Herb Society Minutes November 15, 2008


Minutes of Johnson County Herb Society Janaury 17, 2009 The Johnson County Herb Society met January 17 at 10 a.m. at the Cleburne Public Library. Twelve people attended. Members were reminded to start potting plants for the plant sale in the spring. Booths will also be available for $5 with a percentage of sales going to JCHS. Sue Morgan made a motion to have the plant sale the third weekend in May. Debra Moore seconded. The vote was unanimous in favor. Sherry Stamford made a motion to have the plant sale at CPU Computers on Main Street. Debra Moore seconded. The vote was unanimous in favor. Hours for the plant sale will be from 9 to 3. Micki will check if the business next door will allow parking. Debra Moore motioned and Sheryl Stamford seconded to donate money to McGregor Park to purchase an engraved paving stone ($50), an ornamental tree ($150), and a bird house ($150). The vote was unanimous in favor. The treasurer’s report shows $1070.88 in checking and $501.78 in savings. Members were reminded to bring recipes for the next cookbook, “Soups, Salads, Salsas and Sauces.” Debra Moore motioned that members go on a field trip to Tim’s Landscaping Center in Benbrook for the next meeting. Sheryl Stamford seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Esther will present “The Victory Garden” at 10:30 a.m. There will be free hotdogs and hamburgers and several other presentations. Sue and Jamie won the door prizes. Esther Chambliss presented a talk on Bay, the herb of the year. Bay is a culinary, medicinal and decorative herb, with lore and legend going back to the Bible and Greek culture. The laurel wreath worn by the Greeks was Bay (Bay Laurel). It is a native of the Mediterranean area. Psalms 37:35 mentioned “The wicked spread like the green bay tree.” Shakespeare’s plays referenced the laurel leaf, bay oil and the bay tree. The word “Baccalaureate” originates from the honor of wearing laurel leaves. The Bay tree can get 30 to 40 feet tall. It is propagated by cuttings. (The advice was to root it in a green bottle.) There are 15 varieties of laurel. The California Bay grows in this area but is not for cooking as it is toxic. The Willow Leaf Bay grows in Southeastern Texas, the Red Bay in Virginia, and the Mexican Bay is widespread. Colonists used Sweet Bay to preserve meats. One Bay leaf in a barrel of grain will keep out weevils. Bay leaves repel roaches and silverfish. One trick is to put crushed bay leaves in the toe of old socks or pantyhose, tie the top, and place in cabinets. Leaves can also be taped to the side of cabinets. The bay tree needs sunshine not shade. Usually anything that grows in the Mediterranean area can grow in Texas. Esther showed a heart made of florist wire strung with dried orange peel and bay leaves. Bay can be used in a bouquet garni for vegetables, fish, or turkey. Tie in cheesecloth with cooking string and remove before serving. Micki Nellis JCHS Secretary

Minutes of Johnson County Herb Society Janaury 17, 2009

The Johnson County Herb Society met January 17 at 10 a.m. at the Cleburne Public Library. Twelve people attended.

Members were reminded to start potting plants for the plant sale in the spring. Booths will also be available for $5 with a percentage of sales going to JCHS.

Sue Morgan made a motion to have the plant sale the third weekend in May. Debra Moore seconded. The vote was unanimous in favor.

Sherry Stamford made a motion to have the plant sale at CPU Computers on Main Street. Debra Moore seconded. The vote was unanimous in favor. Hours for the plant sale will be from 9 to 3. Micki will check if the business next door will allow parking.

Debra Moore motioned and Sheryl Stamford seconded to donate money to McGregor Park to purchase an engraved paving stone ($50), an ornamental tree ($150), and a bird house ($150). The vote was unanimous in favor.

The treasurer’s report shows $1070.88 in checking and $501.78 in savings.

Members were reminded to bring recipes for the next cookbook, “Soups, Salads, Salsas and Sauces.”

Debra Moore motioned that members go on a field trip to Tim’s Landscaping Center in Benbrook for the next meeting. Sheryl Stamford seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Esther will present “The Victory Garden” at 10:30 a.m. There will be free hotdogs and hamburgers and several other presentations.

Sue and Jamie won the door prizes.

Esther Chambliss presented a talk on Bay, the herb of the year. Bay is a culinary, medicinal and decorative herb, with lore and legend going back to the Bible and Greek culture. The laurel wreath worn by the Greeks was Bay (Bay Laurel). It is a native of the Mediterranean area.

Psalms 37:35 mentioned “The wicked spread like the green bay tree.” Shakespeare’s plays referenced the laurel leaf, bay oil and the bay tree.

The word “Baccalaureate” originates from the honor of wearing laurel leaves.

The Bay tree can get 30 to 40 feet tall. It is propagated by cuttings. (The advice was to root it in a green bottle.) There are 15 varieties of laurel. The California Bay grows in this area but is not for cooking as it is toxic. The Willow Leaf Bay grows in Southeastern Texas, the Red Bay in Virginia, and the Mexican Bay is widespread.

Colonists used Sweet Bay to preserve meats. One Bay leaf in a barrel of grain will keep out weevils. Bay leaves repel roaches and silverfish. One trick is to put crushed bay leaves in the toe of old socks or pantyhose, tie the top, and place in cabinets. Leaves can also be taped to the side of cabinets.

The bay tree needs sunshine not shade. Usually anything that grows in the Mediterranean area can grow in Texas.

Esther showed a heart made of florist wire strung with dried orange peel and bay leaves.

Bay can be used in a bouquet garni for vegetables, fish, or turkey. Tie in cheesecloth with cooking string and remove before serving.

Micki Nellis
JCHS Secretary