Spring Event at tygart lake state park coincides with Earth Day weekend

GRAFTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Herb Association (WVHA) will have its Spring gathering at Tygart Lake State Park on Saturday, April 23. The theme of the event will be “Our Mountain Herbs: Growing, Collecting & Sharing our Woodland Plants.”

It coincides with Earth Day, which is the day before. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. The conference begins at 10:15. The cost is $10, with WVHA members receiving a $5 discount. Payment in cash only will be accepted at the door. There is no charge for children 12 or under with a paying adult.

The WVHA website offers, “Bring your friends, family, and children to learn about native plants and medicinal herbs from herbalists, growers, and naturalists to deepen your knowledge of using, propagating, collecting, and sharing our West Virginia plant treasures. Four lectures and a plant walk will fill the day with joy and learning. Between the sessions you can browse vendor booths with herbal products, live plants, seeds to grow your own herbs, and visit educational tables. Bring a bag lunch or dine in the Tygart Lake Lodge restaurant.” 

Presenters, according to the WVHA website, include:

Ed Daniels of Shady Grove Botanicals | Business Planning for Botanical Forest Farmers

For beginners and experienced herbal people alike! With Ed’s extensive background in growing medicinal herbs of the forests of wild West Virginia, he will discuss their somewhat challenging propagation and the value of growing at risk and other medicinal herbs whose native habitat is the forest. He will outline the basics of starting an herb business with a focus on growing, harvesting and selling roots like ginseng, golden seal, black/blue cohosh as well as ramps and other native forest plants. http://www.shadygrovebotanicals.com/

Julia Flint of Yew Mountain Center | Farming in the Shade: Ecosystem Opportunities in West Virginia

Our West Virginia forests are home to a variety of plants that have historically been harvested for food and medicine. Many of these can also be cultivated either in a forest setting, at the woodland edge, or in shady areas of your yard. Julia is a coordinator with the West Virginia Forest Farming Initiative (WFVFFI), a collaborative effort to expand the economy for non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in West Virginia. By cultivating woodland medicinal plants, landowners can earn premium prices for harvests while conserving and renewing wild woodland ecosystems. http://www.wvforestfarming.org/

Barbara Volk of Spotted Horse Farm | Let the Wild Weeds Talk

Plants speak to us. They share their wisdom. I love the weedy weeds – the ones that many people try to eradicate. They seem to show up right when we need them. I will discuss a number of common weeds and wildflowers and their uses as both as food and medicine. By using these weedy, but medicinal plants, we can take pressure off native plants that are being over-harvested giving them an opportunity to flourish again. http://www.withthespiritofthehorse.com/

Audra O’Dell of Random Rabbit | The Ethos of Permaculture

With 14 years of experience, Audra will outline the founding tenets of Permaculture, which allow us to live in a more sustainable world through conscious choice and gently driving change to provide us with happier, healthier lives, as well as a thriving ecosystem by all pieces working together. Permaculture encourages considerate personal choices, becoming observant, watching patterns, opening to greater diversity, caring for the earth, caring for people, knowing when to harvest and minimizing waste. http://www.wvfoodandfarm.org/

Tygart Lake Park Naturalist | Woodland Walk

A park naturalist will lead us on a hike around Tygart Lake where we can apply some of what we learned to identify useful spring woodland plants.

Learn More, Join WVHA or Register:

Register and pay at event email: info@wvherbassociation.org or contact by email if wanting to pay by check in advance.

Click here to register and pay  online in advance become a member and save $5.

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