Become a Herb Industry Professional

Start a Herb Business
Learn to Identify, Grow and Use Hundreds of Different Types of Herbs
Follow Your Passion - Build Connections, Experience and Opportunities to Work in the Herb Industry

A unique opportunity to learn from professionals with decades of experience working with herbs, and to explore possibilities that you may not have even considered.

Lesson Structure

There are 30 lessons in this course:

Introduction
- Defining a Herb
- History
- Identifying Herbs – common and scientific names
- Main Groups and Plant Families
- Resources
Overview of Herb Varieties
- Apiaceae – Parsley Family
- Asteraceae -Daisy Family
- Lamiaceae – Mint Family
- Liliaceae – Lily Family
- Brassicaceae – Cabbage Family
- Chenapodiaceae – Goosefoot Family
- Tridaceae – Iris Family
- Leguminosae/Fabaceae Family
- Polygoniaceae -Polygonium Family
- Rosaceae – Rose Family
- Rubiaceae – Madder Family
- Rutaceae – Citrus Family
- Valerianaceae – Valerian Family
- The Artemisias (from Asteraceae)
- The Lavenders (from Lamiaceae)
- The Mints (from Lamiaceae)\
- The Thymes (from Lamiaceae)
- Chamomiles
- Sages
- Garlic
Soils & Nutrition
- Understanding Soils
- Soil Terminology
- Naming a Soil
- Soil Structure
- Water & Air in Soil
- Soil Temperature
- Soil Life
- Problems with Soils
- Erosion
- Salinity
- Soil Decline – structural, acidification, chemical residues
- Improving Soils
- Adding organic matter
- Phytotoxicity
- Adding Non Organic matter
- Plant Nutrition – major and minor elements
- Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and other elements
- Cation Exchange Capacity
- pH
- Nutrient Availability
- Diagnosing Deficiencies
- Fertilisers
- Natural Fertilisers
- Potting Mixes
- Composting
- Organic Materials
- Mulching
Herb Culture
- Introduction to herb culture
- Herbs in Containers
- Herbs Indoors
- Organic Growing Techniques
- Organic Principles
- Weed Management
- Staking
- Frost and Sun Protection
- Cages and Netting
- Borders and Barriers
- Using Compost
- No Dig Techniques
- Hydroponics
- Garden Tools
Propagation Techniques
- Propagating Herbs
- Seed and Cuttings
- Difficult Seeds
- Germination Treatments
- Sowing Seeds
- Hygiene
- Germination
- Understanding Hybrid Seed Production
- Cold Frames
- Plant Division
- Layering
- Types of Cuttings
- Softwood, Hardwood and Semi Hardwood Cuttings
- Herbaceous Cuttings
- Stem and Tip Cuttings
- Other Cuttings: Heel, Nodal, Basal, Lead, Leaf Bud, Cane, Root, Bulb
Pests & Disease Control
- Control of Pest and Disease
- Cultural Controls
- Biological Controls
- Antagonistic Organisms
- Parasitism
- Predators
- Companion Planting
- Beneficial Plants
- Trap and Decoy Plants
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Biocontrol
- Organic Sprays
- Pre Packaged Sprays
Harvesting Herbs
- Harvesting Herbs
- Drying
- Harvesting for Medicinal Use
- Harvesting Leaves, Flowers, Bulbs, Barks, Seed
- Harvesting Specific Herbs
- Basil, Chervil, Fennel, Fenugreek, Lovage, Mint and others
Processing Herbs
- Post Harvest Treatment of Culinary Herbs
- Temperature – storage, pre cooling,
- Moisture loss
- Physical Damage
- Managing Ethylene levels
- Pathogens
- Cooling & Cooling Methods
- Post Harvest Preservation
- Fresh Preservation
- Modified Atmosphere Packaging
- Drying Techniques for Small Quantities
- Distillation
Using Herbs: Herb Crafts
- Pot Pourri
- Scented Candles
- Sachets
- Bouquet Garni
- Tussie Mussies
- Hair Rinses
- Scented Stationary
- Bath Perfumes
- Exotic Herb Oils
- Distillation
- Infusion with Non Aromatic Oils
- Lavender Crafts
Using Herbs: Herbs for Cooking
- Culinary Uses of Herbs
- Using Selected Common Herbs
- Herb Vinegars
- Herb Oils
- Herb Cheeses
- Herb Confectionary
- Herb Baked Goods
- Herb Mustards
- Herb Salts
- Herb Butters
- May Wine
- Herb Honey
- Herbal Teas
- Assorted Herbal Recipes
Using Herbs: Medicinal Herbs
- History of Medicinal Herbs
- Herbs as Healing Agents
- Nervines
- Natural Chemicals in Plants
- Saponins
- Phenolglycosides
- Anthraglycosides
- Flavonoids
- Mustard Oils
- Polysaccharides
- Prussic Acid
- Glycosides
- Coumarin
- Tannins
- Bitters
- Essential Oils
- Alkaloids
- Purines
- Essential Minerals
- Home Herbal Remedies
- Types of Herbal Medicines (Alternatives, Astrigents, Calmatives, Cathartics
- etc)
- Preparing Herbal Remedies
- Poisonous Plants
- Herbal Baths
- Gargles
- Tooth Ache
- Skin Care
Herb Farming
- Introduction
- Marketing Produce
- Cover crops
- Soil improvement with Inoculated Legumes
- Types of Cover Crops – Barley, Buckwheat, Canola, Field Pea, Lucerne, Lupins, Oats, Sorghum, Clover)
