The Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at Kwanten Polytechnic University is offering a weekend workshop on the cultivation of Asian medicinal herbs in the Pacific Northwest. The course instructor will be Peg Schafer of the Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm.
This workshop is supported by the NorthWest Asian Medicinal Herb Network (NWAMHN).
Production of Asian Medicinal Herbs: Workshop Overview
Friday Evening Salon
Perspectives on the Production of Asian Medicinal Plants
Friday October 14th, 2016, 6:30-8:30
Admission: $10
An evening lecture and discussion on local production of Chinese medicinal plants including an overview of the US market and focus on the emerging market in British Columbia. Perspectives on the history and future of Chinese medicinal plants, cultivation, conservation, access in the marketplace, quality and pertinent issues affecting growers and practitioners today.
Saturday-Sunday Workshop
Production of Asian Medicinal Herbs in the Pacific Northwest
Saturday October 15th – Sunday October 16th, 2016
Admission: $150 (without PDA/CEU), $250 (including PDA/CEU)
This two day workshop will present detailed information on the regional cultivation of Asian medicinal herb plants, as well as relevant topics affecting herb quality and accessibility and building the sector. This program will be of interest to growers, practitioners, students, and all those interested in the nascent market of contemporary Asian herbal medicine. Note that the clinical use of herbs is not covered.
Recommended reading: to get the most out of the two-day workshop, participants are highly encouraged to read Part One of The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm: A Cultivators Guide to Small-Scale Organic Herb Production, which covers many foundational topics in the production and cultivation of Asian medicinal herbs. The book will soon be available for purchase at the KPU bookstore on the Richmond campus (8771 Lansdowne Road, Richmond BC).
Workshop Goals
Workshop participants will…
- Learn the big picture of the current Chinese herbal medicine products industry, threats and constraints, and the potential for local production to alleviate these concerns.
- Be introduced to a framework for choices in crop selection, how to manage production, and bring the crop to market. By understanding what growers must do to produce a crop, practitioners will become better able to collaborate and support local production.
- Review how production, harvesting and processing directly affects the final product. Various resources will also be made available.
- Consider the assessment of medicinal quality, and the relationship of herbal quality to the characteristics of the growing region.
- Be able to use the knowledge and materials gained in the course to move forward.
- Participate in discussion regarding how to collaboratively build this sector in the Pacific Northwest.
Professional Development and Continuing Education Credit
Continuing education credits are available for this workshop. Please visit: kpu.ca/asianherbworkshop for more details.