Ohio Herb Center

This week's highlight is outdoor insect protection! When it comes to biting pests, All Terrain Herbal Armor and Bug Soother are excellent first lines of defense outside. These products use safe oils to repel pests by their powerful scents. When used correctly, Bug Soother is safe for humans, children, and pets. Citronella outdoor sticks are effective for repelling insects when sitting by confusing them with smoke barriers and a strong aroma. Come check them out here at the Ohio Herb Center and bring them with you for some quality time outside! ⁠
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Are you looking for a way to get involved with the herbal community?
The Ohio Herb Center has volunteer opportunities to assist with classes, events, tour groups, gardens etc. Our volunteers receive a free virtual class registration with 10 logged hours and a $25 class credit after 25 hours logged.

Be a part of the herbal community and sign up to be an Ohio Herb Center Volunteer. Fill out the form on our website: https://www.ohioherbcenter.org/volunteer

💚 Don't miss out on the Formulation Basics class, taught by Jamie Hetzel of Dancing Woods Apothecary, this Saturday. If you are a product maker, whether for family or business, formulation is key to creating products for specific purposes. It also gives you a focus on what herbs to use instead of using a ton of different herbs with different properties.

Let Jamie help you hone your formulation skills to create targeted blends for all your needs.

Register on our website: https://www.ohioherbcenter.org/learn-classes-1

🌿 Our next Herb of Summer provides a unique flavor from the garden. A perennial that rarely flowers and is most commonly seen in infused vinegar. Tarragon is known for its anise like flavor. You either love it or hate it. It helps with digestion which we find true for other herbs with anise like notes. Tarragon has also been used for inflammation and has analgesic type properties. Have you ever had chicken soup with Tarragon? It provides a different flavor and doesn't require much to amplify this kitchen remedy. Hopefully, you have some growing in your garden to add to summer meals but be sure to harvest and dry. This will enable the Tarragon to produce more for those colder months when the garden is sleeping.

Bamboo tea strainers, one of the first known tea strainers from ancient China, were constructed of bamboo. The pattern allows water through while keeping tea leaves out. Some literature also identifies the strainer's principal usage as keeping insects out of drinking water, making it perfect for any wild harvester! Traditional Japanese tea services continue to use similar tea strainer types. Bamboo is lightweight, less absorbent than wood, and does not keep any scents or flavors, making it ideal for daily usage! Check out these and other offerings at the Ohio Herb Center :)

🌞 The month of June programming is almost here. Summer is on our minds but still a great time to sign up for a class at the Ohio Herb Center. Here is what you can look forward to...

🌻Jamie Hetzel, Dancing Woods Apothecary, will be teaching a formulation class as a follow up to her infused oils class. Learn how to use herbal infused oils to make a host of finished products.

☕️Join the June Tea Society and learn about the herb for the month. A full discussion of the herb and how it has been used will expand your knowledge of that herb.

🌱The Herbal Path will help anyone at a crossroads of their herbal education or those just starting to walk the path. Learn things to consider as you embark on an amazing journey.

🦋Pollinator Day and the Pollinators In Your Backyard will be a fun way to celebrate and learn about all the insects that visit our gardens. A day of learning, crafts, and fun as we celebrate while giving thanks to all the pollinators.

Register for these classes and more on the Ohio Herb Center website:
https://www.ohioherbcenter.org/learn-classes-1

🌿 Our next Herb of Summer is not only a favorite for people but for friends who flutter through the garden, Parsley. Parsley is an underrated herb but packs a punch for nutrition. It is a biennial herb but usually doesn't last for long. Either people or pollinators use it as a food source. High in nutrients Vitamin K1, and Vitamins C & A. Parsley plays a role in assisting digestion when used in recipes. This is why you see it on the plate at some restaurants when heavy food is about to be consumed. Harvest the outer leaves to allow the inner leaves to keep growing. Always grow one for you and one for the caterpillars who will inevitably be snacking away.

How do you use the parsley from your garden?

The summer heat will be here before you know it, so having aloe vera jelly on hand is ideal for cooling your skin. It is excellent for treating heat rashes and sunburns by reducing irritation and replenishing moisture. Aloe vera gel has also been used to condition and improve scalp health. Come check out these and other offerings at the Ohio Herb Center!

We are so excited to offer classes from Jamie Hetzel of Dancing Woods Apothecary. You don't want to miss out on these foundational classes on oil infusions and making salves and balms. Jamie is an incredible product maker. You may have seen her at Herb Day as a vendor. If you are on the fence about registering for these classes here is what you can look forward to...

In Foundations of Herb Infused Oils, learn the art of crafting herb-infused oils using three methods — Folk, Heat-Infused, and Alcohol Intermediary — including the benefits and limitations of each. This session includes demonstrations and hands-on learning with each participant creating their own infused herbal oil to take home. Be sure to sign up as this class is happening on May 30th.

On June 6th Jamie will walk you through Formulation Basics: From Infused Oil to Finished Form. In this class, participants will learn how to transform herb-infused oils into salves, balms, lotions, and creams while covering formulation basics and best practices. Each participant will leave with a salve and a cream demonstrated during the session.

Space is limited and filling fast. Register today at https://www.ohioherbcenter.org/learn-classes-1

🌿Our next herb of summer is always a big seller at our plant sale. Everyone wants a plant and we carry a few varieties. Mostly eaten fresh in the summer. You can use dried but it never tastes the same. Can you guess what herb we are talking about?
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Basil is an annual herb that is a prized possession. Primarily grown in containers as it can't survive our winters outside in the ground. You may have seen it in people's kitchens growing in a container of water. Basil tastes better fresh. If you haven't tried Thai Basil, it definitely has a different taste than Genovese. It. is good in Pho, stir fry or wraps. Beekeepers can use Basil to treat bee stings. Be sure to pinch the flowers off as they grow to keep your Basil from turning bitter and growing to a fuller plant. Harvest as needed and be sure it has enough water.

How do you use Basil from your garden?⁠
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