Herb Society News 2008

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Contents

October Volunteers Day

18th October 2008

Saturday 18th October saw the gathering of volunteers of the Herb Society at a special event hosted by Jan Greenland. Everybody attending agreed it was a wonderful and productive day. The day began with a cookery demonstration where Jan showed everyone how to Mandarin and Ginger Gateau (which was on the pudding menu!) and some delightful chocolate, fruit and nut petits fours. A guided tour of the garden followed and Jan made sure that everyone had cuttings of any herbs they didn't already have.

After the tour everyone went in for lunch provided by Jan, which comprised a wonderful leek and potato soup with Jan's Dyett bread followed by a selection of scrumptious puddings. Throughout the day volunteers discussed events they attended during the year, the new 'Volunteer Policy' document and ways to make volunteering a more beneficial experience for all concerned. The volunteer policy is still in its draft stage, it will be added to the website when it is complete.

After lunch Jan gave everyone a very interesting talk and slideshow on 'Edible Herbs From The Ice Age To Present Day', which generated lots of comments and questions from those present. The day ended with everyone getting hands on with some of the herbal items they'd just heard about during the talk.

Jan talking to Cheryl in the garden.
Looking at the herbal items that were in the talk

Sue Minter Our New Chairman

27th September 2008

Sue Minter was today elected Chairman of the Herb Society, she takes over from John Baylis, she will offically take over the reins on the 5th October.

Sue is a horticultural consultant specializing in economic botany. She has a particular interest in medicinal plant policy issues and in public engagement with science.

She read history at Girton College, Cambridge and was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley in 1971/2. After a career in publishing she retrained in horticulture and joined the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew where she became Supervisor of the Palm House during its restoration in the 1980s and designed the replanting.

Sue was Curator at the Chelsea Physic Garden from 1991-2001 and then joined the Eden Project where she was Horticultural Director from 2001-6. Her publications include ‘The Greatest Glasshouse’ (on Kew’s Palm House), ‘The Healing Garden’ (which was recently revised and updated for Eden) and ‘The Apothecaries Garden’, a history of Chelsea Physic Garden which was published for the Millennium.

Sue Minter our new Chairman

Sue Minter our new Chairman

Anne McIntyre Our 2008/09 President

27th September 2008

Anne McIntyre is a Fellow of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (FNIMH) and has been practicing herbal medicine for over 25 years, one of her speciallities is Ayurvedic medicine, she gives evening talks and runs regular courses in herbal medicine and Ayurveda from her home near Cheltenham and Oxford where she also has a delightful spiral herb garden which has featured on The BBC's Gardener's World TV programme.

Anne is the author of several books on herbal medicine including Top 100 Herbal Remedies (Duncan Baird), The Complete Woman's Herbal, Healing Drinks, The Complete Floral Healer (Gaia books), The Herbal for Mother and Child (Thorsons), and Herbal Medicine for Children; Western and Ayurvedic Perspectives, published by Elsevier. Anne gives guided tours of her Herb Garden accompanied by a complete organic afternoon tea which features some of her recipes and a variety of herb teas picked from the garden. Further information about Anne can be found on the 2008/09 Presidents Page and Anne's own website Anne McIntyre.

Anne McIntyre our new President
Anne McIntyre FNIMH

2008 AGM And Conference

27th September 2008

If you didn’t make it to the AGM and Conference this year, you missed a wonderful event, 37 members and guests spent the day at Sulgrave, along with 8 council members plus Flick our administrator, the day started out cold and foggy but as one of our members said “it was well worth the cold damp journey!”

Read a report of the day with photos, plus see Tina Stapleys relaxing balm and lotion recipes and Mike Cullen's delicious 'Cullenary' recipes on our 2008 Conference Report page. There is also a small video of part of Mike Cullen's cookery demonstration.

Delegates attending our 2008 conference

RHS Tatton Show 2008

23rd - 27th July 2008

After missing a year the Herb Society were once again back at the Tatton Flower Show in Cheshire. Cheryl Waller council member, designed the award winning stand with the theme of Herbal First Aid and was awarded a silver medal for her creativity and hard work.

Cheryl was aided in setting up the stand by Frances Kershner and Jenny & David Jones. We managed to recruit 18 new members, sold lots of merchandise and made many new friends.

