There are THREE NC Extension-led Medicinal Herb Grower Groups. These groups are focused on commercial herb production (i.e., growing herbs for sale) and are led by extension agents. Read below about the WNC Medicinal Herb Growers, the Piedmont Herb Growers, and the Sandhills Cutflower and Herb Growers.
Western NC Medicinal Herb Growers Group
The Western North Carolina Medicinal Herb Growers is a group of NC Extension educators, herb farmers, and serious herb gardeners interested in gaining experience in growing medicinal herbs and learning more about them. The group first organized in the fall of 2013 and has met under the names of the WNC Herb Club, the WNC Medicinal Herb Club, the WNC Medicinal Herb Growers Club, and most recently, the WNC Medicinal Herb Growers. They are an active group that meets every month or so on herb farms in the western third of the state to get hands-on experience with all aspects of medicinal herb growing, post-harvest handling, and marketing. It is a very social group, so a pot-luck lunch is often part of the event. Experienced herb growers mentor beginning herb farmers; this can be a casual or more structured relationship.
This is a wonderful time to be involved with the experienced and growing network of medicinal herb growers in North Carolina. Please mark your calendars and join the WNC Medicinal Herb Growers group for these great events! To join the NC Extension WNC Medicinal Herb growers email list to receive newsletters and more, email Meghan_Baker@ncsu.edu and put "WNC Medicinal Herb Growers" in the subject line.
Woodland Stewards is a group within the WNC Medicinal Herb Growers who are beginning and advanced forest farmers that meet monthly for hands-on programming in the demonstration woods of the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, Mills River, NC. Under the leadership of Margaret Bloomquist, research scholar, and the WNC Medicinal Herb Growers Captains, the Woodland Stewards are embarking on their 6th year of monthly gatherings and work parties. This includes participation in research and extension efforts of our native woodland botanicals; the maintenance, growth, and harvesting of woodland medicinals at the Mills River demonstration site; site visits, mentorship, and work parties at woodland stewards' properties; plant rescues; and more! The Woodland Stewards' projects are currently supported by, and very much a part of, the educational programming of the Appalachian Forest Farmers Coalition originally funded by the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.
2026 Western NC Medicinal Herb Growers Events
February 6 2026 10am - 12pm
So You Want to Grow Medicinal Herbs!
Online via Zoom
Registration is free and required: Link to the Eventbrite registration page
April 13 2026 1-3pm
Spring Ephemerals
(Taxonomy and botany for herbs and native plants)
Bullington Gardens, Inc., Hendersonville, NC
Registration is $15-20 and arranged by Bullington gardens. Link to Bullington Gardens Event Registration page.
July 15, 2026 4-6pm
“Thyme for Safety”: Medicinal Herb Growers Discuss Food safety, GAPS, GMPS and More
Free Zoom Webinar, Please register to receive zoom link. Link to Eventbrite registration page.
August 5, 2026 2-4pm 2026
Aerial and Tea Grade Medicinal Herbs - Harvest and Post Harvest Handling
Mills River, NC
Link to Eventbrite registration page ($12).
September 18th, 2026 9:00AM to 3:00PM
Regional Ginseng update
Buncombe County Cooperative Extension office- Asheville, NC
Registration ($30). Link to Eventbrite registration page.
November 12, 2026 2-6pm
11th Annual NC Medicinal Herb Grower and Buyer Event
Mills River, NC
Eventbrite registration link ($12).
Potential buyers and sponsors please contact Margaret_Bloomquist@ncsu.edu for more information.
December 17, 2026 9am-12pm
The Art and Science of Pressed Plant Vouchers
Buncombe county Extension 9am-12pm ($12)
YouTube Link to Voucher video
Registration information to come.
2026 Woodland Stewards Programs
Monthly group gatherings at the NC State research and demonstration forest farming site in Mills River, NC. We are a consistent group of beginning to highly experienced forest farmers that grow through the seasons together. In-person programming hours are offered on the following dates from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 2026. Picnic lunch follows weather permitting.
Other opportunities on farms and access to the google group are also offered through this programming (see those in italics). Please request info about joining the WNC Woodland Stewards group and RSVP (required) by emailing Margaret_Bloomquist@ncsu.edu
Spring 2026
March 10th 2026 9am - 1pm
Welcome tour of Demonstration forest farm and late winter tasks
April 14th 2026 9am – 1pm
Ephemeral emergence and spring propagation
May 5th 2026 9am – 1pm
Woodland botanical plot inventory and bed maintenance
Summer 2026
June 9th 2026 9am-1pm
Participatory plant physiology and summer tasks
August 4th 2026 9am-1pm
Pests and disease of the forest farm, preparing for harvest
Fall 2026
September 8th 2026 9am-1pm
Ginseng harvesting, sustainability, and update on research.
