The Briarpatch was founded in Menlo Park in 1974. Fathered by Dick Raymond of the Portola Institute and mothered by Gurney Norman, author of "Divine Rights Trip" in The Last Whole Earth Catalogue, the phenomenon of mutual support for right livelihood and simple living was an idea whose time had come.

Briars often have unique takes on the use of technology in society. For example, founded by Stewart Brand, the Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link or The Well was one of the earliest technology-mediated social networks back in the mid 1980s. Stewart also launched the Whole Earth Software Review and many Briars were active in the early stage development of Wired and Salon. Self-help law publisher Nolo Press was one of first publishers anywhere to sell their books online and to offer downloadable e-books. There have been dozens of technology related Briarpatch businesses over the years. Jed Diamond is a local leader in using internet technology to "live locally, help globally."

The Briarpatch is a system of self-reliance and mutual support, based on the ideas that you are a Briar if:

You have an insatiable curiosity about how the world works.

You seek to do the work you love and to make a living at it.

It is more important to you to provide the highest quality product or service than to get rich, but you recognize that you must make a profit to stay in business.

You prefer cooperation to isolation.

You prefer honesty and openness to deceit and secretiveness.

You believe in independence and personal responsibility.

You believe in simple living and environmental preservation.

Your financial records are open to your community.

It is important to you to have fun in everything you do.

Annie Weller, Richard Jergenson, Jed Diamond, and others wanted to revitalize the Briarpatch network here in Willits and began meeting.

Our purpose is to support local businesses and small business owners by meeting every other week to share information about what is working in our businesses, help each other solve problems, bring in guest speakers of mutual interest, and network with other individuals and organizations.

If you have a local business, or are exploring starting one, and share the values of the Briarpatch, you are welcome to join us.

We are evolving as we go. Your participation and inputs are appreciated. At present we meet every other Tuesday from 1:30 to 2:30 PM at the Yum Yum Tree restaurant. For further information contact Jed Diamond (459-5505 or by e-mail at Jed@MenAlive.com)