Turning this World-Changing Thing Up a Notch...

Since Gaiam coined the LOHAS term, I think it's the perfect parent company for Zaadz.  Wow, indeed!

To Evolution!

here's to more “greening” and rapid growth :)

Awesome news Brian!  From the immortal words of … well I dunno couldn't find the origin … sombody cool I'm sure … anyway …  “You 'da man”

Congratulations and blessings!  Looking forward to exploring collaboration with Zaadz, all the Zaadzsters, Gaiam, the Gaiamers, Conscious Enlightenment, the Consciously Enlightened, Lime, the Limeys, and everybody :-).

in community,

Habib
Seattle

Congratulations, Brian!

Group hug:)

OneLove

Sean

With this unprecedented merger of four spiritually aligned groups of changemakers, our joint aspiration of changing the world for the better is getting closer indeed.  Calls for a BIG CELEBRATION.  It's like the planets have aligned!  Cheers!  Frost! Kampei! Bravo! Hep, hep, hurray!  Mabuhay!  Viva Zaadz, Lime, Gaiam, and Conscious Enlightenment Partnership! CONGRATULATIONS to all of us and the whole universe!  What an exciting development indeed!

Jubilant Mila

Brian and all the zaadz team,

Wow, congrats!  This is amazing news and look out world!

Zoey

Welcome to the team!!!  I'm looking forward where this leads…

Manny Otto
Site Producer
Spiritual Cinema Circle
(a Gaiam company)

I see a whole lot more goodness growing in your garden, Brian.  You are so appreciated.

All the best,

Deb

Great News!! Welcome to the Family!! Namaste,  Jerry  (Real Goods/Gaiam team member)

Here's to taking it to the next level. :)

Takin it to the HNL, yeah yeah yeah

Brian… Green Day will finally be our victory! Congratulations everyone! Wow! I see the Earth is on the way to bigger and better things… The best has yet to become onto the greatest greenery ever… Now we have flowers! :-)

Michael

You go, Brian (and the whole Zaadz team.)
I've been a huge believer and supporter of Gaiam for years. It's a match made in heaven!

Critical mass… here we come!!!!!

Katrina

Congratulations and welcome to the team / family. I am a very happy and proud Gaiam employee and look forward to the new opportunities this will bring for everyone. It is a positive move and a collaboration that always seemed to me like it would work very well. Zaadz is a fantastic community of like-minded people from all walks of life - you have created a beautiful thing.

Thank you thank you thank you all!

I'm personally thrilled (and absurdly excited) about the potential of this partnership, and about what we'll be able to do with this suddenly expanded group, and about what we'll be able to explore in the weeks and months and years to come. It's an honor to see this community grow.

Count me in on Bri's *group hug* ;)

well ~Matthew has much better post of dis cuz has fotos ^.^

but not so sure if i understand all dis…  a bit too much writings for me but i guess zaadz got aquired… something like that since it has a parent now…  well guys if ur all happy then i'm happy with u….  n love uuuu ^.^

Congratulations and BIG *Group HUG*!!

I'm enthralled with all Zaadz is and is to become… and to be a part of it with this Divine community.

I thank you.

Teiwaz

flowing like a river…..to the sea!
:)

Zzzz is not sleeping

Wonerful news..I actually found Lime recently..what a great site!!!

Had a look at the new sites - COOL- best wishes!

Word!^_^

Consolidation is the next best thing to Unity:)

  - Zo
Feel me, hear me, be my friend.

Yay! Lovely! thinkarete!

Fabulous!!!
United we stand strong!!!
Congratulations and ~Group Hug~

This sounds wonderful! 

Even though I've never heard of those other sites before.  I'm sure it will be slow and shaky at first.  I picture a large room with all the people from zaadz, all the people from Gaiam, Lime, and Conscious Enlightenment standing around staying in there groups waiting to see who mingles first.  Then all of a sudden someone walks in wearing a “free hugs” t-shirt and next thing you know we got the worlds biggest org……. I mean “merger”.

Well we might not be the biggest, but I know I'm excited. 

Hah! And Don John, didn't you know that's on our big wall o' ideas?

Oh yes indeed.  I can't wait to cross that one off.

Great job! Looking forward to what we collectively create in the future.

