrated future.

Where This Adventure Began…

My path into community started in high school and college. I spent years producing large events in the US and learned how to bring humans together in experiences where they came alive. I began to see how communities form around shared values and visions (as well as electronic music and libations). Then one year without warning, my grandfather got cancer and passed rapidly. My family knew things needed to change, and we leaned hard into health. We changed our lives inside out from the food we ate, to our work and lifestyle. We learned what it costs to clean your body and mind in a big city and how rare it is to find places that support real change. Those threads of community experiences, transformation, and health, pulled us towards looking for a place to support that lifestyle for ourselves and others.

When we looked for a home base, we traveled everywhere with a list of key values, and then Costa Rica came on the radar. A stable democracy, high literacy, no army, clean food, incredible nature - and OMG the people were the most kind-hearted and helpful humans I’ve ever met. It became the canvas to paint our family dream. My dad left his job, I left mine, and we began building a wellness and longevity center and residential community. For a while it worked. Until it didn’t.

The center and my marriage both hit a wall. I was running too hot and carrying too much. This was not the life I imagined, and the house of cards came crashing down one day. Looking back now - Thank God! I needed that pause from the universe. I couldn’t keep up the mirage, I couldn’t keep raising money and hosting group after group. A hotel partner stepped in during the period when I could not sustain the operation, financially or energetically and took over. And me? I went on a long walk-about and later decided to support people with their projects vs build my own. That decade long experience now shapes how I work with people looking to build land projects of any kind. There was a price I paid, a cost that was beyond money, and I try hard to help others avoid the mistakes I made as well as learn from the wins. From relationships, to finances, health, impact on your life and others - this is serious stuff that is not taught in school, and definitely not on your Pinterest vision board.

If you decide to do this, buckle-up - it’s not a journey for the faint of heart! I love my work as a sherpa, but Everest kills people every year, and so I have to be honest. There are enough people who want to sell you something, and will sugar coat the fuck out of this process. I don’t—I can’t, after what I’ve lived over these last 20 years in this line of work and life!

Communities & Eco-villages: some things I wish people told me…

Where do projects actually fail? Usually with people, not construction. Co-founders split. Investors bring terms that do not match the heart of the project. Financing gets heavy and creates years of stress. Money carries culture. Every dollar has a DNA. If you ignore that, it will shape your project silently. My work is often about seeing these dynamics early, then building strategy, relationships, and operational solutions so the founders are in good shape. Otherwise the vision turns into a hustle that is hard to stop. Invest in systems, people, and culture over shiny amenities. Set a clear vision, and expect a long runway.

Another trap is believing resilience comes from walls and gates. A group buys land, carves up lots, and calls it an eco-village. This happens all over Costa Rica. The map and website looks great. But what makes a place healthy is not the subdivision layout. It is the invisible structures: shared values, clear agreements, integrity, and transparent communication. Humans are still learning how to cooperate at the level these projects require. This is why inner work is not extra. It is the infrastructure. See more about this subject on LeapForward.us.

Community, to me, looks like a circle of people who practice life together. We do not have to live on the same land to hold each other to our truth, or chant over a fire in circles burning paper with our deepest shadows. The mirror is what makes growth real and the active care to engage each other, is what makes a friendship substantive (in my opinion). When we bring that level of honesty and practice to land-based projects, the visible structures stand a chance because they are built on a foundation of real integrity and lasting interdependence.

Key Takeaways

Build the invisible first. The relationships between all stakeholders including nature is critical. Make agreements explicit, keep accountability real, and create safety via a transparent and authentic communication.
Right-size the dream. Buy and build at a scale you can truly steward. Avoid financing and scopes of work that lock you into chronic stress.
Be honest about money. Capital has its own unique DNA. Choose sources and terms that fit your values and be careful when partnering.
Design for human sustainability. Clarify roles and cadence so founders don’t burn out. Remember you’re operating a “restaurant with beds.”
Expect a real runway and be patient. Plan for a minimum of three to five years to reach stability in anything you want to create.

Resource Section: Dear Future Human

In many newsletters and emails, I’ve share a lot of valuable insights and lessons from Leap Forward and it’s founder Ronit Herzfeld. If you are interested in the subject matter of authentic community, resilience, and the future of humanity…

Check out: Leap Forward & Dear Future Human.

To Your Thriving Life,

Edward Zaydelman

Live the Possibility

Important Links:

Questions? Just hit reply - I read every email personally.

057: Building What Lasts...

Edward Zaydelman — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 16:02:04 GMT

Hey Friends,

If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving or just being alive, here’s to you and yours! I’m getting this newsletter out early, so that you can enjoy it over the weekend.

To kick us off, I recently had the pleasure to join the Mindform Podcast to talk about authentic community and land stewardship. I wanted to share some of my story and key lessons from the conversation with you, as it touched on a lot of the currents and threads relevant to those looking to build communities, retreat centers, as well as homes and lives abroad. You can listen to the podcast via the Spotify & iTunes links toward the end of the post, and for now enjoy a bit of the journey!

Where This Adventure Began…

Communities & Eco-villages: some things I wish people told me…

Key Takeaways

Build the invisible first. The relationships between all stakeholders including nature is critical. Make agreements explicit, keep accountability real, and create safety via a transparent and authentic communication.
Right-size the dream. Buy and build at a scale you can truly steward. Avoid financing and scopes of work that lock you into chronic stress.
Be honest about money. Capital has its own unique DNA. Choose sources and terms that fit your values and be careful when partnering.
Design for human sustainability. Clarify roles and cadence so founders don’t burn out. Remember you’re operating a “restaurant with beds.”
Expect a real runway and be patient. Plan for a minimum of three to five years to reach stability in anything you want to create.

Mindform Podcast #039: Building Sustainable Communities

SPOTIFY:

ITUNES:

Resource Section: Dear Future Human

Check out: Leap Forward & Dear Future Human.

Ronit Herzfeld

a year ago · 6 likes · Ronit Herzfeld

DearFutureHuman.us

Pura Vida,

Edward Zaydelman

Live the Possibility

Important Links:

Questions? Just hit reply - I read every email personally.

