Academic Catalog

HORT 90D: HERBS: IDENTIFICATION, USE & FOLKLORE

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2022
Units: 1
Hours: 12 lecture per quarter (12 total per quarter)
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Describe the history of herbs used for cultural activities.
  • Identify common herbs used for culinary, medicinal, spiritual and decorative purposes.

Description

An introductory look at the use and folklore of herbs grown for specific cultural purposes. Herbs noted for their culinary, aromatic, or medicinal properties.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Identify common herbs used in the landscape.
  2. List uses of herbs.
  3. Discuss historic and potential future uses of herbs in our culture.
  4. Describe the use of herbs in different cultures over time.

Course Content

  1. Identification of herbs
    1. Taxonomy
    2. Growth habits
    3. Environmental requirements and cultivation
  2. Introduction to the uses for herbs
    1. Culinary
    2. Aromatic
    3. Medicinal
  3. How herbs have been used, and may be used in our culture
    1. Historic uses of herbs
    2. Future potential uses of specialized herb
  4. Cultural applications of herbs around the world
    1. Herb uses in other cultures
    2. Societal implications of using or promoting the use of herbs

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Horticultural laboratory with multi-media projection system, horticultural facilities, and arboretum.
2. When taught online, on-going access to computer with email and internet access.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Field test on herbs (identification, growth habits, etc.)
Documented active participation which furthers student knowledge of herbs and their uses

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Field observation of plants
Lectures on plant characteristics
Discussions regarding use and care of plants
Assigned reading activities
Self-guided research
An assignment to make a product with herbs

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Pursell, J.J.. The Herbal Apothecary. 2015.

Adams, James. Landscaping with Herbs. 2009.

These texts are considered seminal even though they are over five years old.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

Typical reading assignments will include researching up to 20 plant species per week (approximately 30 pages of reading) in representative text and similar text books.

Discipline(s)

Ornamental Horticulture