OnChain | OffGrid | AFK | IRL

Touch Dirt

October 2025

A gathering for those of us who live on the edge of the real world. We spend much or our live in front of screens building digital products, & communities. We build friendships and our social life online, because we are internet native.But now, it's time to bring our meatsuits, and touch dirt together.

Details

Where

NM High Desert - Taos County

Yes, we know that there are no Saguaro in NM, but they look cool... so deal with it

When

October 5th–11th, 2025

What

Just a casual gathering of folks interested in the same things: Web3, governance, DAOs, regen, and more. There’s no formal schedule, no talks, no programming.
We’ll plan a few group activities like hikes and hot springs, but most of the time we’ll just hang out, swap stories, work on projects, help each other out, and generally have a good time. If you are a musician or have any other cool skills you want to provide, let us know.

Lodging

Two options to touch dirt with us:

Tickets will go on sale soon. Don't forget to sign up above to get notified.
The final ticket price may vary, and is largely dependent on the camp chef that is still tbd.

Food & Drinks

Food:
We’ll have a camp chef preparing two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, unless we’re out on an off-site adventure. The menu will focus on healthy vegan cuisine.
If you have specific allergies or dietary restrictions, please let us know before booking.Drinks:
We’ll provide water at all times. There will be coffee in the mornings, and on Day 2 we’ll do a “town run” so you can stock up on your favorite drinks and snacks.

Shower & Toilets

Showers:
Water is precious in the desert. We’ll have camp showers available, but please take short showers, only every few days. Bring wet wipes for in between.
The dry climate means you won’t sweat as much as elsewhere. If the 330-gallon cistern runs out, that’s it. 😄Toilets:
There will be a pit toilet, yes, a big hole in the ground (with walls around it of course). After you go, just toss a shovel of dirt on top. Simple as that.

!!! IMPORTANT !!!

We’ll be in the desert. There can be snakes (including rattlesnakes), spiders, coyotes, and other wildlife.
While October is typically pleasant, weather in the high desert is unpredictable. You might experience strong winds, dust, hot days, or cold nights.If you’ve got a level head and stay aware of your surroundings, you’ll be just fine. But don’t expect a hotel or an Airbnb.

A Return to Meaning

Reflecting on the concept of TouchDirt, I want to distill and refine some of the thinking behind it so far. This is a starting point for discussion and collaboration.

What is TouchDirt?

TouchDirt is about disconnecting. It's a regenerative mindset, but from the perspective of the self. It starts with the individual.While we often focus on big systems and structural change, it's also vital to make space for personal reconnection. TouchDirt is a chance for people who believe in a regenerative future—less waste, less capitalism, more meaning—to live intentionally together for a few days.

Intentionallity

This experience should be minimalistic by design. It should be challenging. We should be mindful of water, food, and our relationship with the land. It’s a reset—physically and mentally.There’s something important in the current "touch grass" movement. It exists for a reason: society today creates immense pressure. The rat race is real. Touching nature shouldn’t be a novelty or a meme. It should be part of daily life. Yet for many—especially those in cities—it’s just not accessible.TouchDirt goes deeper than that. It's about more than camping. It's about reflecting on the rest of the year. Coming together, having real, deep conversations, without screens.

The Structure

Initially, the idea was simple: bring people together on a piece of land, set up primitive camps, outdoor showers, compost toilets, a shared shed. We live somewhat primitively, with some support infrastructure.But another approach came to mind: a backpacking trip. A quest.

Each day (or every few days) we have a physical destination and an intentional theme. Maybe these are set in advance or co-created as we go. For example, we could hike to an overlook of the Rio Grande and camp there for a day or two. Have camp fires, music, deep dives into the why (instead of the what) of what everyone is building, etc.

Cultural and Philosophical Elements

Our journey and focus should be introspective but grounded. Not necessarily spiritual in the traditional sense—but deeply philosophical. Who are we? Why do we do what we do? What do we believe in? And how does that belief system inform the things we build, the communities we invest in, and the future we envision?We might only want one or two anchor experiences to create depth during the central portion of the journey, but the core should be deep, thoughtful conversation and reflection.We could try to partner with indigenous people from the Taos Pueblo for a sweat lodge.

Not About Building

We are builders. Creators. Artizens. All year long, we create, we code, we prototype, we launch. But TouchDirt is not about that. It’s about stepping back. TouchDirt is about the why. Why are we building? What truly matters?Let’s make this a yearly rhythm. A place to recharge and reflect. To reconnect with our deeper purpose. To inform the rest of the year.

Wrapping It Up

The closing could take place at Ojo Caliente Resort and Spa. They have a campground as well as rooms. We could spend a day or two deeply relaxing, maybe share a final meal at the restaurant. Let go. Re-enter our "normal" lives with clarity.

Intention

I want to reflect more deeply and collaboratively on the idea. Especially in the context of all the efforts many of us are already part of.This is not a hackathon, not another conference, not burning man and not a traditional retreat. It’s not about our creations, our products, our companies, our communities. It’s about the philosophy. It’s about setting the tone for the rest of the year.Let’s explore this. Let’s create the concept together.With intention,
SvenH