Herbfest,2008

Wake Forest Farmer's Market

2008-03-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

A quick notice to let you know that the Wake Forest Farmer's Market will be open during the herbfest this year, both Saturdays. In the past, because we both occupied the same municipal parking lot, the Farmer's Market would skip that weekend but this year they will be back and bigger than ever.

Produce and baked goods grown and baked locally are available every Saturday. The Wake Forest Farmer's Market also has wonderful theme days with live free entertainment, such as Garlic Day. Come see them every Saturday until Thanksgiving starting at 8 a.m.

Bookmark this web site so you will know what is happening.

www.wakeforestmarket.org

Organic Vegetables and Herbs

2008-02-28T14:48:00.000-08:00

We've just posted the first of 9 videos on the use of herbs and history of Herbfest to help educate our customers on the herbs. Video little grainy but does have some information you may find helpful.

First three videos deal with how herbfest started, what it's about and third one on why use organic seeds for our organic herbs and vegetables.

Jim Long's Blog

2008-02-10T09:37:00.001-08:00

Jim Long is old time friend of mine from the days we served together on the International Herb Association (IHA) board. Over the years we've stayed in touch although not as much as we should have.

Jim is an outstanding educator on herbs and lives a lifestyle that incorporates the best of that world. I would invite you to sign up for his blog which is full of great information and very well presented.

http://jimlongsgardentalk.blogspot.com/

What/How to Use Herbs, Holland Bulbs, Perennials in your Lifesytle

2008-01-24T08:40:00.001-08:00

What do I do with all these Herbs, Holland Bulbs and Perennials? That's a common question we hear at HerbFest and we provide Herbanite Bob to help on herb answers as well as Kathryn Spiegel, a Wake County Master Gardener, to help with your perennial questions.

In addition to having help on site we offer free courses to our customers on many topics from preserving, harvesting, crafting, perfumery, medicinal, cosmetic classes so you can learn more about what to do with the bountiful herb harvest that is forthcoming.

Also included are free classes on landscape desing, xeriscaping, drought tolerant perennials and Meditteranean herbs for your landscape.

On several pages of our website are specific areas of interest that you may want to know more about so browse around and sign up for free information on the areas that the Herbanites are interested in.

Creating Microclimates For Non Native Herbs

2008-01-21T11:24:00.000-08:00

One of the problems we have with herbs at HerbFest is due to our numerous varieties we have herbs that do not do as well in our zones 7 A/B climates.

As an example take the common name French Tarragon, Artemisia Dracunculus, var. sativa. If you are from the New England area this plant will flourish and become a very fragrant and beautiful bush loving the cooler climate and becoming a wonderful perennial for your garden. In our zones we are lucky to get it to grow a foot and hardly ever will it become anything more than an annual due to our hot weather and humidity.

Don't despair as you don't have to forgo the pleasures of this # 1 seasoning herb of the French. We instruct our HerbFest Herbanites to create a microclimate to prolong the life of the plant for harvesting enough leaves to last the year.

This is done by planting a plant such as Colocasia esculenta or as we know it..."Elephant Ears". The elephant ears loves our heat, humidity and sun and thrives while providing shade, sun protection, and lower tempeature under it's large leaves for the French Tarragon to grow. In zone 7 A/B elephant ears is a perennial, lives all year round - but goes dormant in winter, which stays consistent with our lifestyle theme of minimal work, most enjoyment of your yard/garden. In New England the same plant is an annual due to it not being able to withstand the cold.

All our bulbs, Elephant Ears is a bulb, are direct from Holland and will outperform most bulbs you will find anywhere. HerbFest 2008 will be our first offering of Dutch bulbs and one of the main reasons for doing so is to allow you to companion plant for microclimate creation for your cool weather herbs.

When you visit HerbFest we always welcome you telling us where you live and asking for suggestions for your climate. Here in North Carolina we run the gamut due to our beautiful beaches and mountains so basically any herb does well in one of our climates.

Drought Gardening or "Xeriscaping"

2007-12-31T12:12:00.000-08:00

You can go to this site by Dr. Perry, from the University of Vermont, to learn more on general water conservation gardening tips.

We will add the herbs and perennials to not only save water but to grow plants that are personally usable and fun to be around.

Rosemary Stems - Let's Make 'em Useful

2007-12-23T09:11:00.001-08:00

For those of you who have signed up for our enewsletter you received a hint at how to use rosemary as a shampoo as well as flea tick repellent for your pets. As promised now what do we do with those leftover stems we took the leaves off of.

Those stems, I'm talking the woody kind here, are perfect for skewers if you like to grill, or cue out as some prefer. Simply use the stem as your skewer and this is great with lamb or veal as the stem does have the essential oil in them and will impart that heavenly rosemary fragrance and taste into your food while cooking. Nice thing about the skewer method is the oil is being released into the middle of the meat since the wood is touching there.

Another use is to use the stems as kindling for any fireplace you may have. Collect and save so when you light up the chimney you can also add the delights of the scents to your home.

How's that for being an environmental recycler????

From one Herbanite to another.

Vendor Application On www.herbfest.net

2007-12-19T09:43:00.000-08:00

New application on site. Click here.

2007-12-06T09:23:00.001-08:00

2007-12-06T09:18:00.001-08:00

Welcome to HerbFest 2008

2007-12-06T08:48:00.000-08:00

We hope you can take the time to come visit our delightful spring festival held in historic downtown Wake Forest, N. C. This is our first year expanding our herb and perennial plant sales and entertainment from 3 days to 10 days.

You will enjoy our unique herbs and perennials that are unique to our sale. Our herbs are grown in a U.S.D.A. certified organic environment and feature herb plants you will find no where else. Our perennials are chosen for our climate and are hardened prior to selling so you can ensure their survival.

