Publications and Meetings:

Michigan Herb Associates distributes a quarterly publication, The Michigan Herb Journal.  It contains articles of herbal interest and information about herbal activities throughout the state and region.  Most issues include several recipes using herbs, dates and locations of herbal activities and workshops, information on propagation and/or culture of herbs, directions for herbal craft projects, reports of herbal activities in the various regions, book reviews, and general articles related to herbs.

General themes for each Journal issue are:

• Spring-growing, special plants, sources, general items
• Summer-growing, harvesting, cooking, crafts
• Fall-harvesting, cooking, crafts, books, gifts
• Winter-conference meeting information, cooking, crafts, catalogs

The group’s Educational Conference is held in March on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing during Agriculture and Natural Resources Week.  The two-day program includes herbal lectures and demonstrations; educational exhibits; book sale; MHA special sale items; and a silent auction of crafts, books, and other donated items including foods and plants.  These sales are primarily a service to members and any profits realized above the cost of the conference are usually contributed to the Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden or another educational program.

Information about the program is included in The Michigan Herb Journal.  Attending the conference provides an opportunity to receive current information on herbs and to meet other individuals who share an interest in herbs. 

Getting Started with Herbs

Herbs can be used in many different ways.  The most common uses are in cooking for flavoring foods, in crafts, and as ornamentals in the landscape.  They require little space and can be easily grown in an apartment-sized lot, among flowers, as part of a vegetable garden, or in pots and containers in a window.  Three to four plants of most herbs yield enough for seasoning and/or for crafts for the average family and most kinds are quite easy to grow.

Some popular herbs include:

• Annuals: basil, borage, coriander, dill, marjoram, and savory.
• Biennials: parsley (treat as an annual).
• Tender perennials: rosemary, scented geraniums (overwinter indoors).
• Perennials: catmint, chives, lavender, lemon balm, peppermint, sage, tansy, and thyme.

Most annuals can be started from seed either indoors or sown directly in the garden.  Perennials can be started indoors or purchased as small plants at garden centers.

You may want to review several seed catalogs to see the variety of herbs for sale and learn about their growing requirements and uses.  Much information is included in most catalogs and on seed packets.

Select kinds and varieties that you want to grow and use.  If you like basil, you may want to grow many different varieties.  Some are especially good for cooking and some are primarily for ornamental use.  Some seed catalogs offer more than a dozen varieties.