It's been 2 yrs now since I dug cohosh. I do when I'm at my mom's visiting waiting to go back to work. I made $1,600 that winter. then I figured it at $3 hr then. so far I dug for 10 hrs, cut for 2 hrs and washed for 1 hr. I used 30 gal.s of water for about $0.83. green it weighted 22 lbs. at $1.00 lb that would have been $22. it dried to 8 lbs at $4 lb that's $32. it took 3 cloudy days. I built racks with 1/2\" by 1\" strips. used 4 of them one on each side and one in the middle. the fourth one I cut in half and made the top and bottom cross pieces. I then used a roll of screen( dark plastic 36\" wide want work,not wide enough.) with tacks to nail them on the strips. also roll the screen around the strips for better hold before you tack them on the side pieces.i set them on up turned blocks off the ground. I set on the porch and listen to the radio and cut the roots up with chicken shears, only $5. in pieces about as big as my thumb. then I use three buckets of water. I put a load in shake it around then move it to the next one and then the third. then start another one and when all three are full I put the third on the drying racks and move them like that and the first I empty, refill and make it the third and move them that way. keep the water changed to make the roots clean. I cover the racks with cheap plastic from the dollar store if it even looks like it might rain. take them up and bag them at dark. I was taught that if the dew falls on them they will mold. I hope this helps someone like I was when I first started, not knowing what to do. if you want to ask me a question feel free if I can answer I will if not maybe someone else on here might.