- Ways of using a Cover Crop
- Soil Cultivation
- Cultivating Equipment
- Setting up a Commercial Farm
- Types of Farm – broadacre, Intensive in Ground Cropping, Hydroponics
- Container Growing
- Greenhouse Growing
- Types of Herb Goods to Produce – fresh or processed
- Drying Shed
- Choosing What to Grow
- Harvesting Herbs
Herb Garden Design
- Landscape Design Principles
- Qualities or Components of a Design
- Creating Effects in a Landscape
- Preplanning Procedure for Planting Design
- Developing a Concept Plan
- Development of a Final plan
- How Plants are Used
Constructing a Herb Garden
- Home Landscaping with Herbs
- Formal Herb Gardens
- Perennial Borders
- Rock Gardens
- Cottage Gardens
- Public Landscaping with Herbs
- Planning a Herb Garden
- What to Plant Where
- Colourful and Fragrant Herb Gardens
- Lemon Scented Herb Gardens
- Retaining Walls
- Wooden Walls
- Masonry Walls
- Rockeries
- Artificial Rocks
- Drainage
- Improving water Permeability during Construction
- Improving Surface Drainage after Construction
- Gradients
- Earth Forming
- Machinery for Earthworks – Cat, Backhoe, Dozer
- Building Raised Beds
- Paving
- Concrete
- Gravel
- Asphalt
Managing a Herb Nursery
- Introduction
- Marketing Produce
- Cover crops
- Soil improvement with Inoculated Legumes
- Types of Cover Crops – Barley, Buckwheat, Canola, Field Pea, Lucerne, Lupins, Oats, Sorghum, Clover)
- Ways of using a Cover Crop
- Soil Cultivation
- Cultivating Equipment
- Setting up a Commercial Farm
- Types of Farm – broadacre, Intensive in Ground Cropping, Hydroponics
- Container Growing
- Greenhouse Growing
- Types of Herb Goods to Produce – fresh or processed
- Drying Shed
- Choosing What to Grow
- Harvesting Herbs
Lavenders
- Introduction
- Lavender Species
- Lavender Classification – 5 sub groups
- Varieties/Cultivars
- Lavandin hybrid
- English Lavenders
- Italian Lavender
- How to Grow Lavender
- Transplanting
- Buying Plants
- Harvesting and Using
- Lavender Crafts
- Edible Lavender Products
Mints
- Mint Production
- Disease Control
- Mint Species
Lamiaceae Herbs
- Introduction
- Thymes
- Propagating Thymus
- Thyme cultivars
- Salvia (Sages)
Garlic
- Introduction to Garlic
- Appearance
- Propagation
- Culture
- Harvest and Processing
Asteraceae(Compositae) Herbs
- Chamomile
- German Chamomile
- Roman Chamomile
- Artemisia
The Apiaceae Family
- Angelica
- Fennel
- Parsley
- Dill
- Anise
- Cumin
Other Herbs
- Rosa (Rose) Types
- Rose Culture
- Strawberry
- Scented Geraniums
- Fragrant Australian Indigenous Plants
- Ginger
Topiary & Hedges
- Introduction
- Pruning Techniques
- Removing dead wood
- Controlling growth type
- Controlling shape and size
- Plant Rejuvenation
- Pruning Rules
- Rosemary Topiary
- Hedges
Producing Herb Products A
- Ointments
- Using Fats
- Using Oils and Beeswax
- Infusions
- Decoctions
- Syrups
- Tinctures
- Sprays
- Potpourri
- Herbal Paper
- Making Herbal Paper
- Distillation and Oils
Producing Herb Products B
- Ointments
- Using Fats
- Using Oils and Beeswax
- Infusions
- Decoctions
- Syrups
- Tinctures
- Sprays
- Potpourri
- Herbal Paper
- Making Herbal Paper
- Distillation and Oils
Producing Herb Products C
- Getting your Plants
- Propagation
- Production Systems
- Managing Greenlife
- Production and Propagation Nurseries
- Stock Plant Management
- Seed Sources
- Collecting and Storing Seed
- Types of Seed Storage
- Improving Production Efficiency
- What herbs to Grow in What Soil Conditions
- Safe Pest and Disease Control in the Herb Nursery
- Watering Herbs
- Hydroponic Herbs
- Lavender Propagation
- Herb Nursery Standards
Marketing in the Herb Industry
- Knowing the Customers
- Marketing Tips
- Market Research
- Considering Optional Markets
- Gathering Information
- How to Sell Successfully
Budgeting & Business Planning
- Making the Farm Profitable
- Economic Principles
- Law of Supply and Demand
- Law of Substitution
- Law of Diminishing Returns
- Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility
- Scale of Economies
- Planning Procedure
- Other Planning Approaches
- Production Plan
- Finance & Financial Planning
- Land Care and Management
- Cash Flow and Budget
- Problem Solving
- Borrowing
- Buying
- Reducing Costs
- Self Evaluation
Workforce Design & Management
- Introduction
- Giving Directives & Introducing Change
- Orders and Instruction
- Supervision Styles
- Work Programming
- Organising the Workplace
- Organisational Structures
- Bookkeeping Needs
- Record Keeping
- Communications in Writing
- Work Scheduling
Major Research Project

