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WNC Medicinal Herb Growers

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A field of purple Vervain

The Western North Carolina Medicinal Herb Growers is a group of NC Extension educators, herb farmers, herbalists and hobby gardeners interested in gaining experience in growing medicinal herbs and learning more about them.

WNC Medicinal Herb Growers offer workshops and events that address the various aspects of medicinal herb growing, from production methods to post-harvest handling, and marketing. Through hands-on experiences, farm tours, and networking, this group aims to support the unique endeavors that cultivate medicinal plants for the herbal products industry.

To join this mailing list, please email Meghan Baker and put “WNC Medicinal Herb Growers” in the subject line.


Events

All events are linked to our Cooperative Extension Calendar, check there for times and registration details. We typically hold events in the winter, spring and fall, leaving summer open for the busy tasks of fieldwork.

Check our Recent & Upcoming Events to learn more about workshop topics. We also have an active Facebook page for WNC Medicinal Herb Growers.


Resources

For production information on a wide range of culinary and medicinal herbs, NC State Extension’s Herb hub is the first place to begin. Specific resources for non-timber Forest Products, including woodland botanicals can be found on the New Crops and Organics website.

Appalachian Beginning Forest Farmer Coalition is another excellent resource for production and value-added product information.


Plant Taxonomy and Identification

People are often eager to learn how to identify native plants that are utilized in the medicinal products industry. By far the best way to learn how to identify ANY plant is to spend time in the field observing plants and their unique details. Photos, drawings, and written notes of observations are all useful tools to draw upon. Additionally we recommend acquiring a collection of field guides and botanical resources to further expand your knowledge. Use our Recommended Field Guides and Book List to find some of our favorite resources for botanical identification.


Plant Vouchers

The Art & Science of making plant vouchers is one of our most popular annual workshop events. Watch this short instructional video on how to get started making plant vouchers. Here is a list of materials for making plant vouchers that you’ll need to get started.

How to Make a Plant Voucher :


Caring for Your Tools

One of the first investments an herb farmer will sink resources into are hand tools. Hand tools are often the unsung heroes of a successful farm, and they contend with a lot of wear and tear throughout the growing season. Learn how to maintain, sharpen, and properly care for common hand tools in our handy video.

How to Care for Hand Tools:

Other Videos:

“So You Want to Grow Medicinal Herbs?!” workshop recording from March 9, 2022. This is a broad overview for anyone involved in establishing a medicinal herb growing operation. A summary of the resources compiled during the Q&A and segment/chat can be found HERE