Organic Production and Marketing of Forest Medicinals: Building and Supporting a Learning Community Among Growers

Organic Production and Marketing of Forest Medicinals: Building and Supporting a Learning Community Among Growers

Summary

The Appalachian region of Ohio has experienced severe economic distress. Reverting tree cover and hills provide prime microclimates for cultivation of high value medicinal plants native to the area.

With prime growing sites and interest in the region from products purchasers, prime opportunities exist for sound production of these plants. Ginseng sales account for between $1 and $2 million/year in Ohio.

Roots of Appalachia Growers Association (RAGA), Rural Action, and OSU Extension will support RAGA in developing a learning network among growers, close the disconnect between grower knowledge and needs and researchers' activity, and support RAGA in entering the marketplace.

Objectives/Performance Targets

- 1 grower learning-meeting involving 50 persons, including researchers, extension, and other nonprofit.

- 3 crop fact sheets coauthored with OSU Extension.

- 1 research summary sharing results from existing research trials in a form useable by growers.

- 4 grower-network field days involving 60 persons hosted by RAGA.

- 1 market update circulated to 200 persons as well as ongoing updates via list-serv.

- A tour for 4-10 medicinal plant buyers from the US and China.

- 3 in-depth marketing-oriented sessions at conferences or workshops attended by 45 persons.

- 4 trips for growers to natural products industry events.

- 2 sessions on quality and value-adding attended by 30 persons.

- 2 Landowner Income Opportunities conferences featuring cultivation practices, market tips and other topics about forest-cultivated crops, attended by at least 150 persons each year.

Accomplishments/Milestones

We conducted 2 field days with the Roots of Appalachia Growers Association (RAGA). One event was held at the Rural Action Research and Education Center in the fall, and the other was hosted by Paul Strauss at the Equinox Botanicals Farm in the spring. These two events had 24 growers in attendance.

A herb market report was completed for 2007 and included in "The Grapevine," the program newsletter for the Rural Action Sustainable Forestry Program, and was distributed to 1600 individuals.

A research summary was also produced with research results from on farm trials conducted at the Rural Action Research and Education Center, and was also included in "The Grapevine."

Two on-farm site assessments were conducted in Athens and Jackson counties. One landowner purchased ginseng seed through the Rural Action Forestry Planting Stock Program, and became a member of RAGA.

Thirty-six phone consultations were conducted by Tanner Filyaw, all pertaining to planting, care, and maintenance of wild-simulated ginseng. Most of these consultations were conducted through the planting stock program.

Through the planting stock program, 70 pounds of ginseng seed and 12 pounds of goldenseal roots were distributed to growers in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Kentucky. Twenty growers were also directly referred to Tim Phillips of Massillon Fur and Roots for purchases.

Two presentations about ginseng and ginseng production were conducted by Tanner Filyaw and Tom Johnson. Johnson, the vice president of RAGA, presented at the Paul Bunyan Festival, an annual event produced by the Ohio Forestry Association, and had fifty-two people in attendance. Filyaw presented at the New Mattamoras Library in New Mattamoras, Ohio, and had twenty-seven in attendance. This presentation was given upon the request of a local community organizing group.

One new fact sheet co-authored with the Ohio State University Extension, titled "Ginseng Crop Management: Maintenance, Pests, and Diseases" was completed and distributed at outreach events and festivals. Upon release the document was also mailed electronically over the RAGA list-serve.

Convened the 2007 Landowners Conference with 120 participants in attendance. Workshop topics included: Value Adding with Black Cohosh and Goldenseal, Introduction to Growing Ginseng, Preserving at-risk Plants While Obtaining Income from your Forest, and Medicinal herb Identification.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

During 2007, more than 200 individuals attended conferences, workshops, presentations, and field days focusing on growing, marketing, value-adding and best management practices for forest grown herbs.

A herb market update was delivered to over 1500 combined members of RAGA and the Rural Action Sustainable Forestry Program, which will help keep growers on the forefront of the herbal industry.

One new fact sheet was developed regarding crop maintenance and contending with pests and diseases. This will aid growers in not only contending with these issues as the arise, but also to develop strategies and sustainable methods that help eliminated disease problems all together.

During the two field days conducted in 2007 growers received valuable training in value added products, including: Making Herbal Extracts and Salves and Growing Ginseng for Seed Production. In the spring of 2007, Paul Strauss of Equinox Botancials gave a tour of his apothecary and held an in depth discussion about medicine making. Growers in attendance expressed the intent to pursue value added opportunities that were discussed, and many followed through. During the 2007 fall field day, Tanner Filyaw conducted a presentation illustrating proper seed harvesting, storage, stratification, seed bed development for American ginseng. Growers in attendance expressed the intent to create seed production beds to help augment their own seed purchasing, with the potential to sell seeds as a value added product in the future.