Learn about herbs, including how to grow, harvest and make products to share, during a three-class series for backyard gardeners. The Share the Herb Garden series will be held April 11, May 30 and Oct. 10, 2026, at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Research, Extension and Teaching Farm.
UMES Extension’s specialty herbalist Henriette den Ouden will lead the sessions and be available to answer questions. Each class will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Stewart Neck Road facility’s demonstration herb garden. The focus of the individual classes will align with the growing and harvesting seasons.
A class geared toward spring garden preparation kicks off the series April 11.
“This one will be about design and planning. I’ll guide participants in making decisions based on what their interest is in growing herbs, like making teas, salves or tinctures. We’ll even have a tea tasting to help them decide what they might like to grow in their garden,” den Ouden said.
Hands-on seeding will take place in the greenhouse and garden accompanied by discussion on selection, planting techniques, soil preparation and weed prevention, she said.
For the May 30 session, den Ouden will give instruction on identifying weeds in the garden and what action should be taken. Gardeners will take part in harvesting the flowers, leaves and roots of a variety of herbs.
“We will create an infused herbal oil together during this second class. If attendees decide they want to make changes to what they have planted, there is still enough time to seed more or buy young plants,” den Ouden said.
The fall finale Oct. 10 focuses on harvest time and how to prepare herb gardens for winter and the next year.
“There will be plenty of product-making fun that participants can share with their friends and family as we wrap up the series,” she said.
Pre-registration is required at www.umes.edu/extension/events. The cost is $10 per class or $25 for all three classes in the series. Attendance for the entire series is encouraged to receive the most benefit, den Ouden said.
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications and media associate, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, gcstephens@umes.edu., 410-621-3850.
Photo by Todd Dudek, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, tdudek@umes.edu.
