When we talk about climate change, we are really talking about an imbalance in our atmosphere. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide trap heat close to the Earth’s surface, creating a chaotic effect that disrupts weather patterns, ecosystems, and communities around the world. The challenge we all share is how to reduce and remove these emissions and live in balance with the planet that sustains us. (more…)
We recently traveled to our neighboring state of Washington to visit several long-standing farm partners. Peppermint, spearmint, catnip, red clover, California poppy, and oats were among the botanicals we got to see, but even more important than that was getting some one-on-one time with our partners. Opportunities like this are largely possible by being an independently owned and mission-driven company that truly cares about its sourcing. These trips allow us to get boots on the ground to see how the plants are grown and also foster meaningful relationships with our partners. It is an important part of our support for domestic suppliers, while also ensuring that the quality and purity standards you expect from us are met.
There are four core aspects of our farm visits, which help provide the framework for the questions we ask and the ways we can offer our ongoing support.
Nestled in the lush and green Willamette Valley of Oregon, a generational farm is hard at work growing, harvesting, and processing pumpkins and pumpkin seeds. The farm has been growing seed pumpkins for decades, but after learning about the health benefits of pumpkin seed oil, they recently decided to expand their offerings to include pumpkin oil. Not only did this diversify their offerings, but it also helped to improve their waste stream. (more…)
In a room filled with changemakers from around the state, Mountain Rose Herbs’ CEO and CFO, Cameron Stearns proudly accepted the Oregon Organic Coalition Retailer of the Year Award. The Oregon Organic Coalition’s Awards for Excellence recognizes organizations whose vision, leadership, and innovation strengthen Oregon’s organic food and farming movement. (more…)
In 2023, we launched our Seed Stewardship Project campaign to help raise awareness about at-risk medicinal plants. Rooted in our commitment to ecological stewardship, we created this program as a solution-oriented approach to supporting the botanicals on the United Plant Savers At-Risk List. By offering free seeds to three selected plants on the list, we were able to help get the community excited about these plants while also helping to repopulate them. When you see a plant go from seeds in a packet to a living being, there is a very special connection that happens. It’s the magic that keeps us falling in love with plants again and again, and what gets the community impassioned and committed to ensuring a future for that plant.
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Mountain Rose Herbs is proud to partner with the Ocean Blue Project to advance our commitment to protecting waterways from the harmful impacts of trash and microplastics. Recently, we initiated a community cleanup event with our dedicated staff along the Bertelson to Meadowlark Prairie Bike Path, a vital ecological corridor we have formally adopted for ongoing stewardship.
There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes at Mountain Rose Herbs. The things that appear as ÛÏnewÛ are often the result of years of hard work and ongoing collaboration before they reach your apothecary shelves. Our domestic FairWild initiative is no exception to this.
Just outside Salem, Oregon, Elderberry Wisdom Farm is a small, Indigenous-owned nonprofit organization doing inspiring work. They’re focused on native plant cultivation, ecological restoration, and, most importantly, passing on Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to future generations. TEK combines centuries of Indigenous understanding of the land with modern conservation practices, and it’s at the heart of everything they do. (more…)
Since its inception, Mountain Rose Herbs has put plants, people, and planet before profit. Led by these values, we‘ve been a longtime leader on the list of green companies, helping to positively shape the herbal industry with environmentally focused initiatives. Our core values revolve around sustainability and as such, we‘ve implemented innovative programs in energy efficiency, zero waste, and alternative commuting incentives.
During our sourcing tour across Europe, we had the opportunity to experience a unique type of farm visit. This particular stop required us to suit up and engage closely with some pollinator companionsÑhoney bees.
With any herbal practice, conservation and protection should be the first part of the conversation. Safety and sustainability are vital when foraging. In today’s world, countless individuals share images of plants they’ve harvested, often asking, “What is this, and what can I use it for?” This highlights the importance of education. Understanding herbs involves responsible usage, not just identification. Prioritizing education promotes wildcrafting practices that respect nature while ensuring safety and realizing the benefits of herbs.
Our family farm, nestled in the northwoods of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, is a haven for medicinal plants. We have been stewards of this land for two and a half decades, and it is a joy to continue learning the ecosystems, seasons, and rhythms of life here. The farm is diverse, and we use organic, regenerative, and authentic agricultural techniques to tend fields and hoop houses of produce, herbs, perennials, shiitake mushrooms, pasture-raised pork and poultry, and grass-fed beef. Over the years, we have observed improvements in our soil and increasing biodiversity, both of which have invited wild, health-supporting weeds to flourish.
Arnica montana is an incredible plant called upon in our most common times of need. Specifically, arnica flowers are used topically for bumps, bruises, and muscle soreness. In other words, for basic discomforts of the human experience. It’s so effective, however, that it has made its way onto United Plant Savers’ At-Risk List.
As with all of the botanicals we carry, we are always seeking the most sustainable ways to source herbs to ensure we are engaging in a practice that is beneficial to our farm partners, our customers, and the environment. Luckily, we know some incredible farmers, and after many conversations and a years-long commitment of partnership, we were able to commission a plot of this specialty plant to be grown on a farm in Spain.
The threads of the world are fraying. Each day, we lose species, language, soil, and culture. In just a handful of generations, we have been sold the narrative of radical independence: Be the army of one. Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. Strive for the picket fence and the giant bank account. The philosophy and practice of extractive capitalism have created a world of loneliness and division.
But how do we even begin to imagine and understand the potential for solutions when the problems are so vast? (more…)
At Mountain Rose Herbs, we have always prided ourselves on a business model that supports a healthy planet and healthy people. That means always adapting to changing certifications and standards that, thankfully, are becoming more supportive of our core values and environmental stewardship principles. While the concepts and strategies behind it are not new, one of the emerging farming methodologies is Regenerative Agriculture.
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Before jumping into all the amazing qualities of American ginseng, I first wanted to share a bit about my personal journey with this plant. For a long time, I did not feel comfortable working with ginseng. A big part of my herbal practice is ensuring that I’m working with herbs in a way that honors the ecological and social impacts of my choices. As you may know, ginseng is on the United Plant Savers’ At-Risk List and is also in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species list, meaning it is at risk of becoming extinct if trade is not better controlled. Ginseng has been on these lists for many years and remains a plant that continues to be overharvested and poached to the point of ecological harm. Yet over the years, several passionate industry peers have stepped up to the challenge of making ginseng sustainable and accessible while not affecting the already threatened wild stands.
