Animá Lifeways & Herbal School

Local Versus National Elections

…And Why I’d Vote For a Grandmother

by Jesse Wolf Hardin
Anima Lifeways & Herbal School

County and state elections never seem to generate the interest or turnout that the presidential elections do, which doesn’t make a lick of sense to me!  No matter which candidate gets into the top slot, we will still end up with the same one-world corporate banking cartel calling all the shots.  This is true regardless of whether it is a Republican or Democrat that is president, and all the arguable differences in policy actually serve as a smoke screen blinding us to the true puppet masters.  Both presidents and senators answer to the same privileged few and their financial interests, the 5% who control 85% of our wealth, and their elite counterparts in Europe and Asia.  Their work is often secretive or inscrutable, they are influenced not by their constituents so much as by lobbyists, and are largely unapproachable.

On the other hand, the not always just or honest machinations of state representatives are likely to be more visible and their intentions more evident.  While they too are besieged by special interests, they are more directly accountable to their state electorate, protecting us from burdensome regulation.  We tend to really know who they are, identify their skeletons and recognize their contradictions, readily feel the effects of their choices and legislation, and more quickly turn them out when they fail us.

County elections are in many ways even more crucial, and in all ways are easier for us to influence or impact.  County officials can do little to affect national policy, but neither can we count on so called leaders in Washington DC to do the right thing.  What county officials can do, is to guard the freedoms, rights and values of distinct communities, while administering something close to justice in matters of land use and law.  We know them best of all, and thereby have the best chance of electing someone we can count on to represent our needs and address our concerns.

It is in this spirit that I want to encourage less national distraction and more regional focus… and do hereby tender my generalized endorsements:

In local county commission races, I’d always like to see winners demonstrating strong resistance to big government and tacky illuminated billboards, homogenization and control.  I’d like folks that value keeping the West wild… by which I mean wide open spaces and personal liberties over comfort, convenience or profit, kids who know how to climb trees and not just play video games, wilderness where we can encounter our true selves, and architecture that celebrates history and landscape.  I’d root for the success of any school board candidate that put the real feelings, needs and dreams of the students ahead of national dictates and increasing conformity, bureaucratic regulation or the security of their own jobs.  And as for any mayor’s post, it should always be filled by the one who truly cares about their city or town the most.

A sheriff can’t stop every evil or unpleasant act without stomping on the precious few constitutional rights remaining to us common citizens of the Republic… and so I have to support any past, present or future badge wearer who responds whenever they are needed, without trying to over manage the lives of what are meant to be free citizens.  I’m all for those who stop the true evil doers whenever they can, while allowing everyone else their unique ways and proud hearts, those who understand we’re in greater danger of losing our freedom to future governments than being hurt or killed by any thugs they’ve yet to catch.

And when it does come time for the electing of national figures and presidential hopefuls, I think I’ll be withholding my endorsement until some big-hipped, big-hearted old grandmothers run.  Grannies know how to be tough when they have to be, breaking up fights between the boys, standing up to bullies, and making sure that Grandpa’s S.S. check comes on time.  When globalized corporate bosses start squeezing the working American, she takes a stick to them.

And whenever not busy kicking ass, a granny would likely impress us with us her caring side: Rolling up her sleeves and doing any work she’s able, all to keep food on the American table.  Making the best of any situation, and loving all of creation.  Opening her heart and listening to every woman, man, girl or boy… sensing their pain and sharing their joy.  Providing a comforting lap to any lost or wayward child, and teaching hardheads like me to be just a lil’ more meek and mild.  She’d care not just so much about financial growth as the personal satisfaction of her people, their health and freedom to help treat each other and themselves, how everyone’s garden is growing and how clear the skies, about the fate of abused children and the dieback of monarch butterflies, legislative threats to what’s left of our Constitutional rights and the fate of unique lifestyles.

Until then, we just might be better off giving our attention to the more local elections… and to what are our allies and neighbors, with the right predilections!

(Written for Wolf’s upcoming book tentatively titled “The Town That Waves”.  Forward and Post Freely)

(Post and Forward Freely)

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Likeness: The Art of Gifting, The Gifting of Art

By Jesse Wolf Hardin

Those who even remotely know me, know of my love for art in all its forms, and especially my appreciation for and support of those in whom art is something integral and essential, erupting like Spring flowers in jewelry and on canvas, splashed into reality with wet ink or delved into with digital dexterity.  Most who attended the Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference made life and healing into art, but recognized too were the visual artists who came like Kristine and Linda. While they may hope for some income from their efforts, their drawings are essentially gifts to nature loving youth and heart centered, fairy tale believing adults.

Everything we make more beautiful or meaningful is a gift, whenever viewed by or affecting someone, a gift to the one doing the creating first of all, then a gift whenever opened to and received.  With that in mind, I try to make my every act – even my most painful mistakes or glaring omissions – into intentional, message filled art that can in any way enrich, inform, awaken or heal.