Hello Brian & Fellow Zaadzsters,

I can see by the comments posted here that there is unanimous agreement that the decision to merge Zaadz with Gaiam, Lime, and Conscious Enlightenment is a good one. I thought I would weigh in with a contrarian view and see if anyone else shares similar concerns, and also give the Zaadz inner circle a chance to respond, if they want to.

I woke up this morning from a dream where I was talking to a close friend about Brian's merger letter saying, with a mixture of astonishment and sadness, “they sold us out!”

Looking at things from the outside, I have no way of knowing what is really happening. Or how inspired the decision to merge Zaadz with Gaiam, Lime, and Conscious Enlightenment is/was. What I can tell you is when I read Brian's letter, I had the same reaction that was reflected in my dream. While the merger is being presented as a fantastic opportunity – a bold and empowering merger of like-minded networks, it looks to me an awful lot like a classic “corporate merger”. And this, in turn, typically concentrates the power and resources of the many into the hands of a few whose primary mission is to generate money for the corporate bottomline.

Assuming that Gaiam, as Zaadz new “parent biz”, will be the one ultimately calling the shots, I wonder if this is a move in the right direction. Instead of individual networks taking their place on the world's stage, each with their own unique identity, focus, collection of like-minded people, and ability to think and act independently, it looks like larger networks are eating up smaller ones – which, in turn, will be tempted to turn them all into generic, spiritually-oriented MacMalls. Zaadz, in my mind, is unique in that it appeals specifically to people who share an integral vision. And this vision, in my mind anyway, is very distinct from the watered-down, smoothed over, cookie-cutter New Age vision that is presently going mainstream. Am I missing something here (which is certainly possible), or is something that is actually not that good for a truly integral vision being repackaged to look like it is?

Don't get me wrong. I think it is healthy, empowering, absolutely essential for like-minded networks to join together, share resources, acknowledge one another's contributions, and encourage interaction among their memberships. But to have them all be owned, overshadowed, and controlled (either overtly or covertly) by one network and/or an increasing small group of individuals, however well-intentioned? That seems like a bad idea to me.

If I/we did not have a personal investment in Zaadz, I wouldn't have said anything. But since I have come to view Zaadz as a major player in the effort to ground a more integral vision, I felt I should give voice these concerns and see what the rest of you think about them.

I should also mention that I hesitated to say anything because Brian, Siona, and the other core Zaadzsters all appear to feel really good – sincerely excited even – about this new direction. And since they more connected to the core vision of Zaadz than anyone, who am I to wonder if this is the right move? Moreover, I know practically nothing about the corporate world or what kind of hoops an organization the size of Zaadz has to jump through to survive. For all I know, once all options have been considered, the only way Zaadz can move forward is to merge with other like-minded networks.

Anyway, in the expectation that others may have the same concerns I do, or that voicing these concerns might lead to a deeper understanding, I thought I would stick my neck out and say something.

My hope and prayer for Zaadz (and all the other spiritually-oriented networks, and network members) is that we all live up to our full potential and do everything in our power to carry each other, and the planet we share, to higher, safer, more fully realized ground. If merging, in the classical corporate sense, is the best way to do this, sign me up. If, however, there's another way, or another way to view corporate mergers that I'm overlooking, I'm all ears.

David Sunfellow

David!

Thank you so, so much for your note, and your honesty, and for sharing your dream. I'm so touched by your caring, and I do want to respond from my own heart.

As a member of the Zaadz team, I'm thrilled with this merger. But I'll start with what grabs me most from your note.

You wrote that you see Zaadz as being unique because of its integral vision, and you're concerned about that uniqueness being diluted or somehow watered-down beneath a larger organization.

I can promise you that this community is not going to lose that core–at least not as long as you're committed to keeping it. Zaadz IS this community! Zaadz is you. Zaadz is US. And I have a slightly different view about the impact and effects of this new phase. Instead of being concerned about what the effects ON us might be, I'm enthused about that effect we might have: I'm personally excited about being able to bring this culture and this commitment to Gaiam—which, to my mind, is already a fantastic company with a mission very resonant with ours, and whose values and commitment to community, spirituality, and environmental consciousness are very much in alignment with the sort embodied here. This, in my view, is a wonderful opportunity for all of us at Zaadz to bring our core values to a larger audience, and to communicate with those myriad others who are intrigued by, as you put it, the possibility of moving to a “more fully realized ground.”

