Local herb group honored by Michigan Herb Associates

On behalf of Michigan 4-H Foundation, Norm Lownds, curator of Michigan 4-H Children's Gardens, at right, accepts a ceremonial check from members of Village Herb Associates at Greenfield Village. Pictured are, first row, Rita Hill, Bev O’Neil, Barb Brooks, and Kathy Youngheim; standing, George Miko, Nancy Miko, Linda Veresh, Sue DeLage, Marilyn Norgrove, Norma Swires, Debby Stanislawski, Suz Stockinger and Karen Morozow. The group helped raise funds at the convention through participating in the herb plant sale and vendor exhibit. — On behalf of Michigan 4-H Foundation, Norm Lownds, curator of Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens, at right, accepts a ceremonial check from members of Village Herb Associates at Greenfield Village. Pictured are, first row, Rita Hill, Bev O’Neil, Barb Brooks, and Kathy Youngheim; standing, George Miko, Nancy Miko, Linda Veresh, Sue DeLage, Marilyn Norgrove, Norma Swires, Debby Stanislawski, Suz Stockinger and Karen Morozow. The group helped raise funds at the convention through participating in the herb plant sale and vendor exhibit.

DEARBORN – Village Herb Associates at Greenfield Village was among seven Michigan herb associations recognized for volunteerism in advancing herbal knowledge locally.

Herb enthusiasts from throughout the state celebrated and learned about herbs as well as raised $3,000 for Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens during the 2018 Michigan Herb Associates in Lansing in April.

Guest speakers addressed aromatic herbs for brewing beer, Michigan restaurants that offer craft beers, growing and using medicinal herbs, and decorating with hops, the International Herb Association’s Herb of the Year.

There also were educational exhibits, vendor sales and a used book sale. The theme was “Every Plant is a Teacher.”

“We are in a renaissance for edible gardening, and the increased attendance at MHA annual conferences echoes the rising interest in learning how to grow and use herbs,” said Jeanne Hawkins, MHA president. “Fresh herbs make everything else in the garden taste better, plus they are pretty and smell wonderful.”

Conference attendees raised the $3,000 donation for Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens through a silent auction and herbal plant sale. Hawkins said she is grateful to MSU Department of Horticulture for contributing the plants for the plant sale.

The other honored associations operate in Ann Arbor, Bay City, Bloomfield Hills, Cadillac, Clarksville and Gowen.
Since its founding in 1987, MHA has donated more than $121,000 to the state’s 4-H Foundation in support of three specialty areas at Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens: the Peter Rabbit Herb Garden, Garden of Delight and Herbal Tea Garden. The gardens are located at Michigan State University, East Lansing.

Information about 2018 Herb of the Year – hops – is posted on the MHA website, www.MIHerb.org/hops.html. The 2019 MHA conference is April 24 in Lansing. The 2019 Herb of the Year is anise hyssop.

Michigan Herb Associates is a statewide organization dedicated to sharing herbal knowledge. Activities include helping coordinate activities of Michigan’s herb enthusiasts through working with the state’s approximate 40 local associations, presenting an annual conference, sharing program and project ideas, encouraging public herb plantings, and supporting 4-H Club herb projects and leader/teacher training.
MHA works with and provides funding for Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens at Michigan State University.

For more information about MHA or a local herb association, contact MHA at [email protected] or 517-337-9316, go to www.MIHerb.org, or follow Michigan Herb Associates on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/pg/Michigan-Herb-Associates.