The wild harvesting of botanicals is a practice as old as herbalism itself and many of the cornerstone products here at Mountain Rose Herbs are collected in this tradition. These important herbs may come from the temperate mixed forests of Eastern Europe, shrublands of Africa, or closer to home in the Appalachian Mountains of the United States.
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Organics is not a new conceptÑit’s how humanity sustained itself for millennia. There was a time when we didn’t question whether our food was laced with chemicals or genetically altered, yet here we are, living in an era where “organic” has become a movement rather than the norm.
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At Mountain Rose Herbs we work hard every year to maintain the TRUE Zero Waste Certification. Our goal is to reduce our environmental footprint and be leaders in responsible business practices. TRUE stands for Total Resource Use and Efficiency. The program is designed to rate how well a facility performs in maximizing efficient use of resources and reducing material being sent to landfill or incineration (Waste to Energy).
As it grows, a sustainability-minded company strives to become ever more transparent in its actions and accepts accountability for its impact on the environment. The most diligent company will implement a team of individuals from within to analyze these systems, identify potential deficits, and look for ways to mitigate them. Here, at Mountain Rose Herbs, our Green Team does just that. (more…)
For many years, we have celebrated Buy Nothing Day. Founded in Canada in 1992, the Buy Nothing Movement arose in protest of mass consumerism and the throw-away culture that accompanies it. The movement has grown and evolved over the past decades to include more than 65 nations. The biggest shopping day of the yearÑthe day after Thanksgiving, or Black FridayÑhas become the movement’s international day of protest: Buy Nothing Day. Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, we applaud this effort and wholly support Buy Nothing Day! Overconsumption eats up natural resources and puts our planet in peril. As the Owner and President of Mountain Rose Herbs, I encourage you NOT to shop with us on Friday, November 29, 2024. The fact that we, as a society, have created a national holiday of shopping suggests that our priorities need realignment. Buy Nothing Day is our act of pushback. (more…)
For over 15 years, Mountain Rose Herbs and Eugene, Oregon-based Cascadia Wildlands have worked hand-in-hand to protect the wild ecosystems of the Cascadia bioregion. This partnership, rooted in a shared commitment to environmental preservation, highlights the importance of sustainable practices and the need for ongoing efforts to safeguard public lands. From supporting local conservation projects to ensuring responsible wildcrafting, Mountain Rose Herbs and Cascadia Wildlands have cultivated a symbiotic relationship that strengthens both organizations and benefits Cascadia’s biodiversity.
Mountain Rose Herbs is honored to work closely with small-scale producers around the world, either directly or through farming cooperatives. Many aspects of farming, wild harvesting, and processing are difficult and prone to outside pressures like natural disasters, market volatility, and climate change. These challenges are why we partner with Fair Trade Certified operations when possible.
As a person who aims to lead a sustainable lifestyle, I often find myself reflecting on the areas of my life where I can make sustainable swaps for common single-use items. While assessing my self-care routines, I noticed that my shower was the place that I had the most single-use plastic bottles. I also realized that I had the infamous ÛÏgraveyardÛ of haircare products that I had tried but which, for one reason or another, hadn’t worked for me. Long story short, it was way more plastic than I was comfortable with having in my otherwise green household. (more…)
People often struggle to understand what ÛÏorganicÛ means, and consumer research has revealed that many are not familiar with the regulatory and enforcement processes that uphold the organic seal. In response to this, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has come up with four easy-to-understand pillars that make up the USDA organic label. Each pillar highlights a key component of the National Organic Program’s (NOP) process for developing and enforcing organic regulations.
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Tending an herb garden offers the herbalist a wealth of benefits. It offers a diverse selection of plants to work with and offers peace of mind of knowing our herbs are grown locally and with our love and attention. It also gives us the opportunity to explore and discover the life cycles of the plants in our care, which not only can deepen our relationship with our herbal allies, but also offers the opportunity to harvest and save their seeds. (more…)
Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to visit the Tilth Alliance community garden and classroom in Seattle. This visit was more than just a work trip Ñ it was a chance to deepen our roots in Washington, expand our reach, and build lasting connections with a community that shares our passion for sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
In the picturesque mountains of Skagit Valley, Washington, I had the opportunity to attend the inaugural Field Day of the Pacific Northwest Organic Center (formally Cascadian Farm) organized by the Rodale Institute. This event brought together a community of researchers, farmers, students, and educatorsÑall united by a shared passion for organic agriculture. The Rodale Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit researching and sharing regenerative organic farming practices that restore soil health, fight climate change, and fix the food system. (more…)
Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Oshala Farm for their annual Herb Camp ÛÒ a weekend brimming with educational workshops, nourishing food, and remote camping in the lush Applegate Valley of Southern Oregon. This beautiful event united plant lovers from all walks of life to delve deeper into herbalism and farming, spark inspiration, and engage in hands-on experiences with the plants. As the sun reached its peak, we gathered beneath an ancient and weathered oak tree for a powerful opening circle, where we honored the Indigenous peoples of this land, and we were reminded of the need to listen to the earth’s stories and its age-old wisdom.
At Mountain Rose Herbs, we recognize the essential role of considering the human experience at every level of our business. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is more than just words. We understand the importance of supporting underrepresented communities and are proactively building strong partnerships with those who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). (more…)
At Mountain Rose Herbs, we believe that nurturing our community and environment go hand in hand. This philosophy is at the heart of our partnerships with local nonprofit organizations who align with our values in land stewardship and environmental justice. One of those partners is Beyond Toxics, an Oregon-based key player dedicated to building a community-driven environmental justice movement in Oregon. Beyond Toxics empowers communities affected by pollution and climate change by working to protect our precious pollinators, restore native plants, and foster a healthier, more sustainable world.
At Mountain Rose Herbs, our commitment to sustainability goes beyond the products we provide. It extends to fostering a deep connection with our community and the environment through our employee volunteer program. This unique initiative offers each of our team members 24 paid hours annually to volunteer at local nonprofit organizations, enabling us to make a meaningful impact while fostering a culture of giving and teamwork.
Spring is in full bloom, and there’s no better time to tune up your bike, tighten your laces, or get your bus pass than in May ÛÒ because May is bike Month! Here in Eugene, your vibrant city comes alive with the spirit of cycling, thanks to the fantastic efforts of the City of Eugene Transportation and their regional partners. From free rides to exciting events, and engaging classes, Bike Month is a celebration of all things cycling, designed to showcase the many benefits of biking and to encourage everyone to join in the fun.
