"Seasoned and novice growers alike will find a mother lode of information and wisdom packed into this gem of a book!"--Nancy Phillips, author of The Herbalist's Way
*Updated with new information about herb dryers and construction, soil fertility, growing cannabis, and more
In the first edition of The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer, authors Jeff and Melanie Carpenter presented a comprehensive seed-to-bottle guide for aspiring and experienced growers alike, from basic business considerations to planting and propagation to creating value-added products. Now they're back with a revised and updated edition, sharing the lessons they've learned throughout their twenty-five years of operating a medicinal herb farm that prizes quality over quantity.
The Carpenters offer their insights and tips on every aspect of herb farming, including:
- Size and scale considerations
- Data management for profit maximization
- The herbal marketplace and choosing which herbs to grow
- Field and bed preparation and planting, including building soil fertility
- Plant-positive weed, pest, and disease control
- Harvest and post-harvest processing, including scalable dryer construction
- Value-added products and marketing
- A new chapter on growing cannabis
- And much more!
The Carpenters make the case that growing organic medicinal herbs is not only viable and profitable, but also an important step for improving the ecological health of farmland, taking pressure off of wild medicinal plant populations, and increasing biodiversity. While local foodways are more often the focus of attention, local medicine ways are equally critical and in need of restoration.
The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer is a one-of-a-kind resource, complete with detailed profiles of 50 medicinal herbs and over 200 color photographs. Whether you're looking to grow an herb farm from the ground up, incorporate medicinal plants on an existing farm, or add tools to your belt as a seasoned grower, you'll find the information you need in this volume.
"[A] beautiful and informative book . . . A dirt-smudged copy should be within easy reach of every home gardener or farmer who grows--or wants to grow--medicinal plants."--Michael McGuffin, President, American Herbal Products Association
Carpenter, Jeff: -
Jeff and Melanie Carpenter co-run Zack Woods Herb Farm in Hyde Park, Vermont.
Jeff Carpenter has farming in his blood. Descended from generations of Vermont farmers, Jeff deepened his love and understanding of plants through an apprenticeship with Rosemary Gladstar and as the former co-owner of Sage Mountain Herb Products and the International Herb Symposium. Since those early days, Jeff's work as a farmer, agricultural consultant, author, educator, and researcher has focused on the cultivation, conservation, and marketing of medicinal herbs. His passion for the green world is evident as he spends his days working in the fields and in the community.
Carpenter, Melanie: -
Melanie Carpenter grew up at Sage Mountain with her stepmother, herbal visionary Rosemary Gladstar. It was from Rosemary that Melanie first cultivated a love for medicinal plants. Over the last twenty years, Melanie has worked in the field of medicinal herbs as a farmer, community herbalist, educator, and mother. She believes that some of the most profound teachings and healings come from working on the land with the plants and works to help people explore and deepen their connection to the green world.
