codex

[crabapple]

I'm curious about what your lawyer friend has to say about the petitioning process. Could you let us know what you find out?
_________________
Rebecca Hartman
Crabapple Herbs: http://crabappleherbs.com/
The Herbwife's Kitchen: http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/

[kavawaka]

Given this person's busy life, i'm just hoping to hear back. If i find out anything i'll certainly post it.

It would, however, just be an opinion of whether FDA might even possibly consider such a petition. Citizens have a right to petition, so we could do it regardless of or in spite of the opinion, and of course a group normally commands more attention than a single person. I was hoping to get the opinion given the amount of work involved in organizing an ad hoc group (enormous), writing the petition (huge) and submitting it (not so much).

David

[crabapple]

Right. Those are the reasons I'm curious, too.

I think getting some sort of group together with the stated goal of protecting access to herbs would be a great idea. But like you said, it's an enormous amount of work, and I'm pretty busy right now, myself.
_________________
Rebecca Hartman
Crabapple Herbs: http://crabappleherbs.com/
The Herbwife's Kitchen: http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/

[rosemarygoddess]

Also get involved with your state health freedom group. Most states have a group of people working to pass legislation to protect health freedom.

Alot of the current climate and issues have to do with big business and the pharmaceutical industry. I have been involved in the local food movement for many years and have been doing a lot of reading about approaches that local food groups have taken around the world to build strength and new approaches to protecting food diversity. Alot of the issues in the food movement have come about because of agribusiness and so have that in common with the herbal community. I think that there are many paralells that can be made between the food movement the issues facing herbalists today.

I do not have concrete ideas in my mind, but I suspect there is a new cutlure of herbalism that can be created and that the food movement has something of a model to offer here ie CSA's etc. I suspect this would be a culture that celebrates local herbalsim and diversity. I imagine it would focus on creating a new culture, which relies on traditional herbalism for it's base.

Vandana Shiva's work around the world and in India has offered me a lot of "food" for thought. And I often am wondering how this information applies to the world of herbalism. I think the food movement has a lot to offer us in terms of looking at new possibilites, while at the same time resisting current trends.

This is a paradigm shift, as we can only focus on pushing against what is happening for so long, before we get tired and hopeless. One thing for sure is we need to create cutlures of herbalism that are sensitive to our communities, but that do not strengthen the medicalization of herbalism.

I am interested in having more personal discussions with others on this topic...as email leaves so much to be desired as far as communication is concerned. And email discussions will not move in the direction of action. If anyone is interested in talking the phone or meeting and discussing these issues to see if they can go anywhere, feel free to email me and I will be happy to connect.
Blessings
Linda
www.moonwiseherbs.com

[rosemarygoddess]

Just to clarify, I would love to see discussion here on the ideas I brought up. But if anyone is interested in actually taking action, I would prefer direct individual contact.
Blessings
Linda
www.moonwiseherbs.com

[crabapple]

I started a new thread about what we can learn from the local food movement. I think this is a really important topic to explore. (Thanks, Linda.)

http://herbwifery.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2228
_________________
Rebecca Hartman
Crabapple Herbs: http://crabappleherbs.com/
The Herbwife's Kitchen: http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/