Gardening with Herbs

Local Sustainable Organic Gardening Seminar At HerbFest

“Local? Sustainable? Organic? – What’s It All Mean and Why Should I Care?”

Herbfest – April 25, 2009 10:00 am

Concerns about the safety, quality, and maintenance of our food supply have spurred a national discussion on the ways in which we grow, process, and market the fruits (and vegetables) of our labors. The presentation explores the terminology of the debate and the merits of a new emphasis on local production.

Bio: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it is co-owner with Susan Wyatt of Kellam-Wyatt Farm in Raleigh, an organic vegetable and fruit cooperative, now in its 6^th year of operation. An organic gardener with 40 years experience, Bob is a member of the Wake County Master Gardeners and an officer in the North Carolina Master Gardener Volunteer Association. He also serves on the Wake County Cooperative Extension Advisory Council. Prior to turning to farming full time, Bob worked for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences as a microbiologist in reproductive physiology and the Environmental Protection Agency in the air pollution regulatory program. He retired from EPA in 2004 after 33 years of Federal service.

Harmful Exotic Plants In The Southeastern U.S.

Harmful Exotic Plants To Not Place In Your Landscape Beside HerbFest Herbs

     One of the most used, but now abused, exotic plants that has flourished in N.C. is what is called Kudzu. Originally found at a nursery trade show in the Japanese exhibit and, transplanted to the U.S., it has become one of the more invasive plants in the natural landscape.

   The N.C. Dept. of Transporation has released a guide to the harmful exotic species you do not want to place in your landscape.   This very fine file, inclusive of photos for easy identification, is now available. It can be viewed here on the HerbFest site.

Sweet Annie

    Live and Growing
                                Drying Sweet Annie
Hi Herbanite Bob,

Question for you. We purchased a plant at the HerbFest. I believe it was called Sweet Annie. It is has a camphor like scent and grows rather bushy. We had it in a corner of our garden and took up a lot of space once it grew. Where would you suggest planting it, and can you also tell me what type of herbal qualities it has?

Thanks...

Pam

Thanks Pam for question.

Sweet Annie, Artemisia 'annua', is actually an annual, meaning it will last one growing season then die. It does seed itself though and a popular use of it is to take some of the branches to your friends and give them a branch as it's loaded with new seeds they can use for next year's plants. The branches themselves can actually be dried and that fragrance will last for years. Do not dig it up yet or destroy it as it's foliage will turn reddish-brown for a beautiful hue in the fall. The branches are often used in wreaths, fresh or dried arrangements, and also in dry potpourri as a natural fragrance herb.

We planted 2 or 3 of them this year and the one at our house is over 6 feet tall and has a diameter close to 8 feet. I put it near a door so now have to walk through it to get my duck's corn each morning and hate it when has rained and wet as I get wet but rest of time what a delightful fragrance to brush against to start each day!! It can actually be shaped, when growing, into a Christmas tree topiary.

Herbanite Bob

Mosquito Plant/Scented Geraniums

Often we have customers asking for the "mosquito plant" which leads to this dialogue. The plant generally referred to that repels mosquitos is a plant called a "scented geranium". It is not a member of the geranium family but actually originates in South Africa and is a "pelargonium". The Scented geranium is known for it's fragrance, not it's flowers as a geranium is.

Backyard Composting

Composting is pretty simple, as some professional composter has been quoted, "Compost Happens"
This great little video, explains the basics of getting started with composting and also gives some tips for advanced composters.

Recycle your yard waste and kitchen scaps and get some great nutrient dense compost in the process.