Focus on Arts and Ecology

The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm was founded in 1997 by Peg Schafer who was seeking a niche market to utilize her background in nursery management and farming. Along with potted medicinal plants and row cropping came experimentation with various cultivation methods leading to specialization in certified organic, wild-simulated herb cultivation. As part of the farm mission novel medicinal plants are trial grown to evaluate for viable domestic crops. To date more than 260 different Asian medicinals have been trialed from germination through harvest. The Farm maintains a unique collection of over 300 Asian medicinal plant species under cultivation, many of which are botanically authenticated, as well as an extensive database detailing criteria of import to the production of Asian medicinal plants.

As the farm has evolved the focus is now primarily educational and Peg teaches budding and established growers as well as Oriental Medicine students and practitioners via on and off-farm workshops. Peg is a frequent lecturer addressing herb quality, ecological cultivation practices, traditional and contemporary Chinese herb production, future access of Chinese botanicals, conservation and other issues affecting Chinese herbs at Oriental Medicine colleges, conferences, and community events.

In addition Peg consults with various farm operations, grower/practitioner enterprises, herbal companies, botanic and research institutions and other stakeholder industries. Advice is available for all aspects of medicinal farm, garden or nursery herb production operations as well as marketing to foster successful sustainable endeavors.

Fortune was bestowed and Peg has had the guidance and kinship of many renowned experts, Chinese herbalists, botanists, fellow growers, and many other wonderful folks, all of whom have worked together to bring Asian herbal medicine to the health enhancement of those who seek it. There is plenty of opportunity for entrepreneurial growers and together we can build a healthy, dynamic, domestic collaboration.

Peg is the author of The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm A Cultivator's Guide to Small-Scale Organic Herb Production recently published by Chelsea Green.