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The North Carolina Unit is a member organization of The Herb Society of America, Inc. We have 65 members who live from Wilmington to Cashiers. Most meetings are held in Greensboro.

We are bonded by our interest in the fragrant, useful plants called herbs, and by our interest in gardening, research, cooking, crafting, and writing.

Members of the public are welcomed at our meetings. Please CONTACT US to reserve a seat.

If you would like to stay for lunch, we will give you instructions for mailing in your reservation, which must be made by the date(s) indicated below.

Photo: Borage flowers (Borago officinalis) by Anne Abbott

2017 - 2018 Meeting Schedule

September 21, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.
Place: Weir-Jordan House/ Greensboro Woman’s Club
Program: All Things Violet and our 35th Anniversary Celebration. There will be a table of items on display and some for sale in honor ofJo Musser.
Botany & Hort: The Importance of Names –where to turn for help
Unit Business: Anne Bowers, Chair
Lunch: $11.00 to Roman Lavore by September 14th

October 19, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.
Place: Weir-Jordan House/ Greensboro Woman’s Club
Program: Terry Wheeler & Friends present Promising Plants 2017
Botany & Hort: Berries, Drupes, Pomes & Pepos
Unit Business: Anne Bowers, Chair
Lunch: $11.00 to Roman Lavore by October 12th

November 16, 20175 at 9:30 a.m.
Place: Weir-Jordan House/Greensboro Woman’s Club
Program: Chrissy Moore: Herbal Trees at the National Herb Garden
Botany & Hort: Gliders, Spinners and Parachutes: seed dispersal
Unit Business: Anne Bowers, Chair
Lunch: $11.00 to Roman Lavore by November 9th

December 21, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.
Place: Weir-Jordan House/Greensboro Woman’s Club
Program: Annual Holiday Brunch
Bot & Hort: The Botany of Christmas
Brunch: $11.00 to Roman Lavore by December 14th
No Business—Just enjoying the holidays together!

January 18, 2018 at 9:30 a.m.
Place: Weir-Jordan House/Greensboro Woman’s Club
Program: Susan Edquist and Barbara Harris—Flax & Linseed
Botany & Hort: Nuts, Legumes & Drupes
Unit Business: Anne Bowers, Chair
Lunch: $11.00 to Roman Lavore by Jan. 11th

February 15, 2018 at 9:30 a.m.
Place: Weir-Jordan House/Greensboro Woman’s Club
Program: Susan Belsinger—Hedonistic Herbalism, A Sensory Experience
Botany & Hort:   Aromatic Seeds
Unit Business: Anne Bowers, Chair
Lunch $11.00 to Roman Lavore by Feb. 8th

March 22, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Place: Ciener Botanical Garden, Kernersville
Program: Felder Rushing—Slow Gardening North Carolina Style
· All participants must register to reserve a seat, which you may do online.
· Free for HSA members, $11.00 for guests.

April 17—18, 2018 HERB SALE
Place: Greek Orthodox Church, Westridge & Friendly
Set-up: April 13th.    Sale: April 19th

May 17, 2016 at 9:30 a.m.
Place: Weir-Jordan House/Greensboro Woman’s Club
Program: Judith Sumner—The Natural History of Medicinal Plants
Botany & Hort:   Identifying Species
Unit Business: Anne Bowers, Chair
Lunch $11.00 to Roman Lavore by May 10th

Saving Summer's Flavors

Herbal Vinegar

Use any vinegar (white, apple cider, Champagne, rice, red wine, or others); white is the harshest, but gives clear pretty colors when using flowers such as chive blossoms.

Make sure that you maintain the acidity level (5-7%) by cutting stems, garlic cloves, or other “whole” flavorings so the vinegar can easily penetrate and preserve the item without danger of botulism organisms growing.

Avoid over-stuffing your jar with herbs: the essential oils in most herbs are strong enough to flavor vinegar with just a handful of stems—anything more is a waste and increases the opportunity for
spoilage.

Combine herbs to create the desired flavor: for Italian, use oregano, basil, thyme, garlic;for fruit salads use mint, basil, lemon, or tarragon; for an exotic taste, add star anise, cardamom.

Allow herbs to steep for a week or more, then strain out the herbs, pour vinegar into a sterile bottle, add a fresh sprig or two of the dominant herb, cap, and store out of sunlight and heat.