Remedies from the Standing People:  A practical and philosophical exploration of botanical medicine

Humans have a long history of connection to plants for use in medicinal preparations.  Different cultures around the world have assembled deep knowledge of their local floras that have led to the formation of powerful pharmacopeias.  Various factors interfere with the use of plants in medicine, ranging from habitat fragmentation and over-exploitation to human domestication and rejection of the Old Ways.  This talk examines the functional role of medicine in human healing, obstacles surrounding belief, and discusses a range of medicinal plants (some rare, some common), including their identification, ecology, and pharmacology.  Practical gathering and use information will be presented that will benefit novice and skilled herbalists.  A case is made that reliance on local medicine is one of many necessary steps to the re-emergence of an animistic culture.

Directions for registering for this virtual event are provided below in the image. Price is $25.00. Email mrherbs@yahoo.com for assistance with registration.

Arthur Haines will be speaking to Maine Audubon at Gisland Farm in Falmouth, ME. Afterwards he will be available for questions, visiting, and book signing.

This presentation will examine the current paradigm of human interaction with wild plants and present evidence for the need to change this pattern. Examples of the nutritional superiority of wild plants and their role in protecting from chronic disease will be discussed. The idea of “hands-off conservation” will be critiqued in comparison with the ancestral model of “conservation through use”. Examples of eco-conscientious practices of harvesting and evidence-based research highlighting the need for humans to be immersed in nature will be presented. In short, the goal of this presentation is to demonstrate the necessity of interacting with wild organisms to both promote human health and prevent the loss of wild lands.

Arthur Haines will be speaking at Maine Audubon starting at 7PM. He will be available for book signing after the lecture.

About Flora for Fauna: This presentation will examine the current paradigm of human interaction with wild plants and present evidence for the need to change this pattern. Examples of the nutritional superiority of wild plants and their role in protecting from chronic disease will be discussed. The idea of “hands-off conservation” will be critiqued in comparison with the ancestral model of “conservation through use”. Examples of eco-conscientious practices of harvesting and evidence-based research highlighting the need for humans to be immersed in nature will be presented. In short, the goal of this presentation is to demonstrate the necessity of interacting with wild organisms to both promote human health and prevent the loss of wild lands.

Arthur will lead a two-hour ‘edible plant foray’ at the College of the Atlantic on Saturday, May 16th from 10:00-12:00pm. Specific location TBA.

Follow in the foot-steps of our ancestors and learn to see and gather the bounty of wild plant foods that surround us.  Traditional people around the world understand that food does not just represent calories but it supplies also important nutrients and protective compounds.  For these people, food is a defining feature of their culture and is incorporated into their collecting tools, containers, songs, and rituals.  Important to note is that people who still enjoy their traditional diet are free from many of the chronic ailments that plaque modern societies in every country―cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, diabetes, inflammatory diseases of the digestive and musculoskeletal systems, and autoimmune disorders.  Aside from such serious topics, wild plants offer variety in our diet and can provide unique flavors and textures to liven up dishes that may be frequently prepared in our households.  Join in the spirit of Euell Gibbons and see how wonderful it feels to gather your own food.

Arthur will be giving his ‘Flora for Fauna’ presentation on Friday, May 15th at 6:00pm at College of the Atlantic. This talk will be approximately one hour with a 30 min. Q&A to follow. Arthur will be available for book signing after the talk.

About ‘Flora for Fauna’: This presentation will examine the current paradigm of human interaction with wild plants and present evidence for the need to change this pattern. Examples of the nutritional superiority of wild plants and their role in protecting from chronic disease will be discussed. The idea of “hands-off conservation” will be critiqued in comparison with the ancestral model of “conservation through use”. Examples of eco-conscientious practices of harvesting and evidence-based research highlighting the need for humans to be immersed in nature will be presented. In short, the goal of this presentation is to demonstrate the necessity of interacting with wild organisms to both promote human health and prevent the loss of wild lands.

1:15 – 2:30:  1st Afternoon Quarter-Day Sessions

Flora for Fauna: Engaging with Wild PlantsArthur Haines, Botanical Researcher, Director of the Delta Institute of Natural History, Canton, MEExplore the human need to interact with wild plants to prevent their loss and concurrently promote human health. Discover fascinating facts about the nutritional superiority of wild plants and their role in protecting humans from chronic disease. Learn eco-conscientious harvesting practices and much more.

