Week Two of United Plant Savers Internship

May 15, 2016

Week Two of United Plant Savers Internship

After starting our first week with a bunch of ‘learning the ropes’, we got straight to business during our second week!

Swooning over Three Tiered Cave and waterfalls!

Monday was my absolutely favorite day so far!!! (besides any time spent with Paul of course). We went to the Hocking Hills to help the forestry department monitor the Eastern Hemlock Trees for the parasite the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. I don’t think I have ever been in the presence of Hemlock trees before, let me just say that they were majestic. Hemlocks (Tsuga Canadensis) are a member of the pine family and are an evergreen that can get over 150 ft. tall! The fresh sprigs of leafs are edible and have a ton of Vitamin C (like all pine trees), and were super tasty to munch on. ;) I hope this pest doesn’t fully wipe them out. Luckily, on this trip, we did not find any signs of the menace. The Hocking Hills area has a ton of old cave systems, waterfalls, creeks, etc.; so, we did get to do a little sightseeing during our survey work. It was hard not to get distracted, as there was beauty everywhere. Although Hocking Hills is only about an hour drive north of the Sanctuary in Rutland, there was quite a different feel to the forest, and several plant species that don’t occur in Meigs County. They had a few large stands of Indian Cucumber Root (Medeola virginiana), which is an edible and great survival food, so we were able to try one and it was super tasty! Saw several species of Salamander, and a few more Newts too!

Medicinal Hemlock Reshi

We split into groups of three, each with a forestry official, and two of us. My guide, Ben, was helpful in allowing us to practice each part of the process! I was able to lead the GPS, finding the path of least resistance (lots of elevation changes and no trails), spot out the trees, and measure them. The largest one we measured was around 42” diameter, and that wasn’t even a relatively huge one. I learned so much, and best of all- THIS GUY GETS PAID FOR THIS! In fact, Ben kept responding to my oooh’s and ahhhh’s with, “yeah I’m a professional tree hugger!” hahah! So all in all, that was a fantastic day!! Just a FYI- wet, fallen Hemlock trees DO NOT make good balance beams; I repeat, DO NOT attempt wet forest gymnastics! (I learned that the hard way, obviously. ha)

Hemlock Survey Crew!

On Tuesday we started the project of weeding the road front flower bed as you pull into the Sanctuary Property. It is basically a prairie field showcasing native prairie flowers, such as Monarda, Echinacea, Grey Headed Cone Flower, Etc. We got about ½ of the way done before we took a break for lunch and our class that afternoon. 4 of us got some more completed on Friday (our day off, we just couldn’t resist, haha). While weeding I found a beautiful Red Winged Blackbird's nest in one of the Monarda bushes. When we went back on Friday they had hatched!! So adrobs! We’re giving the momma lots of space so hopefully she’s a happy camper now.

Later Tuesday we had a tincture making class with Caty Crabb. Caty is a local clinical herbalist in Athens, and gives consultations and distributes her own herbal formulas. She went over instructions on making both fresh, and dried tinctures. It’s always good to get multiple perspectives on those sort of things. I will definitely apply some of her instruction to my own tincture making, although I will leave most of my method in place as well. Caty also has beautiful gardens, both for herbs and food. It is so nice to see this landscape being used positively and people thriving from sustainable practices!

Fresh Goldenseal Root and Tops for Tincture, Although not the best time of year to make root medicine due to the plants energy being in the areal parts for reproduction, sometimes you have to work with what you have!

