Welcome to United Plant Savers

Fall ‘07 Intern Program: Renewal for Interns and UpS Ohio Botanical Sanctuary

Trail development, bridge building, rock moving, landscaping and sign staking were some of the more common tasks performed and each provided its own “education”.  Whether moving massive black locust timbers down steep inclines with only human-power (albeit over 20 humans) to place for foot-bridge construction, painting both the Latin and common name for red oak on a sign 20+ times, or just living communally for 6-weeks, all “work” fostered learning and an increased appreciation of nature.          

Educational classes were offered weekly for the interns by a wide variety of teachers on a wide variety of topics, both basic and advanced.  This group was especially lucky to have the UpS Board meeting at the Sanctuary for a few days in September and was able to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge present in board members attending.  The Northeastern School of Botanical Medicine was also in the community for a week during the Intern Program.  7Song, a renowned herbalist who runs the school, was kind enough to include Interns in some of the school’s classes and stayed a few days extra to work on botanizing with them.  Many other neighbors, herbalists and entrepreneurs including Lee Wood, Paul Strauss, Diane Don-Carlos, Cindy Parker, Rebecca Wood, Hank Huggins, Chris Chmiel and David Keller provided both classroom and field-based classes.  Although this was one of the driest years on record for Southern Ohio and many of the forest herbs that one would normally see thriving, had already gone dormant for the season from lack of sufficient rain, the Interns were still very much able to experience and learn many, many new herbs & trees.

The Sanctuary undertook a major transformation over the 6-week program.  Since the Intern Program had not been active for a number of years, the first several weeks of the program focused on “reclaiming” much of the landscape, trails and infrastructure on the Sanctuary grounds.  Maintaining a 378-acre farm takes a lot of work, without the Intern program the task of maintaining such a large piece of land becomes next to impossible.  Not only did the group get the Sanctuary back to an easily maintainable state, they also left the Sanctuary with some major improvements.  3 large footbridges were constructed out of oak and black locust by the group, all of which turned out beautiful and really lend a nice addition to the improved trail system.  A native woodland medicinal herb landscape was established near the Yurt within view from the kitchen window.  Herbs from a nearby “plant rescue” provided the planting stock for this garden.  This group also began creating and placing signage throughout the “Talking Forest” trails that identify landmarks, points of interest and tree & herb species.  This work is critically important in establishing an interpretive trail system that we hope will serve as a “living classroom” for all who visit the Sanctuary.

I believe those participating in the program also undertook a major transformation through their experiences in the community and on the land.  Everyone who participated expressed similar views about their experiences in the program.  All found the community, the classes, the land & the region to be extremely diverse and welcoming.  All found that communal living, although at times is strenuous, allowed them the opportunity to grow and bond together and provided some strong friendships.  I believe all walked away from the program with new insights, skills and knowledge that will help to enhance their lives as well as those who they come in contact with.  That is what this program is all about.

I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the Interns at UpS.  Working intimately with a group like this, you really get to see the transformation that the program, the land and the experience as a whole has on individuals.  It is enriching to see folks leave here changed, renewed and invigorated.  It provides a validation of all of the hard work that has gone into the Sanctuary and community here over the past many years.  For those who live and work here daily, at times I think we may wonder if we are doing the right thing, if there are better ways we can make change and make a living?  When you can see the impact that this place has on people, it becomes very clear that a difference is being made and that the payoff for all of that hard work has come.

I want to extend a major Thank You to all of the 2007 UpS Interns.  Jessica Oppenheimer, Donna Fossier, Amanda Wiles, Sara DeAloia, Susan Garguillo & Brett Nagafuchi, you all have made this a better place and we truly appreciate your time, effort, blood, sweat and tears (several folks got to experience their first caterpillar sting and Amanda was “lucky” enough to get stung by both a caterpillar and a wasp!).  You all are always welcome here and we hope that you will come back and visit us soon!

                                               
Chip Carroll lives in Rutland, Ohio and for many years was the Farm Manager & NTFP Research Education and Demonstration Coordinator for the Rural Action Research & Education Center in Rutland. He is also the owner of a ginseng company, Woodlandwise Botanicals. He will be managing the UpS Intern Programs in 2008.