That said, there really is nothing like actually creating art work when it comes to soothing and sating this thinking beast.  More than my essays, poems, photographs or even the most transportive rhythms on my drum, the swirl of the pen, brush or stylus is what frees me from mechanical sensibility and reinserts me into the sense-full.  I will make use of any of a number of reasons to take a break for the lettered keyboard and wordlessly bring about form in carbon shadings, earth toned paints or digital bytes: illustrating the conference book and poster, illustrative business or school logos for herbalists and others that we care about… and at times, feeling drawn to surprise someone with a special sketch or portrait.  This gifting of art, is for me an aspect of the art of gifting… not only pleasing others with expressions of recognition, lessons or love, but also doing it when least expected and potentially most effective.

Today I drew a picture for a wild child named Isabelle, to surprise her with a mirror of herself that will hopefully remind her always of her connection to not only the natural world and to the vital state of wonder, but to her intrinsic value and the value of a heartful path.  As little affirmation and influence and as I have been able to be to my blood children, it is all the more valuable to me to be able to encourage the offspring of others.  These musings are written in honor of my once “little ones”, for my dear Rhiannon, and for my every reader.  But Isabelle, this portrait is for you…

(Forward and Post Freely….Anima Lifeways and Herbal School)

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Boletes from the Mountain

by Loba
Anima Lifeways & Herbal School
www.AnimaCenter.org

The Anima courses, TWH Conference and upcoming Plant Healer magazine have been keeping Kiva and Wolf on the laptop a lot of the time, as they work to find new ways to teach and otherwise give to you all.  One of the ways they get a break is when we opt to go on plant trips, trips designed to get us into new parts of the Gila bioregion that we haven’t seen, and to bring home medicines and food.  Shortly before the event, Wolf drove us all out to the mountains near Luna, NM, and found a back road that went right up a mountain where Kiva and I had found some great mushrooms and plants the week before. We traveled slowly up the hill, Kiva finding wild orchids and beautiful red amanita mascara mushrooms for Wolf to take pictures of, and all of us harvesting gooseberries, raspberries and bolete mushrooms we found in the wettest places near the road. When we got up to a meadow near the top of the mountain, there were suddenly sooo many boletes!

We harvested quite a lot of them there, then had a little picnic, drove along the road a little ways, and found another mushroom spot, this one even more amazing than the last! Between all four of us, we gathered at least 30 pounds of mushrooms! What joy! Kiva and I stayed up late into the night sorting, cleaning, and chopping up the boletes.

The next morning we were grateful that it was sunny, and put some of the chopped mushrooms on the porch on a large screen and some into the smoker to dry them out more quickly.

Meanwhile there were still bags and bags of mushrooms to continue to wash, while I rotated the mushrooms in the smoker, sauteed giant pan fulls in rosemary oil on the stove, and simmered a big potful of red wine and vinegar to pickle another batch. It was quite the day!

Rhiannon had been helping me a good part of the day, as well, and by late afternoon was practically begging me to give her some other chores to do that didn’t have to do with cleaning mushrooms. I’ve never seen her so thrilled to take out the compost! I’d eaten so many of the delicious ones I’d been sauteing all day, I couldn’t eat any with my supper– but not to worry, I was soon to recover from mushroom overload– the next morning I was quite happy to have them with my eggs for breakfast, and to make the last batch of pickled mushrooms!

The last batch of boletes that I washed and pickled was made a million times easier with a tip from an online friend of Kiva’s. Kiva had been talking about how long it was taking me to clean them, and asked folks if they had any hints for making it easier. Sarah and Wes in Michigan gave us the wonderful tip that it really helps to soak them in salt water first. Just put about 1 tablespoon salt per quart of water, and soak your mushrooms for at least an hour, and up to 24 hours. The dirt, pine needles, etc, come off soooo much more easily! It does make the mushrooms take longer to dry, but the salt also gets rid of any mushroom-eating worms that might be present.

As a treat for you, below you’ll find my version of a German pickled mushroom recipe that Kiva found for me to try, one that I adapted a bit. It is such a winner, and very flexible. We’re fond of calling mushrooms “mushrumps” after the story in one of our favorite Neil Gaiman books, Stardust, in which a dear little magical man fixes up the main character a delightful pan full of mushrooms in the middle of the forest of Faery.

Pickled Mushrumps

1-2 pounds mushrooms, preferably wild, carefully washed and chopped (make sure they’re properly identified!!!!)
1 tablespoon salt
1 medium onion, minced
3 cloves garlic
1/4- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley (if you have it)
2-4 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, or 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary, or both
2 cups red wine (I used Merlot for the first batch, and some homemade elderberry wine for the second batch. You can use any homemade wine you have around, red or white, or any mead)
2 cups cider vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
Juice of half a lemon

Mix all ingredients in an enameled pan, bring to a boil. Add the mushrooms, bring to a boil again, and simmer for about five minutes. Since I made a triple batch, I ladled the pickled mushrooms into pint jars and put into a hot water bath for ten minutes to seal them. You can also simply store them in the fridge where they will keep at least a few weeks.

(Loba is busy compiling her cookbook, which we may release in sections as PDFs… beginning with Wild Foods, and she will also be contributing to the upcoming Anima food and cooking blog)

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