Mother's Day Mead

We spent Wednesday disassembling where an old shade house was. The same spot from where we were transplanting all the Goldenseal from last week. This is the future space of United Plant Savers' new welcome center, which will be breaking ground next year. There were several wooden posts, with a wire cable system run through them where a mesh shade normally goes. We were pro’s with those wrenches by the end of the day! After lunch, an herbalist and former Intern, Kat Shaw, came up. (Ironically, her Intern group back in 09' built the shade house we're removing!) She was passing through town and stayed here for a night on the way back to North Carolina. We got a nice botany lesson from Kat, then went into the field to practice. It is inspiring to be around all of these intelligent and powerful green ladies! We also foraged some goodies for another Mead! (we have two brewing on the counter now. Hope Marc's proud!) I hope they turn out good! Either way, I’m going to be a mead brewing and tasting pro by the end of this trip! That night we had our first fire at the Heart Pond. It was a beautiful night and the fire was perfect!!! Can’t wait for more times like those. <3

Looking over the prairie with Paul

a freshly emerged and shed 17 year cicada.

Thursday was spent back at Paul Strauss’ house!!! (My favorite times!) Rather than getting deep into the woods, this time we spent the morning around his farm and homestead. He showed us one of the many wells he dug from a natural spring, and the prairies on the hill above his house, complete with a lookout tower! (deer stand!?) He has about 4-5 separate gardens throughout these areas of the property. Growing everything from Goldenseal under shade cloths, to Yukon gold potatoes, various varieties of heirloom tomatoes, garlic, onions, etc! It slightly resembled what I’m working with at home, but on a much, MUCH larger and productive scale! Paul is hilarious and tells the best stories. I could listen to him talk forever. He keeps it real, which I love. At the end of the morning he gave us a taste (and recipe) of a delicious ginger/turmeric anti-inflammatory drink. It was so good, I will be adding that to my routine! Paul also sent us home with a brown bag full of yukon gold potatoes from his root cellar. They’re from last year, but still just as good as ever!!! We saw the 17 year cicadas beginning to emerge and shed.. When all BILLION of them emerge, we’re talking about: A. Roasting some cicadas over a fire- yum, and B. Collecting, crushing, and using their keratin filled shedding’s for a skin healing salve.. we’ll see!!!

Friday is our day off, so we went into town that morning to refill on some groceries, plus make some calls and touch base with some folks, since we don’t have service up at the sanctuary. (Which is fantastic if you ask me). We decided to be productive and complete some more weeding in that road front flower bed. We’re just about finished now! After that, three of us went back into Athens to take a Yoga class (that Meredith ended up teaching. Thanks, Mer!) and had dinner at the local Mexican joint, Casa Nueva… It was so delicious!!! And this girl knows her Mexican food, I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least. [Most] Everything is locally sourced, From the meat, cheese, vegetables, tortilla chips, +. This place has it going on. No wonder Meredith keeps hyping it up, I’m sold!

Glamorous Intern life, weeding flowerbeds is fun!

Birds and Herbs hike with Tanner

Saturday morning was a “Birds and Herbs” workshop at the sanctuary that was open to the public. Although it was pouring rain and in the low 50’s, we had a pretty good turnout! We got to meet a few fellas from Rural Action, another nonprofit that focuses on social and environmental justice in the Appalachia area of Ohio. We were able to key out several bird songs, and even saw a few! I was able to catch an Indigo Bunting (so pretty, my new favorite?!), Gold Finch, Yellow Throated Warbler, a few Pileated Woodpeckers, and then some. Even with the rain it was a nice walk on the trails, and always good to see new, friendly faces.

Another educational and fun filled week has come to an end, and we only have four weeks left! It is easy to see how so many awesome, like minded individuals have come together to aid in the progress of the rehabilitation of this forest and prairie land- that was once old strip mines. Unfortunately, there is always the next [temporary] money making fix around the corner, so the duty of United Plant Savers and the community they have created has just begun.

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Thanks again for all the support and positive feedback. This experience is everything I could have hoped for and more!!! You too can become a member of United Plant Savers for only $35 annually, if you are interested in ensuring that these valuable medicinal plants will be preserved for our grandchildren and our grandchildren's grandchildren. Click here to Join! All questions and comments are welcome! :)

Here are some more of my favorite shots from week two of UpS 2016 Spring Internship: