Craig Mauney has worked as an Extension agent for the NC Cooperative Extension for over 20 years. He is presently the Extension Area Specialized Agent in commercial vegetable and fruit production in western NC. He graduated from Berea College, Berea, Kentucky with a BS Degree in Agriculture and has a lot of experience in all aspects of commercial growing. However, his true passion is growing woodland botanicals and unusual edibles like pawpaw and shitake mushrooms. He grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina in Cherokee County where he had a small sustainable farm for many years. He now has a small forest farm in Zirconia, NC – Shady Hollow Farm.
Eighteen lucky members of the Town and Country Garden Club thoroughly enjoyed Craig's recent presentation to them.  He reviewed the steps for how to get involved in growing medicinal herbs from A-Z.  He discussed evaluating the land and physical resources, your personal considerations to think about such as how much physical strength may be required as well as the creation of a business plan.  Several times during his talk he pointed out to Hope the sort of plants she could grow in her yard such as ginseng and goldenseal to demonstrate how it doesn't require much space to get involved in medicinal herb growing. At the end, Craig said he was available to come out and look at people's property to determine what plants might do best in the area.  Several people plan to have him visit their yards.