October 6th 2026 9am-1pm
Annual woodland stewards root harvest ~ and medicine making (new this year)!
November 10th 2026 9am - 1pm
Putting beds to rest and annual Forest Farming Planting Stock distribution
The Piedmont Medicinal Herb Growers Group
Established in mid-2022, this group is organized by N.C. Cooperative Extension agents in the piedmont counties. To join, or for more information about the classes or the group, email Susan Hawkins at smhawkin@ncsu.edu
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Piedmont Medicinal Herb Growers 2026 Events
So You Want to Grow Medicinal Herbs?
Monday, February 16, 2026 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Catawba County Extension Center, 1175 S. Brady Ave., Newton, NC. During this class, you will learn about the Medicinal Herb Steps for Commerce. This includes an introduction to medicinal herbs, how to evaluate resources, the planning process, steps on how to grow, and how to grow your success. The class is being held in person at the Catawba Extension Center. Cost is $12. Register through Eventbrite at https://go.ncsu.edu/growingmedicinalherbs
Growing Roselle Hibiscus and St. John's Wort
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Yadkin County Extension Center, 2051 Agricultural Way, Yadkinville, NC
Join the Piedmont Medicinal Herb Growers to learn how to grow roselle hibiscus and St. John's wort. We will discuss growing, harvesting, post-harvest handling, and more. Registration is $12. Register on Eventbrite at https://go.ncsu.edu/growingroselle-stjohnswort
Botanical Walk at Finch Park
Friday, April 10, 2026, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Finch Park, 15 Paul Beck Rd., Lexington, NC 27292 Join the Piedmont Medicinal Herb Growers for a spring botanical walk. We will meet at Finch Park to see spring flowers, a riparian area, and more. Registration is $10. Register on Eventbrite at https://go.ncsu.edu/botanicalwalk-finchpark
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Sandhills Cut Flower and Herb Growers
This is the newest group and is serving the counties of Lee, Moore, Montgomery, Cumberland, Richmond, Hoke, Scotland, Anson, and Harnett. For more information, contact Amanda Bratcher, Extension agent at amwilkin@ncsu.edu
Sandhills Cut Flower and Herb Growers 2026 Events
January Meet-up
January 22, 2026 from 4-6 pm
N.C. Cooperative Extension - Moore County Center, 707 Pinehurst Avenue, Carthage, NC 28327 We have a meet-up planned for Thursday, January 22, from 4-6 p.m. We'll be meeting with THE Dr. John Dole about woody cut flowers. Please RSVP (free!) https://sandhillscutflowergrowers.eventbrite.com, so we know how many folks are coming. We will also have time for networking and knowledge-sharing. There will be a Zoom option, too.
Small Farm Bootcamp on Cutflowers
Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 10 am- 4 pm.
Stay Tuned: Small Farm Bootcamp: Cutflower Module- Register here: https://go.ncsu.edu/scsfbc2026cutflowers.Coming Soon! Stay Tuned: Herb Producers/Producers interested in adding herbs to their production Stay tuned for a Spring program about getting "into herbs" for producers. There are a lot of market opportunities opening up and these can be a 'plant them and leave them" (maintenance still required!) for part of your production area.
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WNC Medicinal Herb Grower Videos:
Video on How to Make a Plant Voucher: How to Make a Plant Voucher
Video on How to Care for Your Tools: Tool Care for Small Farmers
Meghan Baker, Margaret Bloomquist, and Craig Mauney, NC Extension. Meghan Baker also created these lists of field guides and other resources to help you with medicinal plant taxonomy and identification and a list of materials for making plant vouchers. (2/12/2021)
- Meghan Baker and Craig Mauney, NC Extension. (7/21/2021)
Plant and Seed Suppliers
Please see the 2022 WNC Medicinal Herb Growers Planting Stock Suppliers_9-2022 (this is a pdf). If you think your business should be on this list, please email Margaret_Bloomquist@ncsu.eduThe NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program also published this Horticulture Information Leaflet on Sources of Seeds and Planting Stock for Forest Farming in 2025.
APPALACHIAN FOREST FARMERS COALITION EVENTS
Be sure to follow the ABFFC calendar for events happening in our region and across the country.
STAY INFORMED
To stay informed about all the WNC Medicinal Herb Growers and Woodland Stewards activities and more, sign up for the NC Alternative Crops & Organics, Sign up for our program's newsletter
You can follow us on Facebook, too at: WNC Medicinal Herb Growers FB page
