Events

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 1, 2012, 6:30-9:00. ACTCM, 555 De Haro Street, Room H, San Francisco, CA.

Chinese Medicinal Herb Farms in the US: A Reception and Lecture with Peggy Schafer and Jean Giblette.

ACTCM is happy to host two long-time friends of the school: Peggy Schafer of the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm in Petaluma, CA and Jean Giblette of High Falls Gardens. in Philmont, NY. The evening will begin with a social and reception. Then Peggy and Jean will share information regarding their efforts to support the growth of Chinese medicinal herbs here in the United States. Peggy will also share information about her new book: The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm: A Cultivator’s Guide to Small-Scale Organic Herb Production which includes 79 detailed herb profiles, growing information, and medicinal use. The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm is the first cultivation guide of its kind, and presents invaluable information for growers interested in producing high-quality efficacious herbs in all climates of the United States, with the historical connectedness of ancient practitioners. Peggy will also be signing books after the talk. Please RSVP to leeswain@actcm.edu

February 2, 2012, 12:30-1:30. Five Branches University, Santa Cruz campus.

Presentation to students and faculty with Jean Giblette from High Falls Gardens.

February 3rd, 2012 - EcoFarm Conference in Pacific Grove, CA.

Workshop: Chinese Medicinal Herbs: A Farmer's Primer with Jean Giblette of High Falls Gardens. More info www.eco-farm.org.

February 17th, 2012, 11-noon. Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine Gainesville, FL

Presentation: Dragon kingdom cultivates!

March 11, 2012 - Ohlone Herbal Center in Berkeley

Wild Quality Medicinal Herbs: From seed to harvest learn how wild quality efficacious botanicals are grown, what this means for conservation as well as trade from the world's village communities to the global market. The focus will be on growing herbs and from an Asian medicinal plant perspective. Workshop 10-5 to register visit ohlonecenter.org.

March 15, 2012, 5:30pm

HortiCulture
Explore the nature of our connection to plants.
Spring 2012 Lecture Series at Quarryhill Botanical Garden Lecture: Cultivate to Conserve - Issues Surrounding the Trade in Asian Medicinal Plants. Guests are welcome to stroll the garden before the event. Members: $10, Non-members $15 Call Quarryhill Botanical Garden to reserve.
Quarryhill Botanical Garden, Glen Ellen, CA 95442, 707-996-3166.
www.quarryhillbg.org.

June 2-3 - Puyallup, Washington

Mother Earth News Fair. More info at www.motherearthnews.com/fair.

PAST EVENTS

December 28th, 2011 1-2 pm.

Interview on Health Matters with host Ned Hoke, KSVY 91.3 FM. Sonoma Sun public radio streams on KSVY.org

December 6th, 2011

Presentation for a Practice Management course at the Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College Berkeley, CA.

November 21st, 2011, 1-2 pm KZYX and KXYZ.org 90.7 FM

Interview on the Farm and Garden Show with Debra Scott reviewing the newly released book: The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm, A Cultivators Guide to Small-Scale Organic Herb Production.

September 11, 2011, 10am-noon

Medicinal Plant Walk at Quarryhill Botanical Gardens in Glen Ellen, CA With Peggy Schafer & Sean Fannin. All proceeds benefit Quarryhill Botanical Garden, $15 Non Members/$10.00 Members. www.quarryhillbg.org. Quarryhill Botanical Garden Advancing the Conservation, Study, and Cultivation of the Flora of Asia.

September 1, 2011 - Tour and Lecture

The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm hosts a tour and lecture for the California School of Herbal Studies.

2011 Internship Program, Petaluma, CA

This eight session hands-on program will follow the seasonal progression of growing herbs, more details here.

April 11, 2011 - San Francisco

"Trade and Conservation of Asian Herbs"
American College Of Traditional Chinese Medicine 455 Arkansas St, San Francisco.

September 4, 2010, 10am-noon

Medicinal Plant Walk at Quarryhill Botanical Gardens in Glen Ellen, CA. with Peggy Schafer from the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm & Sean Fannin from the Center for Traditional Health Arts. All proceeds benefit Quarryhill Botanical Garden, $15 Non Members/$10.00 Members. www.quarryhillbg.org

Summer 3 Session Summer Workshop, Petaluma

Are you interested in cultivating the most efficacious Chinese botanicals? Or would you like to gain understating and deepen your relationship with Chinese herbs through their cultivation? Perhaps you are concerned about loosing access to herbs, and are interested in being a part of the development of Chinese herbs as a domestic emerging market? How about access to, or providing better quality herbs than is commonly found in the marketplace? Maybe you are a grower seeking to diversify your production? Besides offering seed and field grown herbs the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm, which is located in the coastal hills one hour north of San Francisco, also serves as an experimental farm to explore these possibilities as well as aid in herb conservation. Our three session summer intensive allows those interested to visit with 100+ Chinese medicinals and engage in hands on experience to grow and harvest Chinese herbs under the guidance of Peg Schafer; educator and nationally recognized Asian herb grower.

This workshop will have a mix of field activities, such as sowing seed and harvesting herbs; discussions will cover the medicinal herb nursery, managing the garden and farm, choosing which crops and how to grow them, cultivating efficacious herbs with wild qualities, harvesting and drying of leaf, flower, seed and root herb crops, as well as other issues concerning herb quality and cultivation.

The program is $225, space is limited. The hours are 9-3 Saturday June 26th, Saturday July 24th, and Saturday August 28th. If you are interested please email Peg.

