Our two Friday Intensives will run concurrently from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm with a 1-hour lunch break. A scrumptious lunch can be purchased from the Commons Caterer for $13.
The cost to attend one of these intensives is $50. You may sign up and pay for the Friday intensives through our EventBrite page.
The intensives are a special opportunity for the transmission of a lot of focused information from two of the most famous growers in the country. $50 is a drop in the bucket compared to what you’ll save from avoiding mistakes.
Medicinal Herb Farming. Presented by Jeff Carpenter of Zack Woods Herb Farm in Hyde Park, VT, author of the new book The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer.
Jeff will share experience gleaned from over 16 years farming medicinal herbs. Participants will learn the step-by-step process of producing high quality botanicals from selection and propagation through field management, post-harvest handling, drying, storage and marketing. We will also discuss how to configure the layout and design of your farm’s infrastructure, choose tools, prepare beds and fields, and manage weeds, pests and disease. Jeff will also delve into the business of herbs and the herbal marketplace by discussing which herbs are in demand, pricing considerations and how to negotiate with buyers. He will also discuss some value-added product options. This intensive is geared toward either beginning herb farmers or existing growers looking to expand their knowledge base.
Cultivation of Asian Medicinal Plants in the Pacific Northwest. Presented by Peg Schafer of the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm in Petaluma, California, author of the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm: A Cultivators Guide to Small-Scale Organic Herb Production– glean from what we have learned!
The emerging market, and bringing efficacious ecologically grown Asian medicinal plant crops into production in the PNW as well as addressing relevant topics affecting herb quality and accessibility will be the topics of the program. This presentation will be of interest to growers, practitioners, students, and all those interested in the changing market of contemporary Asian herbal medicine. Topics covered will be:
- Crop selection for the PNW;
- Opportunities and risks in farming medicinals;
- How to get started;
- Medicinal plant propagation methods for farmer success, species durability and best clinical results;
- Production crop management;
- Harvesting and drying.