Annual Herb Fair at the John Jay Homestead Sept. 17

The New York Unit of the Herb Society of America will hold its 67th Annual Herb Fair at the John Jay Homestead State Historic Site on Thursday, Sept. 17, organizers announced.

Many varieties of herbs and plants, including some unusual ones, will be available for purchase and Herb Society members will be present to advise on herb use and cultivation. Deirdre Larkin, Horticulturist and Plant Historian, will be available to answer questions.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The John Jay Homestead is located at Route 22 (400 Jay Street) in Katonah. Admission to the Herb Fair is free, and the event takes place rain or shine.

Proceeds support local gardens and organizations such as the New York Botanical Garden, Wave Hill, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Queens Botanical Garden, The Cloisters and the Garden Education Center of Greenwich.

Additionally, homemade pantry items such as jellies, pesto and chutneys will be available. Also some special offerings available this year include blueberry lemon jam, smooth mango chutney, lovage syrup and several types of mustard. Herbal sachets and potpourri will be sold at the fragrance table. Herbal baked goods, local honey, gardening aids, and herbal gifts and books will be offered.

A raffle will be held, which will include cookbooks signed by notable chefs Daniel Boulud, Eric Ripert and Alain Ducasse. “Album Vilmorin: The Vegetable Garden”--ready-to-frame prints of 19th century French garden vegetables--will also be raffled.

And also:

• Naturalist, photographer and author, Carol Gracie, will be available to sign copies of her book, Spring Wildflowers of the Northeast.
• Susan Lacerte, Director of Queens Botanical Garden, will greet and inform guests about the Queens Botanical Garden.
• Guests can purchase herbal coffee products from ULIVjava Martha Stewart “Coffee with Benefits”® that are made with all natural herbs and botanicals.
• Ben Wolff Pottery of Goshen, CT, will sell his pottery. He makes lovely flowerpots, which are porous and perfect for planting herbs or plants bought at the Fair.
• Local beekeeper, D.J. Havercamp of The Bedford Bee, will also be participating. Music will be provided under the tent by guitarist, Spiros Exaras.
• Associate member Vivian Utko will present “Growing and Using Your Own Herbs and Edible Flowers – with Tastings!” The demonstration will take place at 12:30 p.m.

Members of the New York Unit of the Herb Society of America maintain the herb garden at the John Jay Homestead. Visitors are encouraged to stroll through the garden to enjoy its sights and scents. The garden is divided into seven sections, including culinary, medicinal, pest repellent, dye plants, shrub border, ground cover and fragrant herbs. Most of the herbs and herb-related products sold at the fair originate in the herb garden or in the gardens of unit members.

The New York Unit will offer its popular lovage soup for sale, as well as a delicious herbal lunch.

For more information or directions to the site, visit www.johnjayhomestead.org or call (914) 232-5651. All other correspondence to herbsocietyny@gmail.com