The Herbarist The War Years 1940-44

Founded in 1933, The Herb Society of America was less than a decade old when the Second World War began in Europe. Culinary and medicinal herbs, formerly imported from Europe, became difficult to obtain due to a persistent attack on shipping vessels. Soon the European sage supply was cut off, and a shortage of digitalis was predicted. Commercial growers, truck farmers, and drug companies, wondering if these herbs might be grown profitably in America, sought advice from The Herb Society of America. In response, The Society’s members - who had no experience growing the large quantities of herbs required - created and monitored test plots, recording and sharing the results, and distributing seed. Throughout the war, The Herb Society of America endeavored to share the results of their research with farmers and housewives alike. In these reproduced issues of The Herbarist, originally published between 1940-44, members of The Society write about their experiences during The War Years, and their hopes for the future of the herb-growing industry.