When it comes to waste, we know the basics: reduce, reuse, recycle. But the real question is, how do we transition from these fundamentals to a truly circular system? As the Sustainability Specialist at Mountain Rose Herbs, I am deeply committed to advancing our Zero Waste Program. This means that from the office to the warehouse to the production floor, we collect and sort every piece of discarded material that would normally end up in the landfill. Along with being the first company in Oregon to be certified, achieving the highest TRUE Zero Waste certification level (Platinum) was a significant milestone in 2016, and we have maintained this standard ever since. But even as we reach this goal year after year, our dedication to waste reduction continues to grow.
As the springtime sun begins to shine through the clouds and blossom-speckled botanicals make their annual debut, there is no better time of year to celebrate the profoundly magical flora that surrounds us. Each year, the first Saturday of May we celebrate Herb Day. This holiday is an opportunity to bring together herbalists, environmentalists, and plant enthusiasts alike for a day of honoring our planet’s beloved botanicals. Throughout existence, plants have served as a lifeline of oxygen, energy, food, and medicine that play a crucial role in the future and longevity of Earth’s living creatures. For thousands of years, plants have been utilized around the globe as an integral healing resource that has shaped the world of herbal wellness we know today.
We are thrilled to launch the very first Mountain Rose Restoration Project of the year, and what better day than Earth Day? On Monday, April 22nd, we partnered with Friends of Trees, a local nonprofit organization, to coordinate the largest Mountain Rose Restoration Project, yet!
This year for Earth Day, Mountain Rose Herbs is joining Earth Day Oregon, a coalition of local nonprofit organizations and businesses dedicated to celebrating Earth Day, protecting the environment, and making a positive impact in our communities. Throughout the month of April, Earth Day Oregon serves as a central hub, gathering and showcasing a diverse array of events hosted by nonprofits and businesses across the state. From tree plantings and river cleanups to educational workshops and sustainability fairs, we are thrilled to be part of the Earth Day movement, bringing together so many incredible community members! (more…)
Last week, I attended the Bioneers Conference in Berkeley, California, an annual gathering that brings together innovators and thought leaders to explore solutions for social and environmental challenges. The conference featured a diverse range of speakers, workshops, and presentations on topics such as sustainability, social justice, climate change, regenerative agriculture, and Indigenous knowledge.
As the Sustainability Specialist for Mountain Rose Herbs, I am proud to work for an independently-owned company committed to doing better, every day. Liberated from the pressure to cater to financial shareholders, we can join forces with like-minded companies and organizations and work collaboratively on sustainable solutions. An organization leading this initiative is One Step Closer (OSC), a coalition of visionary CEOs committed to advancing sustainable practices in food, agriculture, and the environment. Our own CEO, Cameron Stearns, had the honor of being accepted into the OSC ranks, joining the Packaging Collaborative as well as the J.E.D.I. Collaborative (Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion).
In a world where every action leaves a mark, the question isn’t whether we make an impact but rather how we make an impact. Enter the realm of ÛÏimpact reportsÛÑ a transparent lens where companies provide a comprehensive overview of their operations, initiatives, and contributions. It’s not just about the triple bottom line Ñ it’s about revealing the full scope of their footprint. This transparency helps bridge the gap between intention and action, ensuring companies build strong relationships by following through with commitments to responsible business practices. (more…)
Nowadays, we are all aware of the term ÛÏorganic,Û but what does that really mean in the world of agriculture? Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a film screening of ÛÏOrganic Rising,Û the first feature-length documentary to demystify organic agriculture for the consumer. This event was organized by several Oregon nonprofits, followed by a panel discussion with the film director. I am excited to share groundbreaking insights and community reflections with you. (more…)
Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, we stand for a future in which domestic, diversely-owned farms thrive, growing organic herbs and becoming more resilient each year by sustainably adapting to changing climates. What’s needed to make this dream come true is a just, regenerative agriculture system that truly supports and values farmers. Last week, I had the opportunity to join 800 farmers and producers at our local university’s Small Farms Conference to learn how to make this future a reality.
In a hyper-connected world full of consumption, how do we make the best choices when purchasing products? How do we determine the impact of our decisions based on our values? Now more than ever, we are faced with businesses greenwashing customers, and as a result, consumers have become detached from where things come from or how they have come to be. Terms like ÛÏnaturalÛ or ÛÏtherapeuticÛ are used with reckless abandon and we are given minimal information to make the best choices for our bodies and our planet. (more…)
For over a decade, Mountain Rose Herbs has worked closely with Fair for Life (FFL), a Switzerland-based, fair trade certification program that seriously ups the ante on fair trade practices, making life-changing improvements in labor relationships both externally and internally. The mission is clear in this program statement: Fair for Life’s vision is a world where trade, through ethical, fair, and respectful partnerships, is a driving force for positive and sustainable change benefiting people and their environment.
Welcome to a new year! What are you calling in and saying yes to? What are you letting go of and saying no to? The beginning of the year is always a great time to take stock of what’s working for you (and not working) individually and collectively. As I look back on 2023, I think about the choices I made throughout the year and the impact that resulted from my actions. I understand that every decisionÑno matter how smallÑtruly matters, and our actions create a ripple effect in our interconnected world.
2023 was quite a year! While we worked hard to ensure access to pure, organic ingredients to support health and wellness, the Mountain Rose Herbs team also completed some exciting goals. As we reflect on the last year, we want to share our most notable accomplishments and extend our gratitude to you. We could not have accomplished these things without your incredible support. Here are some of our favorite initiatives from 2023 and a peek at what’s coming up in 2024.
In 2001, we moved Mountain Rose Herbs from California to Oregon to be closer to our farm operations, wild harvesters, and processors. We are proud of the fact that we have nurtured relationships with our Pacific Northwest farm partners for 30-plus years. Today, we source about 75% of our American-grown organic herbs from Pacific Northwest farmers here in the bioregion we call home.
If you’ve spent time reading Mountain Rose Herbs blogs, you know that one of our primary concerns is the alarming and increasing loss of native plants. Because of overharvesting, climate change, and habitat destruction, some of the most important medicinal herbs in North America are at risk or endangered, and several are already critically imperiled. We are passionate about finding solutions for these precious botanicals, but like so many important causes on our planet, it takes a village. We need researchers, scientists, data collectors, herbalists, farmers, wildharvesters, state and federal lawmakers, herb suppliers, gardeners, and the list goes on. In addition to all of these essential roles, we need to build connections around the world with other dedicated plant people who may be seeing the same things in their part of the world. We need to understand what plants are at risk and what alternatives we can access. This is where our allies at United Plant Savers (UpS) step in. (more…)
For more than ten years, Mountain Rose Herbs has been working with United Plant Savers (UpS) and other conservation organizations to address the alarming decline in wild ginseng populations in North America. Despite concerted efforts and the support of federal and state governments, as well as ethical ginseng forest farmers and wildcrafters, the state of this precious botanical in the wild remains precarious due to overharvesting and habitat destruction. With that in mind, we are delighted to say that a new way of farming ginseng is providing hope for the future of Panax quinquefolius!
