- A demonstration garden of useful plants, grown ecologically & arranged ornamentally

- A 25 year experiment in the creative synthesis of the human and natural, beautiful and useful, theoretical and practical, humble and pretentious, etc.

- 3 acres adjoining Nat’l Forest at the foot of the Black Mts. (Mt. Mitchell); one hour northeast of Asheville or southwest of Boone, NC.

-"visionary social theater" - Gary Snyder

-The most extensive collection of medicinal herbs in the Eastern U. S.

- jhollis and an ever-changing band of fellow travelers, co-conspirators and enlightened thrill-seekers.

- A resource center (library, workshops) for the study and practice of herbal medicine, Paradise Gardening [a lifestyle based on the garden - not money - as the primary satisfier of our needs], and the many other ways - prosaic to exalted - by which plants may enter our lives (and we theirs).

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Some very multiple-use plants (bamboo, kudzu, nettles) leap to the top of the list. But wait a minute! aren’t those plants invasive? Turns out there is a global flora of disturbance tolerators/demanders which includes many of our "most useful’ species, and the most likely candidates for coevolutionary status - i.e. plants which have been evolving with us through time, plants with whom we have had a relationship of mutual dependence since before we were human (H. sapiens), since before they became what they are now. We have a name for these ancient allies and companions: we call them

WEEDS

Plantain, dandelion, dock, chickweed, amaranth, burdock, purslane, nettles, hemp and many more are deep in our genes (and we in theirs): certainly more nutritious than anything you can find in a grocery store, and arguably more healing than anything a doctor can prescribe for many ailments. The story of how they’ve come to be regarded primarily as obstacles to a perfect lawn would be well worth writing (perhaps in a future "garden politics" issue) - or, at least, thinking about.

We gardeners go on "making the land say ‘beans’ " (or ‘roses’, or ‘lawn’) because that’s what we do, what gardening is. Or could gardening be more of a dialogue, the land getting to say what it wants to, too?

It says such interesting things, all year long: shepherd’s purse, creasy greens, poppies, violets, lamb’s quarters - the way to hear their message is to ingest them.

SELF HELP

HEALTH CENTER

I have put considerable effort into developing an optimal facility for persons who wish to address a health problem through active involvement with medicinal herbs (but either lack the $60+ for an ‘initial consultation’, or would rather do it themselves). - and what do you think that might be?

My version starts with a short walk through a paradise garden: ascending a gradual slope, terrace by terrace, through a botanical wonderland which includes most of the medicinal plants which can be grown here; paths winding out of sight between evergreens open onto shady glades, or an unexpected patch of lawn with flowering borders (most of those flowers are medicinals, or you can eat, drink, smoke, twine, spin or otherwise involve the plants in your life).

The path takes you (after as many side loops and turnings as you care to explore) to a window-fronted structure in the timeless vernacular style, which overlooks the garden. Entering, you find a wall of books, and another of herbs: dried and tinctured, western and oriental, as common as catnip, as strange as you want.

The books, popular and professional texts on all aspects of herbal medicine, connect you to the herbs and plants; the necessary apparatus for weighing and measuring, grinding and eaxtracting, bagging and bottling awaits...

In no other library in this area can you consult such a variety (old and new, around the world) of perspectives on the relationship between your health and the plant kingdom; in no other place on the east coast can you meet, and work with, such a variety of herbs. (If I’m wrong about either of those statements please let me know - I’ll make a pilgrimage.) In no pleasanter spot on earth (purely subjective) can you sit and read your stack of books, or compound your formula.

But in these strange times, even the timeless fades in and out of accessibility (a word to the wise..).

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NEW HERB LIST

In an effort to respond intelligibly to the request "I’d like to grow some medicinal herbs, what do you suggest?" I’ve compiled a list of 120 medicinal herbs which you can easily incorporate into your garden and your life. It’s six pages and provides thumbnail description, cultural & propagation notes, and major medicinal actions and uses, plus introduction. Available at website or send $1.00 for a copy.

3020 WHITEOAK CREEK RD.

BURNSVILLE, NC 28714

(828) 675-5664

SEEDS FOR SALE

Following the success of last year’s exploratory effort, we are this year offering a hundred varieties of seeds in several sites around the state (including French Broad Coop in Asheville and Dry Ridge Goods, Weaverville).

Criteria for selection include: useful (food, medicine, craft), easily grown and naturalized in the garden (perennials and self-sowing annuals), and not readily available elsewhere.

I call these ‘plants for Paradise Gardening,’ pursuant to definitions of Paradise such as ‘a garden in which everything you need is there for the taking’ and ‘the no-sweat garden.’

In Paradise, the plants would grow themselves, and our role would be to maintain balance among the profusion of species, primarily by harvesting (for use) whatever is most abundant. Every garden, being a unique combination of such factors as aspect & elevation, soil & rock, botanical & human history, etc., will have its distinctive palette of plants, and these seeds are offered as potential candidates for your palette.

A complete list of 250 species collected last year (with indications of use and part used) is available by mail (please send $1.00), or at

WEBSITE

This is new - came along shortly after the computer itself, last autumn. For all the work in setting it up, I am indebted to Tim Buckner, whose own site, Mythic Realms, (linked to the Mtn. Gdns. site), is an opening to endless fascinating explorations.

The Mountain Gardens website is at :

gardens.webjump.com - and although it is just getting organized, there is already a useful amount of information enlarging on most of the topics touched on here. My hope is to get the entire plant collection, description, propagation, cultivation,uses, references, etc. on to the website, check back from time to time to see how it progresses.

This and any future issues of this newsletter will also appear there.

SEED TO SEED

Gathered: Fall, 1998: Zinnia Flower Seeds.

from Tom Pynn

Oconee River Valley

Mad Poet Philosopher

bio-cultural information

seeds from ancestors

they speak

from rivers.

their voices

cracky with granite

we hear,

they are us,

we carry on.

-Jim Veteto

(apprentice and activist-poet

in residence at Mountain Gardens)