By Mary Ellen Graybill

Take a pleasant drive out of Columbia over the rolling hills to Mt. Joy and visit the Cloverleaf Herb Farm which is celebrating its 14^th season with an Open House April 22 and 23 (9-5). The farm is owned by Kathy and John Musser. In the greenhouse, you can select a variety of herbs or old-fashioned plants from Alpine Strawberry to Zinnia, from Amish Paste to Siberia tomato, from jalapeno to Habanero peppers, even hollyhocks! In the shop, (which opened 11 years ago, after a variance to sell retail in an agriculture zone), you will find everything herbal from blackberry sage soaps and citrus butters and oils of avocado or jojoba to homemade canine treats. On the wall are Kathy’s hand-crafted natural wreaths made from dried Bells of Ireland, eucalyptus, and ornamental oregano. Another wall displays jars of spices and herbs such as catnip, chocolate mint, frankincense, and bee balm, from the mundane to exotic. Prices are all reasonable.

If you have a question about anything herbal, from how to dry herbs or how to prepare them, you can ask the resident owner, Kathy. Husband John has built a drying rack for the herbs and provided other support for his wife’s interesting business at their home in Mt. Joy.

“Student of herbs” and proprietress Kathy Musser said, “I really enjoy it! It’s a nice way to make a living. You get to do something you like to do. You get to talk to nice people about something you’re interested in. You get to be outdoors a lot!”

Kathy Musser, student of herbs at Cloverleaf Herb Farm (photo by Mary Ellen Graybill)

That enthusiasm is what makes the Cloverleaf Herb Farm a find for “out-of-town” Columbians. It’s a seasonal place to visit, to learn, and enjoy either the culinary aspects of herbs by picking out a peppermint herb for tea making, or to buy a “Balms and Salves” book and get the ingredients like coco butter, citric acid, apricot kernel, sweet almond, avocado oil, etc to make your own concoctions for massage.

How She Got Started

Kathy grew up the youngest of 5 sisters, on a wooded part of Mt Gretna, and her mother first bought her a cactus, but she really wanted to grow flowers. Her mother bought her a window box and some nasturtiums.

“I thought I was the best grower!” said Kathy.

Then, there was a lull as she grew up and went off to Indiana University of Pennsylvania elementary education. Learning to cook with herbs was the next step. She took a course in ornamental horticulture at Longwood Gardens.

Rodale Institution and James Duke, former USDA expert in medicinal herbs were early sources of knowledge about herbs.

Student of Herbs

“When I started, it was very hard to find information. There was no Internet, and not a lot of books being published ‘cause people were just not that interested in it, you know,” she said.

“Actually the one that influenced me was Bertha Reppert of the Rosemary House (in Mechanicsburg, PA.)”

Mrs. Reppert said, ‘I am not an herbalist but a student of herbs.’

“I went to a couple of her talks, and I thought…She gave you really practical advice…on growing and using herbs, and that was hard to find at that point…And so, that was very helpful.”

Basil is a favorite in summer, and rosemary in winter, said Kathy. The serious side of herbs has been in the news: herbs like foxglove for blood thinning, or peppermint for stomach soothing but it is important to always check with your doctor to make sure there are no contraindications due to other pharmaceutical drugs. Even an herb can be an allergen, said Kathy, in excess, for example.

“Mother Nature is very smart,” said Kathy Musser. “We need to learn from Mother Nature.”

CLOVERLEAF HERB FARM – Greenhouse & Herb Shop

1532 Cloverleaf Road, Mt. Joy, PA 17552-8713

Phone: 717 492-9248

HOURS: April – December: Tuesday – Saturday 9AM – 5PM