Ginseng: How to Find, Grow, and Use America's Forest Gold [Paperback]

Kim Derek Pritts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1995

Cultivitation, history, creating a ginseng garden, establishing healthy growing conditions, and finding the plant in the wild.

Editorial Reviews

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 Derek Pritts, a lifelong outdoor enthusiast, has some forty years' experience growing and hunting ginseng. He has written articles on ginseng and other subjects for numerous magazines, including Field and Stream, Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, and Herb Quarterly. He lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books; 1st edition (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811724778
• ISBN-13: 978-0811724777
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forest Gold, March 17, 2008

By 

A. D. Cox (northern PA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ginseng: How to Find, Grow, and Use America's Forest Gold (Paperback)

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.

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I like it!, December 30, 1999

By 

D. Roth (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ginseng: How to Find, Grow, and Use America's Forest Gold (Paperback)

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!

5.0 out of 5 stars Wealth of Information, June 11, 2009

By 

J. Bryan (Huntington, WV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ginseng: How to Find, Grow, and Use America's Forest Gold (Paperback)

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.