Importing herbs problems/ growing herbs in US

[Guest guest]

I was talking to Barry Thorne of Golden Needle this week. Importing from

China is becoming difficult, due to increased FDA inspections and testing of

herbs. Whole containers are being held up due to a question about one item

in the shipment. It is becoming a growing necessity to nurture farmers who

will grow chinese herbs in the US.

 

Wu Wei Zi in particular is becoming more difficult to bring in. Barry's

been working with an herb grower in Burnsville, WNC about the difficulties

of growing it here. We don't have the right climate for it, as we get harsh

cold snaps in the spring which kill the young budding plants. Wu Wei Zi is

especially difficult to cultivate because you need male and female plants,

and you don't know what you've got until long after they get established.

 

wondering what we as a profession can do to find and nurture farmers to grow

organic chinese herbs in the US, as importing is becoming increasingly

challenging.

 

--

Kath Bartlett, LAc, MS, BA UCLA

Oriental Medicine

Experienced, Dedicated, Effective

 

Asheville Center For

70 Woodfin Place, Suite West Wing Two

Asheville, NC 28801 828.258.2777

kbartlett

www.AcupunctureAsheville.com

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Very timely questions, Kath. The issue of herb importation from

China will only get more serious in the long run.

 

As it turns out, this weekend I will be speaking at the New Mexico

Herb Expo in Albuquerque, where one of the main topics will be

growing and wild crafting 'Chinese' herbs in the US.

 

I will also be visiting three herb farms growing Chinese herbs in the

Santa Fe area. . .

 

 

 

 

 

On Jun 19, 2007, at 2:36 PM, wrote:

 

> I was talking to Barry Thorne of Golden Needle this week. Importing

> from

> China is becoming difficult, due to increased FDA inspections and

> testing of

> herbs. Whole containers are being held up due to a question about

> one item

> in the shipment. It is becoming a growing necessity to nurture

> farmers who

> will grow chinese herbs in the US.

>

> Wu Wei Zi in particular is becoming more difficult to bring in.

> Barry's

> been working with an herb grower in Burnsville, WNC about the

> difficulties

> of growing it here. We don't have the right climate for it, as we

> get harsh

> cold snaps in the spring which kill the young budding plants. Wu

> Wei Zi is

> especially difficult to cultivate because you need male and female

> plants,

> and you don't know what you've got until long after they get

> established.

>

> wondering what we as a profession can do to find and nurture

> farmers to grow

> organic chinese herbs in the US, as importing is becoming increasingly

> challenging.

>

> --

>

> Oriental Medicine

> Experienced, Dedicated, Effective

>

> Asheville Center For

> 70 Woodfin Place, Suite West Wing Two

> Asheville, NC 28801 828.258.2777

> kbartlett

> www.AcupunctureAsheville.com

>

>

[Guest guest]

On Tuesday 19 June 2007 16:36, wrote:

> I was talking to Barry Thorne of Golden Needle this week. Importing from

> China is becoming difficult, due to increased FDA inspections and testing

> of herbs. Whole containers are being held up due to a question about one

> item in the shipment. It is becoming a growing necessity to nurture

> farmers who will grow chinese herbs in the US.

>

> Wu Wei Zi in particular is becoming more difficult to bring in. Barry's

> been working with an herb grower in Burnsville, WNC about the difficulties

> of growing it here. We don't have the right climate for it, as we get

> harsh cold snaps in the spring which kill the young budding plants.

 

Hi Kath!

 

Know anyone who has a greenhouse? That would solve the problem.

--

Regards,

 

Pete

http://www.pete-theisen.com/

[Guest guest]

Dear Kath,

 

Just a week ago, Jean Giblette visited our school from High Falls Garden

in upstate New York. She has been working with Farmers across the

country as well as many students at school who have gardens now. She is

looking to support farmers in growing specialized crops, something that

needs an upfront contract as well as advisers on how to grow the herbs.

She is definitely one person to talk to. She feels that acupuncturist

are going to make it happen, and probably the next few generation of new

acupuncturist who are learning about the real plants.

She prints a newsletter on line as well as has a website:

 

hfg

www.highfallsgardens.net <http://www.highfallsgardens.net>

 

Rozz

 

wrote:

> I was talking to Barry Thorne of Golden Needle this week. Importing from

> China is becoming difficult, due to increased FDA inspections and testing of

> herbs. Whole containers are being held up due to a question about one item

> in the shipment. It is becoming a growing necessity to nurture farmers who

> will grow chinese herbs in the US.

