MY RAD FRIENDS

HERE IS A SHOUT OUT TO SOME COOL FRIENDS OF MINE...

This list is in the process of revisions/additions with the proper info needed for each one of my friends.  So, basically....more info to come. 

 

  • BITTERROOT MONARCH PROJECT

Maggie heard about the monarch population collapse on the news. She couldn’t find any published information on the species in Montana and decided to change that. Where do they overwinter: coastal California, or Mexico? When do they visit Montana? Do they visit on the journey north, or south, or both? The Bitterroot Monarch Project, started in 2019, hopes to answer some of these questions and support monarch conservation in the Bitterroot Valley through milkweed surveys, captive rearing, tagging, and releasing monarch butterflies, education efforts, volunteer trainings, and habitat restoration.

If you want to support monarch populations and all pollinators, plant milkweed species native to your region and other native blooming plants. In Montana, monarchs benefit most from late-blooming plant species such as goldenrods, sunflowers, aster species, rubber rabbitbrush, etc.  

Contact Maggie for more info at mhirschauer@mpgranch.com

 

        •  MISSOULA GRAIN AND VEGETABLE FARM

        This is the amazing farm where i grow out seeds and harvest other seed crops.  They offer year round CSA options and also attend farmers markets in Hamilton, Missoula, and Helena.  This group of ridiculously hard working folk seriously want to feed people and give people real and safe food with NO CHEMICALS. 

        I offer several packets that showcase these folks, b/c I grew the seed at their farm and love to eat their food. 

        https://app.barn2door.com/e/908B9/all

         

        • LOCAL SEED BANKS AND GARDENS

          NORTH VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY,  STEVENSVILLE, MT

                This new seed bank started in the summer of 2020, the year to gather.  They are currently seeking safe seed donations, and they are using high school folk to make packets, art, package, and create a cool thing.  Please contact them if you are interested in making seed donations. 

           

          O'HARA COMMONS,  HAMILTON, MT

                 Samantha has started a seed bank and also runs kids camp at the O'Hara Commons.  She is also looking for safe seed donations.  She also organized farmers markets and supports local foods for local folks. 

          https://www.theoharacommons.org/

           

          VICTOR COMMUNITY GARDEN,  VICTOR, MT

                  If you live near Victor, Montana...you should check out this spot to grow some veggies and flowers.  It has amazing views of the entire Bitterroot Valley.  It includes tools, compost, watering, and a spot roughly 20 feet x 20 feet. 

                 You can find their info here under the community garden section.     https://www.sustainablelivingsystems.org/producers'%20directory.html

                   

          •  Callie Russell

          A good friend of mine is this bad ass chik...Callie Russell.  I don't know if she has spent more time in the backcountry with her goats sleeping under the trees and stars or living under a normal folk structure of 4 walls and a roof over the last decade. She is a quite skilled version of a refined cave lady mixed with a settling personality of pioneer woman who knows how to fend for herself and take care of family and friends. 

          She is currently on the Alone show (season 7) where she spent time in the arctic/tundra of the Northwest Territories of Northern Canada.  She is skilled with a bow, dead fall traps, making fire and clothing, and keeping mentally calm...which in my opinion is the best primitive skill of all. 

          Check her out here: https://www.CapraKhan.com

           

          •  GREEN UNIVERSITY

          This is the primitive/ancestral/old skills school located in Pony and Whitehall, Montana owned by Tom Elpel.  The camp or university is located along the banks of the East flowing Jefferson River, one of the tributaries of the Mighty Missouri River.  Otherwise know as GU, is a great spot for folks of any age wanting to be more self directed and guided to learn many skills ranging from botany, hide dressing or tanning, weaving, cordage making, fire making, to making dug out canoes. 

          Tom is an author, game maker, skills teacher, amongst many other awesome saving the world attributes.  Check out his websites to take a glimpse into this primitive skills teaching world which is super important to me. 

          I teach two classes here at River Camp...the other name for camp.  I teach animal processing and making buckskin (brain tan or hide dressing).  The other class is making a bison robe with no chemicals. 

          Here are the links to the classes and Tom's website: 

          http://www.greenuniversity.com/Class_Schedule/Bison_Tanning_Class.htm

          http://www.greenuniversity.com/Class_Schedule/Deer_Processing_Intensive.htm

           

          •  CATOCTIN SEED COMPANY

          This is my buddy's seed company out yonder across the hills and rivers in humid and awesomely buggy Virginia.  He has named it after the ancient rolling mountains near his home...a great way to honor our ancestors and past.  I've known him since our days of doing really stupid college stuff way back in the days in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina.   

          If you live in the South, he might also be a good spot to check out for seeds and other helpful information.  He also gets some seeds from me with some of my grow outs and harvests here in Montana. 

          I will post his business info when his sites are up and running.