If you’re new to Live the Possibility...

💡 The Growth of Tourism: Preserving Human and Natural Ecology

Edward Zaydelman — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 16:30:32 GMT

A Photo I took from Rio Perdido: Thermal River and Hot Spring - Guanacaste, CR

Hey friends,

Hope your are doing well! I send out occasional Sunday Lightbulb emails for you to enjoy. I try to keep them short and focused on lessons and insights I learn in the field of land stewardship and supporting people to build their land projects.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the industry I work in, which sits at the intersection of Hospitality and Real Estate—namely people looking to build communities and eco-villages, retreat and wellness centers, and other types of projects that seek to be in harmony with the people and the place. Some hit the mark, some miss the mark, but the point is we must always strive to do better when industries like Tourism and Real Estate can threaten an already delicate local ecological and cultural ecosystem.

When Costa Rica was a destination for birdwatchers, surfers, and yogis, the impact was relatively light. This leads me to wonder how a tourism board of a country, or the very companies that work in this industry, can look to attract people who care about nature, wellness, and local culture. Families, individuals, groups who care about humanity and are respectful to the local culture and ecosystem.

I think leading with questions is always a wise path to pursue. Looking to understand the data and reality on the ground, understand what types of tourism and what types of development are happening, and observe what’s healthy or not. Why? So we can do better!

In Regenerative Development, we study data and have many conversations with local communities to listen and learn. We take our time. We look for when an ecosystem was at its peak of diversity and all of the living stakeholders were thriving. And we look at what conditions were present at that time. We aim to get to that point: healthy, diverse, and thriving ecosystems. So this is the bar I set for myself and the people I work with. I sometimes say that my real employer is the Land, and I answer to her first, and then I can look to the needs and desires of my clients.

This month, for the Land Steward Alliance Workshop Series, I sat down with Gabriel Saragovia, founder of Rio Perdido—a thermal spa and lodge that’s been my hidden gem. What unfolded was an honest, hopeful, and sometimes confronting conversation about tourism, development, and sustainability in Costa Rica from a Tico whose opinion I deeply respect. Gabriel shared decades of lived experience—what’s working, and where we’re losing the plot, see below…

Recap and Lessons from the Conversation

Rio Perdido is an example of what’s possible when development is rooted in respect—for the land, for the people, and for its visitors. Set in the volcanic region of Guanacaste, it sits on more than 1,000 acres of preserved forest with a thermal river running through it. The team has kept the trails, forest, and waters accessible in a way that rivals most national parks. With miles to hike, bike, float, and soar—there’s no shortage of things to do. And when you’re done, you soak in the emerald-colored river.

What I love: it’s owned and run by Ticos. The staff is made up of locals and families from the area who make it feel like home. Best practices here aren’t just ecological, they’re social and cultural. Your project can fit into the rich tapestry of its place and people—or not. Rio Perdido chooses to listen. It’s not trying to maximize rooms or expand as fast as possible. It shows in the design, the food, the way the land is held. It feels whole. Grounded. Alive. As Gabriel said, “We didn’t just hire a few locals. This place is run by families from the area. That was the vision from the beginning.”

Key Lessons from the Conversation

Tourism isn’t the enemy— but it needs to mature. Favor low-density, high-integrity projects that work with the land instead of against it.
Community engagement is essential. Involve locals from day one—not just as employees, but as partners and co-creators.
Short-term thinking is the real threat. Fear, ego, and scarcity lead to extraction; the shift is toward long-term stewardship.
Developers should live in the places they build. Spend time before you decide—walk the land, learn the culture, meet the community.

Sustainable Hospitality Examples from African Lodging Operations

What this means for us
Building and developing responsibly isn’t a trend—it’s a necessary evolution. It’s not a checklist or certification, it’s how we show up. Presence. Care. Time and attention to do things right. It’s learning to zoom out, not just to the next quarter or retreat season, but the next decade and the next generation.
Are we leaving the land better than we found it and designing mindfully?
Are we contributing to our local community’s resilience and wellbeing?
Are we building something that lasts, or just something that sells?

A way forward
The real opportunity is for a small group of committed people to model what’s possible. That’s how movements begin and change can happen. Gabriel’s story is a reminder that integrity can be a foundation, not an afterthought.

Let’s keep choosing that path.

Podcast & Interviews

The Land Steward Alliance: Together We Thrive

I’d love to invite you to check out the Land Steward Alliance - where we meet monthly as a community to discuss our land projects and our lives with a collective of project founders, experts on the ground, and peers looking to not walk alone in this journey. We’re stronger together! And if you want to connect - schedule a chat!

To see past interviews and workshops check out the LTP Podcast: LINK

Additional Resources

If you are interested in the subject matter of interdependence, resilience, and the future of humanity - check out: Dear Future Human from Ronit Herzfeld.

If you're new to Live the Possibility...

My mission is helping visionaries like you bring sustainable land projects to life. After 18+ years developing properties and communities here, I've learned that success comes from balancing bold vision with practical execution. I support clients in creating projects that honor both their dreams and the land itself. Every decision should consider impact on the local community, environment, and future generations. This means taking time to listen to the land, build trust with neighbors, and develop clear strategies that work for all stakeholders.

To Ask for Pricing or Book a Discovery Call

Please fill out our contact form below or email ed@livethepossiblity.co with a summary of your needs and I will let you know if I can assist you.

https://www.livethepossibility.co/advisory-services/

It is extremely helpful if you can also fill out the Compass Assessment so I can know best how and where to support you and your land project!

To Book a Consultation Session

I answer client-specific questions exclusively in our online consultations. Our consultations include strategy and best practices based on decades of experience assisting clients like you.

Book an online consultation now to have your questions answered. Consultations are available over Zoom, so you can have a face-to-face meeting no matter where you are.

