These are some frequently asked questions and our responses

American Ginseng Suppliers (Panax quinquefolius):
             Q--  I'm interested in growing some American ginseng and I am looking around for a good supplier. Please either send me a flyer or perhaps a website address about your company, prices and success in your experience in growing ginseng.
             A--  That's us! We can provide you with all you needs. Look around our web site http://www.ncgoldenseal.com

Ginseng Seed Availability and Cost:
             Q--  I need any information on how to obtain ginseng seed, and how to grow ginseng?
             A--  Please check our price list for current prices.  We have booklets for $3.50 on "how to Grow" both ginseng and Goldenseal.

Asian Ginseng seed (also know as Panax Ginseng):
             Q--  Do you sell Panax ginseng seed? If so, what do you charge for your smallest quantity?
             A--  We do not sell Panax ginseng at this time. We have Asian Ginseng plants on our farm. We do not expect to get seeds for a few years. We recommend contacting these farms to find what you want...

                                     Joe Hollis at Mountain Gardens
                                     White Oak Creek Rd, Burnsville, NC 28714.
                                     (828) 675-5664
                                     I do not believe he sells seeds, only plants.

                                     Lavinia McKinney at Elixir Farm Botanicals,
                                     Brixey, MO 65618,
                                     (417) 261-2355

                                     Jean Giblette at High Falls Gardens,
                                     Box 125, Philmont, NY 12565,
                                     (518) 672-7365
                                     may also be able to help find a source in China.

All these farms sell American Chinese plants. If you find good a source. let us know, please. In fact, we would be willing to split an order with you.

Do you have Ginseng seeds:
             Q--  Do you have American Ginseng seeds?
             A--  Yes we have American Ginseng seeds. We now have seeds from 6 states. some are organic, some are certified organic, and some plants have been sprayed. However, the seeds have NOT been sprayed with  Formaldehyde, or soaked in clorox which is a standard industry practice. The plants that the sprayed seeds come from have been lightly sprayed with Diathene or M-45.

Organic Ginseng Seeds:
             Q--  I am really anxious to know if you can get the organic seeds and any one-year organic seedlings?
             A--  We do have organic ginseng seeds, some of the spring seeds are sprouting. If you would want that ounce you can have it for the regular price of $23 (check our price list for current prices). We have some one- and two-year old ginseng roots on our farm, in limited quantities.

Do you buy Ginseng
             Q--  Are you interested in buying Ginseng?
             A--  You will have to tell us what type of ginseng you are selling.  We need to know if the ginseng is wild, woods-grown or cultivated. If it is cultivated, what type of fungicide are you using? We are  very interested in purchasing "green" or freshly dug roots. If you dry your own roots, it must be shade dried not sun dried or dried by machine. The roots need to have the heads or necks, so I can check the age of the roots.

Do you buy Wild Ginseng:
             Q--  We got this "sang" in two harvests, one in 97 and one in 98. We have dried it in the garage on some screens. We also have racks hanging from the ceiling. Would you be interested in buying any of it?
             A--  I usually do not buy any roots under 7 years old Dus that year.  We purchased ginseng in 1999 for $350 a dried pound. From your email it sounds like you dried the "sang" right

Do you have Goldenseal Rootlets:
             Q--  I am interested in purchasing Goldenseal rootlets for planting this fall. If you have any to sell please contact me with a price and when it would be available?
             A--  Yes, we sell goldesnseal rhizomes. The fall planting down here starts just before the leaves fall, around October 15. You maybe as early as September 15, but you need to do the research. Money orders, checks, etc. are to be in around September 1 to be sure we do not sell out. We do not have credit cards.

Do you buy Goldenseal:
             Q--  Do you buy Goldenseal?
             A--  We do buy cultivated goldenseal. I would want it "green" or freshly dug.   If you wanted to sell goldenseal to us the best thing to do is ship it overnight, or bring it to Eagle Feather.  We are buying goldenseal from $14 a pound to about $18 in 1999, depending on the size and the amount of dirt along with the root. Cleaner roots bring better prices. PLEASE check with us first for a current price and if we want to buy the
Goldenseal.

