Botanical Sanctuary Network Stories
A REPOSITORY OF PLANTS, FUNGI, AND KNOWLEDGE Cismont, Virginia Sanctuary Steward: Mark Jones A short drive east from Charlottesville, Virginia is Sharondale Mushroom Farm, located in Cismont, in the Piedmont and the National Historic District of the Southwest Mountains. The land in this eastern part of Albemarle County is rolling, mixed-use farm and forest with …
Shepherdstown, West Virginia Sanctuary Stewards: Hillary Banachowski and Keir Knoll We’ve just surpassed a major milestone this year—that of a third growing season under our belts. To be honest, I could never have imagined this day would come because I was so overwhelmed by the immensity of the work that lay ahead. My husband Keir …
Our Second Year as a Botanical Sanctuary Burnsville, Virginia Sanctuary Stewards: Joe and Anne Murray We’re writing this summary, comfortable in our little cottage, while the land around us is experiencing the polar vortex, gripping much of the nation this January (2019). While we’re concerned about the health of our plants, we take comfort in …
Weaverville, North Carolina Stewards: Hart and Mary Morgaine Squire Back in 1962, in Connecticut, Hart Squire led his first plant walk in the woods. He had been observing and tending the native plants behind his house—the trilliums (Trillium spp.), skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), lady’s slipper (Cypripedium acaule), and partridge berry (Mitchella repens). He wanted to …
Read moreHERB MOUNTAIN FARM LEARNING AND LODGING CENTER AND BOTANICAL SANCTUARY
AN INTRODUCTION TO FARM CENTER’S WORK, TRANSFORMING THE WORLD ONE WATERSHED AT A TIME! By Sophia Bowart and Neil Logan The story of Hawaii’s current ecological predicament is similar to other colonized tropical islands. In short, the indigenous populations were subdued and relieved of their natural resources. This process has left deforested lands across the …
FARMER TRAINING COURSE ATTRACTS INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION WHILE ENCOURAGING US TO BUY LOCAL by Gabriel Noard “I’m a farmer who grows farmers.” What started as an organic veggie and herb farm 8 years ago is now a thriving Certified Biodynamic® and organic medicinal herb farm and training center, as well as a United Plant Savers Botanical …
Acme, Pennsylvania Sanctuary Stewards: Sara Shoemaker and Thomas Brown We are Sara Shoemaker and Thomas Brown of Forsaken Roots in Acme, Pennsylvania. Our farm’s name, “Forsaken Roots” comes from the idea of lost or forgotten ways. It applies to us in more ways than one could ever imagine. From our home, to our property, our …
Burnsville, Virginia Sanctuary Stewards: Anne Bryan and Joe Murray This is how a 7-acre botanical sanctuary can help heal a community’s people and soil. Last year was our first year as a member in the Botanical Sanctuary Network. Receiving formal recognition from United Plant Savers and seeing our name listed with the other like-minded conservationists …
Deerfield, Virginia Sanctuary Stewards: Shay and Kim Clanton and family It is early February at Walker Mountain Botanical Sanctuary, close to the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. This has been a cold winter, and it is comforting to think that we are headed towards spring and the emergence of the vibrant …
Seattle, Washington Sanctuary Steward: Aylee Welch, LICSW