The WV Herb Association Fall Festival 2014 will take place on Friday and Saturday, September 26th and 27th at Jackson’s Mill, in Jane Lew, Lewis County, West Virginia. “A variety of speakers will talk of the many aspects of herbs growing in West Virginia which enrich our lives immeasurably by giving us so many opportunities to know them. Savor those which are edible, herbs which are medicinal, herbs which make you pretty and herbs that might make you rich!”, states Melissa Dennison, president of the Association.
Melissa adds. “We have spent months choosing those presenters who best represent all the aspects of herbal lore in West Virginia and hope you join us here in celebration of their importance to us all.”
One of the workshops, to be held on Friday afternoon, is with Myra Bonhage-Hale, steward of La Paix Herb Farm in Alum Bridge, W.V. The subject is “West Virginia Weeds, Bring Your Own (BYO)”. Myra asks that participants bring their own favorite weeds and tell what they are good for. Each person bringing their favorite will be photographed and videotaped for future presentations. Some of the weeds to be featured are: Stonewort, Gill over the Ground, Stinging Nettle, Butterwort, Stitchwort, Joe Pie Weed, Iron Weed and more. “So come and bring your own favorite WV weed – the only reason it is called a weed is that we don’t know what it is good for. Let’s find out together!”, says Myra.
Mimi Hernandez is the Keynote Speaker – who will present on Friday afternoon and evening. She comes from a background as a clinical herbalist, educator, and ethnobotanist. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the American Herbalists Guild
Another speaker on Friday will be James McCormick, who is the Director of the WV Warriors and Veterans in Agriculture, part of the WV Dept. of Agriculture. James is very concerned about the need for alternative therapies for Veterans with PTSD and will talk about the efficacy of bee keeping, growing vegetables and herbs, aromatherapy and other forms of therapy being discovered and developed to help those Veterans. McCormick, a retired service-injured veteran of the Iraq War, purchased his farm several years ago and started McCormick’s Enterprises LLC in 2006. In 2011, he created its nonprofit farm, which works with veterans, particularly those recovering from wartime injuries, to teach them how to farm and perhaps help them to establish their own farms.
“I’ve been working with veterans ever since I came home from Iraq in April 2005,” he said. “What went into Raising Cane Farms is watching for six or seven years what veterans needed.” For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/pages/Veterans-and-Warriors-to-Agriculture/175925942616220
Photos:
WV Veterans in Agriculture – Bee Project
James McCormick: Director WV Veterans in Ag.
Marcia Laska (left) in the field
Another weed – Lobelia! What Is It Good For?
One of the Many Weeds of West Virginia – Milkweed – What Is It Good For?
