ON THE FARM

During the month of June we’re offering fresh strawberries, and in the nursery we’ve added Hungarian Flat Leaf Parsley, Rosy Rosemary, Rugosa Friulana Squash, Beit Alpha F1 Cucumber and Orange Barrel Flashback Calendula.
Get ’em while it’s not too hot.
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DIY Herbal Mouthwash Options
Early summer is a great time to gather and dry herbs for year-round herbal mouthwash. To do it in your own kitchen, just make a strong tea using any or all of the following plants that are usually around in the yard or the pantry. I make a batch once a week and store it in the fridge. Use fresh or dry plants.
Let it steep for a good 10 minutes.
culinary sage (antiseptic, antimicrobial, reduces plaque buildup and soothes gums.)
yarrow leaf (tightens gum tissues, antiseptic, and helps stop bleeding gums or minor cuts)
plantain (soothes inflammation, antibacterial, wound healing)
mint (fights bacteria and stimulates saliva)
clove (mild anesthetic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory)
cinnamon (antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory)

LOCAL

Davis “Yellowash” Washines, Yakama Elder Who Spoke for the River and Salmon
“At Bradford Island, near Bonneville Dam, the river carried more than water. Beneath the surface of the Columbia were toxic sediments, dumped near a place where Yakama people had fished since time immemorial. To officials, it was a cleanup site. To the Yakama Nation, it was a usual and accustomed fishing place, protected by treaty. To Davis Washines, known to many as Yellowash, it was also a crime scene.
The victims, he said, were first the water, then the salmon and other life that depended on it, and then the people who depended on them. He did not speak that way for emphasis. He spoke from a life spent moving between law enforcement, ceremony, public service, and the river. Evidence mattered to him. So did harm, responsibility, and the obligations carried through Yakama law, culture, and memory.”
(Source: Mongabay, May 30)
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Yakima Cactus Garden Continues to Welcome Visitors as Part of a Family Tradition
“WHAT: Hillside Desert Botanical Gardens
WHERE: 3405 Hillside Place, Yakima 
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
DETAILS: Though not necessary, calling Bryan McKitrick at 509-930-7419 in advance, is helpful. The gardens are located in the property’s backyard, and it is ok to walk around to the back. The gardens are currently blooming.”
(Source: Yakima Herald Republic, June 3)


WA STATE

‘This place, I love it.’ Meet the LGBTQ+ People Leaving Red States for WA
“It’s just a scary kind of situation, like I’m still worried about my friends there. You know, we’re out, but we care about a lot more people than just us.”
(Source: The Olympian, June 5)


NATIONAL & BEYOND

Trains in Switzerland Are Now Running Over Solar Panels in a First-of-Its-Kind Test
“Solar panels between rails sound almost obvious. In practice, the railway environment is harsh.“
(Source: ZME Science, June 2)
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To the New Lawyers: You Are the Change Agents We Need
“First: Let’s please be thoughtful about preserving what isn’t broken. Even as people are feeling the pain of a lawless government, there is still an ascendant narrative that laws and regulations are our problem. Your training gives you the skills to explain and demonstrate why deregulation is not a prescription for achieving abundance of social goods. People are better at everything, including innovation, when there are some effective and fair rules in place.” –Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen
(Source: Earthjustice, May 27)
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Why Are Scientists Planting Tiny Forests in Big Cities?
“Healthy forests help combat climate change, provide humans with drinking water and even improve mental and physical health. But it’s hard to imagine an entire forest in the middle of a big city. That’s where micro-forests come into play — public forests on a smaller scale, filled with native plants. They exist around the world, and producer Rachel Carlson went to visit the largest micro-forest in California in this encore episode. She joins host Emily Kwong to chat about what she saw. “
(Source: NPR, June 2)
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112 MIN LISTEN: Permaculture is Revolution Disguised as Gardening | David Holmgren
“What if the most radical thing you could do right now is grow a garden? In this first episode of Wild & Kind Wednesdays, Morag Gamble sits down with David Holmgren — co-originator of permaculture — for a rich, wide-ranging conversation on 50 years of permaculture, living in a time of collapse, and why everyday action is the most powerful form of activism.”
(Source: Sense Making In A Changing World, June 3)
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Forget Weeding — Pacific Northwest Foragers are Turning Invasive Plants Into Soap, Baskets and Dye
“Our focus is especially on species that are really common or invasive species, because those are ones that you can harvest more plentifully and still have a net benefit to the ecosystem.” foraging instructor Shelby Lynn
(Source: OregonLive, May 30)
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56 MIN LISTEN: Food Is A National Security Issue – U.S.A. Representative Jim Costa
“Food is a national security issue and passing an updated farm bill is of critical importance to both farmers and consumers, especially the food insecure. Rodger Wasson visits with Congressman Jim Costa, a leading member of the House of Representatives Agriculture committee, who voted for advancing the long overdue ‘work in progress” to the US Senate. Rodger Wasson and Congressman Costa discuss agriculture policy and Congressman Costa explains the importance of the Farm Bill as America’s food safety net, noting that despite challenges in agriculture, American farmers now produce more food with less than 5% of the population working in agriculture compared to 40% employed in Ag 126 years ago. The conversation covered concerns about Proposition 12 animal confinement standards potentially being eliminated in the Farm Bill, the need for labor reform affecting the estimated 70% undocumented workforce in California agriculture, and the impact of trade wars on agricultural markets. Congressman Costa emphasizesthe need for bipartisanship in passing the Farm Bill and expresseds optimism about American agriculture’s ability to adapt and innovate despite current challenges.”
(Source: Farm to Table Talk Podcast, May 22)
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59 MIN LISTEN: Rangelands on Display – Using Public Art to Reach Beyond the Choir,
with Stephen Bramwell
“What if the key to making people care about rangelands wasn’t a fact sheet, a policy brief, or even a podcast — but interactive art that people can view, hear, touch, and smell? WSU Extension’s Stephen Bramwell joins the show to talk about a first-of-its-kind public art project that’s deploying multisensory exhibits across 18 states to reach audiences who’ve never thought twice about grasslands or the people who steward them. From tactile fiber samples and scent jars to life-size 3D sheep cutouts, this is rangeland outreach like you’ve never heard of — and you can host an exhibit or submit your own art at grasslandsproject.org.”
(Source: Art of Range, June 5)
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Finally, a note about the rhetoric of “DEI:” DEI is a derogatory and propaganda-fueled way to refer to the rights guaranteed to us in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which honor our Diversity by enshrining and facilitating Equity and Inclusion. When people complain about DEI, they are complaining about Human Rights. I personally don’t use the term because it distorts Human Rights, reframing them as bad–and that’s a premise I don’t accept. So I talk about Human Rights instead.
 Knowing what your our rights are is a great way to defend them. It also really helps when deflecting propaganda. Read up today! And pick up your own copy here.


That’s everything for this week!
Back to the weeds,
MJ