Dear Fellow Steemers,

I am extremely excited  to announce that we have launched a brand new approach to Steemit that  will add fantastic value to both authors, investors and users! 

During the last few weeks, I have been reaching out to people from all my networks and beyond. These are people who are already doing amazing work, but are as yet, relatively undiscovered. These people are leading the way in their own fields of expertise, and had never heard of Steemit before. They are also mostly very busy and totally unable to commit the time it would take to learn, understand, and successfully navigate the Steemit world. What I have done is to remove the entire burden of trying to figure out how to approach and use Steemit by providing all the necessary help they need to get started, by bringing them in as passengers on the EcoTrain. I am very excited to see what these 11 people will bring to the community since I have great confidence and respect for what they are doing. These 11 passengers cover a varied range of themes and topics from Environmental Building, Women’s Empowerment, Holistic Medicine and Healing, Education, Lifestyle, and even Music!

I have devised a system that I believe will help to reduce the hurdles and challenges for original, high quality authors to get their message out to the Steemit ecosystem. I have spent the last month fine tuning the EcoTrain into a powerful and mutually beneficial system for existing, and more importantly new users to engage with.

But it doesn’t end there! In order to maximize the outreach and success of our truly wonderful authors, I have also found several Investors who have all bought into Steem Power as a result of my outreach. We call our Investors VIP’s, and they are primarily here to support our authors by using their Steem Power to upvote the posts that they think are of value.  We want to highlight the best of the best that we create, in order to maximize the potential of great new posts to reach the Steemit community. VIP’s will also be upvoting others too, but their main focus is to empower our passengers so they may have their posts discovered. We will also help our VIP’s to understand the voting system so that they can be relieved from having to spend time figuring out the system, and can focus on the content instead!

As the driver of the EcoTrain, I am responsible for ensuring that everything is moving along well, and that we don’t run out of Steem! I am working in co-ordination with our ‘Conductor’ who will assist me to ensure our passengers don’t run out of Steem, and to generally ensure the entire EcoTrain keeps moving and that there is nothing untoward going on. I will be posting weekly EcoTrain updates that will highlight and link to the very best destinations (posts) that we have visited that week. This update will be a chance for everyone to see content that they may have otherwise missed, therefore providing more value to everyone without having to repeat or double post anything. These updates will also highlight any posts that we feel were somehow missed out, so that we don’t lose what we feel is valuable content. 

We aim to be totally transparent in what we do, and hope to provide a new model that others can adopt so that other groups can also use this system to form like-minded groups to promote their cause in a mutually supportive and beneficial way. 

We are very excited to launch this initiative, and I believe it will provide the Steemit Network with fantastic new content that would never have seen the light of day otherwise. By also bringing in new Steem Power Investors we feel that we are bringing in value in all the ways that Steemit needs. Once we have been running for some time, we will be happy to share our rules of the EcoTrain so that others can copy this approach. The rules of the EcoTrain are mostly concerned with maintaining the balance between the number of posts and upvotes. These simple rules will help ensure that we are successful without each member having to understand all the ins and outs of Steemit, which can be confusing and limiting to new arrivals or none technical people. 

We hope our passengers will become successful and can  then disembark from the EcoTrain and continue to post after having gained a good following. It will be up to them how long they wish to remain on the EcoTrain. Therefore, when there is space, new passengers may join, and the EcoTrain will continue indefinitely to brining in great new authors  as well as VIP investors to support them. We also hope to have other trains so that eventually there can be several different groups working simultaneously in this way.  All power to Steemit and the EcoTrain!

Please follow me @eco-alex to get updates and the latest info about EcoTrain activities. I hope you will support and share in this exciting new approach and we look forward to seeing you at our first destinations very soon!

So I would like to introduce you to our passengers! Please do follow those passengers that you resonate with, and you will be sure to see their posts very soon. We are aiming at quality rather than quantity, and so most passengers will post around twice a week. Just look out for the title containing  ‘EcoTrain Seva:’ and you will know it is us!

Clara Andriessen 

@clara-andriessen

Clara Andriessen is a flow of creative energy and ideas looking for fertile soil to share her passion for life proceeding towards the fourth dimension in our way of relating to each other, animals, plants and Mother earth.

She has travelled through all walks of life in many different parts of the world, including Holland, the south of France, California and India. Clara has come across a wide variety of spiritual disciplines on her path, such as:

(Gnostic) Christianity, she is Sulakha Master, she practiced Transmission meditation, Tai Chi, she is a devotee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and studied Vedic chanting and Bhajans, she has been initiated in Sufism,  received all the rites of Munai Ki and is certified to pass them on. Clara has worked with the Merkabah, done a lot of Five rhythm dancing and practiced womb awakening and teacher training with the Fountain of Life, she has gathered a lot of information about 'Life'. Sacred relationship, practicing non- violent communication and owning her own desires and boundaries, healthy food, exercise and natural healthcare form an important part of her spiritual practice. 

Her greatest teachers she considers her own body, her inner light and Nature.