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If you’re at all familiar with Mountain Rose Herbs, chances are you’ve heard us proudly shout from the rooftops that sustainability is always on the brain here. The idea that all life can harmoniously co-exist alongside our planetÑabsent of imbalance between what is taken and what is providedÑis a concept woven deeply into our company’s seams. Whether that be our commitment to organic agriculture, fair trade relationships, zero-waste innovation, plant and river conservation, or community support, we truly keep sustainability at the forefront of our minds. (more…)
Among the stellar organizations that Mountain Rose Herbs works with, our Fair for Life partnership is one that we are particularly proud of due to the demonstrable good that it does. Its principles impact people and the environments they live and work in around the world, as well as our community here in Eugene, Oregon.
On a warm October afternoon in 2021, roughly 40 personnel from Oregon forest agencies, area tribes, and conservation groups, including the Long Tom Watershed Council, gathered on the Andrew Reasoner Wildlife Preserve outside Eugene. Among them were a dozen Native American firefighter trainees who had spent the week learning the essentials of wildfire suppression. That the culmination of their training would be the deliberate burning of an eight-acre parcel of land might strike some as contrary, even outrageous. As a former National Park Ranger who served as a firefighter in the early 90s, this certainly flew in the face of the training I’d received. (more…)
Irradiation of food is a topic that is increasingly showing up as a point of concern for Mountain Rose customers, so I want to take a minute to talk about this timely subject. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of food irradiation in 1963 to kill bacteria, molds, insects, etc. in wheat and flour. Today, the FDA has approved irradiation for fruits, vegetables, eggs in the shell, spices and seasonings, sprouting seeds, poultry, crustaceans and shellfish, and red meats. Food irradiation involves exposing foods to one of three different types of ionizing radiation: gamma rays from cobalt-60, x-rays, or electron beams. The FDA uses this technology to improve food safety and extend storage and shelf life. Meanwhile, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organics Program (NOP), which oversees the nation’s organics labeling, prohibits the use of irradiation to treat organic products because the process alters the natural state of food. These two opposing views present consumers with something of a conundrum. (more…)
You already know that Mountain Rose Herbs is a purveyor of organic herbs, essential oils, teas, and exceptional botanical offerings. And you’ve probably read that we are serious about putting people, plants, and planet before profit with everything we do: from supporting sustainable agriculture to encouraging employee volunteerism. What you may not have known is that in 2018 these values led us to become an Oregon Benefit Company.
With so many options on the shelf at the grocery store, not to mention the enormous number of food selections from online sources, it is difficult to know that the food we eat is nutritious, delicious, and free of unwanted pesticides or preservatives. We see a lot of hype around one certification or another, with new standards being presented to us all the time. How do we know that the food we put on the table supports the health of our families, communities, and the planet?
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At Mountain Rose Herbs, botanicals are our business, and the industry has been growing year over year as more people realize the health-supporting benefits of our plant allies. Sounds great, doesn’t it? In many ways, this is a wonderful return to valuing the abundance the natural world has to offer while utilizing the myriad benefits that botanicals provide. Unfortunately, the ongoing and increasing impact of overharvesting wild plants has left many of our native populations at significant risk of decline or even extinction. For this reason, we have invested our time and energy in striking a balance between increasing the availability of the number of botanicals we offer and supporting the conservation of the most at-risk plant varieties.
Believe it or not, employee wellness programs have existed for the better part of the last 100 years. For much of this history, the programs have focused on the physical aspect of health while ignoring other facets of an individual’s wellbeing including mental health and work/life balance. In the past, wellness programs often included structured times throughout the workday to stretch or get some exercise, but research shows that programs such as these are often underutilized by the employees themselves. Why is this, and what have these attempts at workplace wellness been missing? At Mountain Rose Herbs, we recognize that the workday is just a fraction of the lives we all lead. If we want company-sponsored initiatives to effectively promote health and wellbeing, they must extend beyond the office to improve the overall quality of life.
Lithia Park is a lively cultural hub in the heart of Ashland, Oregon. Each year, over a million people visit the bustling, yet peaceful park to stroll, jog, cycle, or just admire the landscape that winds along the brisk Ashland Creek. The 100-acre park also provides habitat and food sources for many species of plants, pollinators, animals, and fish. The well-balanced ecosystem of the park is attributed largely to the integrative maintenance practices that were put into place in 2010 which allows less than 1% synthetic herbicides and pesticides to be used within the park, and then only if there is a severe public safety hazard present. (more…)
I love the peace of knowing that I have both the skills and stock on hand to thrive in most of the situations life throws my way. I can confidently rely on my resourcefulness and forethought to help me whether I can’t get to the grocery store for a bit, need to pinch some pennies, or just ran out of laundry soap. The efforts that I put into this lifestyle are also in line with my sustainability goals and significantly reduce the waste generated from my household. (more…)
Spring is upon us, and many of us spent the cold and dark days of winter planning spring and summer gardens, selecting plant varieties, acquiring seeds, and getting a head start on sowing, germinating, and nurturing the young seedlings in our windowsills and greenhouses. Nowadays, we can buy everything from seeds and trees to full-grown flowers and shrubs at nurseries around the country. But not all nurseries are alike. A surprising number of the most popular suppliers of the seeds and plants we love give little regard to environmental issues. Don’t despair! There are guidelines and best practices we would like to share with the Mountain Rose Herbs community that will help you select seeds and plants that were grown using practices that support the health and vitality of our ecosystem.
We just returned from the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Annual Member Meeting at New Hope Expo West in Anaheim, California. Each year since 2006, AHPA recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the continued success of the herbal and natural products industries. We’re excited to share that longtime Mountain Rose Herbs Owner and President, Shawn Donnille, has been awarded the prestigious 2023 AHPA Environmental Impact Award!
As the focus on living sustainably increases, so too does the search for meaningful practices to incorporate into our lives. We often find ourselves presented with more challenges than solutions. Over time it becomes clear that the simpler and more approachable the solution, the better and more likely we are to stick to the new practice. We all know the importance of recycling and conserving resources, but did you know that there is a framework for eliminating the waste we send to the landfill? That framework is known as zero waste. What does zero waste mean and how does a company as large as Mountain Rose Herbs incorporate these practices into our daily operations?
