Growing Herbs and Medicinals
Answered by: Rick Miller
Question from: Ted
Posted on: February 04, 2010

I have been into plants for a while. I have mostly forest land with a small amount of pasture. I have been planting wild simulated ginseng for a few years now.

My question is, what plants do you think show the most promise for a small herb farm to try and grow? By promise I mean, high demand, because when dealing with plants I have found that there can be abundance of a plant.

I would love to find a market for prickley ash as we also work in the forestry industry. I used to wildcraft crampbark , We sold it for ten bucks a pound, now I see you get 100 bucks, wow. We also sold Blood root for ten bucks a pound.

Native American Indians chewed Prickly Ash bark for toothache. Traditionally, it has also been used for rheumatism and circulatory problems. Today, Mormon herbalists use Prickly Ash bark as a stimulant for the central nervous system and general circulation. It is also used to improve digestion and treat colic and stomach cramps.

Unlike Bloodroot, which enjoys a serious market in the manufacture of certain toothpastes, Prickly Ash bark has more limited markets, mostly to regional wholesalers, only willing to purchase smaller quantities (200 to 400 lb). That means no one can make very much money in its harvest. Let’s forget (for the moment) about Prickly Ash bark as a primary cash crop.

Today you can see Buckthorn Bark used in conjunction with Cascara segrada as an herbal supplement to relieve constipation and the symptoms associated with constipation. This market has expanded, since the "green magma" movement of Anne Wigmore, also in northern Minnesota. They also buy large quantities of wheatgrass,

I personally like growing native grasses, those suitable for dying and color wheels. Some of the larger wholesale buyers in the world reside up just north of you in Chicago. Going there for a visit and look-about might be well worth the trip. You might even end up coming home with contracts. I did this locally and found German Statice is now in short supply.

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