NC State Extension Publications

Introduction

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Forest farming is an emerging agroforestry practice that fits well in the North Carolina landscape. There is a growing number of forest landowners planting and expanding forest farms with native woodland botanicals (e.g., ginseng, goldenseal, and black cohosh), forest food crops (e.g., ramps, pawpaws, and elderberry), and decorative/florist plants (e.g., galax). The forest farming industry is challenged by a lack of nurseries and seed companies providing planting stock and seeds for commercial scale production. Most nurseries and seed companies do not routinely produce wholesale volumes of the plants and seeds that forest farmers are seeking; that is a developing industry. Here we list companies that do produce on a wholesale level, or will if requested, often on a contract basis. We have talked with all companies listed and they have agreed to be included in this publication. This resource will be updated regularly. If you would like your seed company or nursery listed or removed, please email Margaret_Bloomquist@ncsu.edu. This resource was created with the support of the Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition, USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.

Companies are listed by region: North Carolina, South, Midwest, and Northeast.

Midwest (IA, IL, IN, MO, OH, WI)

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Companion Plants

info@companionplants.com

740-592-4643

Athens, OH

Forrest Keeling

800-356-2401

Elsberry, MO

Leaves for Wildlife

leavesforwildlife8@gmail.com

614- 881-5550

Sunbury, OH

Loess Roots

rodangeroth@yahoo.com

402-500-9027

Council Bluffs, IA

Marathon Ginseng Gardens

Drginseng@MarathonGinseng.com

715-571-2426 or 715-870-2106

Westin, WI

Ozark Mountain Ginseng

lindy08@socket.net

417-264-2448

Thayer, MO

Pizzo Native Plant Nursery

sales@pizzonursery.com

815-981-8000

Leland, IL

Rural Action

andrea@ruralaction.org

740-677-4047 ext- 24

The Plains, OH

Strand Nursery/Blue Fox Farms

260-894-3996

Wawaka, IN

Northeast (MD, NY, PA, VT)

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Archewild

contact@archewild.com

855-752-6862

Quakertown, PA

Colwell's Ginseng

denny@colwellsginseng.com

814-275-4710

New Bethlehem, PA

Gates Hill Ramp Farm

802-829-0212

Franklin, VT

Gary’s Perennials

roots@garysperennials.com

215-628-4070

Ambler, PA

Harding’s Ginseng

ginseng@hardingsginsengfarm.com

301-746-5380 or 800-478-5394

Friendsville, MD

Hilltop Hollow Farm

HilltopHollowFarm@gmail.com

814-424-3240

Bellefonte, PA

Sheffield's Seed

seed@sheffields.com

315- 497-1058

Locke, NY

Wild Hudson Valley

whv@wildhudsonvalley.com

518-469-1258

Freehold, NY

Authors

Extension Specialist
Horticultural Science
Research Scholar
Horticultural Science
Research Associate
Horticultural Science
Extension Assistant, Agriculture - medicinal herbs, forest farming, organics
Horticultural Science

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Publication date: April 22, 2025

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