The Sampson County Extension Master Gardener volunteers are working to build on the success of the last four herb seminars by hosting another session that is slated for this fall.
The upcoming seminar will focus on how beneficial herbs can be in skin care and health, as well as the different options for using fresh herbs in cooking. According to Brad Hardison, horticulture agent, during the symposium, participants will learn how to grow herbs, make herbal aromatics, make herbal skin exfoliants and use culinary herbs to make food and beverages tastier.
“The herbs discussed during the seminar are herbs we are familiar with, herbs we know about, but maybe did not quite know what to do with them,” Hardison shared. “We often get a lot of questions about herbs, and hopefully this session will help people better understand how to use herbs in different ways.”
This year’s seminar has been planned for Sept. 10, from 9 a.m. – noon, at the Sampson County Livestock facility on U.S. 421.
The inaugural herb seminar is hosted by the Master Gardener volunteers and the N.C. Cooperative Extension office of Sampson County. This is the fifth year the seminar has been hosted. Through the years, Hardison said attendance and interest has grown from a very small group to 35 participants last year.
There is limited space available for the seminar, so early registration is encouraged. There will be room for 50 participants and registration is on a first come, first served basis.
Hardison said the guest speaker for the seminar will be Mary Bevier of Toad Song Farm. Participants will take part in two break-out sessions, where they will have the chance to make their own aromatics and exfoliants from fresh herbs. Participants will also learn which herbs grow in this area, and the best way to take care of the herbs so that you can grow them yourself and not have to purchase them from the grocery store.
“We hope the participants will become more comfortable in the process of using herbs in their daily lives and cooking,” Hardison said. ” The culinary use of herbs has become an interesting subject to many people.”
During the seminar, Hardison said the participants will learn different ways to use herbs in cooking, and have a tasting session where they will sample a plate of food and cup of beverages that have been made from the fresh herbs.
Many of the participants, Hardison added, try to grow these herbs from home and often aren’t sure exactly how to properly grow them or how to use them after harvested. That, he said, is where the seminar will come in.
“This is one of the many programs the Master Gardeners wanted to do and help the public,” Hardison said. “People grow herbs at home and don’t know what they can do with them after they are grown.”
Those interested in taking part in the fall seminar, must register as soon as possible to reserve their space. There is a registration fee that is used to purchase the materials needed for the class. To register, visit http://go.ncsu.edu/sampsonherb or call the Cooperative Extension office at 910-592-7161.