Franklin Academy Jazz band, Bull City Syndicate, Jessica Ray Band, are all here for your enjoyment. The live call in and immensely popular Weekend Gardener Show on WPTF radio is remote broadcast from HerbFest.

Visit our web site for more information.

HerbFest 2008 - Herbs Certified Organic by USDA

2007-11-30T10:33:00.000-08:00

Herb Plants Generally Drought Tolerant - HerbFest, 2008

HerbFest, 2008 will feature special emphasis on use of herbs and perennials that are drought tolerant. John Wrenn, our herb grower, has recently received his certification as a U.S.D.A. Certified Organic Grower and will be adding organic vegetable plants this year.

Due to the drought conditons being experienced along the east coast the growers for HerbFest will be concentrating on plants that need little water, which is generally most herbs, but will also add perennials such as sedums that require little water.

In keeping with the HerbFest long standing practice of being environmentally friendly we are now adjusting to the specifics of the climate of our area.

Tea Tree Oil for Sunburn Relief

2007-11-26T05:49:00.000-08:00

Tea Tree Oil For Sunburn Relief By Kathryn Beach

Here are some suggestions for soothing herbal sunburn relief: Tea Tree is generally available as one of the selections at the Wake Forest Herbfest held in Festival Park promoting the Graham Johnson Cultural Arts Endowment, GJCAE.

Tea Tree Oil diluted to one part with ten parts of olive oil or coconut oil and spread freely over the affected areas is soothing and pain-relieving and also reduces blistering and peeling. You can also applied tea tree oil full strength to sunburn. Personally, I find it even more soothing to combine tea tree oil with another cooling herbal, my personal favorite is aloe. I grow aloe plants and I pick and split a leaf, squeeze out the gelatinous substance, add a few drops of tea tree oil, and pat gently on the burned area. Then blowing on it or sitting in front of a fan increases the cooling sensation.

Tea tree is especially effective when paired with lavender oil. Add five drops of tea tree and 11 drops of lavender oil to three ounces of cool, distilled water. Place this mixture in a bottle with a spray atomizer attachment and mist sunburned areas whenever cooling relief is needed. Molly of Molly’s Herbals sells a tea tree/lavender oil mixture that makes this remedy really easy. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to vitamin E or aloe Vera lotion. Apply a few times a day to relieve pain, redness and inflammation. People with sensitive skin should use tea tree oil in diluted form. It can be mixed with another oil such as almond or wheat germ. Apply cold water to remove heat and then gently rub oil mixture into affected areas to help relieve stinging and later itching.

I found some wonderful after-sun skin care products that contain many of these ingredients just by searching the web, I suggest you do the same if you would rather not make your own remedies.

Kathryn Beach offers extensive information about the incredible healing power of tea tree oil on her website, “Learn About the Tea Tree Oil Phenomenon!”, and in her “Tea Tree Alerts” available by subscription on her website. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Beach http://EzineArticles.com/?Tea-Tree-Oil-Sunburn-

New Video To HerbFest on GJCAE

2007-11-24T11:55:00.001-08:00

Short video added to blog and www.herbfest.net site.

Rosemary Preservation - If Necessary

2007-11-16T08:02:00.000-08:00

Preserving Rosemary

Rosemary is quite cold hardy, but nonetheless, you might want to trim some to insure a supply through winter, especially in zone 7 and colder. You can store the cut stems as they are by hanging them or propping them in a vase (no water) so that the leaves air-dry naturally indoors. Then just pluck a few as you need them. They will fall off very easily as they dry.

After a few weeks, you may need to collect the little leaves in a jar because it will seem that they fall if you even look at them.

If you cut big pile of stems, avoid piling them up on top of each other to prevent mold, especially if they are in a garage or basement. Spread them out over a table or screen if possible.

Extra tip is to take some of the fresh leaves, stems and put in jar with top in hot water, steep in refrigerator for couple of days then strain into spritzer bottle. You can now spritz your hair, or your pet's coat, and the rosemeary essential oil will add sheen to your hair or pet's coat. In summer the oil is also an insect repellent for your pet.

Drought Conditions and Herbs

2007-11-15T07:26:00.001-08:00

The Beneficial Plants - Herbs For Drought Conditions

As much of the East Coast is now experiencing drought conditions and some forecasts predict that will be the state of the climate for several years to come, it's time to look at alternate planting methods and plants to use.

Obviously most grasses are used solely for eye comfort to hide bare dirt. Little else is gained by the most popular grasses. You can not smell them unless they are cut down, no taste, not healthy, no crafting, not medicinal, and high water consumption. The question begs itself, why plant them?

One very useful and practical class of plants to put in your yardscape is the "Mediterranean " herbs, ie. basil, oregano, rosemary, thymes to name but a few. These plants are drought tolerant, require little if any maintenance, and are "beneficial" plants for human and animal use. This group of plants desire very little water, hardly any cutting except for personal use, are highly aromatic, culinary additions to most dishes you make, and beautiful low maintenance plants to enhance your yard.

It is very hard to duplicate what it's like to walk over a ground cover of spearmint, pineapple mint early at dawn and have the delightful fragrances wafting around you. It is truly a lifesyle enhancer that is unmatched in the experiences of many of us and our kids. To sit at night on your deck beside a blue spire rosemary as the breeze blows through the leaves and smell that wonderful fragrance while sipping your favorite white wine lightly dusted with sweet woodruff is a moment to savor.

As the winter sets upon us, take the time to help preserve the use of our water and plan on incorporating the mediterranean herbs in your landscape next spring for the years to come. It not only will make your life more pleasurable but is also good for our environment and as we all know, quite fashionable!!!

Bob Johnson