i dont know if theis goes in this catagory but does anyone here dig for roots i dont but i wondered how and when to do it ive never tried to figure it out either

My folks used to use a mattock to dig for sassafras roots when I was growing up. They'd only dig out what they needed then cover it back up so as not to kill the tree.

Smoky I used to...I haven't in several years ause I can't handle the heat and it's usually all day in the woods and hard work...depending on what you are wanting to dig you will need a license...the buyers that are respectable won't buy from you without seeing your license...There's still a couple guys around town that do it...but they are pretty protective of their patches.....did you find my yella root patch ???I'm trying to get it to re establish a bit...I think there was more than me working it! Mud Creek bottoms used to be a pretty good producer for ginseng and yellow root both...it should be just about season time...I'll have to look to see when it starts BRB here's a link about IL and ginseng....

http://www.ahpa.org/portals/0/pdfs/Illinois.pdf

I always used a potato fork or a little camp shovel, and packed a day pack...it's hard work!!

how do you identify these plants? what plants are you looking for? how much are they worth? who buys them? where do you get a license? when are the seasons? where on mud creek do you go?
I know some of the mud creek bottoms.

yeah im with huntrz im not sure about anything i dont even no what to dig to tell ou the truth i have no clue wat they look like so imout in the open on this one

how do you identify these plants? what plants are you looking for? how much are they worth? who buys them? where do you get a license? when are the seasons? where on mud creek do you go?
I know some of the mud creek bottoms.

I have old patches, but it's always good to scope out your plants in the spring when they are easy to spot..I take pics of the stands/patches so I know where to find them again come digging season..The three that probably sell the best are ginseng, goldenseal, and bloodroot - prices will fluctuate from season to season..and bear in mind it takes a boatload of dried root to make a pound! Some will buy fresh root, but most prefer dried. You get your license from DNR
here's a link with ginseng info from DNR
http://www.dnr.state.il.us/Law3/Ginseng%20Regulations.htm

I always ran the Mud Creek bottoms North of Coulterville...

There's a buyer in Baldwin...Napier Fur...he would have this season's prices etc. The best way to learn is to find someone who does it regularly and shadowthem for a year...one note though..if you think people are possessive about morel spots...Ginseng diggers are even worse!!!

Season is usually the first Saturday of September through November...

Golden seall seems like it's having a good year this year..but ginseng is getting harder to find all the time.....I am afraid that folks who don't know any better are harvesting young plants, over harvesting, and not putting the seeds back into the ground at harvest...

here's some more ginseng info:

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/ginsgold.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Hunt-for-Wild-Ginseng

anymore, I just dig enough yellow root (goldenseal), and maybe one or two ginseng roots, and some bloodroot..for my own use...To do it to make money just doesn't work me anymore..it's hard hiking, usually hot at the beginning of the season and you have to lug equipment in and out...too hard for this old woman anymore....one of those things that the MS has made too difficult...:(

Thanks for the links gretchen! Funny I was just going to start a thread like this, and walla, its already here! I've always been kinda a naturalist Herb Jumkie and like doijng these things for my own amuesment, I was womdering if there were any others in the area into that sort of thing.

yeah i was just seeing if anyone ever dug roots around here so i geuss there are a few peeps who do

Hey Donut King, do you ever eat stuff like lamb's quarters? My wife fixed some up this spring with some Korean seasoning...lotsa peppers and stuff. They were pretty good. She also cooked some young plantain leaves http://altnature.com/gallery/plantain.htm (the herb type, not the banana type) a few years ago, plus she's also used some of the wild onions that grow around here.

We eat a fair amount of wild things around here....lambs quarters are good when fixed right...I also use alot of medicinal plants...making comfrey tincture right now...best thing in the world for skin irritations/infections...will clear up athlete's foot in a matter of just a few days...dries up chiggers in about three days too...also make an oil based version that's great for sunburns, welding burns etc..

whats the best thing for poison ivy? We have used broadleaf plaintain and it kinda worked but is there anything better?My grandmother always said scrub it till it bleeds which bust open the bumps and pour bleach on it. I'm not kidding... I don't get it but the kids do.I used to dig roots. You get ate up by skitaz and its A LOT of work ....Not just digging them but if you don't want to get docked on the price you have to spend a lot of time cleaning them. Golden Seal which we used to call yellow bacoon has a lot of little grooves on the root which hold the dirt and there and many little roots from other plants which grow through the golden seal root which when dried can be seen very easily. If you dont get all the dirt off and pick those little foreign roots out the buyers usually won't give you full price.Usually buyers will tell you they will pay one price and then when you get there they almost always find a reason to pay you less thats just part of the job you have to get used to it.Many people hear storys about going out into the woods and making all kinds of money. But its not that easy. When you come out of the woods it may look like you have a lot but the have to be dried which can take up to two- three weeks, depending on the weather and once its dried alot of roots can be as little as 1/10 the weight of what it is when its wet, depending on what kinda root you are digging.

Fels Naptha soap..... that'll dry it out....

http://www.gillinghams.com/media/Housewares/Fels-Naptha.jpg
(http://www.gillinghams.com/media/Housewares/Fels-Naptha.jpg)

That's what the church camps back home always used. It's best if you wash with it before the blisters form. Great for laundry too if you want to use the old wash board.

Where the heck do you get that at? My hub gets it ALL the time...bad...last time we ended up at urgent care even after he was on steriods and creams because it spread so bad that the poison harden up the back of his legs and he couldn't hardley walk on them...they were so tight you couldn't even pinch the skin.....I really like burts bee buttermilk bath and such for the kids ezcema but I tried the poison ivy soap and it didn't work for him...

Where the heck do you get that at? I really like burts bee buttermilk bath and such for the kids ezcema but I tried the poison ivy soap and it didn't work for him...

You should be able to find it in most grocery stores...

I like Burt's Bees stuff, but I think they may be PETA friendly...Not sure on that though...

You need to use the soap as soon as you can after exposure for it to work...

there's a product called domboro soaks....wal mart used to carry it, and still may - I'm sure one of the pharmacies would. For really bad cases...mix the powder in water, soak gauze in it, and cover the area with the gauze, and the wrap a dry bandage over it...rrepeat whent the lower gauze is dry...also, jewel weed rubbed on the skin when you are in the woods will help, jewel weed also helps against the awful stinging nettles...Jewel weed doesn't transplant very well, and if you do get it to take in a medicinal garden, you may regret it...it can get a little invasive. You can also make poultices of it to put on existing poison ivy.
http://http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/hydro/jewelwed.htm (http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/hydro/jewelwed.htm)

jewel weed in the creek bottom
http://www.siloutdoors.com/imagehosting/44746a9dad0b696a.jpg

And I have to say to Fungus' post AMEN! It's really hard hot. stickery, itchy work...It's just not worth it for me for money's sake anymore..now I just get enough of what I need to get me through the year....

here's another link that shows the commonly used medicinal plants...you may be surpised by some!
http://altnature.com/gallery/

DANDELION- IM SHOCKED!
I always kill them out......lol..

When I was a kid I dug roots with my uncle Bob.He/we had some dandy spots a few that I'm guessing haven't been touched in years.I too have been thinkin' bout doing some root digging again.