I feel we're strong enough to be able to do that.

And I don't know. I suppose I'd ask, personally that you trust us–or trust me. :) I know that we've had some wonderful and very rich dialogues already about this site, and this business, and the community, and I can say with a fully and happy and open heart that this, for me, is one of the most exciting things that could have happened. Again, please don't forget your OWN power. Zaadz is not a series of documents to be signed and exchanged. Zaadz is this community… Zaadz is the minds and hearts of all of you coming together here, to talk and write and collaborate and share. Whether we can do so under the larger umbrella of Gaiam (and with their support and larger reach) is not going to make a difference–your voices are still your own.

But again, thank you thank you thank you for your courage in bringing this up, and for your care, and for BEING here, with and for us. Do you know how much I love this community?

I thought so. :)

Siona

Thank you for providing a haven for seeds, so ripe, to grow!

Remain inspired…

John D

Change the World….that's what led us to join the Zaadz community.  Thanks for your leadership Brian and willingness to collaborate to strengthen the vision.  We all benefit from being apart of this dynamic growth.  Change the world by being willing to change yourself and each of the organizations Gaiam, Lime, and Conscious Enlightenment provide tools, information, resources, and wisdom etc. to super charge our growth. 

Blessing, Joy, and Much Success!

As a member of the Gaiam community for over 6 years, I can assure the Zaadz community that we are indeed “on the same wavelength”.  I welcome this opportunity to re-vitalize and extend our visions for change, in harmony with our beautiful & wondrous planet Earth. May we enhance our understanding & compassion in building a better world, right here, right now.  Namaste,  Jerry

That was beautiful Jerry!  Thanks for sharing your perspective :)

I have to echo Jerry's perspective.  Though I've only been with Gaiam since January, I have known about them since '02.  It was a dream come true to be invited to join their ranks and have since found it to be as great of an experience as I'd hoped for and then some.

I really appreciate David Sunfellow raising the issues that he did because they are valid concerns.  If there was one company that I would (and have) placed my bet on to successfully take on the very real challenges that we are attempting to confront in the dialogues undertaken on Zaadz, it is Gaiam.  At a certain point, we have to find a balance between the nostalgic attachment to the idea of a “small group of thoughtful, committed citizens”  to whom Margaret Meade referred in that famous quote of hers and the next stage of a movement large and strong enough to realistically take on the enemies of the ideals we collectively support.  The spirit of the individual dream must definitely be preserved, but then bolstered by the might and organizational scope of a company like Gaiam.

Hope this additional point of view helps to alleviate some of the concern.

Warmly … Manny Otto, a.k.a. “Heart Vajra”

Site Producer
Spiritual Cinema Circle
(a Gaiam company)

Well stated, Manny!   Here's a a well organized, finely tuned “Power to the People” effort.  I love John Lennon's music & enduring spirit, don't you?  Many blessings,  Jerry

oh im glad im not d only dreamer ^.^

Enthusiastic congratulations to Zaadz!  Great comments here. :) 

I'm so excited!  Way to go!!!

yay ;  )

For those of you who might be interested, I tracked down a bit more information about Gaiam, and Gaiam's acquisition of Zaadz, Lime, and Conscious Enlightenment. I will include a few informative links below.

Among other things, these links provide information on how much Gaiam paid for the three companies (approximately $10 million), a comprehensive overview of current income and expenditures, what Gaiam's future plans are, and who will be in charge of the upfolding merger. “The community”, reads one press release, “will be led by Internet community veteran Eddie Dombrower, who joins Gaiam as president of the division. He was previously Senior Vice President at Match.com, where he launched Chemistry.com. Before he worked at Atari, Jim Henson, AT&T Wireless and was one of the early employees at eTrade.”

