Ginseng Harvesting In WV. ( land , high school, quality)

[x1x]

Can anyone tell me if they harvest or grow ginseng in WV, And what counties have they harvested or grew it in? Do you find it profitable or do you just do it to enjoy the outside.

[David Kennedy]

'Sang Hunters' are one of the most peculiar breeds found here...Everyone of them carries a 'Crypto Security Clearance'. They won't tell you anything about 'Sang' except that its in the bag and its the biggest root and the best quality.
Sang grows wild on a hill that faces north. It is found at a certain elevation. In high school we would find it at about 1200' above sea level in this area.
We would start in September, dig the root that was split or forked and re-plant the red berry. Grandpa would really chew us out if we didn't do that correctly.
Usually, a person who gathers ramps (Wild Leeks/ Allium Tricoccum) will gather Sang and Yellow Root.
The pros use a cute little mattock...custom made and is used as a walking aid on steep ground.
They find patches of the stuff and will not give out their secret. They will sneek onto private land to satisfy their mania.
If you could dress a 'Sang Hunter' in buckskin and moccasins, he/she would look just like our ancestors...
We have so much public land here, I would invite anyone to take up the hobby and get out into the rich atmosphere of these sacred mountains.
Me...I get my 'Sang' at CVS...comes in a small bottle...easier that the risk of snakebite, as the copperheads and timber rattlers have not gone under by September/October.

[x1x]

Thanks for your input on ginseng in WV. I have heard that it's locations are very secretive and if one should tell ya" then ya" gots to be shot!! LOL