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Making a Career out of Herbs

Herbs have been cultivated by man for millennia for medicinal, culinary and other uses.

The herb industry is more significant than most people realize, supplying both garden plants and growing herb crops that provide important ingredients for a a plethora of products that we use every day, from toothpaste to detergents and deodorants to food ingredients.

This is a course for the serious student, who wishes to establish a business or find employment, and forge a career working with herbs or herbal produce.

Graduating from this course will arm you with knowledge and awareness will serve as a statement to potential employers, clients and customers; letting them know that you indeed have knowledge of herbs that goes beyond most working in the industry.

Whether your path leads to work in your own business or working with someone else; this course has the potential to set you apart as someone with special and unique expertise in the area of herbs.

“Love the magic of herbs? Then this is the course to start you in your herb career – it will enable you to consider opening a herb farm, or working in this exciting and field. A great course that will challenge you to expand your knowledge and become a true expert.” - Adriana Fraser Adv.Dip.Hort, ACS Tutor.

What Next?

ENROL or Use our FREE Course Advice Service to Connect with a Tutor

ACS is a Member of the Complementary Medicine Association.

Principal of ACS Distance Education, John Mason, is fellow of the CIH.

Member of Study Gold Coast Education Network.

ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.

Member Greenlife Industry Queensland.

ACS is a Member of the Permaculture Association (membership number 14088).

ACS is a Silver Sponsor of the AIH; and students studying designated courses are given free student membership. ACS and it's principal have had an association with AIH since the 1980's

Long-term member since 1986.

Our Principal John Mason, was awarded a fellowship by the Australian Institute of Horticulture in 2010

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

Simply click on the ENROL OPTIONS button at the top of this screen and follow the prompts.

You can see the course price at the top of this page. Click 'enrolment options' to see any payment options available.

You can pay by Credit Card, PayPal, Afterpay or bank transfer.

Yes! We have payment plans for most courses. Click 'enrolment options' to see the available payment plans.
We also have Afterpay that will allow you to pay for your course or payment plans in four instalments (if you are in Australia).

What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
If you are under 18, we need written permission from your parent/ guardian for your enrolment to continue, we can arrange that after you have enrolled.

You don’t need to purchase any additional resources to complete our courses.

We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
We recommend that you have access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so that you can easily complete and submit your assignments.

You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

Yes, if you are enrolling in a Certificate or Advanced Certificate, you might be eligible for credits if you have evidence of your previous studies or relevant experience. More information is here.

We recommend that you are able to browse websites, send emails and conduct online research. You will need to be able to type and submit your assignments.
If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course is aimed at providing you with a solid understanding in your selected discipline. It has been designed to take 600 hours, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and more. When you complete the course, will have a good understanding of the area/ industry you want to work in.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.

