2003 Annual Report for CS02-007
Pioneering the Way to the Future
Summary
A comparison of root growth of the Purple Cone Flowers of several 2 year old plants and new 3" plants will show that planting and harvest time invested into this herb will be approximately 2 years. Although these herbs have successfully been raised in hot houses, research by laboratories in Florida have shown that this particular herb, when raised outdoors, is substantially more potent. This plant grows wild in pastures of our surrounding area. Our data will hopefully show that raising this herb, used to produce cold prevention medication, will be economically feasible for farmers of any size in this area.
Objectives/Performance Targets
Objective #1: A delay in issuing our subagreement created a change in our timetable. Our first Herb Festival had to be changed from April to August in conjunction with the Okfuskee County Fair. We plan to include another Herb Festival with the 2004 Pioneer Day Celebration.
Objective #2: Brochures for community education are currently being developed and will be printed shortly. These will be handed out at the county fair and will be used to educate all students entering into the Okfuskgee County 4-H and FFA programs in the fall of 2003.
Objective #3: Research conducted by our Project Coordinator and Investigator is ongoing. We ordered 100-3" Purple Cone flowers in April, 2003. We were able to pick up the plants June 6, 2003. These plants were planted in a 6'x 20' plot. We were advised to plant in diamond shaped hills and not in rows. They were planted 1 foot to 18" apart. We will compare growth of the root system of the first year plants with several plants that were planted two years ago. This will establish approximate growth rate that will assist us in being able to project estimated harvest time. We are also experimenting with harvesting seed from 2 year old plants to begin our own seedlings.
Accomplishments/Milestones
We were able to order 100-3" plants of the Purple Cone Flowers (Echinacea) in April, 2003. We picked up the plants on June 6, 2003. A 6'x 20' plot was rototilled and prepared These plants were planted in diamond shaped hills and not rows in order for the roots to have the maximum amount of growth space. They are located about 1 foot to 18" apart. Pictures will be sent of the 2 year old plants that we will use to compare the root systems with and the new plants. Next the plants were mulched with recycled tree bark from last winter's ice storm.
Brochures are still being developed but will be included in the next report. Approval for the use of space devoted to an Herb Festival during the County Fair was obtained.
Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes
The change in our timetable created some problems in being able to partner with the Boley prison farm and Langston University. Our project investigator is the farm manager for Boley Prison, but the state had changed requirements for the use of the farm and we had to adjust. The Project Coordinator donated the plot of land for use of planting the new plants. Her husband is a disabled former county deputy. He took on the responsibilities of assisting with the work involved with the raising of the Echinacea. The Project Coofdinator's two sons have assisted with the manual labor to demonstrate to other students the feasibility of raising this herb. Although this project wasn't planned this way, we feel that if we demonstrate that anyone, including a disabled person, can raise this crop then everyone can benefit. Not only has this project been therapy in itself by allowing a disabled person the opportunity to get outside and get back to nature, but it has provided a means of letting this person feel as though he is still a useful member of the community.
We are still in the process of collecting data and will present further outcomes in future reports.