The earth can no longer bear the true cost of our agriculture, shelter systems, and land use ethics.

The Solution:

To create human living systems that are ecologically sound and economically viable, based upon whole systems thinking, and integrating care of the earth, care of people and care of the commun ity.

Our Mission is to:

    (1) promote and facilitate access to environmentally responsible, off-the-grid, affordable housing,

    (2) preserve and refine traditional methods of food and seed production and conservation,

    (3) demonstrate and teach sustainable living based upon permaculture principles and Native American cultural heritage, including collective living arrangements such as ecovillages; and

    (4) contribute toward building a localized, sustainable economy in the Bitterroot Valley, starting with building a local food system

Program Areas

1. WESTERN CULTURAL HERITAGE INSTITUTE - an educational permaculture EcoVillage, demonstrating environmentally responsible shelter, energy, food production and collective living.  The Institute has established a wildlife friendly, bio-intensive, organic gardening system to provide a sustainable food base for residents, interns, and staff.

2. EDUCATION: offering both on-site workshops with hands-on training and seminars in the valley addressing the principles of sustainable living; hosting interns.

3. SEEDS - breeding, sharing and maintaining a seed bank of basic food and medicinal plants.

4. SHELTER- to have the lowest ecological footprint on the earth as possible, our facilities demonstrate the design of "earthships" (rammed earth in tires for thermal mass), straw-bale, cordwood, papercrete, and adobe construction methods, with energy systems (solar and other) that are simplified and off the grid, and innovations in no-discharge sanitation systems and water recycling.

5. LOCAL ECONOMY ENHANCEMENT - towards sustainable forms of prosperity for all, we are working to help build a decentralized, local, land-based economy in the valley, starting with a local food system.

- 3 entities (the Trust, the Institute, and what later became SLS) are established    by Bevan Williams and Heather Burt, upon receiving a donation of the land.

- Triangle Recycle business acquired, and profits dedicated to build the site.

- master plan developed for a conservation farm and permaculture community.

- acquisition of irrigation water-rights.

- agricultural land preparation begun for the 2001 growing season.

- site infrastructure development started.

- John and Shirley McQuaid join the conservation farm staff.

- dry/cold storage constructed.

- 3 additional acres are acquired, bringing total acreage to 10.4 acres.

- first year’s net revenues are $ 81,140_

2001

- - all agricultural land is under cultivation.

- - seed production is started and seed bank established.

- - 100 fruit trees planted.

- - construction started on staff housing units #1 and 2.

- - construction of farm shops started.

- - root cellar built.

- - all land is totally paid for as is all development, and a pledge

is made that there will be no indebtedness from this time forth.

- - second year’s net revenues are $ 171,566_

2002

- - first intern onsite for the growing season.

- - started construction on intern shelter #1.

- - planted 125 more fruit trees.

- - transplanted to site various medicinal and culinary herbs.

- - conducted native American outreach to acquaint with our program.

- - information resource library is started.

- - drilled and developed 2nd artesian well for potable water.

- - 1,000 sq. ft. greenhouse constructed.

- - honey bees established onsite.

- - 501©3 status received.

- - third year’s net revenues are $ 57,626

2003

- - started construction on a central facility with no-freeze potable water storage.

- - Travis Williams joins the conservation farm staff.

- - farm shops completed.

- - world seed fund is started with seeds and books shipped to Zambia, Africa.

- - goats are brought to site as a start for a dairy.

- - planted 140 domestic fruit trees and 50 native fruits for wildlife.

- - conducted more educational outreach to native

American tribes.

- - Garden City Seeds donates their remaining seed bank

to us after sale of business.

- - started participating in a local farmers’ market.

- - constructed first poultry coop/greenhouse combination.

- - fourth year’s net revenues are $ 62,000

- - staff housing #1 and #2 are completed with spring and late

summer move-in.

- - four paid, part-time employees are hired to help with construction

and include program development and fund-raising.

- - started educational programs including members meeting,

building an Earthship workshop, spinning & weaving workshop,

Biodiesel and used fry oil workshop.

- - inventoried seed bank.

- - David Bassler and Larry Campbell join the board of directors.

- - First annual green home tour is held.

- - First annual harvest (Salsa) Festival is held.

- - one intern onsite for the summer, and volunteer program started.

- - brought Helena Norberg-Hodge to speak on Globalization versus

Community at venues in Missoula, Hamilton, and Pablo.

- - began Conversation Cafe’ meetings - citizens sharing about

creating a sustainable economy in our community.

- - convened 1st organizational meeting for forming

the Bitterroot Valley Food Co-op.

- - began publishing newsletters.

- - started a membership program.

- - intern housing units #’s 1 and 2 are completed.

- - the central facility is completed with private

restroom, cooking and produce processing

for the interns.

- - World Seed Fund sent seeds and books to

Dr. Sergei Smirenski in Ukraine, Russia.

- - rare seed grow-out at the San Xavier Farm Co-op near Tuscon, Az, and on a farm near Twin Falls, Id. Idaho.

- - fifth year’s net revenues are $ 111,392