History of the Johnson County Herb Society

The Johnson County Herb Society was established in the spring of 2003. It's purpose is to educate fellow gardeners in the propagation, cultivation and uses of herbs, as well as their history and folklore.

The first meeting was held at the Old Blue House nursery in Cleburne, where Pam Aaron (president from 2003 - 2005) explained how the Johnson County area could benefit from a herb society like the one in Fort Worth. Following meetings were held at the United Electric Cooperative service in Cleburne.

Members decided to move the meetings to a more central location in 2006. JCHS now meets from 10 a.m. -12 noon on the third Saturday of each month at the Cleburne Library, 302 W. Henderson. Notices of upcoming meetings and special events are posted on the club's website at http://www.CleburneArea.info/herbies/

Dues are $20 per year. Meetings feature a herb of the month handout, raffle, and programs from guest speakers or members on ways to use herbs from the garden - to crafting, cooking and possible medicinal uses. (The herb society's purpose is not to diagnose, treat or prescribe herbs.)

JCHS members and guests have gone on several field trips. In the spring of 2004 they visited herbalist Dr. Judy Griffin's garden in Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Herb Society Festival in May. In the spring of 2005 members visited the garden of Lucy Harrell, organic garden consultant in Arlington. This year members and guests went on a field trip to Jo Anne Boudreau's Boudreau Herb Farm in Mineral Wells. Jo Anne spoke from her knowledge of how herbs are used medicinally. In July JCHS visited the garden of fellow member Sandra Buerger to see how herbs could fit into the landscape amongst a water garden, garden fixtures and winding paths.

JCHS presented it's first herb festival "Celebration of Herbs" with guest speakers Dr. Judy Griffin and Lucy Harrell, vendors and a quilt raffle. Proceeds from the quilt raffle were earmarked to purchase a bench for the newly developing Winston Patrick MacGregor park in Cleburne.

JCHS has many other community projects on the agenda, including making a demo herb garden and producing a series of herbal cookbooks with taste-tested recipes. Members are often asked to give talks on growing herbs or cooking with herbs. The JCHS has booths at the Johnson County Master Gardener's show each spring. They presented the Cleburne library with a copy of "The Herb Garden Cookbook" and a herb container garden for the area near the rear entrance.

Johnson County Herb Society will hold its second herb festival "Herbal Thymes" show and symposium Saturday, October 28 from 9 to 3 at the Cleburne Senior Center, 1501 W. Henderson (behind the Civic Center). Admission is $3, or get a complimentary ticket from herb society members.

Guest speakers will be Lucy Harrell, organic garden consultant; Judy Barnett, editor of Homegrown garden magazine; and Jay Mertz of Rabbit Hill Farms, developer of organic garden products.

There will be several vendor booths and basket raffles throughout the show. The main raffle item is a garden potting bench with many other garden items to take place at 2 p.m. Tickets are available now from members for $1 each or 6 for $5.00. Proceeds from the show will help fund another community project.

For more information, contact president Esther Chambliss at 817-263-9322 or visit the website at http://www.CleburneArea.info/herbies/