Humanity's Greatest Challenges
by Michael Pilarski
Over the next 100 years humanity has three great challenges. All of these 3 challenges need to be tackled simultaneously.
- Earth-healing. Ecosystem restoration is needed everywhere in the world that the environment has been degraded, which is most of it. This has 3 components:
- assisting natural processes;
- ceasing destructive practices; and
- doing erosion control and environmental plantings.
- Healing human individuals so that wars, oppression, cruelty, rascism, intolerance, etc gradually cease.
- Survival. A review of world affairs and peak oil concerns reveals the potential for major shake-ups to the global economy. An increase in wars within and between countries is likely.
There are more and more citizens' movements springing up around the globe to oppose the growing domination of global finance/multinationals. Local food systems, local economies and local cooperation may be very useful in the not too distant future. Wherever you live, now is a good time to contribute to creating and strengthening alternatives.
Herb Farm Report
2004 was the 6th year of developing our herb farm at Sunny Pine Farm near Twisp, Washington. Twisp is located in the Methow Valley in the North Cascades in north-central Washington. This year we are up to 222 plant species and over 3,000 trees and shrubs, most of which are medicinal. Our two acres is on the way to becoming an exciting, multi-story agroforestry/permaculture-type system. It is also kin to the newly-developing concept of "paradise gardening" where one develops a system that is more wild and wildcrafted rather then cultivated. Already we are now unable to bring the tractor into the developing forest and the rotottiller will get less and less use. One of our goals is to demonstrate an agricultural system which requires no gasoline-powered machines. The system could make this switch as early as next year.
We are in the process of bringing the forest back to the farm. Our tallest trees are now 15 feet tall and fruit bearing will be commencing in earnest in 2005. Some medicinal fruits we have include aronia berries, elderberries, Oregon-grape, raspberries, currants, eastern black cherry, mulberries, ginkgos, buffaloberries as well as other domestic fruits. Every year more and more species are self-seeding themselves. We are already wildcrafting on parts of the increasingly wild ecosystem. The numbers and species of birds and insects utilizing the site increases each year.
Up till now the herb patch has been supported by sales of medicinal herbs and seeds as well as being a labor of love by Michael Pilarski. In 2005 we would like to see the farm supported by a non-profit educational foundation. Additional revenue from grants and educational events can help fund increased staff to do education as well as the manual activities of planting, weeds, harvesting, processing and shipping of herbs.
We are taking applications for one or two
people to run our herb farm.
This would be a long-term commitment. This is not an internship. We want someone with the skills to hit the ground running. We prefer someone with prior experience in running small non-profits, grant writing, fund-raising, marketing, farming, gardening, herbal medicine, and the commercial growing and processing of medicinals. We may be able to take 1 or 2 interns as well. Inquire if interested.
Michael Pilarski seeks a protege
for wildcrafting business.
2004 was my 9th year of wildcrafting medicinals commercially. I have also been wildcrafting native plant seeds since 1978. I wish to gradually ease out of the business and train someone to continue it. A several-year process. Prefer someone who has practical skills, good self-motivation, a suitable vehicle and some measure of financial independence. Must be able to work hard physically as well as be nimble of finger during long processing runs.
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