Herbs in Practice at the Purple Carrot Farm
Course Description
Summary
This hands-on course explores the harvesting, drying, and processing of medicinal herbs grown in a no-till organic garden at Purple Carrot Farm. Students will learn to apply regenerative growing practices and identify optimal harvest times for roots, leaves, and flowers to maximize potency and quality. Along the way, students will become familiar with the medicinal properties of the herbs cultivated on the farm.
The course introduces a variety of drying and processing techniques, including air drying, screen drying, bundling, and low-heat methods. Students will also learn proper storage practices to preserve the color, aroma, and medicinal value of dried herbs.
Building on these foundational skills, students will transform dried herbs into teas and simple value-added products such as herbal blends, infused ingredients, and basic preparations suitable for small-scale production. The course culminates in a collaborative, hands-on experience where students create, taste, and experiment with herbal tea blends to share with the campus community.
Learning Outcomes
- 1. Greater understanding of regenerative agriculture practices at the Purple Carrot Farm focused on increasing biodiversity, improving soil health, strengthening community and connection to the land.
2. Apply regenerative and no-till growing principles to cultivate and sustainably harvest medicinal herbs.
3. Gain practical knowledge of proper harvesting, drying, processing, and storage techniques for medicinal herbs to ensure quality and longevity.
Cross List
- Environment