Ginseng Diggers: A History of Root and Herb Gathering in Appalachia

Hot off the press!

The University Press of Kentucky has published my book, Ginseng Diggers: A History of Root and Herb Gathering in Appalachia, today! Based on over 10 years of research in various archives around the United States, this book tells the story of how the Appalachian region became the United States’ most important supplier of medicinal roots and herbs to the pharmaceutical markets of the world. The esteemed Appalachian historian Ronald D. Eller has called it a “major addition to our understanding of land use, the role of the commons, and capitalism in the mountains.” Daniel S. Pierce has called it “a must-read for scholars of Appalachia and anyone interested in the region’s culture and history.”