Schedule Consultation

Important Resources:

For more info you can see our website and service offerings:

A Different Kind of Growth: Gabriel Saragovia and the Rio Perdido story

Edward Zaydelman — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 01:00:42 GMT

For this month’s LSA Workshop Series, I had the pleasure of talking to Gabriel Saragovia, founder of Rio Perdido, a thermal spa and lodge that’s been my hidden gem. We sat down for a conversation about tourism, development, and sustainability in Costa Rica. What unfolded was an honest, hopeful, and sometimes confronting conversation with a Costa Rican whose opinion I greatly respect! Gabriel shared his lived experience—decades of observing how Costa Rica has changed, where it’s working, and where it’s losing the plot.

Rio Perdido stands out as an example of what’s possible when development is rooted in respect—for the land, for the people, and for its visitors. The team at Rio Perdido maintains some of the best practices I’ve seen in ecological stewardship and pairs it with transformative nature experiences that allow you to be fully immersed. With over 1,000 acres of preserve and trails to hike, bike, float, and soar—there’s no shortage of things to do. And when you're done, you soak in the emerald-colored river.

What I also love about Rio Perdido is that its owned and run by Ticos. The staff is made up entirely of locals and families from the area who work together to make it feel like home. So when one looks at best practices, they are not only related to ecological sustainability but also social and cultural sustainability and best practices. Your project can fit into the rich tapestry of its place and the people or not.

The Vision Behind Rio Perdido

Set in the volcanic region of Guanacaste, Rio Perdido sits on more than 1,000 acres of preserved forest and ecosystem, with a thermal river running through it. The property is privately maintained, and Gabriel and his team have worked hard to keep the trails, forest, and waters accessible in a way that rivals most national parks.

This is not a place trying to maximize rooms or expand as fast as possible. It’s a place that listens. And it shows—in the design, the food, the way the staff treats you, and how the land is held. It feels whole. Grounded. Alive.

But more than the infrastructure, what Gabriel spoke about most was responsibility. Not just to nature, but to community.

“We didn’t just hire a few locals. This place is run by families from the area. That was the vision from the beginning.”

Lessons from the Conversation

Tourism Isn’t the Enemy—But It Needs to Mature
Tourism has been good for Costa Rica in many ways, but the pressure is growing. Development without foresight can quickly become destructive. Gabriel emphasized the need for low-density, high-integrity projects that work with the land instead of against it.

Community Engagement Is Essential
You can’t build something meaningful if you ignore the people who already live there. The most successful projects involve locals from day one—not just as employees but as partners, collaborators, and co-creators.

Short-Term Thinking is the Real Threat
Too often, economic decisions are made from fear, ego, or scarcity. That’s what leads to extraction and overdevelopment. The shift we need is toward long-term stewardship, not quick returns.

Developers Should Live in the Places They Build
One of Gabriel’s strongest points was simple: spend time before you decide. Developers need to be on the ground, walking the land, getting to know the culture and community, before ever submitting plans or selling lots.

What This Means for Us

Listening to Gabriel speak, I kept coming back to a core truth:

Building and developing responsibly isn’t a trend—it’s an evolution.

This isn’t about a checklist or certification. It’s about how we show up. The presence we bring. The care. The time and attention to do things right!

It’s also about learning to zoom out—to consider not just the next quarter or the next retreat season, but the next decade, and the next generation.

Are we leaving the land better than we found it?
Are we contributing to community resilience?
Are we building something that lasts, or just something that sells?

A Way Forward

The real opportunity is for a small group of committed people to model what’s possible. That’s how movements begin. And that’s already happening—quietly, intentionally, across Costa Rica alongside things that aren’t as exemplary!

Gabriel’s story is a reminder that integrity can be a foundation, not an afterthought.

Let’s keep choosing that path.

The Land Steward Alliance is where we gather monthly as a diverse group of stakeholders ranging from Project Founders, to Architects and Builders, Non-Profits and Investors alike—supporting one another in this journey of building thriving, resilient projects and lives. If you want to be part of these conversations, come join us.

Additional Resources

If you are interested in the subject matter of interdependence, resilience, and the future of humanity - check out: Dear Future Human from Ronit Herzfeld.

To Your Thriving Vision,

Founder, Live the Possibility

Watch Video Replay of the Workshop

056: Costa Rica Bans New Retreat Centers and Eco-villages

Edward Zaydelman — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 23:47:28 GMT

Hey friends,

It’s been a while. I’ve just come back from some adventures through Alaska and Montana and have sprinkled in a few photos below. Deep nature. Deep connection with myself and loved ones. And I’m excited to dive in with you again, especially around what’s been unfolding in the world of land stewardship, people moving to Costa Rica to build Life 2.0, and how that’s really going for them and for the country.

Costa Rica is a country that’s thus far been an example to the world in ecology, democracy, and wellbeing - a canvas for what’s possible, and thus attracts a growing number with good intentions and big hearts! With that also comes extraction and overdevelopment, and somehow it’s hard to sort out how to do things right.

Now to be clear—there’s no actual ban on new retreat centers and eco-villages in Costa Rica. But many people, including locals I talk to, say that there should be….

I often hear:

“How many of these projects do we really need?”
“Is there even that much demand for retreats?”
“Are these eco-villages supporting local communities in any way?”
“How much Ayahuasca does a person really need?”

So I think it's important we stay aware of this and do our best when developing any project in a foreign country. That means listening to the land, the people, and real data, so our decisions are actually informed. Regenerative Development involves a lot of listening and way less doing. It involves asking curious questions, and studying how to make an ecosystem thrive in diversity, not extracting for personal benefit & profit.

San Isidro General - Mt. Chirripó Region

Words like “neo-colonialism” and “gentrification” aren’t just thrown around to sound smart. They reflect real impacts. Just like with climate change—some shifts are natural, but a lot is man-made harm, disrupting both people and ecosystems.

Personally, I don’t believe there should be a ban on new retreat centers or eco-villages. But I also don’t think this level of unchecked development is good for anyone. Instead of developing new land from scratch, what if we looked at revitalizing or integrating with existing spaces?

There’s a tidal wave of projects coming online, far beyond what the actual demand supports. Economically and environmentally, it’s not adding up. What we need now is, more collaboration between founders and projects already under way. And maybe the eco-village of the future doesn’t look like a gated community—but more like integrated neighborhoods, connected by shared purpose, not fences.

