Agroforestry
Learning Communities
in the Northeast

Ginseng Visual Site
Assessment Criteria

The following interactive site evaluation program is to be used as a guide only. If your score is 25 or above, we highly recommend a thorough on-site consultation to determine your potential to produce quality ginseng.
Answer each question by clicking on the arrow to the right, pick one item from the drop down list:
What is the dominant tree species?	---- Sugar Maple Sugar Maple with average diameter over 20 inches White Ash White Ash with average diameter over 20 inches Mixed hardwoods: beech, cherry, red maple, white ash, red oak, ironwood, basswood Mixed hardwoods with hemlock or white pine Red or White Oak Ironwood, birch, hickory Conifers: pine, hemlock, spruce, fir
What is the orientation of the site?	---- North, East, or Northeast facing South, Southeast or Northwest facing West or Southwest facing
What is the prevalent slope of the site?	---- 10 to 20 percent slope Level 20 to 40 percent slope
What is the soil composition?	---- Few stones, 75% tillable Moderate number of small stones, 50 to 75% tillable Very stony, 25 to 50% tillable Many boulders, less than 25% tillable Too rocky to till anywhere
What are the predominant understory plants?	---- Reproducing population of wild Ginseng Sparse area of wild ginseng Maidenhair or rattlesnake fern Christmas fern, blue cohosh, red or white baneberry Jack-in-the-pulpit, other ferns, trillium, bloodroot, foam-flower, jewelweed, mayapple, elderberry Wild sarsaparilla, Virginia creeper, groundnut, lady's slipper Club moss, princess pine, bunchberry Woody shrubs such as spicebush, witch hazel, maple leaf viburnum, arrow wood, shrub dogwood
How secure is the planting site?	---- Close to, and within viewing distance of growers residence As above, with noisy outside dogs nearby Woodland less then 500 yards from grower's residence, patrolled regularly Woodlot within one quarter mile of residence, patrolled regularly Non-resident grower or remote woodlot
Total Score:
Result:

What does it all mean?

• 40 or above, You have an excellent site with great potential
• 30 to 40, You have a good site, do a complete soil analysis
• 20 to 30, Fair site, test soil first before any major undertaking
• 20 or less, Poor site, probably not a long term success, look elsewhere

This form is based on criteria developed by Bob Beyfuss of the Greene County Co-Operative Extension
Script developed by ESGGA member Fred Timan.

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