She loves animals and children and has spent part of her life teaching at a Steiner primary school. She also has a propaedeutic diploma in teaching philosophy of life. Clara has been passionate about writing all her life. Currently she is writing a fantasy book for teenagers about transition rites into adulthood. She's got an overall investigative spirit that finds joy in the exchange of essential information. Happy to share what I have gathered with you!

Nalaya Chakana 

@nalaya

Nalaya’s purpose is to support you in becoming more intuitive, self-empowered and to stand strong in your true light. Her purpose is to connect you with your core essence and have you walk your path in life with courage and vulnerability. All that Nalaya offer’s in life is a creation of love and passion. She organises retreats, workshops and healing sessions all over the world. Nalaya is a light-worker, tantrica, energy healer, channel, holistic health coach, nutritionalist and founder of the Eve Cup menstrual cups.

Due to Nalaya’s international upbringing, she has a multi-cultural perspective and understanding of life and living. In total Nalaya has known twelve home-countries from which she has gathered tools and knowledge which she integrates into her work and expressions. Nalaya is deeply connected to India, where she lived for over 5 years. There she began to remember her essence and her soul’s purpose. There Nalaya opened up to profound guidance to deepen her spiritual journey and practice. Nowadays Nalaya  resides in Peru, South America. The place that is offering her a deeper connection to the Earth and what it means to truly be Home. Here she gets to ground all that she knows, and watch the seeds of her intents grow out into fruit-bearing-trees. Ready to be shared with you and the world.

Healing is Nalaya’s mission: to guide people in their process of becoming whole. To allow you to remember – your essence, your purpose and your deep soul-wisdom. Nalaya is here to activate the weavings of the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine principles. May it be through individual work, collective work or through offering healing to the Earth. These principles are vibrating in all that is Life. And it is Nalaya’s mission to support the movements of these complementary, Divine and powerful energies. To support the movements of oneness and unity – within you, within humanity, within all that is.

Demian Haye

@omdemian

Born in France, 41 years ago, I spent the last 16 years in India and travelled as well in South America, and Africa. I currently resides in Bhagsu, Himalaya. I studied ayurveda and herbalism with the European Institute of Vedic Studies of Atreya. I became then mostly autodidact and kept on learning from all the teachers, healers and masters I met in my traveling. Discovering and practicing new holistic ways of healing to bring well being, harmony and health in the world,my path crossed many different fields : massage therapy, ayurveda, alchemy, orgonite maker, Theta Healing, radionics, dowsing, shamanic healing, Matrix Energetics, meditation, yoga, vedic knowledge, herbalism, gem elixirs, incense and perfume blending, and different energetic healing modalities, the most recent being Light Language from the Mayan School of light. I took initiation with my spiritual master Sri Tathata in 2010.

I have been teaching since 2005 different workshops in many countries : Magic Water Workshop, Water-Sound-Light sacred tools workshop, Be your own doctor, Sacred tools for yogis workshop, Aromalchemy meditations, Somalchemy Workshop, Sacred Journey into the Heart, Magic Vibrations Transmissions and Light Language. I also developed my own brand of alchemy preparations, SPANDAKARIKA and am one of the creator of the Siddhalinga Pendant.

Simone Hurwitz

@simonesaha'ar (account pending activation)

Simone is a Waldorf trained teacher. She currently works at the Hineni Waldorf Kindergarten that she initiated 10 years ago. It is located on Moshuv Yanuv in Israel. The school currently have 45 children between the ages of 1 to 6.

Simone was born in South Africa and grew up in Israel. After high school she seeked out work that had to do with people. Simone worked at an addiction centre and at a boarding school for teen boys who came from dysfunctional homes.

Simone then bought a one way ticket to India and set out to travel and gain life experience.

When she was 23, Simone went to south Africa and discovered Waldorf education.

She was given the opportunity of being in charge of the kindergarten at the Village Waldorf school.

After 2 years i set out for England to study at Emerson college in Forest Row,

after my 3 year training Simone came back to Israel and started my own initiative.

She started out with 3 children in the community centre that she rented and the following year it grew from 3 to 30 children. Now Simone also mentors other initiatives and she is trying to start class 1.

Matthew Joseph 

@mathewjoseph

Mathew Joseph - Health and Wellness 

A former physician for many years in India and Bermuda, Mathew now exclusively practices Natural Medicine and Integrative Bodywork in Australia. His area of special interest is the Thai Healing arts and its hybrid forms that have incorporated western techniques such as Osteopathy and Craniosacral therapy.

Mathew’s approach to Naturopathy reflects his commitment to sustainable wellness and is centered around the traditional 5 element system, utilizing herbs and supplements only when necessary. Empowerment is the cornerstone of his practice and involves periodic workshops where clients and the general public are able to learn through self-help modules on a wide range of topics such as digestive health, acupressure, massage tools and more. Mathew is now looking forward to expanding the scope of sharing this wisdom gleaned from many years of study and clinical experience through social media, blogs and vlogs.

