The Search for Ginseng
Before leaving the Midwest, I set out every fall searching for American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). Ginseng is known for its medicinal qualities, resemblance to the human form, and costly price tag. Those who hunt, just like any forager, keep their hunting grounds classified.
The Ginseng harvest is strictly regulated, 19 of 50 US states have strict seasons. ‡
My hunting zones have consisted of industrial easements and prairie in Northwest Indiana. These spaces have functioned historically as sacrificial spaces by mismanaged industry and environmental injustice. All of these sites current or former EPA Superfund sites.‡
Through this, I want to highlight the fleeting ecosystem of the Great Lakes Basin.
2018-2020