The press releases also indicate that Gaiam plans to launch an “overall community site” in the fall. I'm assuming this means that Zaadz will somehow be incorporated into the other communities and they will all then move ahead under the Gaiam umbrella. Is this a correct assumption? I'm wondering if this means Zaadz will continue to look and function as it does now, or if there will be significant changes? Perhaps Siona can shed some light on this for us? I continue to be concerned about the possibility that the unique, cutting-edge character of Zaadz will be lost amid a more homogenized, commercialized network. One of the things I have really appreciated about Zaadz is that you are not bombarded by endless advertisements, or the faces, books, lectures, articles, videos, and ever-present wisdom of spiritual authorities and teachers. Yes, there are a few ads on Zaadz, but the focus is clearly on building and supporting community, not moving product or promoting specific teachers and their products. Will the current atmosphere of Zaadz survive, or is it scheduled for a major makeover?

Along similar lines, I need to ask a question that specifically relates to my organization's involvement with Zaadz: Is Zaadz-Gaiam planning to continue to develop/support zPro? Considering all the changes currently unfolding, it seems to me a reasonable answer might be: “until the merger is further along, until we've had a chance to sit down and hammer out the details with Eddie Dombrower and the other networks, we're not sure”. But I wanted to give Siona a chance to tackle this. We've already spent a good deal of time trying to reposition ourselves to integrate our work with Zaadz and are once again uncertain which way the wind blowing.

Switching gears, I have to acknowledge Manny's point that a large, dynamic network may be just what the planet needs to help counteract the extraordinarily powerful, destructive forces that are currently rampaging across the Earth. And if the Mission Statement and Code Of Ethics posted on Gaiam's corporate website (see below) is any indication of the real world expression of this company, I also have to agree that this company seems to have a real shot at helping turn the tide. There is also an impressive amount of great material and good people featured on the websites that Gaiam has created and is gathering together. From this perspective, whatever happens to Zaadz – whether it is able to maintain its current unique character or not – it looks to me like Gaiam is doing something that is very worthwhile.

And that's it from me. My thanks for the thoughtful comments Siona, Manny, and the other folks have posted here.

Press Relase One (August 7, 2007)
Press Release Two (August 6, 2007)
Formation Of Gaiam Press Release (June 20. 2001)
Gaiam Corporate Website

…………

Gaiam's Mission Statement

Gaiam's mission is to provide choices that foster a sense of belonging to a healthy and conscious community that can make a difference in the world.

Gaiam was created as a lifestyle media company with the vision that, given a choice, people would choose a lifestyle that is healthy and life enhancing – for themselves, their families and the Earth.

The opportunity to affect people's lives with media, information and products is both a privilege and a responsibility. The Gaiam lifestyle is a vote for Media that Matters, individual wellness, and the sustainability of the Earth's resources.

We are building our brand identity as the trusted source and unifying brand for people interested in the benefits and rewards of Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS). We coined the acronym LOHAS more than seven years ago, and it is now the title of magazines not only in the United States, but also in countries like Japan; it's quoted in national publications from Business Week to The New York Times; and a search for the term “LOHAS” on sites like Google returns millions of results.

…………

Gaiam Code of Ethics

The following Code of Ethics has been adopted by, and is applicable to, all of Gaiam's employees, officers and directors. Any waivers of the Code of Ethics must be approved, in advance, by our full Board of Directors. Any amendments or waivers from this Code of Ethics that apply to our executive officers and directors will be posted in this section of our corporate website.

- Say what we mean and stand for what is right.

- Be honest and trustworthy in all of our activities, relationships and communications.

- Foster an atmosphere in which fair employment practices extend to every member of the Gaiam community. To ensure that we treat one another with dignity and respect, appreciating the diversity and uniqueness of all of our members.

- Strive to create a safe and supportive workplace, promote healthy lifestyles, foster and encourage personal development, and protect the environment and all living things.

- Through leadership at all levels, sustain a culture where ethical conduct is recognized, valued and exemplified by all employees.

- Understand and obey the applicable laws and regulations governing our business conduct in all of the jurisdictions in which we operate.

CODE OF ETHICS FOR SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS

In addition to compliance with the Gaiam Code of Ethics, Gaiam's senior financial officers shall:

- Maintain complete and accurate company records. Transactions between Gaiam and outside individuals and organizations must be promptly and accurately recorded in Gaiam's books in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices and principles in the United States. Under no circumstances will Gaiam permit or tolerate the willful misrepresentation of facts or the falsifying of records. Such behavior will result in immediate disciplinary action, including termination.

