Date: June 27th 2008

June 27, 2008

ON-LINE with The Herb Lady
"Goods Looks, Good Scents, Good Eats!"
A 12-week virtual class offered through www.herbs2u.net.
2nd Update

Dear Folks,

More information regarding the on-line to be offered by me, Catherine, The Herb Lady. For
your convenience, the entire first update is below. Future updates will only refer you to the
archives of the email list where you will be able to review them all.

Current events support the use of on-line teaching for obvious and some not-so-obvious reasons.
You don't need to 'drive to the class', it works for anyone's schedules, it is a way to teach your
children about gardening and cooking. Some not-so-obvious benefits are the ability to reach out
to folks who otherwise don't have access to this type of information, and want to turn their
homes into a more family centered activity. (There is nothing like the quiet companionship of
gardening and cooking together to teach children respect and responsibility.)

I have begun the process of building the frame work of the class on the yahoo-groups system.
For you to decide whether this will work for you here is some basic information about how
yahoo-groups work, for the purposes of a class.

1) I as the teacher build a yahoo-group, and close it to outside visitors, which means it can't be
accessed unless I send the student an 'invitation' to join, and I accept a person joining (this
would be done when you enroll and pay the class fee)

2) you will need to use a yahoo email address to participate - email addresses are free to sign
up for and use.

3) the class is set up as a series of downloadable pdf files, separated into the weekly classes.
Each file can't be any bigger than 5 mgs, so just check what you know, or need to know about
your ability to download files that size. My dial-up-system will take about 15 minutes or so to
download a 5 mg pdf file. Pdf files are readable in the free Adobe reader. The files are not
able to be edited or added to.

4) your payment for, and participation in the class allows you to download and keep all the files
for as long as you feel you need them (permanently if you like), but you do not have the right
to send or share them to anyone else. I can't monitor this -- I need YOU to be honorable and
respect my authorship of the materials -- I will have put about 100 hours plus more as time goes
by into producing these materials. BUT, if you want to use the class to homeschool your
children, that is fine, but please do me the courtesy of letting me know at enrollment -- your
questions from such an arena, may very well differ from that of a typical adult learner, and
much of the material is aimed at adults.


5) you will access to me as the teacher via email, and I will check for questions and concerns
daily, even if I am away from home.

6) questions and emails can be either sent only to me, or you can share you thoughts with the
entire "class" - that means your email screen name will be visible to the entire class, but your
emails to me only (there is a way to designate who receives your questions -- me or the whole
class) so private thoughts between you and me can be just that -- this is not a secret-squirrel
issue it is about some folks being shy about asking questions in front of a (in this case the
virtual) classroom.

7) while the class is focused on desert year-round gardening, many, many of the principles and
specific plant information is applicable in all areas, plus cooking is done everywhere! :-)

So you are welcome to sign up for the class even if you don't live in the desert. I do not
think you will be disappointed in the information you learn.

8) quizzes will be part of the program and since this is a non-credit class, a quiz is designed to
test your understanding and ability to use the information, not to intimidate you. If you don't
'get it' in terms of the quiz not making sense, then maybe I will have goofed in structuring the
test, and I will remedy this or any other confusing points in the class.

Target start date is September 1st. I will announce opening of enrollment when I am ready to
starting signing folks up. At this point, because it is a virtual class, I don't plan on limiting
enrollments, however, if you have a serious desire to take the class, I strongly urge you to enroll
and soon as it is open.

Now, any questions?

Have a great day,

Catherine
The Herb Lady
www.herbs2u.net


. . .

May 22, 2008

Dear Folks,

Thank you for expressing interest in an On-Line Class conducted by me, Catherine, The Herb
Lady. After many, many (in fact too many to remember) folks who said the various classes and
lectures I present at the DBG and the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, are of great interest, but just
do not fit in their schedules, I thought with the current technology it seemed appropriate to
consider an on-line course where students can pace themselves according to their schedule and
where I would be accessible via email at all times. The course will be a non-credit one,
designed to give you as much information as possible within the parameters of the internet.
Materials will include printed material and I expect to prepare PDF slide shows to illustrate
major points (the slide shows will provide a substitution for being in a real-time classroom).
All of these will be downloadable by the student, and therefore can be referred to any time
needed.

Here is the basic idea I will be putting together.

1) A 12-week program, based on my "Good Looks, Good Scents, Good Eats" three-part series
recently conducted at the Desert Botanical Garden.**

2) The first start date is expected to be September 1st. The program will be open for 14 weeks
(meaning you will be able to access all information for a total of 14 weeks, two weeks past the
end of the program).

3) The class will be conducted through a private Yahoo Group service, where you indicate your
desire to take the class, pay your fee, and I add you to the 'student email list' which is private
and used only for the purposes of assisting you while you take the class.

4) Lessons will be posted each week, a quiz will be provided periodically for you to check your
knowledge and I will answer questions either individually or to the group via the YG page.

5) The slide show files will be kept manageable by the minimal computer user. PDF files
including the slide show need only the free Adobe Reader to view, print and refer to.

5) I expect the fee to be about $165 for the entire 12 week program, and this includes all the
materials you will have access, and download capabilities, to.

Now, Questions Anyone?

Email back to me at:

catherine@herbs2u.net

Make sure to put "On-Line Class" in the subject line so I can catch them properly.

At this point if you feel you are not interested in the class, you can unsubscribe to this
notification list using the link below.

Feel free to pass this email on to anyone you think may be interested.

Have a wonderful day,

Catherine
The Herb Lady
www.herbs2u.net


** This class is a very complete, detailed program taking a desert valley resident from dirt to
table growing and using edibles. The On-Line program takes a three part class (1-How to
garden successful in the desert; 2-Edible herbs; 3-Cooking with Herbs) and breaks it into 12
segments