I've mentioned here before the importance of partnerships when it comes to success for Park Seed and Wayside Gardens. Well, looking ahead to 2008, we are proud to accent our long-standing relationship with the Herb Society of America (http://www.herbsociety.org/) as they celebrate 75 years of studying and celebrating herbs. According to their website, their mission is to promote "the knowledge, use and delight of herbs through educational programs, research, and sharing the experience of its members with the community."
As fellow members of the gardening community, we share their sense that herbs are amazing plants full of use and delight, and worthy of special attention. Some, like Large Leaf Italian Basil (left) offer rich flavors to enhance our cooking. Others have medicinal qualities, and still others are valued for their fragrance or even their valuable economic and industrial uses (e.g., dyes).
Today and for the next several days, I'm going to explore the Society, its history, and Park Seed Company's relationship with it, as we kick off the Diamond Jubilee of the Herb Society of America (HSA)!
My information about the organization's history comes from the Herb Society's official history, written by Dorothy G. Spencer and published by HSA in 1995. According to this book, in 1932, a group of gardeners approached a staff member of the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard about giving them some botany lessons. The staffer, Dr. Edgar Anderson, agreed to participate, and he and the garden club ladies launched a weekly study. They began by focusing on "rosemary, their chosen plant, for which they grew, dried, and mounted specimens for future dissections and microscopic examination and library research. Later they studied horehound in the same detail."
By 1933, this group of dedicated women was ready to organize into an official society. They envisioned reaching out to "others from throughout the horticultural world who shared their scholarly interest in these vital plants." And each of the seven charter members brought special talents and commitment to the organization that helped it thrive and grow: Adeline Philbrick Cole, Anne Shirk Burrage, Harriet Adams Brown, Corinna Searle Mitchell, Florence Bratenahl, Ellen Greenslet, and Frances L. Norton.
Today, 75 years later, "the Herb Society of America is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that focuses on educating its members and the public on the cultivation of herbs and the study of their history and uses, both past and present. The motto of The Society, 'For Use and For Delight,' is taken from the 17th century herbalist, John Parkinson."
I encourage you to visit the HSA website, www.HerbSociety.org, and explore the About Us page to find out about the many resources, projects, and benefits available from the Society. Who knows--perhaps you should consider joining!
Do love herbs? Have a favorite recipe or herb-use tip to share? Email me at ckuhl@parkseed.com to share with other herb aficionados!
I'm old enough to remember those early days when a seed catalog was like the bible, they served life with essential nutrients we needed for every day life. No, it wasn't in the 1800’s; it was the 40's and 50's.
Life was a little easier then in some ways, we knew what we had to do. We had to plant the garden and it all started in late January for peas and potatoes. Those next planting days were for such things as onions, the different types of Kale products, lettuce and of course some radishes, by June we were ready for the summer crops like tomatoes and corn. Some of those old veggie names like Prichard, Netted Gem, Perfection, Jubilee, Bald Head, and Flat Dutch are names of the past for the most part.
A mail order seed company only had a few products to choose from and they were the best of the best in those days. What ever happened to those favorites? I see heirlooms listed that I never heard of. I guess those of us out West had our own verities from you Easterners. Things were tough then and they still are where I live. By the way, I live in Oregon and my growing zone is 3, yes, I know they don't list any part of Oregon with a 3. I assure you that we may even be a 2 here in La pine, we are about 4350 feet above sea level and yesterday morning, it was minus 5 degrees, we can and do have frost every month of the year. What do we grow best? Pine cones, Sage brush and Kids. Should you want to grow something fresh, you’re going to work hard for it; I do it every year to some degree. I manage some sweet onions, Cabbage, Carrots, Radishes, Peas (Won do), Onions, Rhubarb, Onions, Potatoes, some more Rhubarb, Onions, Parsnips, Garlic, Strawberries, Onions and Dill. There are a few more items that grow, just not anything I want to knaw on.
Seed catalogs are important when they list the zones. I don't care what they say my zone is, as long as the list seeds for zone three.
It is near imposable or nearly so to grow something to eat in this area without a good understanding of gardening. It takes lots of organic stuff from the horse or cow, about the same amount of commercial fertilizer and water, some more water and then a lot more water plus some commercial fertilizer and more water. Ground here is volcanic stuff that they make cat litter from. I even use some of the litter when no one is looking.
Well, I have had about enough to say for now, I gotta start looking at my new seed catalog before it gets to warm.
Good gardening to you’ all,
Onion Dale
God bless you that try,
Dale Key
La Pine, OR 97739
541-536-7830
Posted by: Dale W. Key | January 02, 2008 at 09:50 PM
Wow, Dave--thanks for the great comment! Sounds like you know first-hand about the joys AND challenges of gardening. I'd love to hear more about your experiences and see some pictures of your Oregon garden!
Posted by: Claire | January 03, 2008 at 03:35 PM