From the Curriculum Director
According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Atlas of Population and Environment, every year a small percentage of our plant species become extinct. Found on the association’s website (www.aaas.org), the atlas informs us, “Many traditional plant varieties now live only in gene banks, where their ability to be transplanted back into fields is sometimes uncertain.” Although there are a number of causes for extinction, improper wild crafting of medicinal herbs can be a contributing factor.
Before long, Clayton College students will be able to enroll in a new elective that addresses this dilemma. In HER 344 Stewardship of Herbs, reading is assigned from two books. Planting the Future, edited by Rosemary Gladstar, offers a collective effort by many herbalists and green activists whose common goal is the conservation of medicinal plants. Sponsored by United Plant Savers, whose mission includes raising awareness about the current plight of at-risk medicinal plants, Planting the Future discusses sustainable harvesting and describes the characteristics of many individual herbs.
From Earth to Herbalist, by Gregory Tilford, talks about the over-harvesting of medicinal herbs, or as he says, “the casualties of the green revolution.” He also presents guidelines for ethical wild crafting and includes information about the roles of various plants within their own environments. We are pleased and excited that we can make this contribution toward maintaining a healthy world.
Krista Leamon
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