GINSENG GARDENS

One of my oddest jobs occurred one summer in the Bitterroot Valley. Actually a lot of odd jobs have come out of the Montana economy, but this one belonged in Minnesota. The ad read, "Ginseng weeder needed." I called, let them know I knew quite a bit about ginseng and would be thrilled to know more.

Fleeing from family conflict in Minnesota, this couple had planted 8 acres of ginseng on one of the plateau's that lift up on the east side of our valley. Now that's not at all like planting dandelion for its root, or alfalfa. Ginseng requires 80% shade, so they had dug posts over most of the acreage and stretched shade cloth over the lot. It was quite pleasant weeding, even in the afternoons of 90 or 95 degrees. But it also meant to harvest a crop (after three years minimum), they had to take down that whole section to unearth the precious roots with the tractor.

I came to Montana to harvest wild plants for a living. Naive and hopeful, a true Saggitarius, that plan lasted less than a year, although I still harvest quite a few, but not for income. So my first question was, "Where do you sell your crop?" They assured me I might not believe them, but several Chinese men arrived by plane every year, inspected their grounds and the current crop. They would stay a few days while the roots were packed into barrels, and then fly out. It sounded so exotic!

The summer was already idyllic, then they hired a dear friend of mine. We got to swap stories with one another while freeing the young plants from any encroaching weeds. One morning we found the lady of the house in tears because their young bull had gotten out and crushed about $2000 worth of two-year roots. A few weeks later we headed down to the farthest rows and discovered all the 8" high plants laying on the ground, dying. The ground mice had nibbled off the roots over the weekend and stored them every 20 feet in neat underground caches.

The most enduring memory is the deep peace that pervaded the shady workspace. Ginseng is also known as "manroot" because many at full maturity have a five-limb shape, much like a human. Ginseng has served our species for thousands of years nourishing our bodies in both mysterious and very efficient and predictable ways. Kneeling all week, knowing who we were tending, adoring each plant and inhaling their very oxygen allowed us three months of ease, calm and satisfaction.

Curiously both of us made enormous changes in our lifestyles shortly after leaving the gardens. My friend was heading to Africa as a taxidermist, and I soon completed the divorce that had been imminent for a couple of years. After another year the ginseng gardens disappeared from Stevensville, the owners deciding to return to their family's extensive ginseng gardens in Minnesota. And to this day no more Chinese men fly into the valley for clandestine herbal operations.