Forest Tending: Ginseng & Goldenseal

Sign up for Fall 2026 goldenseal workshop or to get on the list for rhizome shipments: email ozarkmountainjewel (at) gmail (dot) com

There is a permaculture principle that came to mind this morning: use slow and steady solutions. In the 10 years that I have lived here, I have received a lot of feedback loops in planting hundreds of different things and seeing what thrives, what dies and everything in between. The slow and steady solutions are the ones that prove themselves in this regard because try as we might, not everything will take and thrive. The ones that do stand out.

Spring is a special time when the plants return in all of their green vibrancy.

I find unique joy in witnessing ginseng and goldenseal burst forth from the stored energy of their rhizomes. The patches start waving at me as goldenseal signals its white flowers beneath the spice bush and ginseng powers up from the ground, prongs unfurling in fanned grandeur. I am reminded of this principle more than ever with these plants. Slow and steady solutions are the way as my small actions of planting them have taken in the forest understory and run wild via seed and rhizome on their own accord with the help of gravity and a myriad of beaks and paws.

I thank every small act of my past as I see that each thing I have initiated has multiplied itself in great ripples. I wrote about the beauty and nourishment of this work in Being the Human Hands for Goldenseal. Last fall, I invited folks out to engage in being the human hands for goldenseal. It was a rich time sharing how the rhizomes grow and practicing hands on digging, transplanting and site selection methods. This is embodied work beyond what can be absorbed from books. Yesterday I had a couple more people out who wanted to plant goldenseal in lands they tend or are in association with. I am grateful for the people showing up who want to repopulate their lands with this once abundant native forest medicinal.

Years ago, I transplanted 1 ginseng plant onto the land.

That single plant, beneath my very nose, and quietly, slowly, on its own, has produced a dozen or more offspring. This morning I dug and became the hands for 9 plants that sowed and grew around its base, leaving some to root in place. This is behind the scenes work. Set it and forget it work. This is the work of time and space. The ginseng being ginseng in an environment conducive to its intelligence and radiance. I am inspired to continue tending it.

I have traipsed and wandered all over the hills and hollers near my Ozark home. I have found goldenseal and ginseng in only 1 place nearby in countless hours of meandering off trail. Was this a region these forest gems were overharvested? I have not made contact with any locals who still relate with this plant. It grows and spreads so easily, it really begs the question of why isn’t it more prevalent? Questions aside, the feedback loop I have received in 10 years of forest tending is that it returns readily. The birds sow the seeds with ease, just as, presumably, other creatures chomp and spread the rhizomes underground. It feels important to reestablish, tend and spread them.

Silent, slow, steady background work. Beneath our noses. Behind the scenes.

I would love to continue sharing this with other humans who want to develop a relationship with these plants. If you desire to come out this fall and/or if you’re interested in purchasing goldenseal rhizomes, drop me an email at ozarkmountainjewel (at) gmail (dot) com to get on the email list for such a thing. If there is interest, I can even hold two or more classes. Looking forward to seeing you in the woods.