Goldenseal Summit Part 1

Legislation & Conservation

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Goldenseal Summit Part 2

Forest Farming

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Goldenseal Summit Part 3

Industry & Products

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Goldenseal Summit Part 4

Extension, Education & Herbalists

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Goldenseal Summit Part 5

Non-Profits

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Participants in these discussions include:

• John Ager
• Lisa Soledad Almaraz
• Patryk Battle
• Margaret Bloomquist
• Katie Commender
• Dr. Jeanine Davis
• Jeannie Dunn
• Robert A. Eidus
• Kate Farley
• Joe Hollis
• Gary Kauffman
• Susan Leopold
• Robert Peet
• Lesley Starke
• John Stock
• Paul Strauss
• Shawn Swartz
• Marc Williams
• Ross Young

The areas of discussion include Government/legislation, product manufactures, existing Goldenseal farmers, Universities and agricultural extensions, herb schools, non-profit plant organizations, and Native Americans.

Watch our 5-part series!

Goldenseal Summit Virtual Roundtable Videos

• Goldenseal Summit 2020 (Part 1)
• Goldenseal Summit 2020 (Part 2)
• Goldenseal Summit 2020 (Part 3)
• Goldenseal Summit 2020 (Part 4)
• Goldenseal Summit 2020 (Part 5)

Take some time to view the 5-part video series that brings together 28 experts to collaborate on the future of Goldenseal.

Where is a good space and how should goldenseal be planted to have best growing productivity. Make sure that you wash the roots before you make medicine. Video recorded at Earth Haven Eco-Village May 6, 2020

Video of a Roundtable Discussion on the Future of Goldenseal

The North Carolina Ginseng Association, United Plant Savers, and Living Web Farms hosted an online event to capture the opinions and recommendations of a broad cross-section of experts and producers of Goldenseal. This virtual event took place on April 22, 2020.

Speaker List:

Lisa Soledad Almaraz, Media Director for Living Web Farms Asheville, NC
www.livingwebfarms.org

Robert A. Eidus President NC Ginseng & Goldenseal Co. Marshall, NC
@Eagle Feather Organic Farm
www.ncgoldenseal.com

Gary Kauffman Botanist & Plant Ecologist Asheville, NC
National Forest in NC

Lesley Starke Program Manager, Raleigh, NC
NC Plant Conservation Program
NC Department of Agriculture & Cultural Services

John Ager NC State Representative, Buncombe Co. Fairview, NC
Owner of Hickory Nut Gap farm
www.ncleg.gov

Dr. Jeanine Davis Associate Professor & Extension Specialist Fletcher, NC
NC Horticultural Research Station

Shawn Swartz Forester, Forest Manager Swannanoa, NC
Warren Wilson College
www.warren-wilson.edu

Get the Growers Guide to Goldenseal, available now!

Second video on the Future of Goldenseal, a Roundtable Discussion

The North Carolina Ginseng Association, United Plant Savers, and Living Web Farms hosted an online event to capture the opinions and recommendations of a broad cross-section of experts and producers of Goldenseal. This virtual event took place on April 22, 2020.

Speaker List:

Lisa Soledad Almaraz Media Director for Living Web Farms Asheville, NC
www.livingwebfarms.org

Robert A. Eidus President NC Ginseng & Goldenseal Co. Marshall, NC
@ Eagle Feather Organic Farm
www.ncgoldenseal.com

Paul Strauss Co-owner Equinox Botanicals Rutland, Ohio
www.equinoxbotanicals.com

Dr. Jeanine Davis Associate Professor & Extension Specialist Fletcher, NC
NC Horticultural Research Station

Katie Commender Agroforestry Program Manager Bristol, TN
Appalachian Sustainable Development
Virginia Tech
www.agroforestry.frec.vt.edu

Shawn Swartz Forester, Forest Manager Swannanoa, NC
Warren Wilson College
www.warren-wilson.edu

Margaret Bloomquist Botanist Fletcher, NC
NC Beginning Forest Farming

Joe Hollis Owner Celo, NC
Mountain Gardens
www.mountaingardenherbs.com

Get the Growers Guide to Goldenseal, available now!

Third video on the Future of Goldenseal, a Roundtable Discussion

The North Carolina Ginseng Association, United Plant Savers, and Living Web Farms hosted an online event to capture the opinions and recommendations of a broad cross-section of experts and producers of Goldenseal. This virtual event took place on April 22, 2020.

Speakers:

Robert A. Eidus President NC Ginseng & Goldenseal Co. Marshall, NC
@ Eagle Feather Organic Farm
www.ncgoldenseal.com

Joe Hollis Owner Celo, NC
Mountain Gardens
www.mountaingardenherbs.com

Dave Doty Botanical Development Manager Portland, OR
Formerly with Mountain Rose Herbs
www.mountainroseherbs.com

Dr. Jeanine Davis Associate Professor & Extension Specialist Fletcher, NC
NC Horticultural Research Station

Edward J Fletcher Owner Banner Elk, NC
Native Botanicals, Inc
www.nativebotanicalsinc.com

Lonnie Galt-Theis Co-owners Rutland, Ohio
Paul Strauss Equinox Botanicals
www.equinoxbotanicals.com

Jeannie Dunn Director Candler, NC
Red Moon Herbs
www.redmoonherbs.com

Patricia S. De Angelis PhD Botanist Washington, DC

Katie Commender Agroforestry Program Manager Bristol, TN
Appalachian Sustainable Development
Virginia Tech
www.agroforestry.frec.vt.edu

Get the Growers Guide to Goldenseal, available now!

