Across the globe, we see extreme weather conditions disrupting our economies and livelihoods. The plant world is not exempt from the effects of these drastic conditions. Our medicinal plant allies are in trouble while the natural health industry is booming, putting increased pressure on plant populations. How can we create enough supply to meet the demand of the botanical industry without compromising plant species existence? Forest Farming. It’s by no means a catch-all solution to our disappearing plant populations, however diversifying plant sourcing with inherently sustainable growing methods like Forest Farming can help mitigate our impact.
The Problem
Our most potent plants are disappearing from the wild. Extreme droughts, excessive harvesting, and rising temperatures have disrupted numerous plant populations from the Appalachian Mountains to the Rocky Mountains. Appalachian herbs like Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), False Unicorn (Chamaelirium luteum), Black Cohosh & Blue Cohosh, and American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), have been identified as at-risk or in critical stages of their population. American Ginseng’s population has dramatically decreased due to high-demand and high profits in the supplement world. It’s been over-harvested to the point where it is now endangered. In the past, we moved with nature’s rituals by harvesting our household’s needs each season, however modern foraging has found us in a pickle. Herbal companies tend to source a large portion of their inventory from herbs that have been wild-harvested. It’s an easy herb source that poses hard questions. Are we ethically wild-crafting this root? Can companies continue to buy large amounts of vulnerable plant material from wild-crafters? We cannot keep chasing our tail in circles while digging a deeper hole.
What is Forest-Farming?
There is a high demand of specialty herbs that can be no longer wild-harvested. Diversifying how plants are being grown and cultivated is one solution in alleviating our impact on our plant allies. Forest Farming is a regenerative practice and is paving the path towards a more sustainable purchase system within the botanical industry.
To understand Forest-Farming, it’s important to first define Agroforestry. Agroforestry is the intentional combination of agriculture and forestry to create productive and sustainable land-use. Picture trees and shrubs growing together with crops or even livestock! It's a carefully curated ecosystem, rooted in tropical food systems. Forest Farming is a sub-category of Agroforestry that focuses on high-value crops like Goldenseal, decorative ferns, and mushrooms. Forest Farms are likely to be on private land and closely managed by stewards or farmers. Most family farmers use this growing system to cultivate specialty crops for supplemental income and cannot afford lengthy and expensive organic certificates. USDA Organic certificates are best for quality control, but they add exorbitant expense to small farming operations. Forest cultivated plants are not always native to the farm’s region but have been introduced to the land just like crops. Forest Farming needs tree canopies and careful planning by the farmer to grow delicate plants. Tree canopies are created by trees living next to one another, creating shade and cooler temperatures below. They protect plants' growing process as most medicinal plants need several years to establish roots and thrive.
Farmer and his Goldenseal root
WishGarden’s Commitment
Responsible herbal companies have started looking for alternative botanical sources. Companies find both ethical and business success when their practices are aligned with the natural environments from which their materials are sourced. WishGarden has evolved with our ever-changing planet by sourcing materials from sustainable environments like forest farmers instead of solely depending on wild-crafters. For example, our Goldenseal is contracted from a family forest farm in Missouri, USA. Our Midwest forest farmer has grown Goldenseal for decades and works with his family to maintain their organic land. He vigorously tends the Goldenseal under tree canopies on his private land for our seasonal needs. Our fresh St. John’s Flowers are harvested every summer from a local forest-farm in the Rocky Mountains. St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is considered invasive here in the Rocky Mountain region, however some herbalists would argue any medicinal herb could be considered “invasive” because of narrowing biodiversity in the wild. You can find a group of WishGarden herbalists harvesting these tiny yellow flowers every summer with our hard-working hands stained red from Hypericin, the active powerful constituent in St. John Wort’s flowers.
WishGarden staff at St. John's Wort forest farm
Short-sighted greed is causing our medicinal plants to disappear, but innovative agriculture like Forest-farming can bring them back.
For more resources about preserving plant populations:
Lauren Ann Nichols attended The Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism and received her certificate in medical herbalism. She is the owner of Herbal Vice, a small batch skin care company, and grows the herbs used in her products. She is currently a customer service representative at WishGarden Herbs.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or sell any product.
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