Nature doesn’t operate in silos. Why should we?

Rainbow I saw in Glacier Park, Montana

Another Approach is Possible…

The first step is going slow. Not rushing into land deals. Not getting swept up in the hype or one’s own fantasy. But listening. Traveling. Learning.

It means becoming part of the local tapestry, not a tourist with a vision board. After more than 20 years in Costa Rica, it starts simple: learning the language, spending real time in a small town, and talking to local people. Understanding what’s needed. Asking how we can serve, rather than imposing some dream we had on a vision quest into their day to day reality and lives.

When I work with people, I often ask:
Is your vision or project necessary? Is it feasible? Is it beneficial to the area? Is it in Integrity?

Mineral Rich Waters of Southern Alaska

We usually scale that vision down, sometimes we pause it entirely. And funny enough, that’s what people hire me for. They think I’m going to help them build the retreat center or community of their dreams—and sometimes I do—but first, I slow them down, to see if that’s really what’s in the cards for them - or not. We get a lay of the land.

Most projects I encounter are beautiful ideas, but often disconnected from reality - missing research, local context, or real resources. They risk burning out their creators and harming the land they say they want to protect. So I have to speak my truth.

I’ve worked with plenty of folks convinced they’ve received the master plan for humanity. Their idea of collaboration is “going deeeeep” with investors they just met at Burning Man, well-meaning people with big hearts and big bank accounts, who are often equally unclear and in transition. Next thing you know, they’re building the ultimate eco-village with biohacking, permaculture, and an “organic medicine library.”

I know it well—because I was that guy. I had my dream, my land, my retreat center, my Kool-Aid. Now I help people check themselves, before they wreck themselves.

Sometimes the right move isn’t a big project—it’s just a home in a small town for now. And if it is a project, make it sensible, and integrated with the local community.

That’s the path I walk with people on now. Not faster. Not bigger. But wiser.

Cabin on remote Island in Alaska

For this month’s LSA Workshop Series, we had special guest Ian-Michael Hebert. Ian-Michael is a visionary leader and co-founder of Holos Global, where he merges ecological stewardship with transformative wellness experiences. With a background in architecture and sustainable development, he previously served as the Director of Projects at the Esalen Institute, leading the campus renewal initiatives to rebuild the facilities. He also holds a Master's in Counseling Psychology and Community Mental Health from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Today, Ian-Michael continues to inspire through his work at Holos, in the Diamante Valley of Costa Rica, where one can find a blending of indigenous wisdom with modern approaches to healing and sustainability. His commitment to fostering deeper connections between people and nature has made him a respected figure in both the wellness and sustainability sectors. He shares the reality of the journey he’s been on building Holos.

These are the Conversations we are having at the LSA

Inside the Land Steward Alliance, we’re diving into these deeper questions through workshops, mentorship, and shared practice among a group of peers with a common vision and values for conscious land stewardship and a thriving planet.

We explore how to build resilient people, living frameworks, and place-sourced projects that actually stand the test of time — because they’re rooted in relationship.

Resource Section: Dear Future Human

In many newsletters and emails that I’ve sent over the years, I’ve shared a lot of valuable insights and lessons from Leap Forward and it’s founder Ronit Herzfeld. Well, it's with great joy that I get to share the following with you!

In a time when so much feels uncertain, Dear Future Human is a compass. A transmission. It calls forward the Future Human in each of us—the part that still dreams, still builds, and still loves beyond fear. These letters don’t shy away from the pain or complexity of our times. They meet them with honesty, vision, and hope.

Ronit Herzfeld

a year ago · 6 likes · Ronit Herzfeld

Read Letter 1: Dear Future Human

Giving Section

This is a new section for causes that really move me and that I support financially. I truly believe in the power of transformative philanthropy at any scale, to ease suffering and improve the lives of others. If you haven’t given in a while, give it a go, and feel the love.

Terra Keepers: Wisdom Keepers of the Earth

I’ve known Jose Reynoso from Terra Keepers for years and his passion and dedication preserve indigenous wisdom, both culturally and ecologically has always left me in awe. This is an amazing endeavor from an amazing human!

Support the Cause

⚡️ Land Project Compass Assessment ⚡️

I've created a powerful tool to help you assess where you're at with your land project called - The Land Project Compass Assessment. It's free, takes 5 minutes, and it will reveal a lot! Regardless of whether you have a project already underway, or are actively dreaming something up, this assessment will help guide you to the heart of what's important. After completing it, you'll get a visual scorecard of your project's health, important insights across key areas, and suggestions for next steps if you are looking for support. I hope this assessment helps you see yourself and your reality with greater clarity. Click here to take the assessment now.

Pura Vida,

Listening to the Land: Ian-Michael Hebert and the Holos Journey

Edward Zaydelman — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 13:02:17 GMT

For this month’s LSA Workshop Series, we had special guest Ian-Michael Hebert.

Ian-Michael is a visionary leader and co-founder of Holos Global, where he merges ecological stewardship with transformative wellness experiences. With a background in architecture and sustainable development, he previously served as the Director of Projects at the Esalen Institute, leading the campus renewal initiatives to rebuild the facilities. He also holds a Master's in Counseling Psychology and Community Mental Health from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Today, Ian-Michael continues to inspire through his work at Holos’ first site, in the Diamante Valley of Costa Rica, where one can find a blending of indigenous wisdom with modern approaches to healing and sustainability. His commitment to fostering deeper connections between people and nature has made him a respected figure in both the wellness and sustainability sectors.

What does it take to bring a vision for sustainable living into reality?

I sat down with Ian-Michael Hebert, the founder of Holos, for a conversation that left me both grounded and humbled with the realities of building a land project today. Holos is more than just a retreat center or an eco-community—it’s a living experiment in how humans can steward land and culture with deep respect, and its a work in progress. Its the responsibility now of all the stakeholders and team.

