Thinking Outside Of The Box

  This week another chat with Michael Pilarski one of Cascadia's foremost authorities on permaculture, wildcrafting and just about anything involving Nature or Nature Spirits. We spoke in his home in Hot Springs, Montana and he shares with us one of his current endeavours, a quest to inform Northwest farmers on the wide diversity of crops we can grow here. More information here: 1000 Crops for Northwest Growers   Increasing crop diversity & productivity on small farms.   A workshop series by Michael Pilarski in Eastern Washington.   Farmers and gardeners are always on the lookout for new crops. Crop diversity spreads out the risks, staggers the harvests and extends times of income generation.  This can lead to a steady stream of income year round. Winter income can be generated by crops which store well such as root cellar crops, dry grains, dried herbs and value-added products. Winter greenhouse production possibilities are expanding with advances in heating and design. &nbs