- Assure that all disclosures made in all periodic reports and documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other public communications by Gaiam, are full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable. This requires operating in an environment of open communication, while not compromising proprietary and confidentiality concerns.

- Promote open communication concerning Gaiam's operations, reporting and internal controls. All concerns regarding questionable accounting and business matters shall be immediately referred to General Counsel for investigation and communication to the Audit Committee. Financial officers shall review and evaluate the effectiveness of disclosure and internal control policies and procedures, report any material weakness to the Audit Committee and make other appropriate disclosures, and immediately take corrective action and implement new polices or procedures as needed.

Crazy to thing you can change the world?  Then 85,000 of us are crazy.  All these seeds remind me of what I now see on my property at the WindStar Wildlife Institute (www.windstar.org) and it's acres of wildflower meadows and native grasses 3-4 foot high.  All of this started with itsy bitsy seeds years ago and they return every July and August as millions of flowers that change peoples lives when they experience this miracle of nature.
Changing the world?  It's been our business here for a couple of decades already, including the online communities. 

Bravo with the Trifecta accomplishment!  Gaiam and all.

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!

Zaadz was SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok Brian listen…  i trust u know what ur doing its just that if thats true that u sold zaadz then to me this blog post is bulshit cuz its not 100% autentic… it manipulates d information thus its out of integrity…

but maybe u were afraid to look at ur own community into their eyes n simply say it: hey guys we sold zaadz… n add yes yes i know i wrote on my business plan lots of things n especially that we r planning to do d aquaring but things have changed (as they always do) but i love u (or something like that)… 

but again zaadz is/was privatly owned company so u dont need to “report” to anyone…  u can do what ever u want with it…. its just a good will…  but in case u were really afraid i have a classic question for u:

What would u do if u werent afraid: Zaady~

but other than this u after all people know very well what zaadz means to me n how crutial its been in my life this past yr n a half, so m not going to write about it here but yes i do also have a zPro questions about building 3 micro communities for

1.  http://goldenrainbow.zaadz.com/   

2.  http://lightsource.zaadz.com/

3.  http://lovelstzy.zaadz.com

n would deffinitly like to know whats in store going forward… hmmm….  just realized thats a stupid question cuz we cant really count on any business model if other people have a control over it as it can change any time without prior notice as we c it in zaadzs case but no worries as 1 of my fav quotes is: the only constant in the world is change ^.^ 

sooooooooooooo

~Hakuna Matata~

     love always
     ~princess~

David!

You make my job so easy. :) Thank you for the details.

You've guessed correctly; part of the reason we've not said more is that the shape of this new creation has still very much yet to be visioned. I've spoken with Eddie (who's an amazing, and brilliant, human being) a few times already, and we're meeting again this week to look at the larger pictures. But again, you're right… this is a community in the process of being shaped.

But to lay a few fears to rest: What I do know is that, if anything, there will likely be less advertising, not more, on Zaadz. (You know that ad-free, $1 to $2 a month subscription we've talked about in the past? ;) There will be an increased, not a decreased, attention to community. (Gaiam's mission statement explicitly includes that value, and the dream for the Gaia community is even more focused on helping like-minded individuals with shared values and a common dream connect with each other. Again… very Zaadz.) And give our newly expanded resources, we'll be able to do more, not less, with zPro.

(A little aside, though, about something I'm mindful of. What is the difference between those businesses who are using zPro, or eager to use, zPro, and the “promoting [of] specific teachers and their products”? No need to answer here; it's just a tension I'm personally curious about and which I do believe we as a community will continue to need to hold. :)

And I have to confess I'm a little offended by this worry that Zaadz will be swallowed. (Well, not really, but imagine me looking indignant anyway.) What if Zaadz is at the top of that heap? What if Gaiam is thrilled to have, now, an amazing social media platform and an established and vibrant community that already embodies that core set of values that they (we're!) trying to cultivate in the world? Why not see Zaadz as the seed out of which Gaia will spring?

Yes, transformation and birth requires change, but it need not be negative. And as far as I'm concerned, not only with the atmosphere of Zaadz survive, it will thrive. I don't think we could homogenize this community even if we wanted to, and there's certainly no plans to change the look or feel or unique character of the site; if anything, we want to spread these seeds to others.

