The second annual HerbDay will be held on October 13, 2007 and
numerous sponsors and participants are planning an exciting array of
events to celebrate herbs and herbalism at sites across America.
Reports of events and offers to become involved are pouring in as
people and companies register at the event’s website: http://www.herbday.org/.
The American Botanical Council is partnering with the Austin Herb Society (http://www.austinherbsociety.org/)
to present HerbFest from 9:00AM until 1:00PM on Saturday, October 13,
at the Sunset Valley Farmers Market in Austin, Texas. The event will
include speakers on herbal medicine, culinary herbs and herb
cultivation, as well as booths selling herbs, herbal products, books
and gardening supplies.
Several retailers, large and small, will participate as HerbDay
hosts, either on HerbDay itself or on the days just before and after.
For example, Herbs Etc. will host HerbDay activities in their Santa Fe,
New Mexico, store and community. Aveda Salons and Spas will participate
in communities in many regions. The GNC chain plans a variety of
store-based activities and special offers to honor the day.
“GNC certainly knows the health benefits of herbal supplementation
when incorporated into a healthy lifestyle,” said Kim Kitko, senior
brand director of the herbs category at the company’s Pittsburgh
headquarters. “We’re proud to support HerbDay so that more people can
enjoy these benefits, too — whether they want to address a certain
concern, get the full potency of an herb’s active ingredient, or learn
more about the herbs they use regularly.”
Intending to repeat last year’s success the HerbDay Coalition will
produce a two-day event at the U.S. Botanic Garden next to the capitol
building in Washington, DC. This event on Oct. 12 and 13 will feature
more than 40 talks and lectures, and a variety of activities for
children and adults (see event details: http://www.usbg.gov/education/events/HerbDay-Celebrate-Herbs-and-Herbalism.cfm).
The U.S. Arboretum, also in Washington, DC, is partnering with the Herb
Society of America (HSA) for an event, as are many HSA local chapters.
The consumer magazine Taste for Life will publish a special
edition in October that will include a pullout section with carefully
researched articles by respected herbalists. As with all special Taste for Life
editions, HerbDay 2007 will also be a stand-alone publication with a
lengthy shelf time in natural products chains, health food stores, and
herb shops nationwide, offering leading manufacturers an excellent
opportunity to support consumer education through advertisements.
The entire herbal community is invited to participate actively in
HerbDay 2007, either by hosting an event or providing sponsorship in
the form of financial support. Now is the time to develop your ideas
for HerbDay activities to ensure that every community celebrates the
wonders of herbs. Visit http://www.herbday.org/
to register your event so that your community can join the herbal
celebration. The website will be the primary location to organize and
disseminate information about HerbDay activities and resources.
Last year, some activities were held before the “official” day,
after, all week long, and even throughout the month. Retail stores,
botanical gardens, herb farms and parks throughout North America
enjoyed broad latitude in making their own plans for lectures and
workshops by well-known herbalists; herb walks; in-store cooking
demonstrations featuring herbs and spices; seasonal herbal handcrafts;
in-store herbal beauty product demonstrations; presentations by herb
company representatives; activities with herbal themes for children;
and more!
HerbDay is an annual public educational event celebrating the
importance of herbs and herbalism through harmonized, independently
planned activities that will occur on October 13, 2007, and/or during
the days leading up to and following that date.
Five national nonprofit organizations— American Botanical Council
(ABC); American Herbalists Guild (AHG); American Herbal Pharmacopoeia
(AHP); American Herbal Products Association (AHPA); and United Plant
Savers (UpS) — are working together as the HerbDay Coalition to
coordinate the website and educational materials.
— Karen Robin, Gayle Engels |