Find out more at https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/maine-garden-day/.

Nezinscot's herbal day is an opportunity to learn about herbs, shrubs, and trees; both cultivated and wild that are readily available in our backyards and gardens. How and what to harvest as well as their uses in everyday medicine and food.

Join Gloria Varney, Arthur Haines and a handful of other artisans as they walk you through their fields, gardens, and woods while sharing their knowledge and love for the landscape.  From there, participants will have an opportunity through hands-on workshops to prepare food and medicine with the gatherings. From infused oils to tinctures, electuaries, and teas.  Kids welcome and a special program is available for them.

To view the day’s schedule and purchase tickets, visit this website:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summer-herbal-walk-identification-with-arthur-haines-tickets-55562928214

Arthur Haines will speak on the forgotten species’ diet of Homo sapiens with an emphasis on the historical foods of humans residing in Maine. He will provide examples of the nutritional superiority of wild plants local to Canton and discuss their role in protecting from chronic disease. Mr. Haines will take a look at our biological (or historical) norms--patterns of living that define each species on the planet. Whether one is to discuss a wolf, a caribou, or an eagle, there are features of these animal's lives that define them. Given their unique adaptations, they are tailored, through evolution, to living in a particular way (e.g., a caribou cannot enjoy the diet of a wolf). Historical use, lore, and native names will be included where appropriate. Examples of eco-conscientious practices of harvesting and evidence-based herbal medicine will be highlighted.

This event is free of admission and open to the public. The venue is handicap accessible. Refreshments will be served. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Arthur will be doing a TedX Talk in Hartford, CT. 

Find out more and sign up here.

Arthur will be leading a plant walk at the Maine Herbalist Gathering.

Walking with the Standing People

This outdoor walk will explore the local area to locate wild plants and discuss various aspects of these beings that pertain to food and medicine. Identification, nutritional information, and medicinal actions will be highlighted, along with eco-conscientious methods of interacting with the plants that we gather. Historical use, lore, and names will be included where appropriate. 

Find out more and sign up here.

11:00AM - 12:30PM

Walking With the Standing People
ith Arthur Haines
This outdoor walk will explore the local area to locate wild plants and discuss various aspects of these beings that pertain to food and medicine. Identification, nutritional information, and medicinal actions will be highlighted, along with eco-conscientious methods of interacting with the plants that we gather. Historical use, lore, and names will be included where appropriate. 

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Flora for the Fauna
with Arthur Haines
We will examine the current paradigm of human interaction with wild plants and present evidence for the need to change this pattern. Examples of the nutritional superiority of wild plants and their role in protecting from chronic disease will be discussed. The idea of “hands-off conservation” will be critiqued in comparison with the ancestral model of “conservation through use”. Examples of eco-conscientious practices of harvesting and evidence-based research highlighting the need for humans to be immersed in nature will be presented. In short, the goal of this presentation is to demonstrate the necessity of interacting with wild organisms to both promote human health and prevent the loss of wild places.

Find out more information HERE. 

The fruit of the oak tree has been used as an important staple by aboriginal people across North America. The people of each region had their preferred species and detailed methods of collecting, storing, and processing the acorns for use in different types of dishes. Although rarely eaten today, oak trees still produce large numbers of fruits in many years and represent an under-utilized food source. Given their nutritional profile, low glycemic index value, and ability to be stored for long periods, acorns make a wonderful wild food that can be enjoyed throughout the year. Further, New England is blessed with a number of oak species that produce large acorns. This class will introduce students to methods of preparing them for food (primitive and contemporary methods will be mentioned). Some of the important details concerning acorn collection will also be noted. Discussion will include some life history strategies of the oaks that are relevant to foragers and some important myths found in wild food literature. A freshly made acorn food will be enjoyed at the end of the class.  This class will be offered from 12:00 to 4:00 pm in Turner, ME, at the Nezinscot Farm (an organic dairy, café, and fiber studio).  The tuition is $60.00.  The event will be restricted to 18 participants.  To reserve a spot in this half-day class, you may visit http://www.arthurhaines.com/registration-policies, select "Day-long Event" in the drop down menu, and click "Sign Up" (this is an on-line registration using PayPal, you do not need a PayPal account to use the online system).  The remaining tuition ($10.00) will be due the day of the class.  Alternatively, you can contact Arthur Haines at arthurhaines[at]wildblue.net and discuss a registration that works for you (e.g., mailing a check or money order).

