“Emerging at the other end, we will not be the same as we were; we will have become more humble, more connected to the natural world, fitter, leaner more skilled and, ultimately wiser.”

Rob Hopkins, originator of the Transition Town Movement

Hamamelis virginiana in flower March 23rd Ashfield MA

We are not in Japan, Egypt or Libya or even Wisconsin. For this I have Gratitude. Even better we live in a small town full of like-minded people. More reason for gratitude. A huge portion of the food we eat is locally grown by farmers we call friends. The general mindset is one of DIY, fix it, and help your neighbors. Still like so many others these economic times have hit us hard in a little over a month we have to move, leave our home of 11 years and we have still not found a place we can afford.

Recently I got to thinking (again) about sustainability and ways of becoming more self reliant (next step chickens and beekeeping). Sticking point is still reliance on my vehicle! This time I got to thinking about sustainable medicine, how so much as been said about growing/preserving your own food, eating local, seed saving, there has been less emphasis on locally grown/manufactured DIY medicine. Thinking of your families health care as a skill that can be learnt as opposed to relying on professionals. While we have talked about the benefit of using plants that are local and part of our home ecosystem, every step in the process of herbal medicine making from growing and gathering, to tincturing, to family care can be taken on as part of the family homestead whether urban or rural. It can is a project that the whole family can participate in, at the same time gaining skills in personal health promotion. Herbal medicines are not only a source for treating disease they are also a source for promoting health for your family and community health by reducing the number of trips to a family practice, travel time, energy consumption, pharmaceutical company support.

“Annually, about 7,000 children ages 11 and younger require a hospital emergency room visit because of an adverse reaction to one of these substances.” U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In solidarity with the sustainable farming movement, it is important that we begin to make local choices regarding our family health-care. Despite the cost, the commitment to grow or make our medicines or purchase locally and organically grown herbs is an investment in the health of the planet. Remember Herbal medicine is the medicine if the People practical thrifty and fun, over 80% of the worlds population still uses herbs as their primary means of healthcare.

Here is where I see my role as a community herbalist to teach people the art of herbal medicine, and to encourage the practice of community based herbalism. For this reason I am offering my new distance learning program at an affordable rate with the hope that families will jump on board and begin their journey to sustainable family health-care.

Books that I am loving (in other words heavy rotation from the library):

Love this Homemade Living Series....I highly recommend it, great detailed starter info.

Homemade Living:Keeping Chickens with Ashley English

Homemade Living: Keeping Bees with Ashley English

Backyard Sugarin': A Complete How-To Guide by Rick Mann and Daniel Wolf

3 Comments

I've been doing alot of thinking (worrying) about sustainability too, so this post really struck a chord! Thank you for offering such an important course at such a low rate. This knowledge is so needed!

I hope we can bring herbs and medicine-making into the fore of the conversation when talking about eating local, buying local, and sustainable farming. It's too important to be overlooked!

And food as medicine = Eat your herbs!

Best of luck with the house-hunting. I hope you find your perfect spot, up there in those beautiful hills.

:) sheri

Posted by: Sheri Lee Pierce | March 23, 2011 at 12:05 PM