Readers of the Mountain Rose Herbs blog know that one of our primary concerns is the ongoing and increasing impact of overharvesting on wild plants. Some of the most popular medicinal herbs in the worldÑfor example, goldenseal, bloodroot, black cohosh, trillium, and oshaÑare at risk and/or endangered. As well as rampant wildharvesting, these precious botanicals are impacted by land use issues and climate change, which are becoming more problematic. As a bulk herbs company dedicated to putting people, plants, and planet before profit, we believe it is our responsibility to do everything possible to find solutions for our herbal allies. One way we do that is to work within the regulations set forth by CITESÑthe Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. (more…)
If you’re anything like me, you don’t like to waste. When you enjoy herbal preparations as part of your daily routine, you are bound to wind up with a stockpile of perfectly good containers that can still be used. But how can you make sure they are cleaned well enough to reuse, and how can you continue to put them to use time and time again? Here are some tips and tricks to help you keep those bottles in circulation.
Rain had been falling for the better part of the last week but on the morning of Wednesday, December 7th, with the skies partially clear, the Mountain Rose Herbs Green Team was working to enhance the landscape at our new campus. By midday, we had carefully planted two Aspen, 24 Kinnikinnick, 34 Ponderosa, and 250 Camas bulbs into the expanding green space that makes up the western border of the property. Five staff members, working for a total of 10 hours, completed this work as part of our effort to build a vibrant landscape that blurs the lines between the commercial/industrial use of the facilities and an ecosystem that is representative of the southern Willamette Valley.
People often assume that sustainability is not compatible with the tenets of successful business management. However, Mountain Rose Herbs is an excellent example of how a company can be guided by the principle of putting people, plants, and planet before profit and how business decisions can successfully consider both the environmental and social impact of operational choices and costs. Keeping sustainability at the core of our business practices means we are aware of the full cost of doing business and we make decisions consciously to minimize any negative impact that our company might have on our community, ecosystems, and ultimately the planet. With a history rooted in environmental and social activism, we cannot imagine operating a business any other way.
In 2001, when we moved Mountain Rose Herbs from California to Pleasant Hill, Oregon, we made the move to be closer to our farm partners, wildharvesters, and processors. But another key factor in our decision was Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO), a Corvallis, Oregon nonprofit that was reimagining how the world’s food systems could work better for people and the planet. Founded on the fundamental belief that our food and agricultural systems should be sustainable and equitable, Oregon Tilth has spent nearly fifty years working for organic food and farming.
Gift-giving can be difficult, especially during the holidays. Finding the right gift at the right price is hard enough, but then layer on crowded parking lots, long shopping lines, and inclement weather, and you have yourself a recipe for holiday stress! We just don’t need that added pressure in our already hectic lives.
With this in mind, I curated a simple list of budget-friendly gift ideas that you can have delivered right to your doorstep. You’ll find the perfect gifts for the health enthusiast, foodie, tea lover, or fragrance connoisseur in your life. (Or for yourself; you also deserve it!)
Although goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) was used by First Nations peoples for hundreds of years before Europeans arrived in the Americas, the first written source regarding goldenseal appears in an 1801 series of essays by botanist and physician Benjamin Smith Barton titled Towards a Materia Medica in the United States. Early colonists found a well-established trade network already in place for medicinal herbs, including goldenseal. Indigenous people used it as a dye and also for a variety of health issues, including as a bitter to support digestion, as a skin and eye wash, and as a dental rinse. By the 1830s, goldenseal was also a favorite of practitioners of Eclectic medicine, and demand was increasing exponentially. That demand has never let up and today goldenseal is considered to be one of the most at-risk herbs on United Plant Savers’ At-Risk Medicinal Plants List. There is, however, a potentially bright future for goldenseal thanks to innovations in cultivation. (more…)
As you know, we spend a lot of time thinking about at-risk herbs and what we can all do to support these botanical allies. The issue of overharvesting in the wild is a key reason why Mountain Rose Herbs is increasingly turning to cultivated herbs when possible and why we support certified organic forest farming, particularly for hard-hit herbs like North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius). We know that to ethically procure these valuable botanicals, they must be consciously and mindfully gathered and harvested. We only work with growers and harvesters who have been fully vetted, who we can trust to cultivate, harvest, and handle our plant allies with the respect and care they deserve. With that in mind, we’d like to show you what successful forest farming looks like.
If you’ve been reading along on the Mountain Rose Herbs blog, you know we’re always looking for ways that we can make smart business choices that address climate change and invest in the health and wellbeing of our community and our planet. Committing to our alternative-fuel and electric fleet of company vehicles is one key piece to this commitment. (more…)
At Mountain Rose Herbs, we have been in a years-long process of shifting our procurement policies away from wildharvested herbs in favor of cultivated ones whenever possible. This policy was necessitated by the increasing impact of overharvesting on some of the most popular herbs and spices around the world. In some cases, for instance with white sage (Salvia apiana), we have been able to source excellent organic, cultivated options, which means we can continue to offer this herbal ally with a good conscience. In other cases, however, as with false unicorn (Chamaelirium luteum) and trillium (Trillium spp.), we have chosen to discontinue carrying an herb because we simply cannot find an ethical way to procure it. As we are navigating an increasingly complex procurement reality, I want to give you a peek behind the curtain, as it were, into why and how we determine what we can sell while prioritizing the overall wellbeing of people, plants, and planet. (more…)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is one of those herbal allies that has been with North Americans for as long as anyone can remember. For thousands of years, First Nations Peoples used different parts of the plant for a wide variety of issues ranging from skin problems to respiratory and gastrointestinal complaints, and also used it to make dyes. European immigrants, eclectic medicine practitioners, and others learned from the local indigenous peoples and by the early 19th century, bloodroot was officially listed in the United States Pharmacopeia. Today, literally tons of bloodroot are wildharvested every year. Let‘s talk about the challenges this herbal ally is facing and how we can support its bountiful future. (more…)
Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) is one of the top-selling herbal supplements in the United States. According to United Plant Savers (UpS), the harvest of black cohosh in our nation is as much as half-a-million pounds in dry weight per yearÑand 97% of that harvest is wild-sourced! This level of massive-scale wildharvesting has repercussions and raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of this powerhouse herb. Fortunately, unlike some of our other favorite forest-farmed botanicals, black cohosh is easy to cultivate. While this doesn’t address the immediate issue, it does give us hope for a bright future. Let’s take a deeper look at what we can do to support a sustainable future for black cohosh.
Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, we want to minimize our carbon footprint both as a company and as a collective community of individuals. One way we do this is through our Alternative Commute Program. For years, we have been encouraging our team members to stay healthy and reduce carbon emissions by not traveling to work in single-occupancy vehicles. This year, to further incentivize and increase participation, we improved the payout structure of the program.
Mountain girl that I am, trillium is one of my favorite flowers. TechnicallyTrillium ovatum, also known as Pacific trillium, is what I think of when I think ÛÏtrilliumÛ because it’s the one I grew up with in the Coast Range of Oregon. Trillium plants look simple (just three petals and three sepals), but they are actually a complex little botanical. They live for decades, so you can form long-term relationships with them and welcome them back year after year. Unfortunately, however, they are slow to develop and spread, which is a serious weakness in the face of habitat loss and rampant wildharvesting. Between land use issues, trillium collectors who dig up wild varieties, deer who love to munch its leaves, and herbalists who seek out the rhizomes to make potent formulations, wild trillium is now in trouble. Let’s take a look at an age-old herbal ally and what we can do to preserve this beautiful, fragile plant.
Photo courtesy of Susan Leopold, PhD, Executive Director at United Plant Savers.
Osha root (Ligusticum porteri) has been in use as an herbal medicine, incense, food, and for ceremonial purposes for thousands of years. When European colonists arrived in North America, osha was already being widely used by First Nations People in the American Southwest and Mexico to treat a variety of conditions, particularly those involving the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. The Zuni people chewed the root in healing rituals and the Tarahumara people used it ritualistically in protection ceremonies. This herbal ally has been generously gifting itself to humans on our continent for millennia, and its renown has spread to other parts of the world. Unfortunately, this increasing popularity has shined a light on osha’s one significant problemÑvirtually all commercial osha is wildharvested because this independent herb doesn’t do well as a cultivated crop. This limitation combined with the ever-increasing demand for osha has many herbalists concerned about the viability and long-term sustainability of this precious botanical. Let’s take a deeper dive into osha.
In the last couple of years, the global demand for seaweeds has skyrocketed. It‘s no surprise, as seaweed offers a stunning array of nutritional benefits and packs a unique salty and umami punch due to its high glutamate content. Seaweed is also used in a variety of non-food applications, including cosmetics and beauty products, scientific research, traditional medicinal applications, biofuels, fertilizers, and more. Considering all the uses for these aquatic plants and the increase in demand for such products, it is more important than ever to consider best practices for harvesting and processing these precious materials. It is this consideration that drives Mountain Rose Herbs to work closely with our harvest partners in offering organically certified seaweeds.
In 1987 Mountain Rose Herbs was founded on a commitment to sustainably source all of our botanicals, and since then we’ve made every effort to uphold that commitment. One of the most important aspects of keeping that promise is ensuring transparency in the supply chains for each lot of material that we receive in our warehouse. Maintaining this requires a close relationship between Mountain Rose and our farm partners, and this relationship is managed by our Procurement team.
You’ve heard us say before that the foundational principle of Mountain Rose Herbs is ÛÏpeople, plants, and planet are more important than profit.Û A primary element of how we succeed in keeping that ethic at the core of everything we do is the recognition that no matter how much we strive for excellence as human beings and as a company, it really does ÛÏtake a villageÛ to create change and to set ourselves always on a path of growth and learning. We have been building working relationships with like-minded companies, organizations, nonprofits, and individuals for more than three decades in order to put strategic action to our principles. One of these longstanding alliances is with BRING, a local nonprofit that has been working to change attitudes and behaviors about waste for 50 years. (more…)
Gardening is truly a year-round activity. Each season presents us with unique tasks, opportunities, and challenges. Just like the plants that we lovingly tend, every garden and its respective gardener has its own life cycle; in the spring we bloom, followed quickly by the abundant harvests of summer and autumn. In the winter, both garden and gardener retreat into the season of rest, the final stage of the cycle before we return to the beginning to do it all again.
We are living in unpredictable times. This sounds like an obvious statement when the entire world is reeling from two years of pandemic and social and political unrest, and it seems as if everything is spinning out of our control. We are indeed living through precarious times, but what I am referring to specifically in this blog is the nature of business and industry. The herbal products industry has changed enormously over the last few years, and in my opinion, it’s not been for the best. Most of the herbal companies that we have worked with, that we have known and admired for decades, have now been acquired by private equity firms, investment holdings, and venture capitalists. I have never witnessed anything like this in the 22 years I have been at Mountain Rose Herbs. Our community has grown significantly smaller, and the industry is pushing hard towards a profit-driven business model that is the antithesis of everything I believe in. This disturbing reality has made me think a lot about permanence: permanence, and predictability, and being a brand that people can trust.
As a bulk supplier of organic ingredients, we work with many businesses in the natural products industry. Part of our business relationship with these other organizations includes an exchange of tips and insights about running a company in an always-changing landscape. I want to share with you some of what I have learned about business development in my years with Mountain Rose Herbs. Whether you are considering starting a business, want to grow the one you have, or you’re simply interested in how successful companies thrive, these are some of the most helpful tips I have learned along the way. (more…)
A lot of people are discovering the benefits of using natural DIY household cleansersÑnot only are they crazy-easy to make and dramatically less expensive than over-the-counter cleansers, they also give us the ability to choose ingredients we know are safe for our families and pets, and to customize the scents we’d like to have lingering in our homes. However, not all DIY cleansers are equal.
On Tuesdays in the spring and summer, I step away from my computer and into my own version of paradise. Pulling my car into a bustling central Pennsylvania farmers market, I head directly to the Jade Family Farmstand. These ambassadors of all that is local and delicious fill my bag with bright rhubarb, fragrant sorrel, and oddly delicious kiwi berriesÑall certified organic and grown by farmers whose growing practices are summed up in four words: First, do no harm.
But farming practices are as broad as pepper varieties, and not all market stands are created equal. Some resell produce bought wholesale: not exactly what we envision when we fill our canvas bags with ÛÏlocal food.Û
How does a savvy shopper identify the highest quality farmers market finds while supporting their local food system?
I have been on a big ÛÏDIY swapÛ kick lately. It all started with a growing interest in leading a more sustainable lifestyle, which for me, meant finding ways to eliminate single-use and non-recyclable packaging. The DIY aspect of this project was born out of necessity. I knew the easiest way to avoid purchasing products packaged unsustainably was to just make them myself. There were some growing pains of course. I will be the first to admit that I am not always the best at planning ahead, so adjusting from simply buying an item in a store to carving out the time to make the product did not always go smoothly. However, since I have embraced the process, I’m finding it deeply gratifying to craft my own products, especially my own body-care products.
