The class, accessible through
the University undergraduate program and through Continuing Education, has
both lecture and laboratory sessions. Lecture sessions are used to
introduce the terminology, history, and science needed to understand the
properties of herbs, spices, and medicinal plants that make these species
unique. Laboratory sessions, in which students get to grow their own
herbs, are used to explore the propagation, growth, identification, and
use of medicinal and aromatic plants. Each year, the highlight of
the course is HerbFest, a celebration of herbs at which students get the
opportunity to demonstrate their personal interests in herbs and facts
about herbs that they have learned throughout the semester. HerbFest is
open to the public and students are encouraged to invite relatives and
friends to see their work. For an idea of the excitement associated with
HerbFest, check the pictures of past classes. Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal
Plants is a fun class in which you can learn a lot about medicinal and
aromatic plants.
Welcome to the class website for Herbs, Spices, and
Medicinal Plants (PlSoil 280) at the University of Massachusetts at
Amherst. This general introductory course, offered through the Department
of Plant and Soil Sciences, focuses on the myth, tradition, and science of
medicinal and aromatic species while studying the fundamentals of
production, bioactivity, and application of these plant materials.
Completing the course satisfies a biological general education requirement
at the University of Massachusetts and students from any major or
background are welcome to enroll.
*Note: The class syllabi are in .pdf format. Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view these files. If you need a copy of Acrobat Reader, you may download your free copy by clicking on the button below.
