MEND Season 1 - Episode 16

Doing it By the Book ....

This week we veered a bit from the telling of a story, to get a closer look at the nuts and bolts of what it means to ‘come into compliance’.  We spoke with Rose -  a woman who works on the business and planning end of things.  She clarified some confusing details, offered suggestions on how and why to move forward into compliance and expressed hope for the mom and pop growers with the eventual inclusion of ‘adult use’ into the legalization of cannabis.

Because of our established, specialized infrastructure and world wide fame as a marijuana hub, she informs us that the state is looking to Humboldt as an example of how to move forward.  To this end, it seems more important than ever to move forward with consciousness, integrity and the core values of our community in mind in hopes that the expanding industry of medical marijuana be in compliance with a healthy ecosystem and sustainable economy.

We offer this particular interview up as a resource to our beloved community.

May the information presented here be of use and value to you as we navigate this shifting, tumultuous time.

Here's to what's next.

MEND Season 1 - Episode 11

Outlaw Farming - A New Twist on Things

This past week we had the great pleasure of sitting down with Carl Stanley.

Carl is the former pastor of a cannabis-friendly All Faith church in Eureka, CA, an educator in sustainability and self-sufficiency, founder of Manabu Farms, and an advocate for “outlaw farming”, which is perhaps not what you may think it is.

We spoke with him via phone from Flint, Michigan where he resides in an effort to help the local community with the water crisis before heading back to his beloved Humboldt County.

He speaks about the many services the church provided for the community here, the why’s and how’s of becoming Producers rather than Consumers, outlaw farming, his work in Flint, and offers his thoughts on how cannabis can help Humboldt County become a self-sustaining community.

Some of what we loved about speaking with Carl was his passion for the work that he does, but also what his origin story of Humboldt implies.  He came here as a ‘traveler’, what many might describe in not too polite terms as a transient.  The stereotype of the Humboldt transient juxtaposed with the amazing work that Carl has done here in this community and elsewhere is an interesting and important part of this story; and one could argue yet another stitch to further mend the way we relate to ourselves and to each other.

To find out more about Carl, or the work that he does, or how you can become more energy-independent and reduce your monthly bills, check out his work on Facebook.  

Become a part of the Bill Free Group @ https://www.facebook.com/groups/155362171643501/

Or find out more about the work and mission of Manabu Farms @ https://www.facebook.com/manabufarms2/

There’s also a website with links to his 300+ instructional YouTube videos on living the Outlaw Farmer lifestyle @ http://manabufarms.blogspot.com/

So much inspiration and food for thought here.  

We hope you enjoy.  

MEND Season 1 - Episode 10

Production, Pot Plants, Passions & Passports. (Oh My!)

Welcome to this - our Tenth episode of Mend!

This feels like a milestone for the two of us - as we intially envisioned compiling a grand total of 20 interviews for this - our first season of the podcast.   - so this would put us at the halfway point.

We’re continuing to enjoy the conversations and stories we unearth here so we’ll see how that number shifts as we journey forward.  

In this interview, we venture off the path we’ve trod thus far and sit down for a very candid and personal chat with Marie - a worker who has been on the production end of the cannabis scene, aka a “trimmer” for the past 8 years.  

We value deeply the perspective of the pioneers and originators of this tribe, but felt it necessary to examine some of the other aspects of this world as well.  

Here, you’ll gain a vivid portrait of a woman who has been able to  - among other things - travel, support her passions as a singer, a painter, and adventurer abroad.  She gives us a detailed accounting of the typical work day (a hint - not your typical 9-5) and season this particular job entails.  Plus get down to the nitty-gritty money bits - including how much one can make historically in this line of work - how that’s changing - and the great life she’s managed to carve out for herself as a result of this vocation - AND - living this fabulous life on a much smaller budget than you might expect.  

Marie shares with us how cannabis helped her overcome a debilitating addiciton to alcohol and cocaine in her early twenties.  We also dip into some controversial waters, too.  She shares her responses to those who see the Marijuana economy as one of Extraction - of merely taking without ever giving back.  