But more soon! I promise promise promise to both keep you all updated on what's unfolding (or sprouting or growing…), and to keep checking in to see what your thoughts and dreams and hopes are.

And for those of you who haven't seen, I posted a response to Princess here. :)

Big hugs and a huge grin and an tremendous thank you thank you thank you for all of you who make this community what it is…

Siona

PS. A huge thank you to all those members of the Gaiam team for saying hello. :)

Hi All!

I just wanted to echo Siona here and say that we will definitely be looking out for the interests of the community. We love you and we'll take care of you! And, this is going to be an incredible development in the history of Zaadz and in conscious business. It's going to be amazing to see what we can do together!!

;-) Ummm…just as an aside…”As above, so Below”, you know?
Astronomy Big News! 4 Galaxies are merging into One, that will eventually be 10 times the mass of the Milky Way! And there's a weird thing about no new stars being born from such a merger when there should be…
Check it out…

As far as this merger goes, and that Zaadz has found a parent company, I have found parent company at Zaadz too, LOL ;-) 
Why can't we just be Brothers and Sisters? Why a “Parent” Company?? Anyway…

Remember to use your Powers of Combined Energy for Good ;-)
Play Nice…

Hello Siona (& Fellow Zaadzsters),

Siona, if what you've written about the merger turns out to be the way things unfold, I'll be delighted. Keeping advertisements to a minimum, maintaining the look, feel, and unique character of the site and, especially, more community building is music to my ears.

You asked “What is the difference between those businesses who are using zPro, or eager to use, zPro, and the 'promoting [of] specific teachers and their products'?” What I am referring to is the difference between an atmosphere that is full of ads, articles, and products promoting well-known teachers, and an atmosphere where there is space for everyone. For the purposes of community building, I think a relatively ad-free zone is best, but if ads are run (and I think it is perfectly appropriate for networks like Zaadz to generate revenue this way – and to highlight people, products and organizations they think deserve special attention), then I would prefer that they were gentle and non-intrusive, similar to what Zaadz is doing now. I've gone to some sites where everywhere you look, you are bombarded with products by, for, and about well-known teachers (and businesses).

Aside from the obvious problem of creating spaces that are so noisy and commercial that you don't want to spend any time there, there is also the problem of giving the little guys and gals a chance to spread their wings. I think it is difficult for most people to find their note when the other instruments in the band are so loud (or bewitchingly beautiful) that they can't hear themselves. Or to switch metaphors, little plants have trouble taking root when bigger, more established plants dominate the garden. So I like the idea of leaving room for new folks to sing their songs. This would be especially true in the zPro neighborhood, where, I think, lots of people will want to share their gifts and perspectives without having to compete with mega-super-stars.

Anyway, these concerns were more about what I thought “could” happen, rather than what is happening right now.

Concerning the part of your letter where you confess to being “a little offended by this worry that Zaadz will be swallowed”, I hope you won't take this personally. My concerns/fears are not directed at any one person. They primarily arise out of seeing how corporate mergers “usually work”; out of not wanting to loose the potential I see in Zaadz; and out of a lack of information. In my case, and perhaps in the case of many others, timely, detailed information, transparency, and the ability to ask questions when I/we have them, helps keep all fears – real and imaginary – in perspective.

And that's it from me. I feel like a tuba, or fog horn that has crashed the party. So I'll stop honking now and let the excitement that has been expressed here take center stage again.

Hi Sunfellow!

On behalf of the team I'd like to say that your feedback is most welcome, so don't worry about crashing the party! Zaadz is really all about the community and your voice is certainly welcome. And yes, we understand people's concerns about the ads and are working out the plans as we speak and the community interests are definitely being taken into account. If it helps, check out Gaiam's main site. You'll see that they don't have any ads on there and that their design is conscious, bright and simple, much like ours. We put a lot of thought into this deal and it was for many more reasons than money that we decided to merge with Gaiam. So, while we're still working out the details, we're confident that only good things will come of this.

Also, we most certainly care about the “little guys and gals,” who I like to think of as blossoming entrepreneurs and organizations. That's one of the reasons we have zPro up and running! Our motivation has always been to help people to get paid and dare to do what they love, to change the world by being the change. We certainly want your voices to be heard. That's another reason why we've been giving updates about Zaadzsters in our newsletters! We love you!

