Ginseng the Next Gold Rush???

[Fletch88]

Was watching a show on History channel. Poachers are sneaking on Federal land to dig ginseng root! WTH? It's selling on the black market for up to $1000 per pound! Who would have ever thought it?

 

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[Rebel - KGC]

YEAH! A BIG "thing" for Mountain People near Shenandoah National Park in Virginia; sell 'em to China for MEGA $$$$$$$$$!

 

[Number9]

Many who hunt ginseng illegal also grow pot.

You got to know how to hunt it, because it takes 150-200 plants to make a dry pound of roots.

 

[RJGMC]

Also found it interesting that there is a season on it. The "legal" ginseng harvesting season was about 2 months long. WOW!

RJGMC
HI BOB!

 

[Citiboy289]

I caught some of that show while flipping through the Commercials during the Seahawks Game ____ All I could think was WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT for a TV show , Moonshiners, gold diggers, pawn shops on and on Any guess what is next

 

[Fletch88]

Also found it interesting that there is a season on it. The "legal" ginseng harvesting season was about 2 months long. WOW! RJGMC HI BOB!

It was almost identical to the illegal drug trade. Profit is the driving force behind both practices. " Wild 'sang, as old-timers call the plant, flourishes best beneath a stand of mature hardwoods on a gentle northeast-facing slope that has thick, moist leaf litter and little undergrowth. Such a place is naturally ideal for cultivating ginseng, but the botanical should thrive in almost any well-tended, well drained but moist-location that doesn't receive too much direct afternoon sunlight. (Some growers even construct their own lattices—6 to 7 feet above the plants—to provide the necessary 75 to 80% shading.)" http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/growing-ginseng-zmaz83jaznet.aspx

 

[dustytrails123]

Unless you know someone with hundreds of acres you will be out trespassing or picking on federal land ..neither a good choice to make and early season they have a red berry once it falls it makes it much harder to spot them....the season doesnt open till after they have fallen off ....alot of dnr have started paying more attention to this hobby be safe

 

[dustytrails123]

Many who hunt ginseng illegal also grow pot.

Is this from personal experience? lol ...i could see how it would help them in finding the plant shapes in the woods

 

[Number9]

Is this from personal experience? lol ...i could see how it would help them in finding the plant shapes in the woods

No.. But.. I've lived in the Southern Appalachian Mountains all my life(65yrs). I know where many plots of ginseng grow in three states on three National Forests... this can also be said for whiskey stills, pot patches, gemstones, gold, and even wild moss(yes, it's collected too).

 

[Fletch88]

No.. But.. I've lived in the Southern Appalachian Mountains all my life(65yrs). I know where many plots of ginseng grow in three states on three National Forests... this can also be said for whiskey stills, pot patches, gemstones, gold, and even wild moss(yes, it's collected too).

Same down here pretty much, minus the ginseng! It seems to go hand in hand with shine around here, not that I would know! Lol

 

[Number9]

The "Peking Man"... complete with the right "equipment"!




Roots that look like a human body bring a good price!

 

[calisdad]

We caught that show last night. The most contrived thing I've ever seen.

How does that saying go?: 1 part truth + 99 parts embellishment=

 

[Rebel - KGC]

The "Peking Man"... complete with the right "equipment"!


View attachment 928820

Roots that look like a human body bring a good price!

LOL! YEP! And a "BEER BELLY"!

 

[worldtalker]

The "Peking Man"... complete with the right "equipment"!


View attachment 928820

Roots that look like a human body bring a good price!

That is what an old mountain man told me,course He told me about

growing pot too! Goes hand in hand with them Folks!

 

[Number9]

If the show was to be real, it would have been about marijuana.
I guess it would be hard not to disclose the stars when they're sitting in the middle of a pot patch...
but they did show a little in the show? It's easy on Moonshiners to use water.. and to throw paint thinner into their still fire.. kind'a hard with a quarter acre of pot!

You got to be careful when walking the mountains. I keep watch for pot, and if found, you act like you don't see it and walk the other way! This goes for a still sight also... I did this to a still that was running one year, I turned to walk away and the moonshiner called my name! HAVE SOME FRIEND!

Many don't realize just how much is grown on National Forest and state land.
Tennessee is second only to California in pot production.. being a smaller state, TN grows more for the land area.
It is the #1 cash crop in the state!

Ginseng is selling between $350 to $500 a pound, depending on the maturity of the plants and market.
Marijuana is selling for $358.68 an ounce for high quality(average TN price today)... And you don't have to hunt it!

And it's out there... somewhere!

 

[worldtalker]

If the show was to be real, it would have been about marijuana.
I guess it would be hard not to disclose the stars when they're sitting in the middle of a pot patch...
but they did show a little in the show? It's easy on Moonshiners to use water.. and to throw paint thinner into their still fire.. kind'a hard with a quarter acre of pot!

You got to be careful when walking the mountains. I keep watch for pot, and if found, you act like you don't see it and walk the other way! This goes for a still sight also... I did this to a still that was running one year, I turned to walk away and the moonshiner called my name! HAVE SOME FRIEND!

Many don't realize just how much is grown on National Forest and state land.
Tennessee is second only to California in pot production.. being a smaller state, TN grows more for the land area.
It is the #1 cash crop in the state!

Ginseng is selling between $350 to $500 a pound, depending on the maturity of the plants and market.
Marijuana is selling for $358.68 an ounce for high quality(average TN price today)... And you don't have to hunt it!

And it's out there... somewhere!

View attachment 929781

Yes sir,somewhere out there!

 

[jamey]

i kinda like em both...

 

[Number9]

i kinda like em both...

Yeah the pictures are nice!

 

[DeepseekerADS]

I caught part of the show. I agree with calisdad, it was too contrived to continue watching.

And, NOW I have to walk my property regularly to keep the thieves off it. If they'll poach on government land what will keep them off OUR propertly?

At least my hills are loaded with rattlers, copperheads and deer ticks!