And we look toward what the future might hold for herself, but also the thousands of people like her who have relied upon this as a way of subsisting and bankrolling their dreams and passions in other walks of life.  

We’ve chosen to keep this talk raw and real.  

We don’t aim to portray perfect people here - but to provide a mic to learning, growing, imperfect folks - who are doing their best to navigate this time - with the tools at their disposal.  

MEND Season 1 -Episode 9

The Work of the Healer...

Welcome Back to MEND - Episode 9!

We’re continuing to seek out stories from the Elders, the Wise Ones, and the Healers of our tribe.  

In this interview, we’re delighted to sit down with Jane Bothwell, owner of the Dandelion Herbal Center - a local school for Herbal Studies in Kneeland, where she has been training, educating and empowering people from all walks of life to learn the ways of Plant Medicine and Holistic Healing for over 30 years now.  

Jane brings the great perspective of the Healer into this Conversation and provides some wonderful points of reference on how we can cultivate a more sustainable, relational & reverent working relationship with the Cannabis plant.  

We talk about the power of Naming things and how this alters our perceptions.

About the increasing legitimacy of Marijuana as a recognized medicine within the Herbalism world & some of the wonderful uses she’s found for it’s curative powers within her own life and practice.

There’s some important information in regards to THC vs. CBD formulations and strains within here. As well as some great references for those who wish to know more about the Healing Properties and possibilities inherent to Marijuana. Plus, the inherent differences between what it means to ingest a plant recreationally vs as part of a larger ceremony.

Most significantly, Jane speaks to us of the importance of continuing to work organically, sustainably, and with great Reverence as we move forward cultivating this plant.  And how one person, working honorably, humbly, & well - can seed an impact for great, societal & cultural shifts.  

To find out more about the resources Jane mentions in our time together, check out the following links:::

The Dandelion Herbal Center  - www.dandelionherb.com

The Medicinal Cannabis Conference - medicinalcannabisconference.com

United Plant Savers - unitedplantsavers.org

Humboldt Apothecary - humboldt-apothecary.com

MEND Season 1 - Episode 8

Seed-Smuggling, Lawsuits & Humboldt's Brand.  

Woods, a longtime Southern Humboldt resident, environmental activist & one of the founding members of HUMMAP (Humboldt Mendocino Marijuana Advocacy Project), shares with us some of the stories of the evolution of Humboldt County's Marijuana Culture.  

He laments the presence of greed in our overall culture, and it's rise in the subculture.  He stresses the need for balance, and offers a vision of how we can move forward sustainably, on the cultivation path.  

Here, we share a portion of the original Vision Statement put forth by the organization (that we also share at the end of the show).

WE SEE a continuing bright future for the marijuana industry of Humboldt County.

We are the origins of much of the marijuana awareness, use, and cultivation in the Western World. This vision was born of a lifestyle devoted to self-realization and environmental and social respect and reverence. This lifeway is an essential to the preservation of the Earth and the reverence for the healing, sacramental, and caring social roles that marijuana gives us. Our vision is to honor and extol those roles. To this end we honor the righteous cultivation and sharing of this sacred herb.

Humboldt herbal cannabis is world famous, we are proud to say, but this has not come without problems. There are many who do not sanctify the herb or partake of its glory, but they grow money. Our revolution was accomplished in part with money, for which we all find some necessary and reasonable value. But when weed becomes primarily a money crop it loses its sacred value, its healing properties are compromised, and the social world it propagates is ruled by greed. It is against what the Earth is crying for.

If you're interested in learning more about HUMMAP, or getting involved in their work and mission, visit their website.  

We hope you enjoy.

MEND Season 1 - Episode 7

The Peace of Wild Things...

Welcome back.

In this hour, we talk to Salmon Girl - a longtime SoHum resident & outspoken member of the community.

She talks about the vast changes she’s witnessed in & around her beloved home over the past 40 years - about the shift from Wilderness to encroaching Industry and pollution - including sound, visual, and environmental - taking its toll all around.  

We speak about the loss of connection to the land itself.

