For many in Lancaster County, gardening is an integral part of daily life. Every grower relies on certain tips and methods, from amateur gardeners to seasoned horticulturists who tend to plants for fun or rely on the soil for meals. The Conestoga Herb Guild provides a space for those with green thumbs to share tips with each other, trade supplies and hone their skills together.

"So many of our members grow their own herbs and cook with them. The guild focuses on utilizing and growing herbs in everyday life, as well as the health benefits that herbs provide for people," said Mary Ann Steinhauer of the Conestoga Herb Guild.

The Conestoga Herb Guild hosts its programs and meetings at the Millersville VFW, 219 Walnut Hill Road, Millersville at 6:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month. Although certain meetings are limited to members of the guild, several meetings are open to the public for a nominal fee. Each meeting revolves around a specific topic or activity, and many meetings feature a guest speaker. At the guild's meeting on March 8, Steinhauer shared hacks that she has found to be effective for peeling, preserving and drying ginger root. Members often bring their own potted herbs to meetings so that others can take a piece to plant in their own gardens.

The guild will host its next meeting on April 12. The topic for the meeting is "Creating Year-Round Interest With Native Plants," and the gathering will feature a presentation from guest speaker Adam Barkafski. Barkafski, a Master Gardener from Penn State, will discuss topics such as the importance of sustaining native herbs and how to select plants to extend the duration of time that a garden remains in bloom.

On May 10, the Conestoga Herb Guild will host its annual plant and seed exchange. During the program, members will bring a variety of harvested plants and herbs from their gardens to trade with others. For this program, members will be considered the guest speakers and will share their favorite gardening techniques and advice pertaining to gardening safety and time efficiency. "Certain members are very experienced with specific herbs and have acquired little bits of knowledge from years of experience," Steinhauer said. "Our main goal is to educate people on herbs you can grow or buy locally and using them in a way that it becomes part of their lives."

For more information about the Conestoga Herb Guild, including how to become a member, contact Steinhauer at flygirl1947@outlook.com.