Join us for a five-part comprehensive workshop series on becoming an herb gardener!
Each session delves into essential skills and knowledge for planning, sowing, growing, maintaining, harvesting and using herbs in the home garden.
Starting with an introduction of Medicinal and Culinary herbs grown in our Museum Garden. Participants will learn herb garden basics. We’ll cover plant selection, planting, and maintenance. Then we’ll explore seasonal care techniques. This is perfect for beginners or seasoned gardeners looking to deepen their herbal expertise. All sessions will be hands-on, and participants will grow a tray of herbs ready to plant in their home garden.
February 22nd, 2025 – Part 1
Introduction to Herb Gardening
Participants are introduced to the basics of herb gardening, including types of herbs and their culinary, medicinal and aromatic uses.
Topics covered include selecting a suitable site, understand light, soil, and water requirements and choosing between indoor and outdoor gardens. Participants learn about basic gardening tools and explore annual, biennial, and perennial herbs.
Introduction to Herbs and Garden Planning
Basics of Herb Garden design and planning
Gardening intentions
Gardening space
Gardening energy
Garden Journal
Overview of Popular Culinary and Medicinal Herbs
Introduction to commonly used Shaker medicinal and culinary herbs
Best medicinal and culinary herbs to grow for home gardeners
Choosing your herbs to grow for wellness and joy
Herb seeds and transplants
Annuals, perennials and biennials – what is the difference?
March 22nd, 2025 – Part 2
Site Selection, Seed Sowing and Soil
This workshop focuses on learning the principals of site preparation, seed sowing and soil. Participants learn about preparing soil for optimal growth, including pH, drainage, and organic matter.
Site Selection and Soil Preparation
Soil, sun, water, drainage, air
Garden format, raised beds, mounds, containers
Soil testing, soil types and amendments for herb cultivation
Indoor Herb Gardening
Choosing suitable herbs for indoor cultivation, preorder plants
Container selection and preparation
Essential care tips for indoor herb plants
Herb Propagation Techniques
Seed starting indoors
Sow a tray of your herb selection
Cuttings and division methods
Potting soil vs seed starting soil
April 19th, 2025 – Part 3
Growing and Maintaining Your Herbs
Participants learn essential maintenance techniques, such as watering and fertilizing, pruning and encouraging new growth to seedling and young plants. The workshop covers tips on growing success, companion planting and transplant preparations.
Herb Seedling Maintenance
Sowing more herbs
Potting up seedlings, growing young plants and care tips for success
Planning for spring planting
Companion planting
Harding off
May 17th, 2025 – Part 4
Planting, Care and Maintenance
In this workshop you will learn the best techniques for bed preparation, propagation by division or layer and how to transplant your plants into their growing bed. We will explore the many tasks needed to nurture and protect young plants during this vulnerable time.
Site preparation
Watering and fertilizing schedules
Transplanting and planting
Pruning and caring for herb plants
Garden Maintenance
W**d control
Mulching
Irrigation
Compost
June 14th, 2025 – Part 5
This final workshop focuses on maximizing the herb harvest and preserving it for futrue use. Topics include harvesting techniques for leaves, flowers and seeds, as well as drying, freezing and creating herbal infusions or oils. Participants will learn about storage methods to extend shelf life. The hands-on activity involves creating an herb bundle and infused vinegar to take home and discussing individual garden plans, identifying and managing pests.
Pinching, Pruning and Harvesting Herbs
Proper harvesting techniques
Drying and storing herbs
Creating your own meateria medica
*Advanced Registration Required. Limit of 10 people per class.
Cost:
Individual Class:
Members $40
Non-Members $45
All classes:
Members $190
Non-Members $215
*All proceeds go to the educational mission of Enfield Shaker Museum.
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