| 2007 Press Archive |
Sponsors and Participants Build Momentum for HerbDay(October 11, 2007) — The second annual HerbDay will be officially celebrated this Saturday, Oct. 13, with events that will celebrate herbs and herbalism at sites across the United States. Retailers, large and small, will participate as HerbDay hosts, either on HerbDay itself (Saturday, October 13) or on the days just before and after. Many Aveda Salons and Spas, as well as the Aveda corporate headquarters, will offer educational lectures and other specials. Natural foods stores and co-ops have planned speakers and activities for children, as have a number of herb schools and colleges. A list of events and their locations are at the event’s website: www.herbday.org. The website also offers several educational documents about herbal products.Some activities were already held before the “official” HerbDay, while others will occur afterwards, all week long, and even throughout the month. Retail stores, botanical gardens, herb farms and parks enjoy broad latitude in making their own plans for lectures and workshops by well-known herbalists; herb walks; in-store cooking demonstrations featuring herbs and spices; seasonal herbal handcrafts; in-store herbal beauty product demonstrations; presentations by herb company representatives; activities with herbal themes for children; and more! The Herb Society of America’s many local chapters will hold events in their communities as well as at the U.S. Arboretum, in Washington, DC. A two-day event at the U.S. Botanic Garden next to the capitol building in Washington, DC, on Oct. 12 and 13, will feature more than 40 talks and lectures, and a variety of activities for children and adults (see event details: http://www.usbg.gov/education/events/HerbDay-Celebrate-Herbs-and-Herbalism.cfm). Consumer magazine Taste for Life has published a special edition that includes a pullout section with carefully researched articles by respected herbalists. Corporate sponsors include Vitamin World, which is promoting the day at its 480 stores and through its publications. The GNC chain is planning a variety of store-based activities and special HerbDay offers. HerbDay is an annual public educational event celebrating the importance of herbs and herbalism through harmonized, independently planned activities that will occur on October 13, 2007, and/or during the days leading up to and following that date. Future official HerbDays are set to fall on the second Saturday of October. Five national nonprofit organizations— American Botanical Council (ABC); American Herbalists Guild (AHG); American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP); American Herbal Products Association (AHPA); and United Plant Savers (UpS) — are working together as the HerbDay Coalition to coordinate the website and educational materials. Several other nonprofit organizations partnered with the HerbDay Coalition to ensure the ongoing success of this celebration: Bastyr University, The Herb Society of America, The International Herb Association, The Natural Products Association, Tai Sophia Institute, and The United States Botanic Garden. Sponsors and Participants Build Momentum for HerbDay(September 5, 2007) — The second annual HerbDay is just weeks away and numerous sponsors and participants are planning an exciting array of events to celebrate herbs and herbalism at sites across America. Reports of events and offers to become involved are pouring in as people and companies register at the event’s website: www.herbday.org.Several retailers, large and small, will participate as HerbDay hosts, either on HerbDay itself (Saturday, October 13) or on the days just before and after. For example, Herbs Etc. will host HerbDay activities in their Santa Fe, New Mexico, store and community. Aveda Salons and Spas will participate in communities in many regions. The GNC chain plans a variety of store-based activities and special offers to honor the day. “GNC certainly knows the health benefits of herbal supplementation when incorporated into a healthy lifestyle,” said Kim Kitko, senior brand director of the herbs category at the company’s Pittsburgh headquarters. “We’re proud to support HerbDay so that more people can enjoy these benefits, too — whether they want to address a certain concern, get the full potency of an herb’s active ingredient, or learn more about the herbs they use regularly.” Intending to repeat last year’s success the HerbDay Coalition will produce a two-day event at the U.S. Botanic Garden next to the capitol building in Washington, DC. This event on Oct. 12 and 13 will feature more than 40 talks and lectures, and a variety of activities for children and adults (see event details: http://www.usbg.gov/education/events/HerbDay-Celebrate-Herbs-and-Herbalism.cfm). The U.S. Arboretum, also in Washington, DC, is partnering with the Herb Society of America (HSA) for an event, as are many HSA local chapters. Consumer magazine Taste for Life will publish a special edition in October that will include a pullout section with carefully researched articles by respected herbalists. As with all special Taste for Life editions, HerbDay 2007 will also be a stand-alone publication with a lengthy shelf time in natural products chains, health food stores, and herb shops nationwide, offering leading manufacturers an excellent opportunity to support consumer education through advertisements. The entire herbal community is invited to participate actively in HerbDay 2007, either by hosting an event or providing sponsorship in the form of financial support. Now is the time to develop your ideas for HerbDay activities to ensure that every community celebrates the wonders of herbs. Visit www.herbday.org to register your event so that your community can join the herbal celebration. The website will be the primary location to organize and disseminate information about HerbDay activities and resources. Last year, some activities were held before the “official” day, after, all week long, and even throughout the month. Retail stores, botanical gardens, herb farms and parks throughout North America enjoyed broad latitude in making their own plans for lectures and workshops by well-known herbalists; herb walks; in-store