Michael Tierra
Some of the healers and systems of alternative medicine that have emanated from the late 1960’s Black Bear Ranch in the Klamath wilderness of Northern California are among the top systems and leaders of the movement today. Michael Tierra cultivated his interest and career as an internationally acclaimed leader of the herbal renaissance at Black Bear, Belize herbalist of internationally acclaim, Rosita Arvigo, known in those days as Zura, also lived at Black Bear, Efrem and Harriet Korngold, together with Efrem’s father, Murray, were among the first to promote acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine at Black Bear Ranch, Efrem and Harriet later went on to write the definitive introductory book on TCM, Between Heaven and Earth. Other members such as Yeshi and Geba were and continue to be in the forefront of the homebirth, midwife movement. Joyce Gardner author, herbalist and healer was also a member of the Black Bear Commune.
It was crazy times, crazy but inspired people, joined by their love of nature and service to humanity, that founded Black Bear Ranch. This book is for the connoisseur; don’t expect to find it readily available. It is truly and underground classic. There are several articles by Michael Tierra in the book and others who lived together, sharing the vision, the energy, their bodies and minds with each other, somewhat naively and unashamedly exploring the paths of human experience to ultimately instill a spark of new life and vision that subtly and not too subtly permeates our present world. You have to read this thoroughly enjoyable book. You won’t be sorry you did and by the way, Black Bear Ranch is owned as a trust by its original members and still lives on with new young members living communally together in the wilderness, exploring natural lifestyles similar to the original group of more than two decades ago.
Brief Review:
From its founding in a remote 80-acre wilderness valley surrounded by national forest during the turbulent 1960s, Black Bear Ranch was committed to creating a counter-culture more in tune with humanistic values than those found in commercial American culture.
Annotation:
The original occupants left the Haight Ashbury, New York, Los Angeles and a dozen other cities to free themselves from the constraints of middle-class America. Pledging to experiment and create new forms for society, they jettisoned the values, practices and habits they grew up with and tested themselves in ways that few others of the time did.
A gathering of over fifty voices, the stories in this anthology are authentic memoirs that capture true-to-life experiences of the subculture spawned by the time. The accounts resonate as a wild untold history and of heartfelt tales told first hand by participants.
A cultural treasure map that trace the beginnings of many of today’s movements for natural healing, women’s rights, environmentalism and ecology, natural childbirth, organic gardening and new spiritual alternatives. By understanding the origins, readers will be better able to evaluate where these movements are headed and what they seek. The stories address contemporary issues of identity, community and values that remain important today and as we go forward into the next millennium.
Purchase From: Black Bear Mining and Publishing company
Business: Independent Publisher
Email: Books@BlackBearRanch.com
Phone: 831-724-2059
Address: 2220 Pleasant Valley Road
City: Aptos
State: CA
Zip: 95003