Lately I have been thinking a lot about how to reduce the presence of plastic in my life. With the recyclability of plastics becoming more and more of a question mark, and a disheartening one at that, the place that I keep arriving at is to just try as hard as I can to remove plastics from the equation altogether. The kitchen was the first place I started with my sustainability makeover. I slowly began to change my shopping habits so that I would wind up with less leftover single-use plastics at the end of the week. It wasn’t easy but it was incredibly liberating; it eased my conscience a bit to know that I was able to take steps toward a greener lifestyle. As my interest in living more sustainably snowballed, I began seeing problems everywhere I looked in my house, particularly with my cleaning products, and especially with my bathroom cleansers.
Before I moved to Eugene in March of 2010, I drove a car every day, everywhere. Living in the suburbs of Boston, it was necessary. I didn’t know anyone who didn’t drive to work, to the grocery store, or even to the gym. When I arrived, I brought my mindset with me and drove everywhere: to work (ten blocks from home), to the grocery store (twelve blocks), and the gym (just over a mile). In my first three months here, I clocked fewer than a hundred miles and made three car paymentsÑclearly not an economical way to get around! I sold my car that June and bought a used bicycle.
While some people may be naturally born with heightened senses, most of us must hone and practice these skills throughout our lifetime, and particularly when we are children.
During my years of mentoring in environmental nature immersion, I’ve seen countless children develop ÛÏsuper sensesÛ (hear, see, feel, smell, intuit) that astounds their parents. I love stories like the one when a father was flabbergasted by his seven-year-old daughter. ÛÏShe could hear the sound of an owl hooting way off in the distance,Û he excitedly said, ÛÏlong before I even could sense it and her observation skills are through the roof ÛÒ I can’t keep up!Û
A few years ago, my friend gave me the oddest gift. As she handed it to me, she sheepishly said, ÛÏI’m not sure how you will like this, but I use them at my house, and I hope you’ll have a use for them too!Û Inside the neatly wrapped brown paper package was a roll of cloth squares. I admitted that I was confused by the gift and jokingly asked if it was toilet paper. Turns out I wasn’t too far off ÛÒ it was a roll of Unpaper¨ Towels! It turned out her ÛÏoddÛ gift inspired me and seeded my passion to look at my home in a new way, to ask myself, ÛÏHow sustainable are my household habits?Û
Mountain Rose Herbs is proud to be an EarthShare Oregon Business Member. EarthShare is a national network that connects environmental organizations across the United States using businesses as fundraising platforms. In 2011, we launched our very first EarthShare Oregon campaign by organizing an employee giving program that connects our staff with like-minded environmental organizations working to protect and defend the places we hold dear. Through this program, we have successfully connected our employees with over 100 environmental organizations that they are passionate about supporting. That is nearly $100,000 given the past 8 years! Read on to learn more about EarthShare Oregon.
As days get shorter and temperatures sink, it’s an ideal time to take a look at your home garden and start thinking about ways you can increase bloom times next growing season. Growing a pollinator-friendly garden is easy and planning ahead can give you plenty of time to ponder which plants you want to introduce next year and think up new, creative ways to increase blooms to feed next year’s hungry pollinators. Early winter is a great time to reflect on which blooms you had in your home garden throughout the past year and identify any times when blooms could have been increased to support more bees.
Author Timothy Pina once said, ÛÏPhilanthropy is not about moneyÛ?it’s about feeling the pain of others and caring enough about their needs to help.Û In other words, philanthropy, to effect real change, must go deeper than throwing funds at the surface of a problem; it must attempt to address the roots of an issue. But how does someoneÑwhether an individual, a small business, or a corporationÑfind the act of giving that makes sense for them and effects the kind of change they would like to see in the world?
I sat tucked beneath the juniper tree, my head resting on the pillow of her fibrous bark. I was absently twisting and wrapping the aromatic leaves of a sagebrush around my fingers, each crush igniting fragrant oils into the air. My eyes gazed out across the vast stark white lakebed of the Alvord Desert. The air had begun to cool as the sun migrated closer to the mountain’s edge, preparing for the freezing starlit night. It was here on my very first solo camping trip that I began to contemplate what it means to Û÷belong’ and to question why I felt so inextricably disconnected and foreign sitting upon the Earth. (more…)
Mountain Rose Herbs has been in a years-long process of shifting our procurement policies steadily away from wild-harvested botanicals. This policy shift is in direct response to the increasing impact of overharvesting on wild stands of some of the most beloved herbs and spices around the world. White sage (Salvia apiana) is one example. In the past few years, white sage has come under a dual attack. The arid regions that are home to wild stands of Salvia apiana have been badly impacted by climate change, which has caused wildfires and other devastation. At the same time, there has been a meteoric rise in the commercialization of smudging, which has created a lucrative market for illegally harvested white sage, much of it taken from public lands. It is for this reason that Mountain Rose Herbs made the decision in 2019 to procure 100% of our loose-leaf white sage from a special cultivation project in the rocky hills of San Diego County’s North County region. We consider ourselves fortunate to have the opportunity to support such an important project.
We work hard here at Mountain Rose Herbs to be an example of a business that puts people, plants, and planet before profit. You’ve heard of ÛÏthe bottom line,Û which in business parlance means thinking about profitability. But in our changing world, business leaders are considering whether there is a better, more sustainable model than a purely profit driven one. The ÛÏtriple bottom lineÛ model brings social and environmental impact into play. It insists on corporate responsibility and sustainable development, it prioritizes people, plants, and planet. We strive to raise the bar for ethical business practices and to model how to integrate sustainability into business strategies in a way that drives company success. (more…)
In 2016, Mountain Rose Herbs became the first company in Oregon to receive a TRUE Zero Waste Facility Certification. The TRUE program is part of Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the premier organization independently recognizing excellence in global green business industry performance and practices. TRUE is a whole systems approach aimed at changing how materials flow through society and encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to solving pest problems in our yards and gardens. Every system is unique and constantly changing. Thus, it’s important to equip your garden with a wide range of tools that will help it flourish. Fortunately, backyard biodiversity offers a broad and adaptable range of ecological services through methods like protecting predatory insects and supporting their reproduction, or working against the reproductive cycles of the pests you want to reduce. Let’s talk about why it’s necessary to equip your home garden with the multitude of tools it needs to strengthen resilience and reduce weed and pest pressure naturally.
Women are the leading providers of agricultural work in many regions of the world, including in the fields of our organic farm partners in India. Learn how the Fair for Life fair trade program helps empower this female-led labor force through equitable wages, paid time off, and working conditions that are safe for farmers and the environment.