As well as those people already mentioned, Council would like to give our grateful thanks to the following members who volunteered to man the stand during the Tatton weekend, turning it into a roaring success:- Ruth & Kevin Waters, Amanda Cutbill, Sue Townsend, Jean Brookes, Natalia Kurkum, Rosemary Scholes, Judith Grubb, Pat Sweetingham, Janet McCulumpha and Mary Dearden.

Cheryl on the stand at Tatton in 2008

Jan Greenland Films With Sarah Raven For BBC Gardeners World

7th July 2008

Jan Greenland, council member of the Herb Society this week filmed a piece for BBC Gardeners World, with our president Sarah Raven, which looks at the many uses of herbs. The programme which is to be aired in 2009 (we'll publish the actual transmission date when known). Jan also went on to visit Sarah's garden at Perch Hill a week after filming.

Jan said "Sarah Raven and the TV crew filmed all over the garden, but focused on the herbs". Jan's garden has been a labour of love for over 10 years and many Herb Society members have visited the garden over the years, it contains hundreds of different herbs.

Sophie Grigson & Judith Hann

The Food Show 2008

28th - 29th June 2008

The Herb society took part at the Sulgrave Food Show which was held at Sulgrave Manor. The event is a showcase for the best that the region has to offer in the food and drink market.

The Herb Society had a stand that Jenny Jones covered with an array of culinary herbs, and items such as herb vinegar, elderflower cordial and fragant herbal cakes, samples of lavender biscuits were on offer to the public as well as fresh culinary herb plants to buy. Our very own Jan Greenland did several cookery demonstrating on both days her theme was the historic use of herbs in food.

Ruth Waters and Sam Green helping out at 2008 GW show

Gardeners World Live 2008

11th - 14th June 2008

June's Gardeners World event was a success for the Herb Society, we made just under £800 and recruited 8 new members.

Our thanks go to all the volunteers who helped make this event a success, in no particular order:- Ruth Waters, Joyce Hodrien, Sally Miller, Janet Turner, Vicki Bowen, Judith Grubb, Samantha Green and Diana Vernon. Thanks also to David Jones, Kevin Waters and Simon Cook for helping set up and break down the stand and to Flick Kingston and Jenny Jones for all their hard work in organising and making the event work.

Council would like to say a special thank you to Ruth Waters for her hard work and dedication over the years. Ruth (seen in the apricot top in the photo to the right) is one of the shining stars of the volunteers of the Herb Society. She is a longstanding member of the Society, for nearly thirty years, and has helped out and volunteered at every day, of every Gardeners World show that we've taken part in since 1993! Ruth is also responsible for the herb displays and herbal arrangements that members and the public see on our stands at the NEC. Your hard work is very much appreciated Ruth, a hearty thank you from us all.

Ruth Waters and Sam Green helping out at 2008 GW show
Part of the stand at the 2008 Gardeners World show

Herb Day A Success

1st June 2008

The Herb Day held at Garden Organic in Ryton in association with the Herb Society was so successful that we'll be working with Ryton next year and in subsequent years to make this a yearly event, so if you couldn't make it this year, keep an eye out for next years date! Sophie Grigson, Caroline Holmes and Judith Hann were there to offer support and in Sophie and Caroline's case do demonstrations and talks.

For those who couldn't get to Herb Day there is a page about Herb Day with photos of the day, and Sophie Grigson's recipes. A big hello to all the new members who joined us on the day, we look forward to seeing you at future events soon.

Sophie Grigson & Judith Hann

Herbal Medicine Awareness Week

23rd - 30th May 2008

As part of Herbal Medicine Awareness Week, Jenny Jones worked with the NIMH and a number of Medical Herbalists around the country to bring the general public and our members a selection of herb themed talks This year the week was dedicated to Herbal First Aid.

The Herb Society would like to thank Linda Harrold, Amanda Cutbill and John Taylor amongst others for organising talks and demonstrations. There was also an opportunity to ask questions about a herbalist's approach to any chronic conditions which were of particular interest to members of the audience.

Sophie Grigson & Judith Hann

Obituary Natalie Hodgson (1911 - 2008)

16th May 2008

It is with the greatest of sadness that Council have to report the death of one of its dearest friends and long standing members of the Herb Society. Natalie Hodgson 'The Lavender Lady of Astley Abbots' passed away on January 6th 2008 aged 97 from a heart attack. She was admitted to hospital on December 30th after suffering a minor stroke and had returned home on the 4th Jan.

Natalie started her pick your own lavender farm at the grand old age of 80 with only a few plants. She contacted the UK's leading commercial lavender grower for advice on setting up her own pick-your-own business, she was told that her location, climate and soil were all wrong, and that in any case, the market was already over-supplied, undeterred she opened Astley Abbots Lavender Farm which now covers over 4 acres.

