Specialty Herb Program
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Extension offers expert assistance to new and existing farmers to grow specialty herbs.
Specialty herbs are aromatic plants prized for their culinary flavors or medicinal properties. These herbs can provide small farmers an opportunity for additional revenue streams.
Our Specialty Herbs Program is part of the Extension’s Small Farm Program, and offers help with all phases of growing, preparation, harvest and processing, soil improvements, weed and pest control, and finance and regulatory issues.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Extension herb specialist Henriette den Ouden, who has more than 20 years of herb‑growing experience, cultivates a variety of different medicinal, culinary and pollinator herbs at the university’s Research, Extension and Teaching Farm in Princess Anne, Maryland.
The herb garden invites farmers and home gardeners to see, taste and smell herbs and learn how to grow them. Visitors to the farm can learn about popular medicinal herbs and explore growing herbs as a small farm business endeavor.
Den Ouden also conducts experiments in association with University of Maryland Eastern Shore faculty and students to define best growing methods to create the most valuable phytochemical value of the herbs.
How We Can Help
Herb Garden: The farm offers hands-on experience in different propagation methods to help farmers make a choice between direct seeding, the use of flats and choice of temperature.
Classes: Beginning gardeners and farmers can join one of the many classes offered throughout the year to learn what is involved in cultivating, harvesting and processing herbs for value-added products such as teas, tinctures and salves.
On-farm Help: Assistance is available to help farmers develop plans suited to their individual needs for growing and harvesting.
Marketing Help: Farmers can learn about production costs and potential markets.
What We Grow
The program grows nearly 20 different herbs at the garden including many popular medicinal and specialty herbs such as Ashwagandha, Elderberry, Coneflower, St. Johnwort and Baikal skullcap. Check out the full list of herbs grown at the UMES garden.
Video Tutorials
Increase Herb Quality with Soil Improvement
Contact Us
Henriette den Ouden
Agent Associate, Specialty Herb Program
Phone: 410-651-7353
Email: hdenouden@umes.edu
Crystal J. Sankar
Program Management Specialist
Phone: 410-651-7351
Email: cjsankar@umes.edu
