Mid-Atlantic District Gathering 2026

Gathering Schedule 

Friday October 23 - Join us at the conference hotel, Cape May's famous Grand Hotel, for light refreshment, tasty tidbits and a goodie bag. Time and room number will be sent out closer to the event.

Saturday October 24 - Meet at The Southern Mansion for a day filled with exciting speakers, a wonderful lunch and time to visit old and new friends.  

Gathering Presenters
Susan Hess - Susan has spent 20 years growing, cooking and practicing herbal medicine and loves to share her knowledge with others. She offers a 12 month “Homestead Herbalism” class in Mays Landing, NJ where you forage in the woods for nettles and beneficial weeds, learn to grow herbs and make salves, teas, tinctures, Fire Cider, vinegars, jellies and the list goes on. Susan is a Business member with HSA through her business Blooming Glen Farm, and will have her cookbook and other items for sale on Saturday.

Rich and Michelle DeMarco - You have heard of the Boston Tea Party, but did you hear of the Greenwich Tea Party?  Come join Rich and Michelle from The Greenwich Teaburner’s and learn all about the history of tea in New Jersey. The DeMarco’s own a tea farm in Greenwich, NJ where they have perfected the growing of tea in our area!  They will have a variety of their teas for sale.

Gary Schempp - Owner of Busy Bees NJ, which is located in the located in Cape May Court House, Gary Schempp has a sweet experience planned for the Gathering. Gary will bring his bees and talk about his farm and the variety of plants he has that flavors his honey. He will also have many varieties of honey from his farm for purchase.

REFRESHMENTS

Catering choices will be made closer to the event. A member has generously donated funds for catering and event space rental. This allowed the Mid-Atlantic District to subsidize the cost of the event ticket and reduce to $75.

LOCAL LODGING

You are responsible for your own hotel booking. We have a block of rooms reserved at Cape May's famous Grand Hotel, which is a beautiful ocean front hotel at a rate of $226.00 per night. The deadline for reservations for the hotel and registration for the conference is September 23, 2026. Please register early as there is a limit of 100 people for the event room at The Southern Mansion. 
The Grand Hotel 
1045 Beach Ave. 
Cape May, NJ 08205  
800-257-8550   Grandhotelcapemay.com   Group code: 752464  

Make it a Great Visit!

On your way to Cape May, you may want to stop at the outlets in Rehoboth Beach, DE for a little shopping or stop at Triple Oaks Nursery in Franklinville, NJ and visit Joe Kiefer and tour the gardens and maybe pick up a plant or two. Triple Oaks is open M-F 9-6, Sat 9-5 and Sun 10-4. Joe will be in Cape May Saturday with plants for sale.

There is a lot to do in Cape May before or after our gathering. Ghost tours, wineries where you can have a glass of wine and wander around in the beautiful gardens, The Nature Center and at Cape May Point you may see a few Monarchs heading south for the winter.

And if you are still looking for something else to do, you can drive up to Atlantic City to take in a show, see if lady luck is on your side or eat dinner at the many celebrity restaurants.