We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

Yes, your tutor is here to help you. Simply post any questions you have in your login.training portal or contact the office and we can pass on a message to your tutor.

We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exams (6 exams) and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Certificate. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.

Yes, our courses are built to be applicable for people living anywhere in any situation. We provide the fundamentals, and each student can apply their own unique flair for their own interests, region and circumstances with the one-on-one guidance of a tutor. There is also a bit of student directed research involved.

Employers value candidates with industry skills, knowledge, practical skills and formal learning. Our courses arm you with all of these things to help prepare you for a job or start your own business. The longer you study the more you will learn.

ACS has an arrangement with OAMPS (formerly AMP) who can arrange Professional Indemnity from Australian and New Zealand graduates across all disciplines. Ph: 1800 222 012 or email acs@oamps.com.au.

Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
We are focused on developing innovative courses that are relevant to you now and what you will need to know in the future.
We are focused on helping you learn and make the most of your experience.
You can enrol at any time, you can work on your course when it suits you and at your own pace.
We are connected to many industry bodies and our staff participate in continuous improvement and learning activities to ensure that we are ahead of what learning is needed for the future.

Our courses are not accredited by the Australian Government. However many of our courses are recognised and held in high regard by many industry bodies.

Our courses are written by our staff, who all have many years experience and have qualifications in their speciality area. We have lots of academic staff who write and update our courses regularly.

How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

Yes, you can do a request for a bulk enrolment and request an invoice on our Invoice Request Form

We can prepare an invoice, quote or proforma invoice. Simply complete your details on our Invoice Request form

We can arrange bulk discounts for your course enrolment, please get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

Yes, we have many students who are in locked facilities, such as prisons or hospitals. We can cater by also offering paper notes at an additional cost.

What if I have any more questions or need more information?

We can assist you to find the right course for your needs. Get in touch with us via email (admin@acs.edu.au) call on +61 7 5562 1088 or complete our course advice form.

Take a look at their testimonials here.

What if I change my mind?

Our terms and conditions of enrolment are here.

Please get in touch with studentservices@acs.edu.au if you would like to be removed from our mail list.

If you would like ACS Distance Education to delete your information at any time (whether you are a customer or a prospective customer), please contact our privacy officer and we will process this ( admin@acs.edu.au ).

If students require a reproduction of their certificate, an electronic copy can be provided at a cost of AUD$35 incl GST. Printed copies are not available.

Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

John Mason

Writer, Manager, Teacher and Businessman with over 40 years interenational experience covering Education, Publishing, Leisure Management, Education, and Horticulture. He has extensive experience both as a public servant, and as a small business owner.
John is a well respected member of many professional associations, and author of over seventy books and of over two thousand magazine articles.

Maggi Brown

Maggi is regarded as an expert in organic growing throughout the UK, having worked for two decades as Education Officer at the world renowned Henry Doubleday Research Association. She has been active in education, environmental management and horticulture across the UK for more than three decades.
Some of Maggi's qualifications include RHS Cert. Hort. Cert. Ed. Member RHS Life Member Garden Organic (HDRA) .

Adriana Fraser

Freelance writer, businesswoman, educator and consultant for over 30 years. Adriana has written extensively for magazines including free living publications -Grass Roots and Home Grown; and has authored or co authored many books ranging from a biography to books on business and gardening. She holds formal qualifications in education, child care and horticulture and has worked with ACS Distance Education since the mid 1990's.

Starting a Nursery or Herb Farm

It's often amazing how much can be produced, and the profit that can be made from a few hundred square meters of land. To work efficiently and profitably, a nursery or herb farm must be both well organised and properly managed. As with any business, it is essential to be confident enough to make firm decisions as and when needed. This e-book is your ticket to a fragrant future.

Getting Work in Horticulture

Find out what it is like to work in horticulture; how diverse the industry is, how to get a start, and how to build a sustainable, long term and diverse career that keeps your options broad, so you can move from sector to sector as demand and fashion changes across your working life.

Herbs

Herbs are fascinating plants, mystical and romantic. They have a rich history dating back centuries. Used by monks, apothecaries and ‘witches’ in the past, herbs are undergoing a revival in interest. They are easy to grow, scented, culinary and medicinal plants. In a formal herb garden or peppered throughout the garden, herbs rarely fail! Find out how they are used as medicines, for cooking, perfumes and more.

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Certificate In Herbs