[MPWG] The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm - New book release

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

A recent publication that may be of interest to the list.  Theire website 
is impressive, filled with information.  Where and how you get your 
propagation material are important considerations, as some Asian species 
used in TCM are regulated under CITES (the Convention on International 
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) to help ensure that 
they won't be overharvested from the wild. 

Read on!

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist, Division of Scientific Authority-US Fish & Wildlife Service
Chair, Medicinal Plant Working Group-Plant Conservation Alliance
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276

Promoting sustainable use and conservation of our native medicinal plants.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>


 
Author sales avalable: http://chinesemedicinalherbfarm.com
The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm: 
A Cultivator?s Guide to Small-Scale Organic Herb Production
Including 79 detailed herb profiles, growing information, and medicinal 
use.
Chelsea Green Publishing
 
 
Booklist Review December 1, 2011
The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm: A Cultivator's Guide to Small-Scale 
Organic Herb Production.
Schafer, Peg (Author)
Sep 2011. 336 p. Chelsea Green, paperback, $34.95. (9781603583305). 615.3.
?Comprehensive? best describes Schafer?s specialized resource. She begins, 
appropriately, with a
discussion of small-scale cultivation as a way to protect the environment 
and be part of the international
trade in medicinal plants. The growth of herbal trade parallels the 
increase in the number of Americans
exploring acupuncture and other elements of traditional Chinese medicine, 
so this guide will meet the
rising do-it-yourself interest in growing medicinal herbs. Schafer?s 
easily understood instructions are
accompanied by boxed inserts of important tips, charts and tables, and 
photographs. Most of the book is
dedicated to 79 detailed herb profiles with growing information and 
medicinal uses. Also provided are
plant and medicinal name cross-references; hardiness-zone maps with a 
China-U.S. latitude overlay;
resources for herb seeds and plants; recommended readings, listings of 
websites, and herbal and
conservation organizations; and an all-important glossary of 
horticultural, medicinal, and Chinese terms.
This genuinely unusual, authoritative manual will likely be in brisk 
demand.
? Whitney Scott
 
Contents:
Part One: Cultivating to Conserve Connecting with Quality Asian Botanicals
Chapter One: Farming to Be Part of the Solution
            Evolving Herbal Traditions
            Risks to the Future of Herbalism
            Solutions for Continued Availability
Chapter Two: Herb Quality
            Wild Quality
            Assessing Herb Quality
            Regulating Herbs
            Like Fine Wines . . . 
Chapter Three: Cultivation in the Nursery, Garden, and Field
            Planning
            Seed Starting and Propagation
            Managing Your Soil
            Planting
            Seasonal Care
            Managing Invasive Plant Risk
Chapter Four: The Harvest and Marketing
            Harvesting Medicine
            Drying Herb Crops
            Storing Dried Herbs
            Shipping Fresh or Dry Herbs
            Collecting and Saving Seed for Sowing
            Selling What You Grow
            Good Agricultural Practices
            Make Alliances
Chapter Five: Conservation and Global Trade in Medicinal Plants
            Current Status: Factors and Reasons for Concern
            Who Needs Protection?
            Protective Measures
            How Effective Are the Protective Strategies?
            Cultivate to Conserve
            How to Be Part of the Solution
 
Part Two: 79 Medicinal Herb Profiles
 
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