Big Sur, California, United States
I believe our relationship with Nature is one of the most overlooked dimensions of health, wellbeing, belonging, and longevity. My work was inspired by my great-grandmother, Tess, whose admission to skilled nursing care revealed a troubling reality. Despite a lifetime of connection with the outdoors, gardens, animals, and community, she found herself living in an environment largely disconnected from the natural world. That experience sparked my commitment to reimagining aging, care, and community life through a more ecological lens. Today, I am a pioneer in the emerging field of Eco Gerontology, which explores how relationships between people, communities, places, and the living world shape wellbeing across the lifespan. Through The Eco Gerontology Initiative, I advance research, education, and practice that places Nature at the heart of how we understand and support aging in a rapidly changing world. My work draws upon Gerontology, Deep Ecology, Nature Connectedness, Green Care, environmental psychology, and healthy longevity research to help individuals, organizations, and communities cultivate more nature-connected and regenerative futures. Founder, The Eco Gerontology Initiative Join a growing community helping shape the emerging field of Eco Gerontology: ~ Connecting All Ages to the Goodness of Our Shared Home ~ Learn More: https://www.monicaeastway.com/
The Eco Gerontology Initiative Advancing Research, Education and Practice in Eco Gerontology As populations age amid accelerating climate change, biodiversity loss, and growing pressures on health and care systems, Eco Gerontology places our relationship with Nature at the center of how we understand and support aging in the 21st century. Through pioneering work in Eco Gerontology and Care Outdoors, I help advance new approaches to healthy longevity, wellbeing, care, community, and regenerative livability. My work integrates insights from Gerontology, ecology, Nature Connectedness, Green Care, bioregionalism, and regenerative economics to explore how relationships between people, communities, places, and the living world shape wellbeing across the lifespan. Through education, research, speaking, partnerships, and community engagement, I work with individuals and organizations seeking to cultivate healthier, more resilient, and nature-connected futures. Current initiatives include: 🌱 Care Outdoors Companion Training 🌱 Eco Gerontology Foundational Certificate 🌱 Eco Gerontology Community Conversations 🌱 Educational Presentations, Partnerships, and Leadership Development Join a growing community helping shape the emerging field of Eco Gerontology https://www.monicaeastway.com/
At Big Sur Terra Sanctum, we co-design bespoke outdoor sanctuaries for inspired living, transforming underutilized landscapes into regenerative retreats that restore the mind, body, and spirit. Whether working with care communities, architects, municipalities, workplaces, or individuals in their own homes, our work is rooted in healing, harmony, and a deep respect for the relationship between people, place, and nature. Our Mission To cultivate places where people and nature can thrive together. Through ecological stewardship, nature-centered design, and community engagement, we create environments that support wellbeing, foster connection, inspire belonging, and enhance quality of life. We believe thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces can strengthen relationships, nurture community, and contribute to more livable, resilient, and regenerative places for current and future generations. To learn more or join our contact list, please reach out at [email protected].
Guiding Awe Walks at Palo Corona Park in Carmel. Cultivating Shared Group Awe Experiences is nothing short of Awesome! Each Awe Walk is entirely different and all Awe Walks are filled with Curiosity, Exploration, Wonderment, Laughter, Nature Connectedness, Smiles and of course AWE! Breathe Deep and BEE Happy! Experience boundless wonderment and get out of your head and into Nature. Increase joy, vitality and gratitude and awaken your sense of childlike curiosity. These are just a few side effects of Awe Walking. Discover the awe-inspiring power of Nature's splendor.
"For 50+ years we’ve been sharing the beauty and history of Big Sur with people from all over the world. Our Big Sur tours lend themselves to offer a taste of everything Big Sur while exploring old-growth redwoods, mountain streams and waterfalls, coastal trails and ocean coves. We take pride in putting together just the right experience for each of our guests. All of our experiences are available for private or corporate groups at special pricing. Please contact us to learn more and let us customize the perfect experience for your group."
Where do you want to live when your care needs increase? Where Can you live as your care needs increase? What is your ideal workplace as a care provider? More than 80% of Americans over the age of 50 report they prefer to age in place - stay in their current homes and communities as they age. Unfortunately, achieving residential comfort and mastery is not possible for many due to unaffordable housing, social isolation and loneliness, lack of transportation, limited finances, unsafe neighborhoods, living in physically inadequate housing, and unmet support for chronic health conditions. In addition, roughly 40% of housed older adults have severe cost burdens, spending more than 50% of their monthly incomes on housing. While aging-in-place is what most people wish to achieve, millions of Americans reside in unsuitable residential environments. A keen understanding of how our physical environments can constrain or enhance our ability to age optimally is vital for innovating and designing housing and care solutions. *** We introduce ECO Generation Park as an Innovative Nature-Inspired, Community-Based Model of Living- ECO Focused, Elder Centered, Intergenerational, and Resident Sustained. Think KOA on steroids- eco farm style. Stay Tuned.....