Herb and Weed Walk

Herb Walk 10:30-11:25 am
Weed Walk 11:30 am-12:30 pm

Introduction to herbs that survive winter weather in the Eugene area and planning and preparing for your spring through fall herb garden. See what the plants look like when waking up from the winter and which annual herbs we’re adding to the garden this year. Learn how and when to use the herbs for culinary and landscape design purposes and receive tips on growing and harvesting them. The information we share works whether you live in an apartment or other small space, a conventional suburban yard, or acres in the country.

The Weed Identification Walks have been taking place at GrassRoots Garden over seven years. These hands-on walks cover anywhere from 10-20 common weeds, characteristics for identification, seasonal changes (life cycles), growth habit, wildlife habitat, nutrients (soil/edibility) and toxic and edible weeds.

Camera’s and notebooks are encouraged to help retain some of the information that is learned. Active participation is also encouraged from the audience - as this is how learning works.

It isn’t easy to ID plants on your own. Flipping through books or researching on the internet can bring on hours of frustration when trying to properly identify a plant, let alone a common garden weed. This walk is created with the home gardener in mind. By participating in the class, people learn about common weeds, similar to the ones growing in their own yards. Through the experience of the hands-on walk and a confident instructor to ID and teach about the weeds, the class empowers people to learn and understand what they have growing in their own yards.

The walk is a partnership between GrassRoots Garden, an important source of fresh fruit and vegetables for Food for Lane County operations to feed hungry people in Lane County since 1991 and the Oregon State University Extension, Lane County Master Gardener Program which provides science based educational programs and information to the public. Participants will be on their feet for the whole time. If you need to sit some of that time, a few chairs will be available or bring your own folding chair. You are welcome to photograph the herbs and will receive a list of herbs and other information to help you get started and learn more about herb gardening.

Participants are welcome to eat lunch in the garden at 1:00 PM. The vegan meal prepared by the garden chef provides an opportunity to taste the herbs used in preparing the meal.

Please note that this event takes place in a working garden. Walkways are not paved and may be rough, narrow and muddy at times.