In our call, Ian-Michael shared his journey from a childhood in Alaska to creating a 200-acre sanctuary in Costa Rica’s Diamante Valley. His story isn’t just about land development; it’s about listening to the rhythms of nature, honoring indigenous wisdom, and cultivating the patience to let something organic emerge.

Here are some highlights from our conversation—and reflections on how these lessons might serve anyone seeking to live, create, or lead with integrity.

The Vision Behind Holos

Ian-Michael’s dream of sustainable living took root early. Growing up in Alaska, he was steeped in back-to-the-land values and self-sufficiency. After years studying eco-resort design and psychology, and working at places like Esalen, he landed in Costa Rica’s Diamante Valley—a region of abundant waterfalls and rich agricultural potential.

Since founding Holos in 2018, and is a 200-acre property with over 6,000 fruit trees and natives planted, 40 residential homesites, and built a 25-bed retreat center. And yet, for Ian-Michael, Holos is as much about inner cultivation as it is about external development.

“You can’t impose your will on the land here. You have to listen first—to nature, to the people, to the history of the place.”

Key Lessons from the Journey

Honor the Land and Its People
- Holos is in the process of integrating with local culture in ways that feel deeply intentional—from hosting traditional sugarcane processing events to collaborating with indigenous groups to preserve language and art.
Choose Partners Carefully
- Building an eco-community is about more than shared resources; it’s about shared values and what Ian-Michael calls a "generosity of spirit."
Adapt to Nature’s Rhythms
- Costa Rica’s lush but unpredictable landscape demands a flexibility and patience that many developers lack. This isn’t about conquering the land but co-creating with it.
Balance Idealism and Pragmatism
- Holos has learned to hold its vision lightly enough to respond to practical realities—from retreat operations to resident needs—without compromising its core principles and values.

What This Means for Us

As I listened to Ian-Michael, I couldn’t help but reflect on the broader lesson: bringing a vision to life requires devotion and patience. It’s not about forcing outcomes, but about cultivating the conditions for them to emerge.

It’s also about understanding your local context, your neighbors and the people who were there before them. This involves asking questions, engaging in dialogue, and co-creating learning experiences with locals where there’s a shared connection.

Whether you’re building an eco-community, starting a business, or reimagining your life, Ian-Michael’s story is an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and align your actions with something larger than yourself.

Additional Resources

If you are interested in the subject matter of interdependence, resilience, and the future of humanity - check out: Dear Future Human from Ronit Herzfeld.

To Your Thriving Vision,

Founder, Live the Possibility

Land Steward Alliance: Monthly Workshop

Edward Zaydelman — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 20:27:02 GMT

Hey Friends,

For this month’s Land Steward Alliance Workshop Series, we have special guest Ian-Michael Hebert.

Ian-Michael is a visionary leader and co-founder of Holos Global, where he merges ecological stewardship with transformative wellness experiences. With a background in architecture and sustainable development, he previously served as the Director of Projects at the Esalen Institute, leading the campus renewal initiatives to rebuild the facilities. He also holds a Master's in Counseling Psychology and Community Mental Health from the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Today, Ian-Michael continues to inspire through his work at Holos’ first site, in the Diamante Valley of Costa Rica, where one can find a blending of indigenous wisdom with modern approaches to healing and sustainability. His commitment to fostering deeper connections between people and nature has made him a respected figure in both the wellness and sustainability sectors.

We’ll be having a Live Workshop on

💡From Boardroom to Barefoot Living in Costa Rica

Edward Zaydelman — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 18:19:47 GMT

Hey friend,

In this week’s Lightbulb, I’d like to share some takeaways that were part of our Land Steward Alliance: Monthly Workshop Series with my dear friend Ceibo.

As a former North Face executive, Ceibo left corporate America over a decade ago, settling down in Costa Rica to create a new way of life for himself. He shared some of his wisdom with us after years of land stewardship, and building a life that fuels him - from his coastal dwelling to his homestead in the mountains, this man knows how to live on the land!

A former North Face executive who traded boardrooms for barefoot living in the hills of Costa Rica. Why does this matter?

Because many of us dream of reconnecting with land, slowing down, and creating something sustainable—but we struggle to imagine what that leap actually looks like.

Ceibo’s path offers a blueprint:

In 2011, after hitting a wall from corporate burnout, Ceibo sold nearly everything and moved to Costa Rica. He wasn’t chasing escape—he was chasing origin. Over time, he built a life rooted in simplicity, self-sufficiency, and deep ecological awareness. Today, he lives off-grid on a 35-hectare homestead, cultivating fruit, building soil, and walking barefoot to feel the earth more intimately.

What struck me most was his rewilding philosophy. Not just returning to nature, but undoing domestication. It’s a conscious, daily practice—eating what he grows, drinking water he collects, listening to birds before checking screens.

He doesn’t reject technology. He uses AI like the rest of us. But he insists we stay in touch with our hands, our bodies, and the living systems that sustain us. It’s not either/or—it’s integration.

The lesson? Land stewardship isn’t just about planting trees or building eco-structures. It’s about cultivating a state of being. One that honors slowness, observation, and humility before nature.

Key Takeaways:

Sustainable living begins with simplicity, not complexity.
Re-wilding means reversing some of the comforts that disconnect us.
Balance between technology and nature isn’t only possible—it’s powerful.
Your energy and awareness are your greatest tools on the land.

We’ll be continuing the conversation with Ceibo soon—this is just the beginning. If you're building something on the land, his journey is a reminder: You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to start listening more closely. To participate in more workshops - check out the Land Steward Alliance below!

The Land Steward Alliance: Together We Thrive

Additional Resources

If you are interested in the subject matter of interdependence, resilience, and the future of humanity - check out: Dear Future Human from Ronit Herzfeld.

Watch the Workshop Replay

⚡️ 1:1 Mentorship Spot for August ⚡️

I’ll be opening up one space in August for a 1:1 Mentorship program for individuals or groups looking to take a leap in life and are stepping into a Land Projects - be it a new home and life abroad, or a retreat center / community project. We’ll work on the essentials of forming a clear vision, strategy, budget and team. If you are thinking about starting your own Land Project, feel free to reach out and schedule a short discovery call via the link and we can see if it’s a fit.

