TOPIC: Walnut Meadows Ginseng Farm

I had an interesting conversation with Bill the owner of Walnut Meadows Ginseng Farm. I learned a lot from this old fella during our 1 hour telephone conversation. Bill is 80 years old and has had over 20 years of experience in growing ginseng. He is a wealth of knowledge. Bill harvested the last of his ginseng this year. Bill shared some great information with me on what did and didn't work for him in those 20 years. He also grows timber, raises mushrooms and manages his own fruit tree operation among other things.
The website below shows some of his ginseng pics.

www.wmginseng.com/pages/information/cobackground.html

Not sure if he would be overwhelmed with a bunch of calls but he was very receptive to take my call and share his knowledge with me. The more I learn about ginseng I realize the less I know. I told Bill that and he laughed. He has said he and others that have been farming far longer than he feel the same way.
What a nice fella!
Latt

Wow Latt!

Many thanks for that link.

The Walnut Meadows Ginseng Farm is one impressive operation!

Looking thru those pictures, it isn't hard to see how genuine this man must be.

Bill

Wow!

He's been in business for 25 years... he's 80 now....

That's pretty encouraging for us 50 somethings just getting started....

I got thur the first 8 pages of photographs, it's all very impressive.

BFB and Whitjr,
I agree this is one nice fella. Looking at the website there are 4 pic per page when you click on the numbers at the top. Some of those fields of ginseng growing in the woods are so beautiful. I hope to have something like that someday.
Latt

Latt,

When I checked out the location of this Ginseng Farm, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is just under an hour from my home.

Although Bill has harvested his last rotation, I am wondering if the 'seng operation is still being worked by family or other help. Do you know? If not, I'll send them an email to see if tours will be conducted next Spring.

I would really like to take a day and visit that setting.

Thanks,

Bill

BFB,
He has dug it all up this year. Also I asked him about how good the soil was and he said the PH lever was in the 3.2 range so he had to add lime to get it up to 5.5. He said it grew really well after he added a lot of lime.
He is close to Larry Hardings farm too and I did not know that until I spoke with Bill. I believe Larry helped him get started back in the day.
Latt

Thanks Latt.

Kind of a bummer that its all gone. I wish I had seen it.

Yes, Larry's 'seng farm would probably be within 25 - 30 miles of Bill's location.

Bill

BFB,
If you call Larry next year he is great about touring the farm. It is unbelievable to say the least.
Latt

I would enjoy seeing his operation. I spent several phone calls with him... and bought some seed last year. He has a lot to say, actually.

I didn't get much seed from him this year as his prices were , well..... I got 2.5 pounds of rootlets from him last spring, which all grew [and the deer enjoyed immensly...]

Be nice to see Bill's place as well. Maybe I could do it on the same trip, since they are close together. That area is about 5 hours away from me.

Whitjr,
It is about 4 hours away for me. I leave at 6 am and get there about 10 am. I hang out for a couple of hours and then home by 4 or 5 pm. I have done this twice and I enjoyed every minute of it. Once you see it, it tends to speaks for itself.
Learned a lot each time too. I have yet to see the farm with the red ripe berries on. I have been there each time after the berries have been picked. My goal next year to visit when the berries are ripe and prior to them being picked. I bet it is a sea of green and red.
Latt