Half way through UpS Internship - Week Three

Saturday Blue Moon view fireside 

Week three has come to an end, and we’re officially half way through this internship. Wow, I can’t believe it is going by so quickly (actually, I can, and it’s kinda sad). We’re not going to dwell on that though!  Keep reading to see what we were getting into this week!

Monday afternoon was sunny-ish and pretty calm, so we did some maintenance around the property, specifically weed eating some areas, and burning a few brush piles! Always a good way to warm up on a cool afternoon! We also helped address and stuff some envelopes for mailers for upcoming events in the KY area. Not a bad way to warm up to the work week. We’ve had quite the rainy season, for this area, I’m told. I don’t mind the rain, but it’s a good thing I’m not made of sugar!

Ginseng and Wood Thrush

Tuesday it was a wet and gloomy morning. We got to do our official Ginseng class with Chip! He’s known as the “Ginseng Guy” around here, so luckily we were able to learn from the best. He went over the history of Ginseng- how it was first discovered by Europeans in Quebec around 1715, as a Jesuit missionary noted it resembled Asian Ginseng. American Ginseng, Panax quinquefolium, became popular in the late 1700’s, as it was one of the first export items from North America to Asia through “East India Trading Co.” This would be the first Ginseng Boom North America would experience. At that time, American Ginseng was also used as a currency, along with fur pelts. Hunting and trading of the two is often done by the same individuals, and goes hand in hand, even in present day. By the late 1800’s, since all Ginseng was wild harvested, along with extensive land clearing and habitat loss the wonder-plant started to become more and more rare. During the 2nd Sang boom North America, experienced around 1899, Ginseng seed was selling for $160/LB! (close to $4600 USD in present day currency!). Luckily, people were starting to cultivate it! By 1915, Ginseng poaching in Ohio could land you in jail for 3 years! In 1975 American Ginseng was added to CITES  (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora-- it is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.) Currently, harvest season in Ohio is September 1 – December 31. Oddly enough, each state has a different government division that oversees Ginseng harvest and trade- in Ohio it is managed by the Ohio Division of Wildlife, in other states it is managed by Department of Agriculture, Dept of Forestry, Etc. Kind of funny, huh?  We learned of all the different ways Sang can be grown for profit- cultivation in raised beds in shade houses (most chemicals, shorter time before harvest- smooth and least authentic root), woods cultivated (raised beds in the forest, good for seed production), and Wild Simulated- (smallest amount of site preparation, most authentic and wild appearing root, longer time until harvest). Ginseng typically do not start producing seed until reaching 4-6 years of age, which is why the general rule is that a plant should have at least 3 prongs (3 set of leafs), before harvesting- making sure it was able to produce at least one season of seed. The older the plant becomes, the more seeds it will eventually produce. It is also interesting to note that the size of the root does not determine the age of the plant. Sang roots are aged by the ‘notches’ on the neck of the root. It is all a matter of the growing conditions- amount of shade, quality of soil, other plant species competing for space, etc..

Young and Older Ginseng specimen 

We are now in the middle of the 3rd Sang Boom here in North America. Interestingly, well over 90 % of wild cultivated American Ginseng ends up in China; some in medicine and products, and many framed on office walls as a status symbol. (The highest price ever paid for a single Ginseng root was $64,000 - about $190k today). Let me just say, Ginseng pulls on a lot of people’s heart strings, especially here in Appalachia, and throughout its native region- the north east, through Canada. There is an aspect of mystery and folklore that surrounds Sang; even Native American’s used it as a ceremonial plant (more so than as medicine). It was a generational plant, that families grew up harvesting, selling, and using. There is some misunderstanding, when it comes to local peoples and their family history of harvesting Ginseng from the forest “Commons”. Many of these forests have become private property, state and national parks, or even private nature reserves, such as United Plant Savers. When buying American Ginseng, look for the PCO Verified- Forest Grown logo. This is Ginseng that is intentionally grown in the forest as close to wild as it gets. I can go on and on about Ginseng, thanks to Chip, but if you have any more questions, or would like to know more, let me know! I feel like I’m almost an expert! ;) For further information regarding the regulations and laws that govern American Ginseng click Here. 

Sang guards! 

Before.

During!

Wednesday was easy going- we did some trail maintenance, found some wood ear mushrooms! We were continuing to replace signs, painting new signs, a little weeding, and we had a chainsaw lesson! Started with basic safety and maintenance of your chainsaw, then we got to practice a little on some logs! I was a little intimidated at first, but it wasn't too hard, and was pretty fun! I’ve been thinking of getting one for around my house, so now I’m educated on the tool! Woo hoo!  

