Growing and Marketing Ginseng, Goldenseal and Other Woodland Medicinals

The most comprehensive, truly practical guide to the cultivation of woodland botanicals

Not all saleable crops are dependent on access to greenhouses or sun-drenched, arable land. Shade-loving medicinal herbs can be successfully cultivated in a forest garden for personal use or as small-scale cash crops. Growing and Marketing Ginseng, Goldenseal and other Woodland Medicinals is a complete guide to these increasingly popular botanicals, aimed at aspiring and experienced growers alike.

In this fully revised and updated edition, authors Jeanine Davis and W. Scott Persons show how more than a dozen sought-after native species can generate a greater profit on a rugged, otherwise idle woodlot than just about any other legal crop on an equal area of cleared land. With little capital investment but plenty of sweat equity, patience, and common sense, small landowners can preserve and enhance their treed space while simultaneously earning supplemental income. Learn how to establish, grow, harvest, and market:

• Popular medicinal roots such as ginseng, goldenseal, and black cohosh;
• Other commonly used botanicals including bloodroot, false unicorn, and mayapple
• The nutritious wild food, ramps, and the valuable ornamental galax.

Packed with budget information, extensive references, and personal stories of successful growers, this invaluable resource will excite and inspire everyone from the home gardener to the full-time farmer.

Jeanine Davis is an associate professor and extension specialist with North Carolina State University. Her focus is helping farmers diversify into new crops and organic agriculture.

W. Scott Persons is the author of American Ginseng: Green Gold and an expert in growing and marketing wild-simulated and woods-cultivated ginseng.

Growing and Marketing Ginseng, Goldenseal and other Woodland Medicinals is the source for information on the production and sale of shade-loving medicinal herbs. This handbook is a complete guide to cultivation with best-management and business practices, case studies, references and a new section for the home shade gardener.

Jeanine Davis, is an associate professor and extension specialist in the Department of Horticultural Science with NC State University. For over 25 years, she has focused on helping farmers increase their profitability by diversifying into new crops and organic agriculture. She also maintains several websites (ncherb.org, ncorganic.org, and ncspecialtycrops.org), aimed at supporting small- to medium-scale commercial growers.
W. Scott Persons, is the author of American Ginseng: Green Gold and is widely recognized as an expert in the growing and marketing of wild-simulated and woods-cultivated ginseng. Dr. Persons presents extensively on woodland ginseng production and has helped establish operations in countries all over the world including New Zealand and Argentina.