Ginseng has been in our family for many generations. He worked for the Hudson Bay Trapping and Trading Co. out of Fort Detroit. Harold G. Hunter, my father, was a Ginseng Dealer for over 50 years. I am trying to follow his foot steps . My Mother still enjoys telling the story of how Dad took her out hunting for ginseng three days before I was born.
Early fall is when the berries start to turn red.
Dad always enjoyed his bow hunting, the October season, here in Michigan, coincides very nicely with ginseng harvesting. My Dad felt that it was important that I be able to live off the land, as well as be able to live in a conventional society. He was a product of the depression era, and grew up in extremely hard times. Ginseng was one of the things that did move in the depression, that and black walnut logs. For the last thirty-two years, I have worked as a timber cruiser for American Veneer Company, this also gave me an excellent chance to pursue the hunt of the wild ginseng.