|
Whether you're a home gardener with an interest in herbs or
a small-scale herb producer with retail interests, Herb Day 2004 will
tune up your herb-growing skills.
"Herb Day has become an annual gathering place for herb enthusiasts
from all over Illinois and surrounding states, and this year's event
will be a day of educational and entertaining sessions, an abundant
herbal lunch, and the chance to interact with other herb enthusiasts
to renew a collective enthusiasm for herb gardening," said Chuck
Voigt, U of I Extension specialist and event organizer.
This year's lineup includes Chester Aaron, from Occidental,
Calif., who is a noted garlic grower, connoisseur and author of
several entertaining books. He will kick off the celebration of
garlic as Herb of the Year for 2004 with his presentation "Garlic Is
Life."
Stephen Lee, a chef, author, entertainer and educator from
Louisville, Ky., will present a cooking demonstration that will
entertain as well as whet attendees' appetites for the herbal lunch
buffet. The title of this demonstration is "Old Flavors, New Tastes;
Using Herbs on the New American Dinner Plate."
John Enterline and Ron Short, herbal design partners from
Coatesville, Pa., will team up in the morning to
demonstrate "Topiary and Friends in the Garden," followed in the
afternoon by the "Pleasure of Tea."
Greg Stack, longtime University of Illinois Extension
educator,
will speak about hardy roses for the herb garden.
For members of the general public as well as Herb Day attendees,
there will be a retail area opened from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
with vendors of herbs, everlastings, equipment, books and many
other herbal products. There is no entrance fee for those attending
only this retail event. Come early for the best selection of
merchandise.
Herb Day 2004 is sponsored by U of I Extension and is open to
professionals as well as members of the general public. Cost of
registration, including lunch, is $44 per person. This includes
seating in the lectures, an information packet, an herbal-theme
lunch buffet and access to the retail area. There will be
vegetarian options on this buffet, or a vegan plate can be arranged
in advance.
Lunch reservations must be received no later than Jan. 9.
Those interested should mail checks, payable to the University of
Illinois, to Herb Day 2004, Attention: Carol Preston, S-406 Turner
Hall, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL 61801.
In 2003, available space was filled a week before the event, so sign
up early to avoid disappointment. If available, on-site
registration will also cost $44 but will not include lunch. For
more information, call (217) 333-7738 and mention Herb Day 2004.
Credit card orders cannot be accepted.
[University
of Illinois news release] |
