How to Forage Your Own Ginseng

Ginseng is most often related to Chinese medicine. In reality, however, there are two

other species of ginseng, one from the U.S. and another from Siberia. Wherever it is from, the fact of the matter is that ginseng has to grow for a long time — five to ten years — before it is harvested, and it brings top dollar for growers and, more so, for foragers.

Ginseng is highly prized for its root, which is said to resemble the human body when it (the root) is fully developed. It’s a beloved herbal medicine, known to be beneficial for diabetics, decrease blood sugar levels, boost immune systems, as well as having anti-aging chemicals. However, ginseng does have specific effects on blood pressure, which are enhanced when accompanied with caffeine, so it is important to err on the side of caution when using it.

Ginseng, being a plant, is stationary, and being a perennial plant, it comes back year after year. However, above the ground, it does die every year because, unlike most perennials, ginseng doesn’t have a woody stem. Usually, the fall is the appropriate time for foraging, and at that point, identifying ginseng is a little easier because it has fruited. Ginseng has red berries that look a bit like jelly beans, so that’s a start. However, other things also have red berries at this time.

When red berries have been spotted, the next step is to look at the prongs of the plant. Ginseng sends out leafy prongs from a central stem, and the general rule of foraging is to never harvest a plant with less than three prongs, which signifies it has reached a certain age. The prongs generally support five leaflets, three large ones on a side and two small ones opposite them. A healthy patch should have plant specimens in all stages of growth: one, two, three and four prongs.

In the foraging world, especially the one that is income-based, there are certain prizes whose location are heavily guarded. For example, the location of morel mushrooms, which come up in the same place each year and fetch over $100 per pound (dried), are not often revealed to others. Wild ginseng, the priciest of forage crops, can bring in as much as $400 a pound (dried), so discovered sites are usually kept secret.

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/forage-ginseng/?utm_source=Green+Monster+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=72c6b4f2db-NEWSLETTER_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_bbf62ddf34-72c6b4f2db-106919241