[Sdpg] Friends of the Trees Newsletter

Fri Oct 8 19:16:13 PDT 2004

FRIENDS OF THE TREES SOCIETY

              ~ Fall 2004 Newsletter ~

Here is a brief review of this year's  activities and a
look at our 2005 schedule of events and workshops.

2004 was another good year for Friends of the Trees Society 
and is the 27th year since the Society was founded in 1978. 
Around 700 people attended our events this year.  Our tree 
sale and plantings got another 1,000 trees in the ground. 
Our February permaculture design course in Washington went 
well and we are scheduling another one at the same venue 
in 2005. The Northwest Herbal Faire and the Fairy & Human 
Relations Congress were wonderful events. Thanks to all of 
you who assisted me and Friends of the Trees Society in 2004. 
If you are interested in attending or assisting in any of the 
following activities please email me.

Love to all of you.
Towards a greener and more peaceful Earth,

~ Michael Pilarski ~

Coming up soon....

Okanogan Family Faire (original Barter Faire).
October 14-17. Tonasket, Washington. 31st

Fairy & Human Relations Congress, 
organizing committee meeting 
November 5-7. Whidbey Island. 
Contact Michael if interested.

Tilth's 30th Anniversary Conference
November 12-14. Portland, Oregon.
Michael Pilarski was one of the original co-founders 
of Tilth (the Northwest's organic agriculture network) 
and will be giving a workshop on growing medicinal 
herbs at the conference. 
For details call 503-694-6377.

2005 EVENTS

PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE
Earth-Healing with Our Plant Allies
February 20 - March 5, 2005
Sahale Retreat Center near Olympia, Washington.
Instructed by Michael Pilarski and Marisha Auerbach. 
A two-week, intensive design course which will cover
necessary permaculture curriculum as well as focusing
on strengthening our relationships with the plants for
ecosystem restoration. Tuition: $950.

SUMMER 2005 WEEKEND WORKSHOPS:
Growing & Wildcrafting Medicinal Plants
July 15-17.   August 12-14.   September 16-18.
Hands-on harvesting, processing and making products 
in the wild and on Friends of the Trees' herb farm. 
$195 includes food.

FAIRY & HUMAN RELATIONS CONGRESS
June 24-26,2005
Hood River Valley, Oregon
A gathering of humans and fairies to improve relations
& assist each other in planetary healing. The 5th
annual Congress organized by Friends of the Trees
Society. 2004 presenters included Dorothy Mclean,
David Spangler, R.J. Stewart and dozens more.
www.fairycongress.com

The 10th Anniversary! of our annual
NORTHWEST HERBAL FAIRE
August 19-21, 2005
We had over 100 workshops in 2004 at our new venue
near Leavenworth, Washington. For the 10th anniversary
we hope to be back at the River Farm outside of
Bellingham, where our first 8 faire's were held. For
details and advance tickets go to www.nwherbalfaire.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BOTANICAL WORKSHOPS
We will be holding other workshops on herbs,
wildcrafting, permaculture and related topics in
Seattle, Bellingham, Olympia, Nahcotta, Portland and
Hood River as well as at our herb farm in Twisp,
Washington. Check our website or inquire about
workshops at particular locations. Would you like to
host a workshop in your area?

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 
than 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. 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 harvested 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.

HERB FARMER/STAFFPERSON WANTED
We are taking applications for one or two people to
help 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
people 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. It might take two people to combine all these skills.

MICHAEL PILARSKI SEEKS 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 people who have 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 offinger during long processing runs.

Visit our websites for further details and information
on these events and on our herbs, seeds and books for
sale.

Friends of the Trees
Michael Pilarski
PO Box 253
Twisp, Wa 98856
(509) 997-9200
friendsofthetrees at yahoo.com
www.friendsofthetrees.net
www.nwherbalfaire.com
www.fairycongress.com

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