Starting herbs from seeds is easy, fun and can allow you to grow medicinal plants you might not ordinarily find in your local plant nursery. To grow plants from seed, all you need are a few simple items: a sterile growing material, a few containers, plastic wrap or plastic covers to maintain moisture, light, seeds and a warm place to grow your seedlings.
Plastic pots or containers which retain moisture are preferable to clay pots when starting seeds. Choose a container wide enough to prevent overcrowding of seedlings. Plants that dislike transplanting are best sown into small, individual containers like cell packs or plug trays. There is no need to buy fancy containers. Recycled plastic containers, like empty food containers, are just fine. Remember to poke holes in the bottom for drainage. No matter what type of container you use, it must be clean and free of disease and molds. To sanitize a container, soak in 10%bleach solution for 10 minutes, rinse and let it air dry.
Plastic pots or containers which retain moisture are preferable to clay pots when starting seeds. Choose a container wide enough to prevent overcrowding of seedlings. Plants that dislike transplanting are best sown into small, individual containers like cell packs or plug trays. There is no need to buy fancy containers. Recycled plastic containers, like empty food containers, are just fine. Remember to poke holes in the bottom for drainage. No matter what type of container you use, it must be clean and free of disease and molds. To sanitize a container, soak in 10%bleach solution for 10 minutes, rinse and let it air dry.
Sowing SeedsCommercial seed-starting mixes are usually composed of vermiculite and peat. They offer a weed-free sterile medium in which to start your seeds. Fill your containers three quarters full with the seed-starting mix. Water well and allow for proper drainage. Next, spread your seeds thinly over the top of the growing mix. Follow seed package directions for the correct spacing and planting depth. Very small seeds and seeds that require light to germinate should lie directly on the surface. Each seed must be in firm contact with the moist surface to begin germinating. Use the back of a spoon or the bottom of a glass to gently tamp down the seed into the growing mix.. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of fine vermiculite. Vermiculite can be found in garden supply stores. It is a soilless material which allows light to penetrate yet keeps the growing medium moist enough to encourage seed germination. If your seeds require darkness for germination, place the growing tray in dark plastic bags until seeds sprout. Water your seeds with a spray mister, to prevent them from being flooded or washed out of place. Cover with a clear plastic to retain moisture, making sure the cover is at least 1-2 inches above the plants.
Warmth
Most seeds germinate more quickly in warmer soil than cool soil. A sunny window may be warm during the day, but grow cold at night. If you set your seed flats on "grow mats" you can maintain an even bottom heat of 70ºF. Setting your seed trays on top of a refrigerator will also provide enough warmth to speed germination. Once seeds sprout, move the trays to a bright growing area.
Light 
If you're starting only a few plants and have roomy window sills, a south-facing window may be all the growing space you need. But it's often easier to grow seedlings under lights where you can insure the proper amount of light needed. Grow lights are designed to provide light in the specific ranges required by plants, but you may also use standard fluorescent shop lights. Keep lights no more than 4" above the tops of your seedlings as they grow; lack of light is the major cause of elongated, skinny stems. Most plants need 12-16 hours of light daily. Using a timer may help you regulate the amount of light used. Don't leave lights on continuously. Plants need some dark period each night to develop properly.
Fertilizing
Seedlings draw energy for germination from food stored in the seed. They don't need fertilizer until they have several sets of true leaves. Seedlings grown in a soil-less mix need a weak fertilizer such as fish emulsion fertilizer mixed 1/4 strength. Fertilize only once a week. Water as needed the rest of the week with plain water. Drain excess water that accumulates in the tray, to prevent root rot.
Transplanting
Transplant seedlings that outgrow the cell packs into larger containers. Larger peat pots or clean plastic pots with holes in their bottoms are excellent. Lift seedlings by a leaf and support the rootball from below with a spoon when transplanting. Don't pull or hold the seedling by its stem, as you damage the new plant.
Moving OutdoorsA week or two before planting outdoors, start hardening off seedlings. An easy way to harden plants off is to place them in a coldframe and adjust the lid of the coldframe every few days. If you don't have a coldframe, find a sheltered spot where you can put the trays of plants. Once hardened off, seedlings can be set out in the garden. Transplant you seeds in late afternoon or early evening, when the sun has passed its peak. Starting seeds isn't difficult. You will be rewarded with young starter plants that will flower or produce earlier in the garden.