>

> Wu Wei Zi in particular is becoming more difficult to bring in. Barry's

> been working with an herb grower in Burnsville, WNC about the difficulties

> of growing it here. We don't have the right climate for it, as we get harsh

> cold snaps in the spring which kill the young budding plants. Wu Wei Zi is

> especially difficult to cultivate because you need male and female plants,

> and you don't know what you've got until long after they get established.

>

> wondering what we as a profession can do to find and nurture farmers to grow

> organic chinese herbs in the US, as importing is becoming increasingly

> challenging.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jean helped organize the upcoming Herb Expo in Albuquerque this

weekend, and will be speaking here in San Diego at the Pacific

Symposium the first weekend in November.

 

 

On Jun 19, 2007, at 4:14 PM, Rozz Lieght wrote:

 

> Dear Kath,

>

> Just a week ago, Jean Giblette visited our school from High Falls

> Garden

> in upstate New York. She has been working with Farmers across the

> country as well as many students at school who have gardens now.

> She is

> looking to support farmers in growing specialized crops, something

> that

> needs an upfront contract as well as advisers on how to grow the

> herbs.

> She is definitely one person to talk to. She feels that acupuncturist

> are going to make it happen, and probably the next few generation

> of new

> acupuncturist who are learning about the real plants.

> She prints a newsletter on line as well as has a website:

>

> hfg

> www.highfallsgardens.net <http://www.highfallsgardens.net>

>

> Rozz

>

> wrote:

> > I was talking to Barry Thorne of Golden Needle this week.

> Importing from

> > China is becoming difficult, due to increased FDA inspections and

> testing of

> > herbs. Whole containers are being held up due to a question about

> one item

> > in the shipment. It is becoming a growing necessity to nurture

> farmers who

> > will grow chinese herbs in the US.

> >

> > Wu Wei Zi in particular is becoming more difficult to bring in.

> Barry's

> > been working with an herb grower in Burnsville, WNC about the

> difficulties

> > of growing it here. We don't have the right climate for it, as we

> get harsh

> > cold snaps in the spring which kill the young budding plants. Wu

> Wei Zi is

> > especially difficult to cultivate because you need male and

> female plants,

> > and you don't know what you've got until long after they get

> established.

> >

> > wondering what we as a profession can do to find and nurture

> farmers to grow

> > organic chinese herbs in the US, as importing is becoming

> increasingly

> > challenging.

> >

> >

>

>

>

 

 

Chair, Department of Herbal Medicine

Pacific College of Oriental Medicine

San Diego, Ca. 92122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

In Berkeley, California, the Berkeley Botanical Garden has a fairly large

Chinese herbal section. When I was a student at PCOM, there was a time when we

were looking to start our own herb garden, and the BBG had eagerly offered to

provide us with seeds or cuttings of whatever plants we wanted. Unfortunately,

we had no land for the garden. I also met with the gardener at the time for

ACTCM in San Francisco, and they also offered to provide seeds and cuttings.

The info I received from both places is that they were able to grow many species

in that climate, but it was too cool for most of them to flower and fruit and it

was too cool for still other species to even grow. There was lots of

information available from both places for getting started, and both were eager

to help herb growers in the US. This was about 8 years ago, and I no longer

have the contact information.

 

 

 

Rozz Lieght <Rusty7 wrote: Dear Kath,

 

Just a week ago, Jean Giblette visited our school from High Falls Garden

in upstate New York. She has been working with Farmers across the

country as well as many students at school who have gardens now. She is

looking to support farmers in growing specialized crops, something that

needs an upfront contract as well as advisers on how to grow the herbs.

She is definitely one person to talk to. She feels that acupuncturist

are going to make it happen, and probably the next few generation of new

acupuncturist who are learning about the real plants.

She prints a newsletter on line as well as has a website:

 

hfg

www.highfallsgardens.net <http://www.highfallsgardens.net>

 

Rozz

 

wrote:

> I was talking to Barry Thorne of Golden Needle this week. Importing from

> China is becoming difficult, due to increased FDA inspections and testing of

> herbs. Whole containers are being held up due to a question about one item

> in the shipment. It is becoming a growing necessity to nurture farmers who

> will grow chinese herbs in the US.

