Product Description

This guide to ginseng cultivation and the history of its use includes instructions on creating a ginseng garden, establishing healthy growing conditions, and finding the plant in the wild.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #310807 in Books
• Published on: 1995-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

From Booklist
Ginseng, the much-touted panacea of the Orient, has a colorful history on our own continent. American ginseng, closely related to the Chinese variety, was harvested to near extinction in Canada in the 1700s in a boom-and-bust frenzy. Still in high demand today, the export of ginseng to Asia has made a comeback. Wild ginseng is still a rare commodity, but the cultivation of it is quietly becoming a burgeoning industry in Wisconsin. This grower's guide covers several techniques, with harvest cycles ranging from 4 to as long as 15 years. The would-be ginseng farmer will find detailed information about the growth requirements of this reclusive, shade-loving plant. There is also historical and botanical background, coverage on hunting the wild root and conservation, and a chapter on medicinal use of the herb. David Siegfried

About the Author
Kim Pritts

Customer Reviews

Forest Gold
I remember enjoying the bounty of the land with my grandparents - leeks, real maple syrup, venison, wild strawberries, and shin shang. What is shin shang? It is one of our areas best-kept secrets, American ginseng. Wild American Ginseng, Panax quinquefolium, is indigenous to southern Canada and the eastern and Midwestern United States, and the book, Ginseng, How to find, Grow, and Use America's Forest Gold by Kim Derek Pitts will tell you all you want to know about it. The book covers topics such as: ginseng cultivation, history, harvesting, hunting and conserving wild ginseng, and use of ginseng in traditional herbal medicine.

Author of "Hobo Finds A Home" a children's book about a barn cat who wanted more out of life, and editor "Of A Predatory Heart" outdoor stories that will make you smile, laugh, and bring a tear to your eye.

I like it!
This book told me everything I wanted to know about finding ginseng in the wild -- yes there is wild ginseng in the United States, and it is valuable. The detail was amazing, as was the history of the American plant dating back to George Washington. I learned how to grow ginseng and prepare it for sale. I also found a list of businesses that sell the seeds to get you started, and a list of buyers who will purchase all the ginseng you can find or grow. The color photos were a real help. Best of all, I found over $100 of ginseng while hiking one day. What a trip!

Wealth of Information
This book is really in depth. I would recommend this read to anyone trying to get into Sengin or just wanting to learn more about the plant. A couple of the old timers around where I live were impressed by the book's information. They learned a thing or two and have been Sengin for a collective 60 years. Don't know if it helped them step up their game but it is definitely worth while.