Easy to Grow Herbs
Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia or Purpurea)
Perennial. Sow seeds in very early spring or fall. Prefers full sun, with well drained, limey soil and regular watering. Used for its immune enhancing properties.
Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia or Purpurea)Perennial. Sow seeds in very early spring or fall. Prefers full sun, with well drained, limey soil and regular watering. Used for its immune enhancing properties.
Elecampane (Inula helenium)Perennial. Sow seed in early spring or sow directly in garden in mid-spring. Light-dependent germinator. Grows in full sun or partial shade. Cough and lung remedy, bitter and antiseptic. Elecampane is used for bronchial infections.
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)Perennial. Seed is easy to germinate. Prefers full sun. This mildly anti-viral and expectorant herb used to treat the common cold. May be propagated by seeds, sown in early spring, or by dividing the plants in spring and autumn. Thrives in normal garden soil and minimal water. Established plants can easily be divided and replanted. Plant 1.5 feet apart.
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)Perennial. Start in flats indoors, transplant out in spring or late summer. Harvest in early flower, at least twice a season. Used as a emmenagogue and a cardiac tonic.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Perennial. Seed is easy to germinate, and will grow prolifically. Prefers full sun to part shade. Thrives best in a fairly warm, preferably moist climate, and in deep soils rich in humus. Mature plants can be easily divided and transplanted to 1 1/2 ft. apart. Used as a carminative to aid in digestion.
Perennial. Seed is easy to germinate, and will grow prolifically. Prefers full sun to part shade. Thrives best in a fairly warm, preferably moist climate, and in deep soils rich in humus. Mature plants can be easily divided and transplanted to 1 1/2 ft. apart. Used as a carminative to aid in digestion.
Here are our Spring ClassesHerbal Soap Making - Saturday, April 25, 2009 NYC
An Introduction to Herbal Medicine - Saturday, April 25, 2009 NYC
Introduction to Soap Making - Saturday, May 2, 2009 Grand Gorge, NY
Medicinal Plant Preparations Workshop - Saturday, May 9, 2009 Grand Gorge, NY
An Introduction to Herbal Medicine - Saturday, May 16, 2009 Grand Gorge, NY
The 2009 Botanical Medicine Program - 6 weekends - June through October
Click on any of the above courses to see a full description.
For our full schedule - click here
The Herbal Bear 2009 Botanical Medicine Program We are currently accepting applications for the 2009 Botanical Medicine Program.
The 2009 Botanical Medicine Program offers a 6-weekend program, June through October, for those who desire an in-depth herbal program. The program is held one weekend a month (twice in October). This course is very special. It offers students the opportunity to learn about herbs by placing the classroom right in the garden! The program is at the Herbal Bear, Grand Gorge, NY location - a beautiful private 30 acre property in the Northern Catskills - just 2 hours and 45 minutes from NYC.
Each weekend we learn about the plants that grow around us, studying their healing properties upon different body systems, gathering and harvesting the local medicinal plants which grow on the property, and developing a systematic approach to herbal formulations. By the end of the program you will be able to identify and know how to use well over 100 different herbs. Our classes are informal and relaxed - however we take pride in the fact that our instructors are among the top in their fields and include experienced herbalists, research scientists, and authors who have published in their field of botanical expertise.
Our small class size allows accessibility to our instructors both during lessons and after class.
Our small class size allows accessibility to our instructors both during lessons and after class.
Our instructor's enthusiasm for their topics shows in their willingness to share both their time and knowledge with students - in class and one-on-one.
No one enjoys a boring classroom lecture - this is why we have designed this program to be an interactive and hands-on experience. Learning about herbal remedies takes on a whole new dimension when you have a chance to see, smell, touch and use the plants that grow right in the Northern Catskills.
No one enjoys a boring classroom lecture - this is why we have designed this program to be an interactive and hands-on experience. Learning about herbal remedies takes on a whole new dimension when you have a chance to see, smell, touch and use the plants that grow right in the Northern Catskills.
The 2009 Botanical Medicine will be the 17th year our program has been running. Each year I have the pleasure to meet wonderful people who come to learn about plants and botanical medicine. The program is a unique experience, bringing together professional instruction in an informal setting which provides a relaxing environment in which to learn.
The Botanical Medicine program offers course material that is often offered in college level classes. An applicant should have a minimum of a high school diploma and be comfortable with scientific topics.