June 15 2010, 7:00 pm, Sebastopol

Confusion about GMP'S (Good Manufacturing Practices)?
In June, new regulations will be in effect for all manufacturers of herbal products. Are you incompliance? What does the ruling mean for small businesses? Join Matthew Persico (Simpler's Botanical Co and Galen's Way), Katie Huggins (Traditional Medicinals), Leslie Gardner (Sonoma County Herb Assoc.) and Peg Schafer (Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm) for a panel discussion of what the FDA's new rules for Good Manufacturing Practices means for herbalist and herb growers alike. Location: Peace in Medicine - 6771 Sebastopol Ave (Hwy 12) in the Gravenstein Station.

May 15 2010, Santa Rosa

“Cultivation, Conservation, and Chinese Herbs.” Presentation at the United Plant Savers Conference “Planting the Future,” which will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2010 in Santa Rosa, CA. Registration/info: www.unitedplantsavers.org or call: 802-476-6467.

September 26 2009, 10am-noon

July 30th, 12:30-2 pm, Oakland, CA

Peg Schafer talks to students at the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences on "Cultivation and Current Issues Surrounding Chinese Botanicals."

July 23rd, 12-1, San Francisco

From Village Herbalism to the World's Pharmacy: Addressing the conservation, cultivation and current issues surrounding Chinese botanicals. American College Of Traditional Chinese Medicine 455 Arkansas St, San Francisco.

April 18 & 19, 2009, 10-5 Mendocino

“Start Your Own Chinese Medicinal Herb Garden: A Hands-on workshop.” PDF Flyer here

April 2-3, 2009, New Mexico

Risk Management Education Program in Asian Herbs Being Offered to Organic Growers

New Mexico State University will offer a Risk Management Education and Training Program in Asian Medicinal Herb Production and Marketing this coming winter. Made possible by a grant from the Western Center for Risk Management Education, the goal of the two-day training program is to assist growers in identifying, managing and mitigating risks associated with Asian medicinal specialty crops grown for the acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) professions.

Asian medicinal herbs offer unique and possibly lucrative new markets for organic specialty crop growers, especially here in New Mexico where our varied and extreme climate and growing conditions enable the production of a diverse range of medicinal crop species. As with any other "new" or unfamiliar specialty crop, however, Asian medicinal herbs come with their own risks and challenges. Proper species identification, knowledge of seed sources, successful propagation techniques, awareness of potential invasiveness, and familiarization with production, harvesting and processing methods are important background information to know with any niche crop, but especially so with Asian medicinal herbs. The development of a sound long-range marketing and distribution plan to handle fluctuations in this emerging market will help prepare growers for the realities of "boom-and-bust" cycles associated with herbs. Additionally, a proper understanding of herb quality criteria needed by AOM professionals is essential for success. Growers need to be mindful that they are not just cultivating herbs, they are growing medicines. Potency and sanitation are paramount considerations growers need to include among other factors.

The training program will be offered as a two-day intensive workshop. National experts have been scheduled to come share their extensive knowledge with growers on the details of each of the following areas: a) Asian herb market overview and outlook; b) species identification and selection; c) propagation; d) cultivation and crop management practices; e) identifying and managing potential invasiveness; f) harvesting methods; g) processing and quality control; h) marketing strategies; and i) understanding market contracts. Active participation and follow-through on the part of attending growers will be strongly encouraged. Growers will be expected to learn to match crop species with their growing conditions, select herbs based not just on marketing potential but based on their combined use in Chinese formulas, acquire hands-on processing skills, and develop a marketing strategy for their selected herbs.

While the training will be oriented towards experienced, certified organic specialty crop growers, anyone can attend. The training program will be held Thursday and Friday, April 2-3 in Alcalde, New Mexico. The registration fee is $60 for the 2 days, and will include a lunch each day. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

For more information or to pre-register, contact Charles Martin at cmartin@nmsu.edu or 505-852-4241. View PDF flyer here back to top

December 2-3, 2008, New Mexico

Risk Management Education Program in Asian Herbs Being Offered to Organic Growers

New Mexico State University will offer a Risk Management Education and Training Program in Asian Medicinal Herb Production and Marketing this coming winter. Made possible by a grant from the Western Center for Risk Management Education, the goal of the three-day training program is to assist growers in identifying, managing and mitigating risks associated with Asian medicinal specialty crops grown for the acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) professions.

While the training will be oriented towards experienced, certified organic specialty crop growers, anyone can attend. The training program will be held Wed, Thurs and Friday, Dec 2-3 at the Bernalillo County Cooperative Extension Office/4-H Auditorium, 1510 Menaul NW in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The registration fee is $75 for the three days and will include a lunch each day. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

For more information or to pre-register, contact Charles Martin at cmartin@nmsu.edu or 505-852-4241. back to top

August 23 -24, 2008

Weekend Workshop

Are you interested in cultivating the most efficacious Chinese botanicals? Or would you like to gain understating and deepen your relationship with Chinese herbs through their cultivation? Perhaps you are concerned about loosing access to herbs, and are interested in being a part of the development of Chinese herbs as a domestic emerging market? How about access to, or providing better quality herbs than is commonly found in the marketplace? Maybe you are a grower seeking to diversify your production? Besides offering seed and field grown herbs the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm, which is located in the coastal hills one hour north of San Francisco, also serves as an experimental farm to explore these possibilities as well as aid in herb conservation. Our weekend internship intensive allows those interested to visit with 100+ Chinese medicinals and engage in hands on experience to grow and harvest Chinese herbs under the guidance of Peg Schafer; educator and nationally recognized Asian herb grower.

The weekend will have a mix of field activities and discussions covering the growing of herbs from seed sowing and pot culture in the nursery, to field production. We will cover soil management, planting, cultivation, and the harvesting and drying of leaf, flower, seed and root herb crops, as well as other issues concerning herb quality and cultivation.

The program is $175, space is limited. The hours are 9-4 Saturday and Sunday. If you are interested please email Peg.