Hey Brad, I used to be an active student of medicinal herbology and I have loads of books. Mostly European and Native American stuff though. Just one book of Chinese herbs. Have you done a little survey to find out what sort of conditions are common at LAEV? and/or what kinds of herbs people are already using that would grow locally?
I imagine you guys would want a respiratory purge herb for sure considering all the pollution and such. Probably valerian for nerves. Good wholesome nervous system and mucous membrane soothers like mallow, comfrey. Nice multi function things like yarrow (compost activator and general useful medicinal) and the good medicinal culinary herbs too. Some ideas anyway.
Joan

Yerba Santa is a great native medicinal plant, local to our hillsides. It is a shrub that can grow pretty large (up to 6'). It has beautiful purple flowers that butterflies love. The leaves are very good for bronchial problems. The Tongva people made tea out of them or chewed them raw. I've had the tea and it's very soothing.

Being a native it takes very little water once established. I think they sell them at Theodore Payne Nursery in Sun Valley (a great place for native plants).

Also, the Learning Garden at Venice High School is a wonderful school/community garden that has a good sized medicinal herb garden.

Students from Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine develop and maintain it, and it features a lot of Chinese medicinal herbs.

You can tour the garden on any weekday. The director is David King, a very knowledgable and friendly guy.
310--722-3656 www.thelearninggarden.org

I'd be interested in the list you come up with for Eco-Village.

Jennifer