1915 ❖ WILD CHINESE GINSENG GROWING ON SHAW ISLAND ❖

Farm of John and Lillie Marold Bruns, 1920s.
The ginseng crop grew from seeds under cedar
cover-boards in place in this photo looking NW.
Blind Island can be seen on the mid-right edge.
Click to enlarge.
Photo courtesy of the Bruns family.

This Shaw Island family paid off their farm mortgage with this crop. There is no one raising a commercial crop of ginseng on Shaw Island during the modern times but it is interesting to learn what crops were grown by islanders in the past.

8 Nov. 1934: "That the San Juan Islands are an ideal locality and specially adapted in the matter of soil and climate for raising ginseng, is the opinion of John E. and Lillie Bruns, well-known residents of Shaw Island. The Bruns can speak from experience on this subject, as they have been raising ginseng for the past twenty-four years. 
      Starting in a modest way, today [1934] on their Shaw Island farm they have developed a profitable ginseng yard, recognized as one of the most successful in the northwest, with their product free of disease. This fact, Mr. Bruns told a Journal representative, speaks well for the San Juan Islands as a suitable place to engage in this line of endeavor, in this case has resulted in a good market for disease-free seeds, besides the sale of roots. His yard was developed from wild seed originating in China.
      In the sale of the roots, Mr. Bruns says he has found in his experience, the best time to sell is when the plants are from five to seven years old, although many plants are sellable at the age of three years. It is always a cash crop, and if you have sufficient quantity, buyers come to your door for the product.
      A ginseng yard must be at least 80% shade, which is his case, Mr. Bruns said. It was constructed entirely from forest material from his farm. The well-drained ground is another requirement for a successful yard.
      Ginseng is a Chinese name meaning "that which resembles a man," and is applied to the plant from the peculiar shape of the root which in many cases are exact replicas of the human body. The root is highly valued in China for medicinal purposes; it is in that country that American ginseng raisers find a ready market.
      John Bruns says waiting from three to seven years before realizing a crop may seem too long a time to wait, still, it is less time than it takes to develop a profitable orchard. It is a crop that can be brought into fruitage while ordinary farm operations are in progress. With patience, Mr. Bruns says, the ginseng farmer is rewarded with a cash crop and a market not likely to suffer from over-production." 

The Friday Harbor Journal. The Gatehouse archives.

The Bruns' youngest child, J. "Lee" Bruns (1913-2004), born on Shaw Island, was a helpful correspondent when we were building archival files for the Shaw Island Museum.
      In phone conversations and letters to this writer, he shared that in one memorable year his parents were paid $11. per pound for the bountiful ginseng crop; the yield was enough to pay off the mortgage on the farm. The popular, widely known Captain Charlie Basford cautioned his crew on the ISLANDER to carefully handle the barrels of dried roots. The ginseng was sold to buyers from Vancouver, BC, and New York. Ed Start, operating his own farm on Squaw Bay, was paid $3 per hour to help weed the ginseng.

Ginseng Seeds: For the confused, the Gatehouse seed racks are open twenty-four seven, stop and browse, but there are no ginseng seeds offered for sale. OK, that confusion is clarified.