Forest Farming: Saving At-Risk Forest Botanicals

The Grassroots Cause – Be a Part of the Solution

In Appalachia, wild populations of forest botanicals, like ginseng and goldenseal, are disappearing every day due to overharvesting and habitat loss. Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) is leading efforts to support "conservation through cultivation" with forest farmers who sustainably grow these cherished at-risk plants. 

But we need YOUR help to ensure these plants are here for generations to come! Donate today, and help local forest farmers sustainably and profitably grow Appalachian medicinals for emerging markets!

ASD is a non-profit that has been serving Appalachian farmers since 1995. In 2017, ASD founded the Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub to create a sustainable herbal economy in Appalachia, where the conservation of at-risk medicinal plants is achieved through profitable cultivation.

Your donations help us provide the following services to small-scale forest farmers:

1) Seed-to-sale training: education on plant propagation, sustainable harvest, post-harvest handling, and more!

2) On-farm technical assistance: site visits to help landowners develop a forest farming management plan.

3) Cost-share funding: mini-grants offset start-up costs for planting stock.

4) Shared-use commercial processing equipment: increases herb quality and reduces labor costs to improve profitability for farmers.

5) Aggregation and marketing: helps forest farmers meet volume minimums and access emerging markets that pay fair prices for sustainably sourced supply.

When YOU donate, you’re helping Appalachian farmers like Michelle finally make a profit in forest farming while conserving at-risk medicinal plants. Your donation, no matter the size, makes a vast difference for the people, plants and future of Appalachia.

Donate TODAY!

And join us in planting for the future of at-risk forest botanicals!

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