This free lecture is open to the public and will examine some important aspects of food sovereignty, including access, nutrition, and disease prevention.  These topics will be viewed initially from a historical viewpoint to establish the biological norm for human communities.  From there, strategies for developing personal and regional food security will be discussed.  While many believe a focus should be placed on waging legal battles with large corporations, such victories may not lead to increases in food sovereignty.  We are currently witnessing the outcomes of a passive approach to food autonomy in this country.  In contrast, developing a realistically attainable authority over food will require people to actively engage in developing traditional ecological knowledge and learning politically incorrect nutrition.  This presentation is supported, in part, by Anaskimin.

This lecture is designed to expose the audience to a wide-range of useful plants that grow wild on the New England landscape.  Plants that can be used to nourish, heal, and craft are discussed.  Some specific examples of vitamin content, antioxidant ability, and herbal therapy will be shared.  Through use of images, stories of indigenous use, and contemporary scientific study, an argument is made that the waning use of wild plants (for food, medicine, fiber, etc.) is correlated with a decline in health of both our bodies and our local landscapes.  Foraging, wildcrafting medicine, and other such pursuits connect us to the wild world and create a bond, one that deepens with use.  The critical need for preserving native plants and their habitats cannot be fully realized without interacting with them (i.e., viewing them from afar does not reveal their full value to people).

This class is offered through the New England Wild Flower Society.

One can register online here.  Or, one can contact the registrar here.

Wednesday, August 12, 7-8 p.m.

Location: SVF Foundation, Newport, RI
Program Code: BOT7036
Instructor: Arthur Haines
Fee: $ (Member) / $ (Nonmember)
CEU: 1 AOLCP

Old Pepper Place is a stunning, biologically diverse parcel of land in Washington, VT.  The 350-acre old hill farm includes two small fens and offers wonderful views of forested lands, open fields, and the Green Mountains. During this field trip you will learn all about the Reserve’s natural history with a focus on plant life and identification. We will discuss the geology and ecology of the area, look for edible plants and birds, and interpret tracks and other signs of wildlife. Bring a bag lunch, water, a hand lens, and binoculars. Wear proper footwear and clothing.

This class is offered through the New England Wild Flower Society.

One can register online here.  Or, one can contact the registrar here.

Sunday, July 26, 1-4 p.m.

Location: Washington, VT
Program Code: FDT5017
Instructor: Arthur Haines
Fee: $28 (Member) / $35 (Nonmember)
Limit: 14 Certificate: Field: FB/Adv.FB
Cosponsor: Vermont Institute of Natural Science

Mount Kearsarge is a monadnock in western New Hampshire approximately 890 meters tall, offering impressive views due to its isolation from other peaks.  This day in the field will examine the natural history of the mountain, with a focus on plants.  A variety of topics will be presented, including ecology, edible plants, birding, tracking, and geology.  Bring lunch, water, a hand lens, and binoculars for birding.  Proper footwear and clothing will also be necessary.

This class if offered through the New England Wild Flower Society.

One can register online here.  Or, one can contact the registrar here.

Saturday, July 11, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Location: Warner, New Hampshire
Program Code: FDT5014
Instructor: Arthur Haines
Fee: $47 (Member) / $58 (Nonmember)
Limit: 16 Certificate: Field: FB/Adv.FB
Cosponsor: The Fells

Lake Sunapee is one of New Hampshire’s largest lakes, with eight miles of shoreline that hosts a wide range of native plants. Arthur Haines, author of Flora Novae Angliae, will lead a field study along the shoreline of Lake Sunapee to examine these plants and learn features of their identification and ecology, with some emphasis on those suited for use in horticulture (in order to design native plantings in this region). Wear footwear appropriate for uneven ground; bring a hand lens and protection from the elements.

This class is offered through the New England Wild Flower Society.

One can register online here.  Or, one can contact the registrar here.

Sunday, June 7, 1-3:30 pm

Location: The Fells, Newbury, NH
Program Code: FDT5015
Instructor: Arthur Haines
Fee: $23 (Member) / $28 (Nonmember)
Limit: 16 Certificate: Field: FB/Adv.FB
Cosponsor: The Fells