Gaia Herbs Farm TourIn partnership with OGS, July 2019
Regenerative Farming Practices
Farming by the Numbers
Top Herbs on the Gaia Farm• Wild Oat Milky (Avena sativa) Seed
• Use: Nervine, adrenal health, nutritive, cardiotonic• Planting: Direct seed in early spring• Harvest: Mid summer
• Echinacea Purpurea Root & Tops • Use: Immune health, inflammatory health, antioxidant• Planting: Seedlings planted in late spring• Harvest: Roots harvested in fall of 2nd year; tops harvested in late spring and summer
• Holy Basil (Ociumum sanctum) Leaf & Flower• Use: Adaptogen, adrenal health, immune health• Planting: Plant seedlings in spring• Harvest: Late summer when in flowering stage
Top Herbs on the Gaia Farm• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root
• Use: Adaptogen, tonic, nervine, thyroid health, fertility health• Planting: Seedlings planted in late spring• Harvest: Roots harvested in fall after 1st year
• Lemon Balm (Melissa officianalis) Leaf • Use: Nervine, known as the “happy herb,” antioxidant, inflammatory health• Planting: Seedlings planted in spring• Harvest: Multiple cuts throughout the summer, beginning in late June and continuing to frost
• Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) Root• Use: Sedative, nervine• Planting: • Harvest: Roots harvested in mid to late summer of 2nd year
Echinacea Seasonal Variations
Plant microbial diversity is suggested as the key to future biocontrol and health trends
Gabriele Berg Martina Köberl Daria Rybakova Henry Müller Rita
GroschKornelia Smalla
FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Volume 93, Issue 5, 1 May 2017,
fix050,https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fix050
Soil Health:Research
Soil Health: Soil Nutrient RecipeAmountsareinKGforahugebatchmixedina1,000litertank, buttheratiocanbeadjusted.SmallerscaleapplicationcanbeusedinanykindofAgSprayerandappliedonceayearinmidtolatesummer.DevelopedbyGaia’sFarmOperationsManagerinCostaRica,LuisIglesias
• OrganicOatBran: 20kg• OrganicPowderedRiceHusk:20kg• OrganicMolasses(unsulfured):10kg• OrganicTapiocaStarch: 20kg• Organic100%pureAppleJuice:(L)10• OrganicDexrin,maltodextrinorfructose: 10kg• OrganicPsyllium:2kg
Cathey’sCreek
GaiaFacility
HoopFrames
Farmhouse
Greenhouse
FrenchBroad River
IslandFord RoadCathey’s
Creek
2018FARM MAP
13
4
5
6
7
8
11 10
1213
14
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22
18
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9
19 West 1Valerian
20 Woods 3Oats, Echinacea purpurea, American Skullcap & Vegetables
21 Woods 1 Echinacea angustifolia & Holy Basil
22 Woods 2 Valerian
23 Cathy’s Creek Field Vervain
24 Compost Field Echinacea angustifolia & Feverfew
25 Compost AnnexEchinacea angustifolia
Rosman HwyHwy 64
2
1 House Field2 Ginkgo Trees3 Hawthorne Trees4 Barn Field
Passionflower, Echinacea angustifolia, Vegetables, Echinacea purpurea, Parlsey, Lemon Balm & Astragalus
5 East FieldNettle, Feverfew, Chinese Skullcap & Vervain
6 Middle 1 Echinacea purpurea
7 Middle 2 Chinese Skullcap, Gotu Kola & California Poppy
8 Middle 3 Echinacea purpurea, Gotu Kola & Grindelia
9 Bamboo FieldOats
10 Bamboo 2Holy Basil
11 Eight AcresAshwagandha
12 River BottomEchinacea Purpurea & Vegetables
13 West 5Holy Basil
14 West 4 Holy Basil
15 West 3 Echinacea Purpurea
16 West 2Valerian
17 West 2 UpperAshwagandha
18 West 2 AnnexValerian
Start
Bridge
Gate
Ginkgo Lane0.3 mi from Start to Bridge
Nettle Ramble0.45 mi from Gate to Bridge
Bathrooms
Bee Hives
End
Echinacea Way
2017 Western North Carolina Ashwagandha – Small Scale Production Results
WNC Medicinal Herb Growers Club
Report written by Gwen Casebeer and Margaret Bloomquist
Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University
January 2018
On June 27th
, 2017 2,000 Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) seedlings were donated by Gaia
Herbs Inc. to the WNC Medicinal Herb Grower’s Club as part of their farmer outreach initiative.
