Harvesting in the WALA herb garden
Harvesting of medicinal plants takes place throughout the year in the WALA Garden. Winter and spring are the seasons for harvesting roots, e.g. valerian (Valeriana officinalis), marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) and lovage (Levisticum officinale), but also barks such as birch (Betula pendula), oak (Quercus robur) and horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum). However, the main harvesting season is in the summer months of June and July. During this time almost every day begins with a harvest. Towards the end of the season, in the autumn, the fruits are harvested for the WALA elixirs, including hawthorn in September and quince at the beginning of October.
Harvest yields
In 2008 altogether about 4.800 kg of fresh plants were harvested from the various cultivated areas. The amounts harvested vary depending on the annual requirements. The following medicinal plants were the leaders in 2008:
| Latin Name | English Name | Parts | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropaeolum majus | Nasturtium | Flowering stems | 740 kg |
| Plantago lanceolata | Ribwort plantein | Leaves | 968 kg |
| Artemisia absinthium | Wormwood | Flowering stems | 200 kg |
| Hamamelis virginiana | Witch hazel | Leaves | 327 kg |
Harvesting instructions
Cultivation and harvesting are performed according to the company's quality manual and GAP guidelines (Good Agricultural Practice). There is a separate harvesting procedure for each medicinal plant which contains specific requirements:
- Description of the harvesting procedure
- Post-harvesting operations, e.g. documentation, determination of yield etc.
Standard operating procedures exist for all harvests. They are reviewed annually and updated if necessary. The employees working in the WALA herb garden are regularly trained in implementation of the procedures.
Harvesting procedure
The following description of the daisy harvest illustrates the harvesting procedure:
Bellis perennis, the daisy, is used as an ingredient of the Dr.Hauschka Facial Steam Bath and Clarifying Toner. The flowering stems can be harvested several times between April and September. Everyone involved in the harvest is briefly reminded of the special features of this harvest. The crop is cut just above the earth and placed in the baskets. The person in charge of the harvest is responsible for overseeing the harvest quality and carefully documenting the process, quality and yield. The plant material is given a batch number and, after inspection and release, is taken directly for further processing.