Fourth video on the Future of Goldenseal, a Roundtable Discussion

The North Carolina Ginseng Association, United Plant Savers, and Living Web Farms hosted an online event to capture the opinions and recommendations of a broad cross-section of experts and producers of Goldenseal. This virtual event took place on April 22, 2020.

Speakers:

Lisa Soledad Almaraz, Media Director for Living Web Farms Asheville, NC
www.livingwebfarms.org

Robert A. Eidus President NC Ginseng & Goldenseal Co. Marshall, NC
@ Eagle Feather Organic Farm
www.ncgoldenseal.com

Kate Farley PhD Candidate St. Louis, MO
Social Cultural Anthropology
Washington University
https://anthropology.wustl.edu

Dr. Jeanine Davis Associate Professor & Extension Specialist Fletcher, NC
NC Horticultural Research Station

Shawn Swartz Forester, Forest Manager Swannanoa, NC
Warren Wilson College
www.warren-wilson.edu

Joe Hollis Owner Celo, NC
Mountain Gardens
www.mountaingardenherbs.com

Ross Young NC Extension Director Marshall, NC
Madison County
www.ces.ncsu.edu

Margaret Bloomquist Botanist Fletcher, NC
NC Beginning Forest Farming

Get the Growers Guide to Goldenseal, available now!

Fifth video on the Future of Goldenseal, a Roundtable Discussion

The North Carolina Ginseng Association, United Plant Savers, and Living Web Farms hosted an online event to capture the opinions and recommendations of a broad cross-section of experts and producers of Goldenseal. This virtual event took place on April 22, 2020.

Speakers:

Lisa Soledad Almaraz, Media Director for Living Web Farms Asheville, NC
www.livingwebfarms.org

Robert A. Eidus President NC Ginseng Association Marshall, NC
www.Facebook.com/NCGinsengAssoc

Susan Leopold Executive Director Rutland Ohio
United Plant Savers
www.unitedplantsavers.org

Marc Williams Executive Director Weaverville, NC
Plants & Healers International
www.plantsandhealersinternational.org

Robert Peet Past President Chapel Hill, NC
NC Friends of Plant Conservation
www.ncplantfriends.org

Patryk Battle Executive Director Mills River, NC
Living Web Farms
www.livingwebfarm.org

John Stock Formerly with United Plant Savers Rutland, Ohio
www.unitedplantsavers.org

Jeannie Dunn Director Candler, NC
Red Moon Herbs
www.redmoonherbs.com

Get the Growers Guide to Goldenseal, available now!

A Roundtable Discussion on the Future of Goldenseal

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) is in trouble.

An understory plant found in the woodlands of the Eastern United States, its continued presence in our forests is becoming threatened by both habitat loss and harvesting to feed the demands of domestic and international trade. According to the United Plant Savers organization, there is a high demand in the marketplace for organic Goldenseal. Wild-harvested roots are becoming increasingly harder to find, and the roots that do exist tend to be smaller than in years past.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently published the status of Goldenseal as “vulnerable” due to unregulated wild-harvesting compounded by a loss of habitat. Their goal with their “Hope for Hydrastis” Project is to inspire a new generation of Goldenseal farmers.

Herb manufacturers are frustrated in their ability to obtain this important herb and declare that Goldenseal will disappear from their product lines. Growers of this herb are either going out of business or are not wanting to harvest their crop due to the low prices caused by the wild crafting and over harvesting in the woodlands.

Protection of wild populations of Goldenseal is needed to restrict the rate of harvesting. A supply route from the cultivated forest beds to the manufacturer is needed so that Goldenseal farmers can obtain a fair price for their herbal crop.

Online Streaming Event

The North Carolina Ginseng Association, United Plant Savers, and Living Web Farms sponsored an online streaming event to capture the opinions and recommendations of a broad cross section of experts and producers of Goldenseal. The virtual event took place on April 22, 2020.

View the Goldenseal Summit Virtual Roundtable Videos

• Goldenseal Summit 2020 (Part 1)
• Goldenseal Summit 2020 (Part 2)
• Goldenseal Summit 2020 (Part 3)
• Goldenseal Summit 2020 (Part 4)
• Goldenseal Summit 2020 (Part 5)

Over 30 experts in this industry are represented in these roundtable interviews. The areas of discussion include Government/legislation, product manufactures, existing Goldenseal farmers, Universities and agricultural extensions, herb schools, non-profit plant organizations, and Native Americans. Participants in these discussions include Rep. John Ager, Patryk Battle, Margaret Bloomquest, Katie Commender, Jeanine Davis, Jeannie Dunn, Robert Eidus, Joe Hollis, Susan Leopold, Paul Strauss and Shawn Swartz.

Each table addressed specific questions and addressed action items, including how to restrict wildcrafting of Goldenseal, how to provide forest growers with the necessary tools to increase production of Goldenseal, how to get a fair price for farm-grown Goldenseal products, requesting that the US Government and the Bureau of Land Management fund Goldenseal as an agricultural project, providing herbal school students with information on the threat to wild Goldenseal and educate them on alternative herbs, encouraging universities and agricultural extensions to produce more documents for the tool box for Goldenseal growers, and determining a central organization to act as the clearinghouse for information on Goldenseal and to host that data on their website.

This webinar series was made available for free to Herbal Schools, new goldenseal farmers, Native American tribes, and universities. Visit United Plant Savers, and Living Web Farms for more information.