cooking demonstrations featuring herbs and spices; seasonal herbal handcrafts; in-store herbal beauty product demonstrations; presentations by herb company representatives; activities with herbal themes for children; and more! HerbDay is an annual public educational event celebrating the importance of herbs and herbalism through harmonized, independently planned activities that will occur on October 13, 2007, and/or during the days leading up to and following that date. Five national nonprofit organizations— American Botanical Council (ABC); American Herbalists Guild (AHG); American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP); American Herbal Products Association (AHPA); and United Plant Savers (UpS) — are working together as the HerbDay Coalition to coordinate the website and educational materials. Events Planned to “Celebrate Herbs and Herbalism”(April 4, 2007) — Building on the many fun-filled and educational events that marked the first ever HerbDay in 2006, the date has been set for the second annual HerbDay in 2007: Saturday, October 13.The same five national nonprofit organizations working together as the HerbDay Coalition* will continue their efforts to secure the future of this grassroots celebration of the many uses and benefits of plants in our lives. A coordinated series of public educational events celebrating the importance of herbs and herbalism through harmonized, independently planned activities, HerbDay will occur on and around October 13, 2007. Last year, some activities were held before the “official” day, after, all week long, and even throughout the month. Retail stores, botanical gardens and parks throughout North America enjoyed broad latitude in making their own plans for lectures and workshops by well-known herbalists; herb walks; in-store cooking demonstrations featuring herbs and spices; seasonal herbal handcrafts; in-store herbal beauty product demonstrations; presentations by herb company representatives; activities with herbal themes for children; and more! All are invited to participate actively in HerbDay 2007, either by hosting an event or providing sponsorship in the form of financial support. It is not too early to start developing ideas for local HerbDay activities so that every community is part of the celebration. To participate, visit www.herbday.org, the primary location for organizing and disseminating information about HerbDay activities and resources. Events that were registered last year are still posted to inspire ideas. In future, 2007 event registrations will be taken to tell others how you will celebrate HerbDay! HerbDay: An Authentic Grass-Roots Movement Takes RootOctober 14 Commemorates the Growing Interest in Herbs(October 2, 2006) — Herbs are essential components of everything from dietary supplements to incredible gourmet cuisine, beautiful gardens, effective personal care, and vital nutrients. And we can’t live without them. October 14, 2006, marks the first ever HerbDay, which is being celebrated in cities throughout the country to honor the role of herbs in our lives. A two-day keynote event at the U.S. Botanic Garden, on the National Mall in Washington DC, is just one of many formal and informal events to be held at large and small retail stores, schools, farms and botanical gardens, and public parks. New events nationwide — and now in Canada and Europe — are still being added to the HerbDay website, http://www.herbday.org/. They include lectures and workshops, book signings and talks by renowned authors, guided plant identification walks with experienced botanists familiar with regional habitats, a wild plant rescue, seasonal herbal handcrafts, in-store product demonstrations, children’s activities, and more. Companies such as Aveda Salons and Spas, GNC, Great Earth Vitamins, Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers, The Vitamin Shoppe, Vitamin World, Whole Foods Markets, and many more will join in the festivities. Five national nonprofit organizations, working together as the HerbDay Coalition, launched this event — American Botanical Council, American Herbalists Guild, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, American Herbal Products Association, and United Plant Savers. Other organizations provided support and connections to the herbal community, and a few corporate sponsors covered some of the expenses. “This day is about celebrating the value of herbs today and honoring the long traditions of their use in healing in many cultures. We are pleased to have played a role in making this happen and we are confident HerbDay will continue long into the future,” said Wayne Silverman, PhD, chief administrative officer of the American Botanical Council “Because of HerbDay, many will discover the resources in their own communities, including herbalists and other experts who can help in making good choices to improve and maintain their health. Many herbalists have volunteered as teachers in support of HerbDay, in the spirit of sharing their knowledge,” said Aviva Romm, president of the American Herbalists Guild. “Botanicals have been in use for thousands of years, and modern science is catching up with what the peoples of the world have known: that herbs work when selected and taken properly. HerbDay is a way of sharing that knowledge,” said Roy Upton, executive director of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. “Herbs are an important health option for many people in America as well as around the world. Whether a simple tea or a sophisticated extract, these products continue a long tradition of self-care, and HerbDay is a celebration of the value of botanicals,” said Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Products Association. “Human lives are intertwined with botanicals, for the things we need and the things we enjoy. It is too easy to overlook and take for granted the plants that provide us with so many benefits. We must protect them if they’re going to continue to benefit us, and many HerbDay events address this issue,” said Lynda LeMole, president of United Plant Savers. More information about HerbDay activities and resources, and event registration forms are available at: http://www.herbday.org. |
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