How to Get Started Growing and Selling Medicinal Herbs

Robert Eidus, Owner of Eagle Feather Organic Farm, gives advice on how to begin growing and selling forest medicinal herbs. Number one: "Don't cut down your trees." We look at stratification - the best method for increasing ginseng's propagation rate. We follow up with the importance of having a business plan before attempting to supplement income through forest-based medicinal plant production, and we finish with a few bits of advice on cutting costs. Plastic pots can often be obtained for free from other growers or nurseries and leaves can be gathered in the fall once they're put out for trash collection. However, be careful of collecting any invasive species that may be tossed in with the leaf pile. Leaves contribute to forest soil and can be combined with other organic additives and composted to be used in raised beds and for potted plants.