>

> Wu Wei Zi in particular is becoming more difficult to bring in. Barry's

> been working with an herb grower in Burnsville, WNC about the difficulties

> of growing it here. We don't have the right climate for it, as we get harsh

> cold snaps in the spring which kill the young budding plants. Wu Wei Zi is

> especially difficult to cultivate because you need male and female plants,

> and you don't know what you've got until long after they get established.

>

> wondering what we as a profession can do to find and nurture farmers to grow

> organic chinese herbs in the US, as importing is becoming increasingly

> challenging.

>

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Building a website is a piece of cake.

Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.

 

 

[Guest guest]

James Whittle of Blue Ridge Acupuncture Clinic in Asheville, NC asked that i

forward this out to you as he is looking for support from the community in

his efforts to grow chinese herbs.

 

Chinese Medicine, LAc

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Blue Ridge Clinic <blueridgeacupuncture

Jun 19, 2007 9:06 PM

Re: Importing herbs problems/ growing herbs in US

" "

 

Hi Kath,

I have been working on this issue also in my own way for a few years and I

am moving forward with a number of projects:

1) I am starting an herbal medicine company called TCM Nutra. The aim of the

company is to use as many US gorwn and organic Chinese herbs as possible. I

have some of my teachers and many colleagues behind me on this vision and

truly believe that if I can create a viable company supported by

practitioners...that we can contract small farmers ot grow herbs for us.

2) My family has a farm outside of Boone and I recently planted six species

of Chinese herbs there. This first run will be a pilot project of six plants

each and we will watch the growth and then put them in the ground next year

(they are perennials.) Perhaps we can gather growing information as well.

3) I am in touch with Joe Hollis and he is collaborating wiht me on the

above project. Jean Giblette of High Falls gardens has also agreed to help.

 

I would love to tell you more when you have the time, I really need the

support of colleauges who see and share the vision of US grown, organic

Chinese herbs. Also, if you could send out this email to your TCM list that

would be great as I would like to build local support for the vision.

 

Thanks so much...

James Whittle

 

 

 

*Blue Ridge Acupuncture Clinic

James Whittle M.S., L.Ac.

959 Merrimon Ave

Suite 203

Asheville, N.C. 28804

Clinic: (828) 254-4405

Fax: (828) 254-4405

www.blueridgeclinic.com*

 

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--

Kath Bartlett, LAc, MS, BA UCLA

Oriental Medicine

Experienced, Dedicated, Effective

 

Asheville Center For

70 Woodfin Place, Suite West Wing Two

Asheville, NC 28801 828.258.2777

kbartlett

www.AcupunctureAsheville.com

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Chinese Medicine , Andrea Beth

Damsky < wrote:

>

> In Berkeley, California, the Berkeley Botanical Garden has a fairly

large Chinese herbal section. When I was a student at PCOM, there was

a time when we were looking to start our own herb garden, and the BBG

had eagerly offered to provide us with seeds or cuttings of whatever

plants we wanted. Unfortunately, we had no land for the garden. I

also met with the gardener at the time for ACTCM in San Francisco, and

they also offered to provide seeds and cuttings. The info I received

from both places is that they were able to grow many species in that

climate, but it was too cool for most of them to flower and fruit and

it was too cool for still other species to even grow. There was lots

of information available from both places for getting started, and

both were eager to help herb growers in the US. This was about 8

years ago, and I no longer have the contact information.

>

>

>

> Rozz Lieght <Rusty7 wrote:

Dear Kath,

>

> Just a week ago, Jean Giblette visited our school from High Falls

Garden

> in upstate New York. She has been working with Farmers across the

> country as well as many students at school who have gardens now.

She is

> looking to support farmers in growing specialized crops, something

that

> needs an upfront contract as well as advisers on how to grow the

herbs.

> She is definitely one person to talk to. She feels that acupuncturist

> are going to make it happen, and probably the next few generation

of new

> acupuncturist who are learning about the real plants.

> She prints a newsletter on line as well as has a website:

>

> hfg

> www.highfallsgardens.net <http://www.highfallsgardens.net>

>

> Rozz

>

> wrote:

> > I was talking to Barry Thorne of Golden Needle this week.

Importing from

> > China is becoming difficult, due to increased FDA inspections and

testing of

> > herbs. Whole containers are being held up due to a question

about one item

> > in the shipment. It is becoming a growing necessity to nurture

farmers who

> > will grow chinese herbs in the US.

> >

> > Wu Wei Zi in particular is becoming more difficult to bring in.

Barry's

> > been working with an herb grower in Burnsville, WNC about the

difficulties

> > of growing it here. We don't have the right climate for it, as

we get harsh

> > cold snaps in the spring which kill the young budding plants.