Ginseng and Goldenseal Sale or Trade:
             Q--  Do you have plants for sale or trade?
             A--  Plants are available in the spring.  Roots, rhizomes and seeds in the fall.  They are for sale, but we sometimes trade.

Wildcraft Source ethics and your policies:
             Q--  Is your wildcraft source ethical? as in, are they careful about not destroying a whole stand and no theft from growers?
             A--  1. Yes, our wildcrafting sources harvest in an ethical manner.
                    2. We have a license from the state of NC to purchase ginseng for export.
                    3. There is approximately 9000 lbs of NC ginseng sold to Hong Kong each year.
                    4. In Madison County, NC where our farm is, there is approximately  800 lbs collected.  Each harvester has to tell the state of NC, on a form, the county they collected in and the date, plus the pounds are recorded also on this form.
                    5. Wild ginseng looks, tastes, and smells different from cultivated and sprayed ginseng.
                    6. We buy, usually in small amounts from older hunters, about 10 pounds each year.  Approx. 94 % of the best, organic ginseng goes to Hong Kong each year and then distributed to the Chinese in the Pacific rim.
                    7. I am trying to get Americans to used American organic ginseng.
                    8. I have a program where small farmers are helped in raising "wild simulate" organic ginseng. So that, American ginseng will be on almost all the farms in our area, plus in places we travel for herbal conferences and herb festivals.
                    9. We do go to small farms where ever we travel and get paid for private land site evaluations and ginseng or goldenseal plantings.
                  10. We believe in deep ecology and agricultural sustainability, and think I we are one of the good guys.
                  11. I hope that has shed light on a very complicated issue.

Growing Ginseng in temperate climates:
             Q--  I live in Petaluma CA. The temperature is fairly mild Winter average 40-60, Summer 70-85 with a night time temp of 65 with some fog is this suitable for growing ginseng starting with 1 year old sprouts?
             A--  I do not have good news for growing ginseng in mild climates.  Ginseng needs to freeze in the ground each year.

Growing Ginseng in the mountains:
             Q--  I'm interested in growing Ginseng in my garden. Are Denver winters too cold?
             A--  Ginseng likes to be frozen during the winter. However Colorado is usually too dry. Depending on the type of garden you have or if you plan to grow the ginseng in the woods it might work. You may have to water and  mulch, which is tricky.

Ginseng growing around trees:
             Q--  I am contacting you on behalf of my Father, who is 86 and still gathering plants out of the woods! My Dad said "sang" likes oaks, and hickory, and chestnut trees. We planted some in my small patch of maples and it didn't come up. He said it does not like elms either.  Is this correct?
             A--  Although your Dad may think ginseng likes "nutty" trees, ie.oak, hickory and chestnut, a Penn. State study shows  ginseng growing under the following trees: #1-Poplar, #2-Beech, #3- Maple, #4 Dogwood and #5 Oak.

Ginseng and Goldenseal growing mixture:
             Q--  Do you know how well ginseng and goldenseal will grow in a mixture of rabbit manure
             and oak leaf compost?
             A--  A soil mixture does not go deep enough for an answer. You need to discuss growing conditions. Are we talking about mono-culture with chemical sprays or in community with other plants in the natural environment without chemical sprays, or are we talking about a hybrid called woodsgrown where you grow it in the woods and sprayed it with chemicals. For the best information on soils, please see Dr. Elaine Ingham's "soil food web"   http://www.soilfoodweb.com
             TEA information:   http://www.growingsolutions.com     541-343-8272
             online updated:      http://www.unisun.org

I have Goldenseal Seeds:
             Q--  I have gallons of goldenseal seeds and don't know how to save them. Could you help me out?
             A--  Goldenseal seed needs to be planted the day it is harvested, in our opinion. If the seed dries out it is DEAD. Harvesting the seed is the easy part if you are faster than the turkeys, down here.  Place your seeds in a stratification box and plant them out in the late fall in beds.

We do have a brochure for $3.50 which will give you some good advice about goldenseal seed harvesting, cleaning, storage, and planting.  A SASE is appreciated, otherwise it is .55¢ for shipping and handling.

robert@ncgoldenseal.com
©1999 North Carolina Ginseng and Goldenseal Company. All rights reserved.