OK What is Wild Herb Weekend?

Once a year the North Carolina Herb Association hosts an annual gathering up  in Banner Elk at the Valle Crucis Convention Center. It happens each year on the last weekend in July. There a group of herb growers, teachers, hobbyists meet to learn, laugh, share stories and knowledge. We have classes and plant walks and also just relax and enjoy the scenery of the surrounding mountains.

The weekend begins with an opening ceremony where we gather to form  a circle to begin our weekend. We share where we all come from and how many years we have been coming. There were many newcomers this year which was great to see. Then we had our Herb Food Contest with participants sharing their best recipes and competing for a $50 prize. The best thing was getting  to taste all the entries after the judging! Yum!

There was a great program over the weekend with classes on everything from Adrenal Adaptogenic Herbs, Herbal First Aid, Herbs  & EO’s for facials to Growing an online Herbal Business to Herbs for Health, Herbal Crafts  and many other interests.

There were also vendors selling plants, herbal products and books. So many things to pique your interest!

And the excitement of the raffle ticket drawings! This is a way we support the interns that help out with the event. We all buy tickets and vie for the donations and act like an excited kid hoping to win our prizes. So much fun.

The accommodations are great and as are the meals – just a FYI  🙂  The best was also not having to cook and being served tasty meals.

And of course to sit in the rocking chairs on the porch and relax.  I love going there to get away from the stresses of my workaday world and just clear my head. And of course a glass of wine and sitting with some friends and chatting and laughing with new friends made and old ones renewed does allot also.

 Next year will be our 30th year and our biggest event! You all need to join us and come up to the mountains and breathe some clear mountain air!