AUSTIN, Texas (March 30, 2018) — On Saturday, May 5, the nonprofit American Botanical Council (ABC) will celebrate the 13th annual HerbDay with a variety of herbal educational activities, including presentations from local and national herbal experts. The HerbDay event occurs at ABC’s headquarters at the historic Case Mill Homestead, 6200 Manor Road in East Austin, from 10 am until 4 pm. It is free and open to the public.

JoAnn Sanchez, botanist, herbalist, and teacher of herbalism at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, will give a presentation from 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM on “Nourishing Our Nervous Systems.”

ABC’s founder and executive director, Mark Blumenthal will give a presentation on “Humorous Health: Conventional and Alternative Medicine, Pharmaceutical Drugs, Diet, and Lifestyle as Seen through Cartoons” From 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM.

There will be two herb walks through ABC’s 20+ medicinal- and culinary-themed gardens during the day. The first will be from 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM with Sanchez and Beth Ebbing Johnson, herbalist and owner of Sacred Moon Herbs in Dripping Springs. Ginger Webb, herbalist and owner of Texas Medicinals and Sacred Journey School of Herbalism in Austin will lead the second herb walk from 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM. In addition to the herb walks, participants will have plenty of time to explore ABC’s medicinal and culinary herb gardens on their own.

“HerbDay is ABC’s opportunity to reach out to the public and share its love of the plants and educational mission,” said ABC Special Projects Director Gayle Engels. “Visitors get to meet the beneficial plants we grow and soak up some of the knowledge and expertise of the herbalists who give presentation and herb walks.”

Plants, books, refreshments, and membership information will be available in addition to free sample issues of ABC’s acclaimed, full-color, quarterly, peer-reviewed scientific journal, HerbalGram, and other educational literature.

Vendors at the event include Sacred Moon Herbs, Texas Medicinals, Old Factory Soaps, Natural Magick Shop, Lotus McElfish botanical prints, Mostly Mesquite kitchen and home accessories, Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine, and Eat in Peace Wellness Consulting.

There will be live music throughout the day and special events for children including a May pole, an herbal art activity, and planting a seedling to take home.

About HerbDay

HerbDay is a coordinated series of independently produced public educational events celebrating the importance of herbs and herbalism. HerbDay was initiated by five nonprofit organizations with interests in herbs and herbalism (the HerbDay Coalition) to raise public awareness about the significance of herbs in the lives of millions of people worldwide, as well as the many ways herbs can be used safely and creatively for health, beauty care, and culinary enjoyment. The HerbDay Coalition includes the American Botanical Council (ABC), American Herbalists Guild (AHG), American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), and United Plant Savers (UpS). The HerbDay coalition can be contacted here.