Learn More...

Re-wilding: Trading the Boardroom to Barefoot Living in Costa Rica

Edward Zaydelman — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 22:16:29 GMT

This week, as part of our Land Steward Alliance: Monthly Workshop Series, I sat down with my longtime friend Ceibo. As a former North Face executive, Ceibo left corporate America over a decade ago, settling down in Costa Rica to create a new way of life for himself. He shared some of his wisdom with us after years of land stewardship, and building a life that fuels him - from his beach dwelling to his homestead in the mountains, this man knows how to live on the land!

Land Steward Alliance: Monthly Workshop

Edward Zaydelman — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:11:43 GMT

Hey Friends,

For this month’s Land Steward Alliance Workshop Series, we have special guest Ceibo. As a former North Face executive, Ceibo left corporate America over a decade ago, settling down in Costa Rica to create a new way of life for himself. He’ll share some of his wisdom with us after years of land stewardship, and building a life that fuels him - from his beach house to his homestead in the mountains, this man knows how to live on the land and also do so in comfort!

We’ll be having a friendly chat with Ceibo on Weds, June 18th that will be helpful for anyone looking to live off-grid, in nature, and be damn comfortable in the process!

Join the Alliance

Ceibo is a musician and homesteader based out of Nosara, Costa Rica. He has been a Sound Healer for 10 years and performed over 1,000 Sound Journeys playing weekly community classes and working with private groups, retreats, festivals and teaches an online course called The Mystic Sound Healer. He has also been curating a homestead up on the mountains near Nosara with a mission to be completely off grid and creating regenerative projects with food forests while implementing permaculture practices. His mission is to be self sustainable without relying on the grid by growing his own food and utilizing natural springs around his homestead to support his lifestyle. With a focus on re-wilding he aims to teach others the ways of the past with direct experience from working closely with the land.

As always, I will recap key take aways, and share clips in Newsletters and Substack.

To learn more about joining live workshops like this one, check out: The Land Steward Alliance . It’s a space where we gather monthly as a diverse group of stakeholders ranging from Project Founders, to Architects and Builders, Non-Profits and Investors alike—supporting one another in this journey of building thriving, resilient projects and lives. If you want to be part of these conversations, come join us.

Join the Alliance Now

💡The Bridge Between Vision and Reality

Edward Zaydelman — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 16:37:46 GMT

Hey friend,

This week’s Lightbulb is about stepping from Idea to Action! So let’s go!

We’ve all stood at the edge of a big dream. One side holds the spark—the vision that lights you up. But between that and your new reality? There’s a bridge that needs building.

Maybe it’s a piece of land that calls you. A community you long to create. A new rhythm of life that feels more aligned. The vision is vivid, the pull is strong.

And yet… so many never take that first step. They’re not lazy or uncommitted.

They’re just often overwhelmed by life - running busy lives. Waiting for the stars to align. Stuck in the limbo between clarity and commitment.

I’ve watched it happen more times than I can count. Brilliant visionaries circling their idea for years, hoping for more certainty before moving forward.

But here’s what I’ve learned: the bridge from idea to action isn’t built with perfect plans. It’s built with forward momentum, movement, and ultimately Action. And before you act you need one thing and one thing only - clarity! Without clarity, you cannot know where you are and where you are going (thank you Ronit Herzfeld).

A dear friend of mine spent five years brewing her dream of a regenerative retreat space lived and small community. We revisited the idea whenever we met up, but it never moved anywhere tangible. What changed? Three bold moves: she mapped her vision out, got clear on what it was and what it would take in terms of time and money, and made a plan from the clarity. She later met with experts to validate this plan and put concrete numbers and data to it, and the project got ignited. We worked together for the next 3 months, and although I can’t say she’s completed her project, but she’s started! And thats a huge shift. She has her land, her plan, and her willpower!

So the lesson: don’t wait for the perfect moment to cross the bridge. Lay the first plank this week—and trust the path will reveal itself as you walk it and search for greater clarity each step of the way. The universe has a way of revealing itself to those who look for its guidance!

⚡️ LSA Workshop Series w/ Guest: Ceibo⚡️

For this month’s Land Steward Alliance Workshop Series, we have special guest Ceibo Fellers. As a land steward in Costa Rica for over 20 years, he’ll share some of his wisdom with us in a friendly chat on Weds, June 18th that will be helpful for anyone looking to live off-grid, in nature, and be damn comfortable in the process!

Bio: Ceibo is a musician and homesteader based out of Nosara, Costa Rica. He has been a Sound Healer for 10 years and performed over 1,000 Sound Journeys playing weekly community classes and working with private groups, retreats, festivals and teaches an online course called The Mystic Sound Healer. He has also been curating a homestead up on the mountains near Nosara with a mission to be completely off grid and creating regenerative projects with food forests while implementing permaculture practices. His mission is to be self sustainable without relying on the grid by growing his own food and utilizing natural springs around his homestead to support his lifestyle. With a focus on re-wilding he aims to teach others the ways of the past with direct experience from working closely with the land.

⚡️ 1:1 Mentorship Spots for July ⚡️

I’ll be opening up one space in July for a 1:1 Mentorship program for individuals or groups looking to take a leap in life and are stepping into a Land Projects - be it a new home and life abroad, or a retreat center / community project. We’ll work on the essentials of forming a clear vision, strategy, budget and team. If you are thinking about starting your own Land Project, feel free to reach out and schedule a short discovery call via the link and we can see if it’s a fit.

Learn More...

💡Life 2.0: Leaping into International Living

Edward Zaydelman — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:24:35 GMT

Hey friend,

You’re not alone if you’ve ever dreamt of selling everything, booking a one-way ticket, and starting fresh in a country where your soul can breathe. I’ve worked with dozens of people who’ve made this leap — some landed beautifully, others landed hard.

Moving abroad doesn’t just change your zip code. It can change your relationship to time, purpose, community, even yourself. But only if you do it with intention.