We promise to keep you posted and let you know what will be happening in the future. I know the lack of information is a bit frustrating. But, just know that we're ironing it out and will keep you in the loop! We'll let you know when we do!

Thank you for being such an amazing part of Zaadz. It is so moving to see the love and concern for all that happens at Zaadz! Keep it coming and keep letting us know what you think!

How much was Zaadz sold for?

Hey gang? I've posted a bit more of an update here.

apologies for my lapse in participation here. been running around. :)

more here: More on our, ahem, acquisition… :)

I am certainly surprised/shocked!  
Although the acquisition looks great and the companies look inspiring, I have to wonder what is really going to happen with Zaadz?
I guess I'll wait to find out.

This is an email I received today from another company involved in this same process with Gaiam and Zaadz and LIME. Thought people might like to hear what THEY have to say about the process, to THEIR internal community. I liked what I read.
  

Conscious Enlightenment's New Partners
Date:   Sep 13, 2007 12:03 PM

Dear friend of CE magazines,

As you've probably already heard by now, our family of magazines has recently entered an exciting new phase in our growth, joining forces with leaders in green living/health and wellness media to create a unified LOHAS community. Our partners are LIME.com (a multimedia lifestyle company with multiple platforms focused on leading a healthier, greener, and more balanced lifestyle), Zaadz.com (the leading social networking site in the LOHAS space), and Gaiam, Inc., (a lifestyle media company catering to people who value personal development, natural health, ecological lifestyles and inspirational entertainment).

There's been quite a bit of buzz around this news, and so I wanted to reach out personally to explain what this means to you as an advertiser and supporter of our magazines - to highlight some of the possibilities this opens up for all of us.

First off: to clarify, as part of our partnership, Gaiam has invested in Conscious Enlightenment - the parent company of Common Ground, Whole Life Times and Conscious Choice magazines. It's a common misconception that an investment is the same thing as an acquisition. However, in our case, Gaiam has made an investment in CE - in the full sense of what that word means. Gaiam has invested in the goals, mission and vision of our company, supporting us to continue to develop our family of multimedia products and services geared toward empowering the greater conscious community.

Last week I was in Boulder, Colorado for a meet-the-team/brainstorming session with Gaiam, Lime, Zaadz and the assorted others coming together through the new investment. The trip was a lot of fun, both on a personal level - meeting all the great people in our new extended family - and on a professional level - looking forward to the creative collaboration that is going to come out of this relationship.

After the meeting in Colorado, I am doubly sure: Gaiam has chosen to support CE because they share our mission. They believe in the magazines, in Yogamates.com, in MonthlyYogaDVD.com, in Organic Media Design and in the Enlightenment Card. They recognize the power of the individual brands, and they are committed to fostering our growth and development in the direction that we've been moving since the company's conception.

To be specific: the magazines (and additional brands) are not changing, becoming more corporate, or product-oriented, editorially and otherwise. In the short-term, we get to continue doing what we do best as we see fit - with the added support and extensive resources of the various brands at our fingertips.

In the long term, the extended Gaiam family (Lime, Zaazds, Spiritual Cinema and Earth Cinema Circle, Real Goods, Harmony, etc.) is on hand for creative collaboration, systems support, resource sharing, etc., and to swap ideas that have worked in the past so that we don't end up reinventing the wheel. I will keep you updated as we learn more about all of the resources available and better understand how we can help support each other.

In the meantime, I'd like to extend a direct invitation to you as a supporter of our magazines to participate in this period of positive growth and change. If any of you have any ideas for what might work moving forward - anything that we can do better to serve your needs as an advertiser, or as a reader, or as a fellow worldchanger - I'd love to hear them. This is a time of exponential possibility and growth for Conscious Enlightenment, and there's room for everyone to play a part.

Here's to positive change and continued success for our ever-growing community,

Christopher Miglino
CEO
Conscious Enlightenment

I have been a part of Zaadz and Gai for a couple of years, do you believe that this merger has truly changed the “feeling” of the Zaadz of the past.  Or is it the same as it was before.  I just wanted to start this question again.

Josh