The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm: A Cultivator’s Guide to Small-Scale Organic Herb Production

paper, 312 pp., $34.95

As an experienced grower of Chinese medicinal herbs, Peg Shafer is a strong advocate of extending the knowledge of their culture. Her concern is based on the fact that there is an overharvesting of medicinal herbs from the wild in China. The increasing worldwide use of such plants is creating a crisis. She states, “We will not have enough herbs for the world.” Believing that farming is part of the solution, the author seeks to provide valuable information on the proper selection of high-quality herbs and their culture in organic production in the nursery, garden, and field. This manual contains indispensable tips for the commercial grower on harvesting and marketing in a global market. The main focus of the work is a plant directory; it contains medicinal herb profiles that describe individual characteristics, methods of culture and harvesting, ornamental value, pests and diseases, and medical uses.

— Marilyn K. Alaimo, garden writer and volunteer, Chicago Botanic Garden