PRINCESS ANNE, MD-(August 28, 2020)-University of Maryland Eastern Shore Extension puts the talents of its specialty herbs consultant for the Small Farm Program, Henriette den Ouden, to use to present two free events in September highlighting UMES’ herb garden.
On September 12, from 10 a.m.-noon, gardeners with an interest in growing medicinal and other specialty herbs can visit the herb garden on the UMES Education and Demonstration Farm on Stewart Neck Road in Princess Anne. Because of the pandemic, the event will be open to the first 10-15 people to register and will be a non-technical class geared toward general advice on growing herbs. Gardeners, herbalists, dieticians, nutritionists and pharmacists may find the event of interest, den Ouden said.
The second event slated for September 16 at 10 a.m. is a webinar of interest to farmers who would like technical information on the best practices for growing a range of herbs. Herbs covered include elder, cotton, holy basil, St. John’s Wort, Echinacea, Baikal skullcap, astragalus, sweet Annie and lemon balm along with the edible herbs burdock and garlic chives.
“As the webinar takes place mid-season, potential growers can experience the triumphs and challenges of growing herbs,” den Ouden said. “They can learn from our experience growing 20 different specialty herbs, mostly medicinal herbs, but also some ethnic and culinary herbs.” Focus, she said, will be on choices for starting material, pest management, harvest methods, and estimates of time input and production.
Registration for both events can be found on Eventbrite. For the September 12 field event, visit growingherbsfieldevent.eventbrite.com and growingherbswebinar.eventbrite.com for the September 16 webinar.
Den Ouden brings more than 20 years of experience to the table. She holds a master of science in herbal medicine from the Maryland University of Integrative Health and is a past board member of the American Herbalist Guild.
Contact den Ouden at hdenouden@umes.edu or Berran Rogers at blrogers@umes.edu with questions concerning either event.
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications and media associate, School of Agricultural & Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 410-621-3850, gcstephens@umes.edu.