Both physical but also spiritual as well.

About the problems surrounding Regulation - which, in many ways, is geared to support and promote Industry, above any real concern for the natural habitat.  

She tells us her own ideas about the marijuana plant - in her words, a “white-man luxury crop” - and the “cult” she sees having sprung up around it’s cultivation, use and promotion.  

As always, our hope here is to incite useful, instructive and in-depth conversation.

These words may leave you with more unanswered questions.

But may they also spur you to find the solutions, as well.

Oftentimes, it’s from the places of deep questioning, and heartache - that we unearth our own Salvation.

We hope you enjoy.  

MEND Season 1 - Episode 6

The Plant as Medicine...

In this episode we speak with a mother, medicine-maker and small-scale farmer who understands cannabis to be not only a medicine for physical ailments, but also a spiritual medicine and teacher. 

She speaks of ceremonies, cannabis as ambassadors between the plant world and human world, and growing her plants with prayer and intention. 

She shares with us her hopes for Humboldt’s future and offers gratitude for having a place to share these stores with the bigger world because, as she says,

“Yes, we might be outlaws, but we’re really good people…” 

This interview takes us deep into the soul connection that is possible with marijuana and hopefully inspires others to question what is lost when money and quantity become the main driving force of cultivation.

MEND Season 1 - Episode 5

With My Own Two Hands....

Welcome to our fifth conversation where we speak to Jane - a veteran, single-woman farmer, living and working in the hills of Southern Humboldt.

In our time together, we discuss how an educated & ambitious woman who could've "done anything" with her talents and drive - chose to spend her life here.  Caretaking the land and this plant with which she feels a tremendous bond and affinity.

We dip into the questions of what it means to craft a well-lived life.  We look at the hazards, but also blessings of living independently and remotely in the woods.

We tackle the gender roles and stereotypes that still reside within this industry.  Plus drop into some honest, unadulterated talk about money, hard work, privilege & what it's really like for a woman to forge her own way - & eke out a life on her own terms.  

We hope you enjoy.  

MEND Season 1 - Episode 3

A Family Affair

In this episode we speak to Laura, a local midwife and resident of this county for nearly 20 years. 

For a decade she birthed babies out in the sprawling hills of Southern Humboldt. 

We discuss the many surprising advantages of raising children inside the marijuana culture along with some of the inherent challenges as well. 

Together we dive into some of the pervasive stereotypes associated with this way of life.  We look at some of the over sensationalized ways the traditional media depicts this region and it's people, and how that stacks up against the experiences and realities of those who live, work and caretake the land and their families here. 

She provides us an insightful and inspiring glance into the inner workings of the rich and varied landscape of people that make up this tribe.  We hope you enjoy this time as much as we did.  

MEND Season One - Episode 2

A Brief History of Place

In this episode, we have the great honor to sit down for a lengthy & illuminating talk with Ms. Jentri Anders, Ph.D.  

Anthropologists sometimes get accused of "going native".  In this two-part episode we speak with a native who went anthropologist.  After dropping out of Berkeley, and society, Jentri Anders made her way to Southern Humboldt county where she spent the better part of 15 years living and working amongst the, as she calls them, "refugees".  

She eventually went back to school for her PhD in Anthropology, writing her dissertation on the people and society she was a part of.  Her book, Beyond Counterculture, The Community of Mateel, gives a unique and thorough perspective on life and people in the hills of Southern Humboldt before the marijuana boom.  

We are so grateful to begin this season with her story and perspectives on the formation of this unique community and the people known to many as the ‘back-to-the-landers’.

And to start off with this insightful and spirited entry into the land and people we'll be meeting along this path.   Enjoy.  

MEND Season One - Episode 1

The big WHY...

In this first episode of MEND, we turn the mic on one another. 

Anne & Amy chat the Big Vision behind the podcast.

The name.  

The power of storytelling.

Making ART.

The lost art of the campfire scribe.

And why we've chosen to launch ourselves from the pages of our own backyard..

Plus some snippets of prose and poetry (& Pot Farms, oh my!) to round it all out.