Whether it was individuals and families looking to have a second base or those looking to move full-time, start projects like airbnbs, retreats, and communities with friends—I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons.

Here are 10 things to consider before taking the Leap:

Get clear on your Vision & Intention: Is it escape or expansion? A burnout response or a call to something deeper? Your intention is the compass for the whole journey. Once you have your Why and your values, the rest flows.
Make a game-plan. Don’t wing it. Map out your timeline. Identify your milestones. It’s still your life, just in a new location. Make a canvas for yourself.
Create your criteria. Ocean or mountains? Off-grid or walkable town? Raw land or turnkey? If you don’t know what you’re looking for, it’s easy to fall for shiny distractions. When clear, you save other people’s time and your own!
Scout with curiosity. Visit different towns, climates, and cultures. Get a feel for the pulse of each place. What feels aligned in your body, not just your mind?
Stay awhile. Fall in love slowly. A two-week vacation isn’t enough. Live there. Shop, cook, walk, rest. Let the land speak to you over time.
Talk to locals. Ask questions, get curious. Learn what’s really going on. Are there community projects that light you up? Feel the fabric of the local community.
Rent or Buy before you build. Especially in new countries. There’s a big learning curve around permits, materials, and weather patterns. Take your time.
Assemble your local dream team. Lawyer. Architect. Engineer. Project manager. You need people who understand the systems and your vision.
Create a realistic budget. Plan for more than you think you’ll need. Don’t gamble your dream on financial stress. This isn’t about hustle — it’s about building a life that sustains you. So many people get stretched thin financially in these journeys.
Go slow. Seriously. Go slow in choosing land, building your team, or partnering with people. Speed kills vision. Patience protects it. Don’t rush any of this!

What I’ve learned is this: Life 2.0 isn’t just about leaving something behind. It’s about finally moving toward something deeply aligned — a life that reflects your truth, your values, and the way you really want to live. And it’s entirely possible.

If you're feeling the call to leap, just remember: every version of your dream life begins with a single clear step. Clarity and planning greatly reduce stress and promote success in these kinds of endeavors.

Here’s to your next chapter — may it be rooted, intentional, and deeply alive.

⚡️ 1:1 Mentorship Spots for June & July ⚡️

I’ll be opening up one space in June and one in July for a 1:1 Mentorship program for individuals or groups looking to take a leap in life and are stepping into a Land Projects - be it a new home and life abroad, or a retreat center / community project. We’ll work on the essentials of forming a clear vision, strategy, budget and team. If you are thinking about starting your own Land Project, feel free to reach out and schedule a short discovery call via the link and we can see if it’s a fit.

Learn More...

I’d also love to invite you to check out the Land Steward Alliance - where we meet monthly as a community to discuss our land projects and our lives with a collective of project founders, experts on the ground, and peers looking to not walk alone in this journey. We’re stronger together! And if you want to connect - schedule a chat!

055: Shaping Our Future, Together.

Edward Zaydelman — Sun, 18 May 2025 17:34:47 GMT

Hey friends,

This month’s newsletter is woven from the living edge of practice—stories, insights, and resources that have deeply shaped my journey and might just support yours too.

You'll hear key takeaways from a powerful and candid conversation we had for the Land Steward Alliance: Workshop Series with Stephen Brooks, a true pioneer in the eco-village and permaculture movement who’s been shaping communities and landscapes in Costa Rica for over two decades.
A beautifully potent offering that I’m honored to introduce: Dear Future Human, from Ronit Herzfeld. This resource feels like a compass for these uncertain times. A transmission, that calls forward the Future Human in each of us.
I’ll also share some of the most powerful lessons from my deep dive into the Regenerative Practitioner Training with Bill Reed & The Regenesis Institute. A program that fundamentally reshaped how I see and engage with land projects.
And finally, I’m opening a new: Giving Section for this newsletter—a space to highlight causes I believe in and are close to my heart. Give a little. Give a lot.

My intention is that each share and resource in this newsletter serves as a doorway—into deeper connection with yourself, with others, and with the world we’re co-creating.

Lessons from the Field: Gettin' Real

This week, as part of our Land Steward Alliance: Monthly Workshop Series, I sat down with Stephen Brooks—founder of the eco-villages - Alegría & Ecovilla, Punta Mona Education Center, Envision Festival, and his latest project Eterna in San Juanillo, Costa Rica. Stephen is a visionary in permaculture, sustainable community-building, and ecological education. Our conversation took us through his top lessons—from founding eco-communities and festivals to the daily realities of running retreat centers and land projects.

If you're building a land-based project, collaborating with a collective, or simply exploring more intentional ways to organize and connect—this is a rich and inspiring dialogue with someone who’s been on the frontlines for over 20 years.

Key Takeaways from My Conversation with Stephen Brooks

Discernment is everything. Whether choosing investors, partners, or community members—be intentional. Shared values, especially around environmental and social impact, matter more than capital alone.
Contracts aren’t just legal—they’re relational. Clear agreements, even with friends, create clarity and prevent future resentment. They're reminders of commitments, not just legal shields.
Root into the local community. Stephen shared how Alegría connected with town councils, water boards, and supported local causes like community fundraisers. They set a fair wage floor and allocated 20% of lots to Costa Ricans to address gentrification among efforts done by community members.
Design with evolution in mind. “TBD” zones in the master plan leave room for future ideas. Alegría added social programming like ecstatic dance and artist residencies, and used phased development to stay responsive.
Be mindful with media. Press can amplify your message—or misrepresent it. Stephen emphasized the importance of maintaining control over how your project is portrayed given his experience with the Netflix show, Down to Earth.
Hospitality first. Before full-time residents move in, create immersive experiences. Events and short stays help people feel the energy and become part of an experience to discern if this place, and these people are for them.

I’m really grateful to have had this candid conversation with Stephen, and hope it’s provided some lessons and insights that help you on your journey with Land Stewardship.

These are the Conversations we are having at the LSA

We explore how to build resilient people, living frameworks, and place-sourced projects that actually stand the test of time — because they’re rooted in relationship.

