Boring

Rooted in Family. Grown in Appalachia.

For more than 40 years, the Boring family has been rooted in the Appalachian mountains and in the tradition of gathering, growing, and caring for the plants that have been part of this region for generations.

Our story began with Ernest Boring, who started collecting wild American ginseng to help support his family. What began as a way to provide for his family eventually grew into something much bigger. Ernest and his wife, Carolyn, made the decision to build a family business of their own.

While raising their four children, Carolyn became an important part of the operation, handling the bookkeeping and helping Ernest grow the business. Together, they built the company through long days, hard work, honesty, and a commitment to doing business the right way.

Over the years, what started with wild ginseng grew into a business supplying roots and herbs to customers throughout the United States and around the world. Along the way, the Boring family developed relationships with harvesters, forest growers, herbal companies, and customers who shared their appreciation for the quality and value of Appalachian plants.

In 2005, Ernest and Carolyn retired from the business. Their son, Michael Boring, took over the operation and continued the family tradition under the name Boring Roots & Herbs.

Today, the business has grown beyond its early beginnings while remaining true to the values that started it all. We work with wild harvesters and forest growers throughout Appalachia and handle a variety of roots and herbs, including wild American ginseng, goldenseal, wild yam, black haw, slippery elm, cohosh, Solomon’s seal, and other Appalachian botanicals.

We believe that what makes our business special isn’t simply the products we sell. It’s the people, relationships, knowledge, and traditions behind them.

We believe in treating our harvesters and customers fairly. We believe in responsible harvesting and protecting the forests that provide these plants. And we believe in passing the knowledge of Appalachian plants and forest farming on to the next generation.

From Ernest and Carolyn collecting ginseng to support their young family, to the business we operate today, the roots of our story have never changed.

Family. Hard work. Honesty. Quality. And a deep respect for the Appalachian land we call home.

That’s the story of Boring Roots & Herbs — and we’re proud to continue growing it, one root at a time.