Nineteen local growers each received between 10 to 200 plants to grow as an annual on their
farms or in their gardens in the mountains of western North Carolina. A survey was administered
in December 2017 to those who received the Ashwagandha plants. Raw data are presented from
thirteen respondents and results are observational.
Ashwagandha were transplanted on July 1-31, 2017. Most growers used 12 inch spacing between
plants, while 40% of growers planted more densely (< 12 inches between plants). Soil types
ranged from clay to loam to sandy loam.
Figure 1. Soil types. 2017 Ashwagandha Small Grower Survey. Raw data averages.
Seventy-five percent of the growers planted the Ashwagandha in full sun, while 17% grew it in
partial shade. Furthermore, 83% of the growers applied compost to their plots. Additional
fertilizers were used by 33% of growers.
33%
17% 17%
25%
8%
Soil Types
Clay
Loam
Sandy Loam
High Organic Matter
Other
Figure 2. Asheville Grower Kelly Lockamy with Ashwagandha, Cedar Springs Farm, Candler, NC. Source: Kelly Lockamy.
To control weeds, all growers used mechanical removal. In addition to mechanical suppression,
67% of growers applied mulch. Irrigation was used sparingly, and most growers watered
Ashwagandha lightly throughout the summer.
Figure 3. Irrigation method. 2017 Ashwagandha Small Grower Survey. Average raw data.
The growers reported having difficulty with flea beetles in the past. But in 2017, 92% of growers
in this group reported no problems with any pests. Furthermore, none of the growers applied
pesticides nor removed pests by hand. A portion of the growers employed companion planting,
crop rotation, and/or integrated pest management to mitigate pest pressure.
No irrigation or watering
25%
Light watering 58%
Irrigated as needed
17%
Irrigation
Figure 4. Crop management. 2017 Ashwagandha Small Growers Survey. Average raw data.
Figure 5. 2017 Ashwagandha companion planting and IPM, at Cedar Springs Farm Source: Kelly Lockamy.
Seventy-five percent of the growers harvested the Ashwagandha in mid to late October. The first
frost was predicted to occur around October 15, 2017. The first hard frost actually occurred the
third week in October.
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
Companion Planting Crop Rotation Integrated PestManagement
Crop Management Strategies Applied
Figure 6. Harvest dates. 2017 Ashwagandha Small Growers Survey. Raw data averages.
Figure 7. Jay Englebach of Black Trumpet Farm, Leicester, NC. September 2017. Source: G. Casebeer.
Before frost 67%
After first frost 22%
After first hard frost 11%
Harvest Date
Figure 8. Raised bed grown Ashwagandha 2017. Source: Frank Dapkus.
The majority of growers harvested the roots and berries. About a quarter of the growers also
saved seed from the Ashwagandha plants.
Figure 9. Harvested plant portion. 2017 Ashwagandha Small Growers Survey. Raw data averages.
Roots 36%
Leaves 9%
Berries 27%
Seed 23%
Stems 5%
Portion of Plant Harvested
Figure 10. Helper kitties monitor harvest and data collection. Source: Gwen Casebeer 2017.
Figure 11. Ashwagandha roots at harvest. October 2017. Source: Frank Dapkus
Yield data did not provide any meaningful information because of differences in number of
plants grown by individual growers and small sample sizes, yet all growers noted that these
plants produced substantial aboveground biomass. Most mature plants reached 2.5 to 3 feet in
height. Good results were achieved in deeper beds with high organic matter and 12 inch in-row
spacing.
All participants washed, dried, and cut the Ashwagandha roots for processing. Approximately
one-third of the growers also washed and dried stems, leaves, and berries. Furthermore, 44% of
the growers created value-added products in the form of tincture from the dry Ashwagandha
roots.
Eighty-three percent of the western North Carolina growers surveyed had not worked with
Ashwagandha before, yet all thirteen growers reported that they would like to grow it again!