Each year the horticulture program in Boyd County offers a Garden Shed Herb Day educational program targeting the many uses for herbs and how to grow them.  The herb of the year is always one of the main topics to be discussed and educational information about that herb is presented to participants.  This year the herb was hops and many participants found it interesting to learn the many uses of hops beside just the brewing industry.  There was also a presentation on the basics of growing and using herbs where many were surprised to learn that herbs can be a natural alternative to deter pests in the home and garden.  Of the 128 that attended this program over 30% reported an increase in their knowledge of different ways to use herbs beside culinary and 25% reported that they had attend this program in previous years and they had begun the raise herbs for not only culinary uses but also they were using strategically placed herb plants to help deter pests in their gardens and around their homes.