Ep. 3: Laurie Quesinberry on traditional Appalachian root digging in Laurel Fork, VA, issues around wildcrafting woodland medicinals and more.

Episode Three of the Ground Shots Podcast.

 

Interview with Laurie Quesinberry, 'granny root digger' and founder of Bear Alchemy out of Laurel Fork, Virginia, a small community in southern Appalachia. 

We talk about:

 

the complexity of traditional Appalachian root digging

the complicated nature of wildcrafting, especially in the southern Appalachia

alternatives to digging highly sought after Appalachian root medicine like Black Cohosh and Ginseng-- using leaf medicine and Laurie's experiments and observations

the Black Cohosh catacombs and the waste created in the disconnect sometimes between the harvester, the economics of herb buying and the strength of medicine needed for it to work

changes in Laurie's community and heritage

the problematic nature of getting herbal 'wide eyes' as a new herb student 

Laurie receiving the United Plant Savers' 2018 Medicinal Plant Conservation Award

 

Links: 

 

Laurie's website: http://bearalchemy.com/

The United Plant Saver's website: https://unitedplantsavers.org/

 

*********************************

Music by Mother Marrow

Produced by Opia Creative

***********************************

 

Stay updated on our latest episodes: http://www.groundshotsproject.com

Contact : kelly@ofsedgeandsalt.com

Support the podcast on Patreon to keep the audio project going.

Access Patreon-only content related to the podcast and our other projects. We will be doing a giveaway of Laurie's medicine through the Ground Shots Project Patreon page for supporters of the project. Follow us or support us there to see when we start the giveaway period.

Find out more at: http://www.patreon.com/ofsedgeandsalt

Read our blog, check out our store: http://www.ofsedgeandsalt.com

Follow us on Instagram: @goldenberries

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ofsedgeandsalt/