Messages

1

General Discussion / Creek Stone

« on: April 12, 2012, 11:37:59 PM »

I'm working on a few new hobbys/projects over the summer. My family used to do a lot of rock harvesting. Creek stone, flat rock, and mountain stone. Right now the only thing i have access to is creek rock. The problem is the rock yards around here don't seem to be buying any lately.

I'm getting together with a friend of mine tommorrow to gather up some palm sized creek stone. We're planning to pick only flat, pretty ones for use as ground cover and decoration for our gardens and flower beds. This is an experiment really, i'm trying to cut down on weeding and erosion from watering. Planning to use leaves and dried grass clippings tilled under as well for water retention. I tried that weed guard stuff and hated it. So much trouble to work with, its ugly, and some weeds just grow on top anyway. My hope is that these stones will act like a mulch if applied thick enough but i'll be able to toss them aside this fall to till everything under then put them back next spring. The mulch requires replacing each year or two which is expensive and annoying plus a lot of the weeds just grow right in it.

After we finish our own projects we're planning on gathering up some extras in 4 gallon buckets. I'd like to try and sell some of these. I was hoping to get opinions on prices per bucket assuming the buyer picks them up at my friends house. 

We're also considering gathering up a few piles of nice sized border stones for flower beds. These we could deliver and sell by the half truck load. Any ideas on how to price these?

2

Woodsgrown Ginseng / Valley planting

« on: April 12, 2012, 10:46:21 PM »

I've been reading up on planting seeds back in the wild. I'd like to learn more about it. We've got some wooded land in a valley and I'd like to try planting down there but I've never known Ginseng to grow down low like that. Anyone tried planting in valleys?

Does this change the price of the Ginseng?

I was thinking about getting some stratified seeds soon(I know its a little late in the year) and planting those in the woods. What's 1/4 lb of seed go for? 

This fall I'm considering saving some of my smaller 3 prong bunches and replanting them too. My reasoning is that they've already got 5+ years growth on them and should survive much better than seeds, but aren't adding much weight to my pile as they are. It'd be nice to replant a few hundred roots every year, 5 years from now I could start harvesting a little extra to add to my pile. Or Just wait for a a year where the price gets high.

3

Wild Ginseng / Re: Goldenseal and black haw in tn

« on: April 12, 2012, 10:27:01 PM »

Forgot to ask about the bark. Not normally something i fool with since its so labor intensive. I barked for 5 days straight once years ago. Made my arms strong but didnt pay off very well. Anyone else tried barking?

4

Wild Ginseng / Goldenseal and black haw in tn

« on: April 12, 2012, 10:24:52 PM »

I'm looking into making a few trips this summer while i wait on Ginseng season. I dig ginseng in the fall and im wondering if Seal is worth bothering with midsummer. How much do you dig on a good day? When i dig ginseng i usually get 3/4 to 1 lb green on a decent day which is always worth the effort(at least $90 worth at last years rate). But i find huge patches of seal sometimes. Never dug enough of it to speak of since the price is so low compared to ginseng.

I figure the tops aren't worth carrying home. They take up a lot of space and i dont have much room in my pack. Any opinions?

But the roots might be worth the trouble. If i could dig at least 5 lbs green in a day and it dries like ginseng that would probably make it worth the effort since i like digging anyway($30 for a day spent hiking, which is something i do anyway). What do ya'll think?