Ursula Basch
The Herbal Bear School of Botanical Medicine
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Over the course of the program, you will learn:
- Spring Herb Identification
- Spring Herb Identification Herbal Terms and Resources
- Wild Food Gathering
- Herbs for the Digestive System
- Making Herbal Teas
- Plant Meditation
- Herbal Harvesting, Drying and Storage
- Herbal Vinegars
- Making Herbal Tinctures Medicinal Herbal Oils
- Herbs for the Nervous System
- Making a Herbal First Aid Kit
- Herbs for Women’s Health
- Herbs for The Circulatory System
- Making Herbal Salves
- Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Herbal Energetics and Diagnostic Techniques
- Developing Herbal Formulations
- Making Herbal Cosmetics, Body Creams and Herbal Bath Salts
- Herbal Case Studies
- Herbs for the Immune System
- Sacred Herbs and Ceremonial
- Uses Medicinal and Edible Mushrooms Field Identification of Mushrooms
- Mushroom Propagation
- Harvesting Autumn Roots and Barks
- Herbs for Colds and Flu
- Making Herbal Brandies and Elixirs and Syrups
- Exploring Healing Modalities (i.e. Reiki, Reflexology)
- Planting a Herb Garden
As a participant you will learn the gentle cycles and rhythms of the plants as they develop and change through the seasons. Together with the plants, we will discover our own rhythms and connection to the Mother Earth. The Botanical Medicine Program meets at Herbal Bear Cabin in the Northern Catskills. Located on 30+ acres of woods and field, Herbal Bear Catskill location is a beautiful place to learn. The land is home to deer, bear, turkeys and an incredible assortment of wild edible and medicinal plants. We have a pond suitable for swimming, planted herb gardens, a water lily gardens and many paths to explore through the woods.
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The 2009 Botanical Medicine Program meets for all of the following dates:
- Saturday, June 13th – Sunday June 14th, 2009
- Saturday July 11th – Sunday July 12th, 2009
- Saturday August 8th – Sunday August 9th, 2009
- Saturday September 12th – Sunday Sept 13th, 2009
- Saturday Oct 3th – Sunday October 4th, 2009
- Saturday October 24th – Sunday October 25th, 2009
We strongly encourage you to arrange your schedule to be able to attend all the scheduled weekends.
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Location
Grand Gorge, NY
Click HERE for Public Transportation from NYC
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Click HERE for Public Transportation from NYC
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Our Instructors
- Ursula Basch
- Susan Pell, Ph.D.
- Bob Beyfuss
- Kelly Martin
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Meals are Included
Delicious vegetarian meals are included in the Program.
We use organic produce and local products as much as possible.
We serve 5 meals per weekend - starting with breakfast on Saturday morning. Our meals are vegetarian and may include dairy and eggs. If you are strictly vegan or have religious limitation for your diet - you may have to bring some food to supplement what is served. We do not serve soy or rice milk. All meals are served buffet style. We ask that you assist in clean-up after each meal.
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We serve 5 meals per weekend - starting with breakfast on Saturday morning. Our meals are vegetarian and may include dairy and eggs. If you are strictly vegan or have religious limitation for your diet - you may have to bring some food to supplement what is served. We do not serve soy or rice milk. All meals are served buffet style. We ask that you assist in clean-up after each meal.
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Daily Schedule
Saturday:
8:00am - 9:00am - Breakfast
9:30am - 12:30pm - Class
12:30pm - 1:45pm - Lunch
1:45pm - 4:30pm - Class
4:30pm - 4:45pm - Break
4:45pm - 6:30pm - Class
6:30pm - 7:30pm - Dinner
Sunday:
8:00am - 8:45am - Breakfast
9:00am - 12:15pm - Class
12:15pm - 1:00pm - Lunch
1:15pm - 2:45pm - Class
Our Early Registration has been extended to April 30th
Program Cost: Early registration cost: $2650
Registration after April 30, 2009, cost: $2850.00 (required at once)
Our Early Registration has been extended to April 30th
Program Cost: Early registration cost: $2650
Registration after April 30, 2009, cost: $2850.00 (required at once)
Registration:
Refund Policies: We will make no refunds after April 30th, 2009. We will not make refunds or offer make-up sessions for any classes missed by the student.
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Lodging:
The program costs do not include lodging. Each student is responsible for their own lodging arrangements. Please click click here for infomation about local motels and inns in the area - as well as lodging offered at the Herbal Bear. We are offering lodging information to assist you in finding accommodations. If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact us.
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Recommended Reading: There are a few books that I recommend that each student purchase.
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