Wu Wei Zi is

> > especially difficult to cultivate because you need male and

female plants,

> > and you don't know what you've got until long after they get

established.

> >

> > wondering what we as a profession can do to find and nurture

farmers to grow

> > organic chinese herbs in the US, as importing is becoming

increasingly

> > challenging.

> >

> >

 

> Building a website is a piece of cake.

> Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.

>

>

[Guest guest]

You were probably working with Robert Newman who is now in Southern

California. Julie Mann, David Crow and now Robert, Emperors College,

Yo-San University and Venice High School along with David King and

others have set up The Learning Garden, where the students grow the

herbs in small quantities.

 

Although theirs is an educational mission and not a medical or

commercial venture they may be of some help.

Their website is thelearninggarden.org.

 

 

(sorry, if my last message got through. I should know better!)

 

 

 

Chinese Medicine , Andrea Beth

Damsky < wrote:

>

> In Berkeley, California, the Berkeley Botanical Garden has a fairly

large Chinese herbal section. When I was a student at PCOM, there was

a time when we were looking to start our own herb garden, and the BBG

had eagerly offered to provide us with seeds or cuttings of whatever

plants we wanted. Unfortunately, we had no land for the garden. I

also met with the gardener at the time for ACTCM in San Francisco, and

they also offered to provide seeds and cuttings. The info I received

from both places is that they were able to grow many species in that

climate, but it was too cool for most of them to flower and fruit and

it was too cool for still other species to even grow. There was lots

of information available from both places for getting started, and

both were eager to help herb growers in the US. This was about 8

years ago, and I no longer have the contact information.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Peggy Schafer in Petaluma, CA runs a Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm. All herbs

are grown organically. She also works with farmers in other climates

throughout the U.S. to source herbs that are not appropriate to the Northern

California climate. I had heard that there was someone in New York who was

growing good quality Wu Wei Zi (with all 5 flavors). Peggy's e-mail address

is, pschafer .

 

--

Peace,

David Caruso-Radin,

L Ac, MQP, Dipl. ABT

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Doug,

 

Do you know if they sell herbs to practitioners?

 

Yehuda

 

wrote:

You were probably working with Robert Newman who is now in Southern

California. Julie Mann, David Crow and now Robert, Emperors College,

Yo-San University and Venice High School along with David King and

others have set up The Learning Garden, where the students grow the

herbs in small quantities.

 

Although theirs is an educational mission and not a medical or

commercial venture they may be of some help.

Their website is thelearninggarden.org.

 

 

(sorry, if my last message got through. I should know better!)

 

Chinese Medicine , Andrea Beth

Damsky < wrote:

>

> In Berkeley, California, the Berkeley Botanical Garden has a fairly

large Chinese herbal section. When I was a student at PCOM, there was

a time when we were looking to start our own herb garden, and the BBG

had eagerly offered to provide us with seeds or cuttings of whatever

plants we wanted. Unfortunately, we had no land for the garden. I

also met with the gardener at the time for ACTCM in San Francisco, and

they also offered to provide seeds and cuttings. The info I received

from both places is that they were able to grow many species in that

climate, but it was too cool for most of them to flower and fruit and

it was too cool for still other species to even grow. There was lots

of information available from both places for getting started, and

both were eager to help herb growers in the US. This was about 8

years ago, and I no longer have the contact information.

>

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join 's user panel and

lay it on us.

 

 

[Guest guest]

I'm sure they don't have a policy of it. But if you want to go down to

the corner of Venice and Walgrove and take a look I'm sure they will

let you pull any excess Chai Hu. Seriously, it's worth taking a look

to see how much land and resources go into making a " small " 120 gram

formula. I know they have open-to-the-public hours on Thursday and

Saturday afternoon and probably more than that.

doug

 

Chinese Medicine , yehuda frischman

< wrote:

>

> Hi Doug,

>

> Do you know if they sell herbs to practitioners?

>

> Yehuda

>

> wrote:

> You were probably working with Robert Newman who is now in

Southern

> California. Julie Mann, David Crow and now Robert, Emperors College,

> Yo-San University and Venice High School along with David King and

> others have set up The Learning Garden, where the students grow the

> herbs in small quantities.

>

> Although theirs is an educational mission and not a medical or

> commercial venture they may be of some help.

> Their website is thelearninggarden.org.

>

>

> (sorry, if my last message got through. I should know better!)

>