

I too am a grower and wildcrafter, a wildgardener.
an  organic (although, along with many other truly organic  U.S
folk, I shun the title, now that the government "owns"it. Many
of us prefer  the title,"Natural")grower, gardener.

I work hard to propagate at risk medicinal and
traditionally useful (Native Nations) plants, both in the
wildgardens and in nursery plots in the garden. I plant out,
protect, wildcraft, forage wild plants; and harvest my naturally,
domestically grown medicinal plants. I work to increase the
awareness of the locals about the incredible diversity and
botanical heritage this area holds- and help as I can to get
them to repopulate this area with that heritage as it can be
done.  I go after plant poachers with the same dedication and
bad attitude I use with animal poachers.

I also grow heirloom veggies exclusively. I have been fighting
gmo in GMO Central (South Central Iowa), even to the damage of
personal property- as in, a local farmer shooting my pickup
while I had my son hide in the bathtub to protect him from any
new targets, such as my house.

I'm in the trenches, folk. I am a peon that scrapes by, learns,
observes (as Fukuoka and Hazelip helped us learn to do), puts
myself and my livelihood on the line. I do this while raising
and learning from a son with autism, working for the Autism
Resource Team as Parent Rep, writing, raising my bosses'
chukars and working dogs, along with taking care of grounds,
machinery, and customers.  Frankly, I'm pretty proud of myself.
I feel I have much to offer, and a perspective not normally
found here.

This digest has been sitting for a while uopened in my
mailbox, simply because I had no reason to think that any kind
of a timely reply from me would be called for. Now, I'm a bit
sorry I put this on the lurker's list. I'm afraid that by now,
unless I include the whole digest (don't worry, I won't. I
also own and moderate a few groups, and feel the need to remind
others  to trim their quotes on  occasion-  just  good
netiquette!), that what I am speaking to will be forgotten.

{Yep, it's the deb, fellow members of the other groups! <G>}

I have lurked here for a long, long time. I had asked a
question or two long  ago, brought up a couple of ideas and
concerns.   I have lurked since, mostly because it truly seemed
that when I tried to ask a practical question, speak to a
practical issue, I was spoken to offlist, asked for information
offlist, given resources offlist, and the subject died onlist.
That, to me, defeats much of the purpose of such a list or
group: networking. Sharing of information and resources between
a group of people who are interested in the same general
topics.  It truly seemed what I had to say or ask was not a
slant of this group. Fine for a person privately, but the group
itself seemed for acadamia, commercial concerns, and those who
publish.  Is  this  true? Am I being too giddy, and overlooking
the obvious conclusion of my experience?

I am trying, myself, to be a growing commercial concern.  I am
also futhering my academic and experiential knowledge. I have
few  physical  resources, with the exception of access to many
acres of privately owned (not by me) ecosystems to plant in and
harvest from; but am growing a bit each year. I do not mix
those commercial  concerns  with any of my discussion lists or
groups not directly set up for same. I don't use a signature
block. Perhaps that lessens my percieved worth as a poster to this list?

There was quite a fascinating discussion a while back, and I
had started to add my 2 cents to it. But, the places where I do
know I am heard, the  folk  I know do want the information,
experience, and  perspective  I have to offer, also had things
going on. I prioritized my time and effort to them. I feel I
missed out, because I felt there could have been some good
insight for me, not found elsewhere.  To be shamelessly
egomaniacal, I also believe this group missed out. I feel I had
some good insight for you, too; not found many places, and not
that I have seen here before.

Ok, so perhaps I, myself, am worthless. <G>  It wouldn't be the
first  time I was accused of same! It is such a relief, though,
to hear from  others that folk such as myself are not to be
tossed post-haste into the Ignorant Farmer/Forager File!

Frankly, to those who claim us growers and wildcraft/harvesters
are isolated and at the end of the education/information chain,
Hooey.  Come on up, you might be surprised at the network of
support and information available-from  a myriad of sources-
that keep us on quite our own cutting edge. We also lurk, and
learn on your cutting edges. We are practitioners of diversity,
after all! {;)

Thank you so much: Jean, Patricia, Anita!

deb
"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible".
Frank Zappa


