(1) To serve as a Resource for and facilitate Information Exchange regarding growing/using medicinal plants, including seed sources, plant sources, and gardening support.

(2) To encourage sustainable growing and safe usage of medicinal plants by families and the community.

(3) To support the Stewardship and protection of wild medicinal plants.

GOALS - PERSONAL:

(1) Be available to participate in community educational events.

(2) Select plants for growing in 2009 summer season.

(3) Focus and expand knowledge of selected plants and their uses.

(4) Focus on using herbs for wellness, not just illness.

(5) Select a product of interest, such as dry herbs, salve, soap, vinegar, fresh herbs to offer with the MP collective at the Farmer’s Market.[optional]

(6) Work cooperatively with others in this group to support each other in accomplishing our goals, including asking for hands-on help in site selection, planting/growing if needed.

(7) Develop a list of topics to cover at each of our meetings once our goals and objectives have been identified.

(8) Other personal goals for yourself….

Education:

(1) Participate in community stewardship events. i.e. speaking, CC Fair info booth, 4H and FFA projects, Earth Day event

(2) Present/sponsor an Educational (Forum) program on growing/using plant medicines ACTION: March, 2009

(3) Contribute articles to Sustainable Ways membership Newsletter ACTION: Sometime in 2009

(4) Identify a few good medicinal plant reference books to purchase and donate to the Custer County library i.e. Tammi Hartung’s book on growing medicinal herbs

Demonstration:

(1) Explore the possibility of creating a community medicinal plant demonstration garden sometime in the future.

(2) Encourage participation [as a collective] in the local Farmer’s Market, offering fresh herbs, dried herbs, live plants and other products such as soaps, salves, honeys, oils, vinegars, etc. with a table or booth.

(3) Research developing a local herbal CSA [or an herbal cooperative as part of the SW local food shed ].

(4) Develop a local medicinal herb seed exchange.

(5) Consider the creation of a plant rescue team to remove and re-establish natives from areas designated for development.

(1) Educational Events: Earth Day Kick-off, County Fair participation, 4H, FFA, newsletter articles. All present were in agreement that we should participate in these activities as we are able. We were unclear as to the exact date of the Earth Day Kick-off.

(2) Select Plants: ID seed sources, order dates; ID plant sources and availability. At our next meeting, we will have seed catalogs available and each of us will choose the medicinal plants we wish to grow in 2009. Local seedling plant sources will also be discussed. Group ordering is encouraged to save on shipping costs.

(3) Knowledge of Plants and their uses: wellness, illness, analogs, sustainable growing, sharing, compatibility. This is an ongoing goal and possibly topics for future meetings.

(4) Participation and contribution to the 2009 Farmer’s market: select a product of interest, such as fresh herbs, plants, dried herbs, salves, soaps. The group spoke positively about participating in the 2009 Farmer’s Market, possibly sharing a booth space, offering seedling plants, fresh or dried herb plants, or other products.

(5) Offer gardening support and help to others in the group who are in need: tools, knowledge, labor, encouragement. An ongoing activity during the preparation for the 2009 growing season.

(6) Topics for meetings in 2009. Not discussed beyond #3 above.

(7) Demonstration garden ideas. Interest expressed but no further discussion or actions planned.

(8) Fall seed exchange ideas. Interest expressed.

(9) Plant rescue team ideas. Interest expressed.

(10) Library book donations. Not discussed. 

Sustainable Ways, Inc. 

                    A non-profit 501C3 organization dedicated to educating, advocating, and demonstrating sustainable ways of living in Colorado's Wet Mountain Valley.