Mountain Rose Herbs, one of the nation's largest bulk suppliers of organic herbs, spices, and teas, is kicking off the second year of Free Herbalism Project events with a special Herb Day celebration on May 4, 2014 from 11am to 5 pm at Mount Pisgah Arboretum in Eugene, Oregon.

This afternoon of free herbal education will begin with a plant walk through the arboretum led by Howie Brounstein and Steven Yeager, co-directors of the Columbines School of Botanical Studies. Leading a botanical tour of the forest in springtime, they will share knowledge on identification, habitat and plant use.

Sue Sierralupe, the clinical manager and lead herbalist of Occupy Medical in Eugene, will give a brief history of the Occupy movement, the clinic itself, and the evolution of the herbal medicine movement in America. Attendees will the ins and outs of creating a clinic and which herbs to start with for successful patient care.

The keynote lecture "Healing Through Aromatherapy and Essential Oils" features renowned aromatherapist and herbalist Kathi Keville. Kathi has been teaching and writing about herbal medicine, aromatherapy, herb gardening, and ethnobotany for over forty years. She is the co-author of Aromatherapy: The Complete Guide to the Healing Art and will be joining us to demystify the practice of using essential oils for health and healing.

This is the second year of a series of free events that Mountain Rose Herbs is hosting throughout each calendar year. Over 500 people attended the inaugural Free Herbalism Project event in August and several hundred participated again in October 2013. In addition to the inspiring and informative lectures, there will be free tea, local food purveyors, and educational books, herbal sundries and other items for sale during the vent. Funds raised will go to support both Occupy Medical and The American Herb Association. Ongoing updates and information will be posted at:

http://freeherbalismproject.com/events/.