Carpenter Jeff - The organic medicinal herb farmer : the ultimate guide to producing high-quality herbs on a market scale

Praise for The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer

Jeff and Melanie Carpenter give me hope for the future of herb farming. In this book, they generously share very useful experience-based information and lessons learned, which will help young prospective herb farmers to avoid pitfalls and plan for an economically viable and appropriately scaled operation for sustainable production. Read this book before you start up!

JOSEF BRINCKMANN, vice president of sustainability, Traditional Medicinals

Finally, a book to recommend to the increasing number of organic farmers who are looking to grow medicinal herb crops. This inspiring handbook provides the quality and depth of information that only comes from years of first-hand experience. Having begun our own herb-growing and herbal-product manufacture thirty-five years ago, I am completely impressed with the comprehensive breadth of topics and business wisdom that the Carpenters have so generously shared.

SARA KATZ, cofounder, Herb Pharm, and board president, United Plant Savers

Bullseye! Jeff and Melanie Carpenter nail it in addressing the needs of todays medicinal herb grower. In a friendly, easy-to-read style, the information in The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer is straightforward and comprehensive, benefitting beginning and experienced farmers alike.

RICHARD WISWALL, author, The Organic Farmers Business Handbook

With this beautiful and informative book, Jeff and Melanie Carpenter share the knowledge they have gathered as they have realized their vision over the last fifteen years on their 10-acre farm in Vermont. The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer serves as a training manual to support U.S. domestic production of high-quality medicinal herbs. A dirt-smudged copy should be within easy reach of every home gardener or farmer who growsor wants to growmedicinal plants.

MICHAEL MCGUFFIN, president, American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)

Many of the medicinal herbs used in the herbal industry are still imported, even though we have ideal conditions as landowners and farmers to fulfill the growing demand. United Plant Savers motto, conservation through cultivation, is a way in which we can take demand off of wild harvested native medicinals, and also stimulate regional sources for a dynamic and growing market. This book could not be more timely. We need domestic herb farmers not only to supply a growing demand for herbal medicine but also as a critical component to ensuring an abundant supply of American medicinal plants for generations to come.

SUSAN LEOPOLD, executive director, United Plant Savers

The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer rocks with practical insights for growing healing herbs and making a viable living. Locally grown medicine will be embraced by local food movements as more community herbalists get the word out. The Health Care Marketplace we actually need today consists of more hard-working farm couples like Jeff and Mel Carpenter.

MICHAEL PHILLIPS, author, The Holistic Orchard

I highly recommend The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer to all new and experienced growers of Western medicinal herbs. If you are an aspiring herb farmer, this is your book!

PEG SCHAFER, author, The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm

Drawing on their fifteen years of experience growing medicinal herbs commercially, Jeff and Melanie Carpenter have written the most comprehensive book available on growing, harvesting, drying, packaging, and selling medicinal herbs. Beginning farmers will find this book particularly useful with its detailed instructions on all aspects of herb farming, including field-site selection, cultural practices, tools, equipment, and business planning.

JEANINE DAVIS, PhD, associate professor and extension specialist, Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University

Seasoned and novice growers alike will find a mother lode of information and wisdom packed into this gem of a book! Anyone interested in growing or using medicinal herbs will reap the benefits of Jeff and Mels meticulous research and hard-won expertise in the field and marketplace. These savvy business people are stellar models of earth stewards making a right livelihood on the land. Reading The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer will greatly help you along the same path!

NANCY PHILLIPS, author, The Herbalists Way