[MPWG] 5th Annual Catskill Mountain Ginseng/Medicinal Herb Festival - October 8th 2006 - Catskill Point, NY

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

5th Annual Catskill Mountain Ginseng/Medicinal Herb Festival to be held 
October 8th 2006 at the Historic Catskill Point in Greene County NY

The 5th Annual Catskill Mountain Ginseng/Medicinal Herb Festival will be 
held October 8th 2006 at the Historic Catskill Point in the village of 
Catskill in Greene County NY from 10 AM until 5 PM, rain or shine. The 
Catskill Point is located right on the beautiful Hudson River just about 
100 miles north of NY City and 30 miles south of Albany NY. It is easily 
reached via the NYS Thruway Exit 21, Catskill. For directions or lodging 
information contact Linda Overbaugh at the Heart of Catskill Association 
at HOCA at mhonline.net or call (518) 943-0989.

This year we are proud to announce that our keynote speaker will be Scott 
Persons, author of “American Ginseng Green Gold” and the recently 
published “Growing and Marketing Ginseng, Goldenseal and other Woodland 
Medicinals” ISBN; 0-914875-42-6 (with co author Dr Jeanine Davis from 
North Carolina State University). This new book is the most comprehensive 
and scholarly textbook on the culture of woodland medicinal plants written 
to date. In addition to signing his books and talking with festival 
attendees, Scott will speak on “The International Culture of American 
Ginseng” at 1 PM and will relate his experiences with ginseng growing 
internationally as well as the United States. 

Scott will not be the only author speaking and signing books this year as 
we will be joined by David Taylor, author of the just published book 
“Ginseng, the Divine Root” ISBN 1-56512-401-4 . David will speak at 11 AM 
on “The History of the Ginseng Trade in North America” and will autograph 
copies of his book also. 

Other featured speakers include Andy Hankins, Alternative Agriculture 
Specialist for the State of Virginia, Cooperative Extension. Andy will 
conduct a shiitake mushroom planting demonstration using several different 
types of spawn at 2 PM. At noon, Bob Beyfuss, American Ginseng Specialist 
for Cornell University Cooperative Extension will present a power point 
presentation on “Growing Ginseng in Your Woodlot”. Bob will also discuss 
the latest rules and regulations regarding the harvest of wild American 
ginseng. 
There will be other educational lectures on topics related to Herbal 
medicine as well as demonstrations of making herbal vinegars and other 
activities throughout the day. Of course no festival is complete without 
food and music and we will feature both all day long as well as free 
samples of Catskill Mountain ginseng tea with flavoring honey donated by 
the Catskill Mountain Beekeepers. Other vendors will be on hand selling 
all sorts of herbal products, gourmet mushrooms, honey, maple products, 
crafts and other related items. 

There will be both dried and fresh ginseng roots to buy as well as ginseng 
seeds and roots just in time for fall planting.  This is perhaps the best 
opportunity one person could have to learn about ginseng and actually 
bring home some seeds and or roots to get started growing or using this 
truly unique, Native American Wildflower. 

The Catskill Mountain Ginseng/Medicinal Herb Festival is sponsored by the 
Heart Of Catskill Association and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Greene 
County. For more information on the educational program call Bob Beyfuss 
at (518) 622-9820 or email at rlb14 at cornell.edu. For information on 
vendors (there are still vendor openings available), nearby lodging or 
directions contact Linda at (518) 943-0989 or HOCA at mhonline.net . 




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