Natalie kindly donated the lavender plants that form the border of the central bed of the Herb Society Garden at Sulgrave Manor. Members who attended the 2005 conference will recall the entertaining talk that Natalie gave on Growing Lavender and her beloved bees.The last time Natalie was at Sulgrave was to attend the President's Day event in August 2007, where she lunched with the Earl of Clanwilliam.

Natalie enjoying lunch with the earl of Clanwilliam in 2007

Natalie Hodgson 1912 - 2008
Natalie Hodgson
(1912 - 2008)

In 2006 at the age of 95 Natalie became an author when she had her first historical novel published ‘Fateful Beauty'. You can read a lovely interview with Natalie that she gave to the NFU on their Countryside website in 2004, in which she described how the lavender farm came about and gives her tips for growing and using lavender. Natalie will be sadly missed by the society and we send our heartfelt condolences to her family.

Filming For BBC1's Countryfile.

8th April 2008

Jenny Jones and Debs Cook went to a location in Hereford this week to film a piece for BBC1's Countryfile about the dandelion and its many uses.

Jenny chatted about the medicinal uses of the dandelion with the presenter Ben Fogle. Debs made a dandelion soup and a salad, and chatted about all the other things you can do with dandelions.

The programme is to air on Sunday 27th April at the usual Countryfile time (around 11am).

Jenny with the Countryfile crew

Debs Writes About Herbs For The Guardian

5th April 2008

Debs Cook contributed to the herbs section of the Guardian and Observer weekend 'Grow Your Own Guide'. The guide covered the growing, maintenance, problems and benefits of 13 herbs which are chives, parsley, rosemary, basil, mint, sage, thyme, oregano, dill, coriander, tarragon, chervil and bay.

Also in the herb section of the guide is a guided tour of Raymond Blanc's culinary herb garden at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons.

Debs Grow Your Own Herb Guide In The Guardian

Herb Society Launches Online Shop!

15th February 2008

The Herb Society is pleased to announce that you can now buy some of our merchandise direct from us online, via our new Herb Society Online Shop.

You can pay for your purchases using paypal. Please note that postage is only calculated for UK shipping, if you live in an overseas destination and are interested in purchasing any of the items below from our shop, contact the webmistress for a quote, stating the country you live in and the items you wish to purchase.

Inside Bruton Street

Volunteers Needed - The Herb Society Needs You!

13th February 2008

It’s an exciting time for the Herb Society, with plans to grow the membership and involve the members in future plans. There are a number of ways that you can help. We are looking for volunteers to:-

• Help at events such as Gardeners World and the AGM at Sulgrave.

• Set up local groups.

• Partake in projects to increase the knowledge and profile of the Society.

• Help tending the gardens at Sulgrave, we need volunteers to help prune, weed, paint fencing and other routine maintenance of the Herb Society gardens.

If you think you can help the Society with any of the above or you have other skills to offer, please see our Volunteers Information Page.

Volunteers at the Herb Society Stand at BBC Gardeners World Live

Two of our members helping out on the Herb Society stand at BBC Gardeners World Live in 2007

Take Out A New Subscription, Or Renew Your Existing Subscription With PayPal.

5th February 2008

It's now possible to pay for your exisiting subscription, or take out a new or subscription to the Society with PayPal. For further details see our Join Us Page. Paying with Paypal your subscription will be automatically renewed each year, until you cancel the subscription.


Pay your subscription using PayPal

Herb Society Become Amazon Associates

21st January 2008

The Herb Society have become Amazon Associates, this means that if you use the link to Amazon on our Home Page or use a direct link from the book links that are placed around the site promoting new herb books, the Herb Society will then get approximately 5% of your Amazon purchase price! This also applies to the purchase of CD's, DVD's and Gift Cetrtificates.


In Association with Amazon.co.uk

Meet The New Webmistress

1st January 2008

We have pleasure in announcing that our very own Debs Cook has taken on the role of Herb Society Webmistress. Some of you may be familiar with Debs already if you've read the Herb Of The Month articles she's been writing for us for the past few years, or seen her contributions to the forum.

Debs takes on the job of updating and editing the website for us, and also moderating the forum.

If you have any comments, queries or suggestions you can email her via the email link on the contact page.

Our new webmistress!
 

To make comments on any of these news items, go to our Forum

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