Ginseng in Ohio

Rural Action's Sustainable Economies Initiative includes programs and projects in forestry, agriculture, and business facilitation.

Sustainable Forestry Program Highlights
Since 1997, this program has worked with private landowners, government agencies and other non-profit organizations to implement sustainable forestry projects. Staff members build on the region’s significant assets through innovative strategies that provide a transition toward sustainable utilization and marketing of forest resources.

The Rural Action Research and Education Center
Formerly known as the National Center for the Preservation of Medicinal Herbs, this 68-acre property with a six bedroom house serves as a research and education center for Rural Action and its partners. Located in Meigs County on property donated by the Frontier Natural Products Cooperative, the Center hosts numerous research trials evaluating organic cultivation of forest medicinals, including black cohosh, blue cohosh, goldenseal, wild yam and stone root.

2003 Accomplishments:
• Convened our Annual Landowners Conference, featuring over 35 workshops, over 200 attendees and educational workshops focusing on income opportunities at various fairs and festivals.
• Organized a constituency to confront ginseng poaching and supported
landowners who have had ginseng poached from their land.
• Surveyed owners of ten or more acres in northern Athens and southern Morgan Counties. Also assessed community interests through outreach at major events and festivals in Athens, Morgan, Meigs, Carroll, Knox and Jackson Counties.
• Sold 190 pounds of low-cost ginseng seed--yielding about 950 pounds of roots, with expected $330,000-$475,000 harvest value--and smaller amounts of goldenseal and black cohosh to 82 landowners, up from 50 in 2002.
• Conducted site assessments for 12 landowners to identify suitable Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) growing sites, preparing potential growers for cultivation, land stewardship, income development and forest restoration opportunities.
• Conducted Professional Development Training focused on NTFP
markets and marketing for foresters, extension agents and natural resources professionals.
• Supported ongoing development of the Ohio Premium Pine Cooperative.
• Supported The Nature Conservancy’s efforts to make regional projects
more community-based.