Resource: Dear Future Human

Dear Future Human — a living body of Ronit's work — is now being shared through her Letters on Substack. It’s been one of the greatest privileges of my life to experience Ronit's work firsthand. Over the years, I’ve felt its profound, transformative impact — and I've often wondered how to share this experience with the people I care about most. The Dear Future Human Letters are a way for more people to get access to what I’ve received from Ronit & Leap Forward.

Ronit Herzfeld

a year ago · 6 likes · Ronit Herzfeld

Please take a moment to read the first two letters via the link below and check out the resources linked in the letters themselves or resource section of the Substack. If it resonates, subscribe to the Substack and you’ll receive the new letters by email every 1–2 weeks. Also, feel free but not obliged, to share this email or the below link with friends who would benefit from this work and this message!

Read Letter 1: Dear Future Human

Resource: The Regenerative Practitioner Training

Over the past 9 months, myself and 20 or so peers from Costa Rica and around the world, were immersed in the Regenesis TRP program. It wasn’t just a course on theory — it was a re-wiring of how I understand myself, my work, and my relationship to my external context and the rich tapestry of the living world around me. I thought I was going to learn about regenerative development practices, and instead realized, what we were being taught, was a completely new way of being and relating to our external world.

Here are a few of the most powerful lessons that landed for me:

Regeneration isn’t about minimizing harm — it’s about maximizing life.
Where sustainability aims to slow down the damage, regeneration asks: How can we create more vitality, more resilience, more beauty than was here before?
Regeneration is inherently cross-disciplinary because life itself refuses to be boxed in. Ecology, psychology, architecture, planning — all must be in conversation.
We are part of nature, not separate from it.
The story we’ve inherited — that humans and nature are distinct — is false. Regenerative practice invites us back into participation with life’s cycles, as co-creators, not conquerors. To build with nature, not master it.
Every place, every community is a living system.
Instead of treating projects like problems to solve, we learn to see them as evolving, breathing entities. The work becomes about helping life systems fulfill their potential, not imposing fixes from the outside.
Rather than trying to "fix everything," regenerative practice teaches us to find systemic leverage points — the places where a small, conscious act can ripple through an entire system.
Regeneration starts by seeing potential, not problems.
One of the most beautiful shifts for me was learning to look at any project or situation — not by diagnosing what’s wrong — but by asking: What’s trying to happen here? What latent potential wants to be realized? It's about suspending judgment and choosing curiosity. Asking more questions. Living in a state of wonder rather than rushing to conclusions.
We are part of a greater whole.
Every project, every place, every person is embedded in larger living systems.
Our real work is helping the system see itself more clearly — and grow its capacity to regenerate, adapt, and evolve.
Regeneration is not about learning — it’s about practicing.
In TRP, the goal wasn't simply to accumulate knowledge. It was to grow our capacity through practice. Through being in the work, again and again, until new patterns of seeing and being take root.
True change requires true commitment.
No amount of technical expertise can replace genuine care and responsibility. Working regeneratively asks me to grow as a person. It demands a different way of seeing, a different level of listening, and a humility toward life’s complexity that no checklist can replace.
Nature already knows how to heal.
Our job is not to control but to remove obstacles and create conditions where self-healing and self-organizing processes can thrive — whether it’s a river, a community, or a community.
Think on multiple levels — and notice your state of being.
Regenerative work isn’t just tactical. It’s about how we show up.
Am I approaching life from my habitual self — reactive, defensive, rushed?
Or from my needed self — open, creative, deeply present to what life is asking for right now?
Regeneration is a living, evolving practice.
It’s not a method you master once. It’s a way of being that keeps evolving, deepening, and adapting as you and the world around you change. It’s a way of participating in the ongoing unfolding of life — with humility, courage, and creativity

In closing: The Regenesis TRP didn’t just teach me about regeneration.
It invited me into a different way of being — one grounded in potential, curiosity, and co-evolution. A new orientation toward possibility, partnership, and participation with life. And I can feel that this way of seeing will continue to unfold in everything I touch — from land projects, to community building, to my own inner growth.

Regeneration is not something we "do" to the world.
It’s something we become, together with it.

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Lessons from the Field: Gettin' Real About Building Land Projects

Edward Zaydelman — Fri, 16 May 2025 14:02:39 GMT

This week, as part of our Land Steward Alliance: Monthly Workshop Series, I sat down with Stephen Brooks—founder of Alegría, Ecovilla, Punta Mona Education Center, Envision Festival, and now Eterna in San Juanillo, Costa Rica—his most recent project, weaving together everything he’s built before under one roof.

Stephen is a visionary in permaculture, sustainable community-building, and ecological education. Our conversation took us through his top lessons—from founding eco-communities and festivals to the daily realities of running retreat centers and land projects.

Key Takeaways from My Conversation with Stephen Brooks

Discernment is everything. Whether choosing investors, partners, or community members—be intentional. Shared values, especially around e…

Lessons from the Field: A Conversation with Stephen Brooks

Edward Zaydelman — Wed, 07 May 2025 22:28:13 GMT

Hey friends, I’m excited to announce our next Land Steward Alliance Workshop with Stephen Brooks. Stephen is a visionary leader in permaculture, sustainable community building, and creating ecological education centers. We will go on an enriching journey through his experiences, lessons, and insights in founding eco-communities, retreats, and festivals to the day to day life inside of these land projects.

Stephen often talks to the essence of creating a life that aligns with nature, community, and individual well-being. His model aims not just for sustainability, but for communities that genuinely enrich the lives of their inhabitants. Don't miss this enlightening workshop, filled with practical wisdom and inspiring visions for the future.

If you’re building a land-based project, working within a collective, or simply exploring new ways to organize and connect, this is a great chance to learn from someone at the forefront of innovative land projects.

As always, I will recap key take aways, and share clips in Newsletters and Substack.

Resource

If you are interested in the subject matter of interdependence, resilience, and the future of humanity - check out: Dear Future Human from Ronit Herzfeld.

To Your Thriving Vision,

Founder, Live the Possibility