Freshly harvested Red Clover

Our mushroom class with Rebecca Wood was on Thursday, it was so much fun! Before we met up with Rebecca, that morning Reagan and I took a nice walk around the prairie areas to collect some beautiful Red Clover! They sure are pretty and so, so good for you!! We met Rebecca at the Athens library where she did a quick presentation on Mycology, then we got to tour a local organic farm that specializes in Organic specialty mushrooms, micro-greens, and other greens of all sorts. The mushroom growing was fascinating! This particular farm buys inoculated sawdust and grain blocks. They cultivate Shiitake, and Oyster varieties. Rebecca is so awesome, just like all the other great folks we’ve been introduced to during the last few weeks. After touring the farm, we went over to a local state park/camp ground, Stroud’s Run, for a short hike with Rebecca. Hoping to find some mushrooms (we did find some more wood ears) and key out some special plants. Hope we can see her again before our time here is up. 

Interns with Rebecca Wood in the Mushroom Room! 

      On Friday we arraigned to meet with Bea Wood, the matriarch of this farm, before UpS became involved. She is a fiery grandma with Jesus in her heart. She talked to us about farm life, and raising her 6 kids here on this property (now the Wood’s have over 70 decedents!). At one time she was selling homemade goods (yogurt, butter, sausage) to Big Lee’s (her late husband) coworkers at the plant he worked at. He was actually the first person hired at that coal plant, and we got some more in depth details about that side of the story of this old strip mine town. This farm was actually mined prior to them moving here, in the late 60’s. Sweet lady with great stories, can’t wait to go back over to chat some more and look at old pictures of this place!  Friday night was a beginner square dance! We all went, met up with Nora, and Caty was there also. It was a lot of fun, a lady was selling gourmet sweets, and homemade soda and Ginger Ale. Super tasty. After that, we stopped at Jackie O’s, a local bar and brewery for a drink, then made our way back to the farm. 

finally getting some forestnastics in!

Saturday was relaxing, overcast, and chilly again, I hung out around the barn and yurt for the majority of the day, got some nice naps in too. That night, John’s daughter, Sadie, had her graduation party! They had a ton of guests there, and an amazing homemade Mediterranean spread! It was so tasty!! There was a nice bonfire and John and buddies were playing folksy tunes into the night. The cloud cover passed, and the beautiful full blue moon came out to play. One of my favorite nights here so far.  

And, here we are at Sunday already!! I’ve been writing a lot today, but I just got back from a long solo forest meditation this afternoon. I’ve found a new favorite spot, I think- until next week anyway- haha. I really am enjoying this experience more every week and am eager to spend more time getting to know these woods. 

More favorite pics from this week are below.

More Sacred Geometry!  

Showy Skullcap (Scutellaria serrata)

John and family invited us over for all the greens we could handle, plus they have dozens of FRESH chicken eggs! We're not scared of bolted greens, especially when they're free!!! YUMMMMMMY!

Thanks to the Stocks!

Fun times burning brush! 

More cool tree/cliff action

Tulip Tree Bloom!

Tulip Tree Bud (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Homegrown Shiitake setup 

Yes!

Homemade Maple Syrup Oven in the woods! 

Organic Oyster Mushroom growing! 

Yes, Please!!!

Organic Shiitakes

Organic Micro greens (these are sunflower, I believe)

Yummmmy!

Just me being a tourist in Amesville

I got my woods ear! 

Helped this Momma Wolf Spider and her baby bundle cross the road! 

Walking and talking with the beautiful Miss Rebecca Wood 

Blue-Eyed Mary (Collinsia verna)

Miami Mist (Phacelia purshii)

They'reeeee Hereeee

Shedding their exoskeleton 

My new friend. Maybe I like cats if they stay outdoors and hunt things! You can stop rubbing on me now please.  

Quiet full moon eve at dusk

Hanging with neighbors at Sadie's Graduation party! 

Campfire + blue moon vibes

Sunday meditation at my new favorite spot!

Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)  I'm looking for Bats!

Thank you for reading this week! 

If you are interested in ensuring that these valuable medicinal plants will be preserved for our grandchildren and our grandchildren's grandchildren, you too can become a member of United Plant Savers for only $35 annually. Members also have exclusive access to this beautiful sanctuary! 

Click Here to Join

-Linds