Mathew Joseph - Guitar driven world fusion

Mathew Joseph is a singer-songwriter and performer of guitar driven world fusion. On stage he weaves patterns of sound with his finger-style guitar technique riding software synths and syncopated ethnic drum beats and percussion. His music is influenced by his many travels from his roots in Kerala to the high Himalayas and overseas to North America, Bermuda and Cuba. He has recorded two albums - “Firefly” in 2004 recorded in Austin, Texas and New York city and “Eclectia” in 2006, self-produced in his Bermuda project studio. Songs and instrumentals from these albums have seen success in international competitions. He now lives in Toowoomba in Australia where his music is beginning to seep into the local music scene and beyond. In keeping with his vision for world harmony and peace he is now focussed on creating new music blending grooves, rhythms and patterns from many different cultures and traditions that highlight humanity’s oneness in diversity.

Jon Kalviac 

@nature-jon

Jonathan Kalviac is an Ecological and Natural Building Artist, originally from Baltimore, Maryland in the USA, now living in Brighton, UK. From a foundation in building 'earthship' homes and commercial buildings, he has passionately pursued the art of building natural, ecological buildings for the last 15 years. From straw bail to cob, timber frame construction, rammed earth and yurts, Jonathan has shared his passion for sensible home building that doesn't cost the Earth with thousands of students from all over the world.

Isis Leeor 

@feralfemale

Isis Leeor has been described as a Kundalini Master, a Pixie, and emotional Roto-Rooter. Her new venture, Feral Female, incorporates knowledge illuminated by working with over 1000 women worldwide. How do we live as the full, voraciously alive women we truly are, in a society that is not quite ready for us? Isis has been featured in myriad newspapers and radio shows alongside people like Storm Large, Dan Savage, Deborah Anapol and SARK. She is a counsellor with an extensive background in Body Psychotherapy, Tantra, and dance. 

Isis is also certified in Thought Pattern Management, Thai Massage, is a Reiki Master, and a graduate of the Knightsbridge Institute of Hypnotherapy and NLP. She can be found teaching workshops everywhere from universities to peoples’ living rooms. In fact, you might even bump into her as she trots around the world looking for the ultimate buttery flaky croissant.

Hassan Mzali 

@hassenmzali

Hassan Mzali is half British half Tunisian and fluent in three languages: Arabic, English and French. He works as a landscape gardener and permaculture design consultant and is also a Natural builder specialising in Straw bale building. Over the past few years Hassan has worked on a dozen eco builds across The UK varying from rammed earth, straw bale, timber framed and earthships. Hassan is also a member of group of families planning and working on establishing a eco village in North Wales.

Sarah Rosenberg 

@icmultitudes

An American Israeli now living in Boulder, Colorado.  M.A. International Development 

In addition to being a track & field jumps coach, (former Israeli long and triple jump champion), I have spent most of my life focused on issues of peace-building and sustainable development.

Ever since the last elections in the U.S. I have become extremely active in my community organizing resistance to #45 and what he stands for. Currently I serve as an admin/moderator for a few Facebook pages and groups. My goal is to help break down social barriers that keep diverse groups from interacting with each other. I believe this is the best strategy to move forward to protect our planet and ourselves.

Hobbies include hiking, engaging in art and talking to strangers

Dani Sher  

@kalima 

Dani was born in South Africa and raised in Israel, until setting off for India in search of the unknown. He explored various styles of yoga, meditation and healing methods before stumbling across Siddha Guru Avdhoot Baba Shivanand in early 2000. His life was to change. He spent the next few years living with the Guru in his house, embarking on a powerful, spiritual journey. Spending his days studying and meditating intensively enabled Dani to realise the huge healing potential of the Siddha system. This ancient technology is formed upon a body of esoteric knowledge more than 5,000 years old; predating even the Vedas. It is a system of challenging which recognises the divine power within humans to direct energy for self-healing. He witnessed countless miracles take place before his very eyes. Cancer and HIV/Aids patients being healed, and paralysed persons becoming mobile.

Dani developed the belief that everything is possible; that with trust and with the correct tools we all have the capacity to go beyond the limitations of this reality. To be healed, and to heal others. He received sacred Shaktipat initiations into the Siddha tradition, before being granted the honour of becoming a fundamental pillar of this mystical lineage. Recognising Dani’s gifts the Guru requested for him to become a teacher and Shaktipat initiator of the Siddha science himself.

Gideon Weigert 

@stillgideon

Gideon Weigert lives quietly in Galilee. 'I chose to make guitars because it combines my lifelong love of music with my love of trees. Learning how to work with wood is an endless process of learning. Every piece of wood tells a story, if you know how to read the grain. Every musical instrument I build is made in highest honour to the trees that died to bring it to life.'

Gideon also likes to examine and write about scientific, technological advances and the ways they impact on modern life. 'I believe that if used properly, technology will play a very important part in helping us through great challenges we face in the 21st century. At the same time, I believe that there are also lots of simple, practical, creative, lo-tec solutions to help us avert a rapidly unfolding environmental meltdown. Planting trees everywhere would be a very good start.'

And finally, last but not least a very big thank you to our VIP Investors

@eco-alex
@bubke
@likedeeler
@aronsienna

If you are interested to become a Passenger or 

VIP supporter, please get in touch: steemit.eco.train@gmail.com

To view the ecoTrain feed please visit:
http://www/steemit.com/created/ecotrain