West Virginia can be a paradise for herb lovers since woods, gardens
and even roadsides provide an abundance of native plants for the table,
the teapot and the medicine chest. This fall, gardeners, cooks
and healers will welcome the rare opportunity to learn from
a master.
James A. Duke, PhD, will be the keynote speaker at the West
Virginia Herb Association, Fall, 2003 Conference, October 17-19 at
Jackson’s Mill, Weston, WV. Dr. Duke’s Saturday
keynote address, "A Tale of Three Gardens” will
take place at 11:00 a.m. He will also teach sessions in "Wise
Aromatic Medicine" and "Herbal Alternatives to 50 Pharmaceuticals"
as well as lead "Woods Wisdom" walks on the Mill property.
Duke is an internationally recognized expert in the medicinal plant
field. He has done field work in the Panamanian rain forest,
interviewed thousands of traditional folk healers and scientists and
compiled a unique database of the medicinal compounds found in
common and exotic plants. He is a renowned ethnobotanist, ecotour
guide, author, and herbalist gardener. His book, The Green Pharmacy,
is a valuable resource for herbalists, botanists and medical professionals.
Emphasizing that remedies can be grown on a farm, Dr. Duke spells
that "Farmacy". Retired after a 30-year career with
the USDA, Dr. Duke cultivates healing plants on his own green farmacy
in Fulton, Maryland. The six-acre "farmette" is a unique
classroom for doctors and herbalists. Terraced gardens are divided
into 80 themed beds each named for a different ailment. An asthma
garden contains coltsfoot, anise, and hyssop, while an allergy garden
contains chamomile, feverfew, garlic, ginkgo, horseradish and stinging
nettle. A waterfall, lotus pond, peat bog, gazebo, filter marsh
and floral clock are also a part of the garden farmacy
In addition to medicinal uses of herbs, other workshops include those
of interest to cooks, gardeners, craftspeople and herbal entrepreneurs.
Dr. Duke’s wife, Peggy Duke, will teach a hands-on class
in Botanical Illustrations. Herbal Wine and Cordials, Herbal
Skin Care, Herbal Pet Care, Soap and Basket Making also promise to
be popular sessions. Continuing Education Credits will
be offered for health professionals and Master Gardeners.
For participants able to attend only one day, a "Celebration
of Herbs" will be held Sunday. The Celebration will include
exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, product sales, woods walks, children’s
activities and an outdoor bluegrass concert. It is free for
Conference participants, $10 per person or $15 per family for those
attending only on Sunday.
For more information, or to register for the Conference, see
the WVHA website: www.wvherb.org or contact Laura Yokochi, Secretary,
WVHA, (304)782-3190 or lyokochi@aol.com
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