You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make. ÑDr. Jane Goodall
Environmental stewardship is woven into the fabric of Mountain Rose Herbs’ company culture and sustainable business practices. Striving towards zero waste is one way we take responsibility for our impact. Thanks to our dedicated staff, we became the first company in Oregon to achieve a TRUE Zero Waste Facility certification from Green Business Certification Inc. We completed a peer-reviewed scorecard and on-site audit to achieve the highest-level certificationÑplatinum! (more…)
As our amphibian friend Kermit the Frog says, ÛÏIt’s not easy being green”Ñand that’s particularly true for businesses! Since spring of 2014, our cross-departmental, volunteer-based Mountain Rose Herbs Green Team has helped our management team look at all aspects of our business operations through a sustainability lens. Recently, we received the honor of being featured in international corporate sustainability consultant Nikki Pava’s guide to building successful workplace sustainability teams, so we thought we’d share some of the strategies that have helped us cultivate a culture of environmental responsibility across our organization. For those interested in building a green advocacy team in their own place of work, we hope these ideas can inspire and guide you! (more…)
From charging our phones to switching on the kettle for our morning tea, using energy often seems like an inevitable part of life these days. However, understanding and accepting this fact doesn’t mean we can’t take responsibility for the energy and fuel we use. Whatever your motivation, be it saving money or reducing your environmental impact, it can feel overwhelming to tackle a big goal like curtailing energy consumption. But there are ways to reduce your impact, either as an individual or as a business like Mountain Rose Herbs. Additionally, even though energy use is sometimes unavoidable, there are ways to offset the carbon emissions from that power production to help balance the scales. (more…)
Whether you’re hiking, camping, backpacking, or floating the river, you’ve got to fuel up while you play, but how can you do it in a sustainable way? While there are tons of dehydrated ÛÏbackpacking foodÛ options on the market today, their single-use packaging can add up to a pile of unrecyclable waste. Perhaps you never meant to leave a wrapper behind, but I can assure you, it’s bound to happen! That means your trash trail will either need to be packed out by someone else, or worse (and more likely), left to pose a choking hazard to wildlife. Luckily, there are many ways that you can immerse yourself in nature without wasteÑthey just require a bit of planning! (more…)
We travel to our farm partners’ fields across the world to maintain close relationships with our growers and learn from one another.
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Albania’s mountains and valleys teem with rich botanical bounty. Mountain Rose Herbs and United Plant Savers visited its fecund countryside at the peak of the autumn harvest to meet the farmers and wildharvesters who help bring culinary apothecary herbs and fruits to plant lovers across the world (like the ripe and ready hawthorn berries above!).
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Climate change may well be the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from extractive industry, agriculture, and modern lifestyles have resulted in today’s increased ocean temperatures and acidification, dramatic weather patterns, droughts, fires, floods, and climate refugees seeking relief from the impacts of these disasters. (more…)
Our farm liaisons travel to America’s northernmost state to visit the revolutionary farmers working to cultivate organic rhodiola in Alaska’s rugged landscape.
Arriving at a property that looks across the water to Kachemak Bay State Park, we have our first rendezvous with a group of farmers engaged in a bold agricultural experiment: cultivating organic Rhodiola rosea in the rugged Alaskan countryside. These folks have staked years of work on the hope that this much-prized adaptogen hailing from Siberia and northern Asia can thrive in the challenging agricultural conditions of their wild home state. For us, it has already been a long day of travel that’s left us more than ready to cozy up with some hot tea and take in the incredible views. But we are here to help with the harvest, and there’s work to be done. (more…)
Not many businesses today have been around for 30 years, but after more than three decades, Mountain Rose Herbs is still going strong. The secret to our success is simple: we’re always working to improve ourselves, fine-tuning our quality control processes, sustainability efforts, and customer service while also giving back to our community. In recent years, we realized we had outgrown the capacity of our regional organic herb mill, resulting in bottlenecks that interfered with our ability to achieve our goals. So we decided to build a mill of our own!
Once you place your order at Mountain Rose HerbsÑeither by phone or onlineÑa very personalized process begins. While we strive to prepare your order as quickly and efficiently as possible, we also put thought and care into each box that leaves our building.
Mountain Rose Herbs’ guiding principle is that people, plants, and planet are more important than profit. That translates into supporting organic agriculture, ethically-harvesting plants, fair trade practices, charitable giving, and community involvement.
Near the snow-capped peaks and pristine glacial streams of Cascadia lies a Pacific Northwest family farm. A gravel road winding up an arid canyon leads to the small plot of land where our certified organic milky oat tops are grown, harvested, and dried. (more…)
What is it about putting your hands into the soil that feels so good? How about wading barefoot through a stream, or breathing fresh ocean air? Being in nature is simply revitalizing. That’s one of the fundamental reasons we offer our employees the opportunity to get paid for getting outside and restoring natural areas through the Mountain Rose River Project! (more…)
In midsummer, our fields of certified organic Echinacea purpurea are a purple blaze as far as the eye can see. The nearly shoulder-high flowers that take root in these Pacific Northwest soils are a pollinator favorite, and native bees and butterflies flock to the fields in droves. The sheer multitude of winged beings that encircle each bloom is an impressive sight to beholdÑvisual proof of the power of organic agriculture.
We’re serious about sustainability at Mountain Rose Herbs. So serious that, for the first time, we’ve decided to enlist a policy expert to help make all our green dreams a reality. We recently sat down with that expert, Jonathan Manton, to find out how he’ll be engaging community leaders to help our farmers grow (and customers get access to) organic, plant-based offerings for generations to come. (more…)
The sun was shining and the bicycle wheels were spinning during the 2018 Mountain Rose Herbs Earth Day Celebration. Employees were in an especially festive mood because they were getting free, professional bike tune-ups as a gift from Mountain Rose Herbs!
One of the most powerful ways to promote a healthful life is taking ownership of what we put in (and on) our bodies. That’s why we work so hard to offer our customers organic and non-GMO botanicals they can trust!
Living a zero waste lifestyle is no easy task. Consuming less, getting rid of clutter, and eliminating packaging waste at home is one thing. Reducing waste for a company the size of Mountain Rose Herbs, a company with 200 employees operating in eight facilities, is a different story. We’d love to share how we strive for zero waste. It started with dedicated employees and a fierce commitment to environmental stewardship. (more…)
In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed March 3 as UN World Wildlife Day, in an effort to raise awareness about the world’s wild animals and plants. Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, we’re dedicated to doing everything we can to further this important work. That’s why we build relationships with exceptional nonprofit partners like Wild Farm Alliance (WFA). (more…)
Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, we work hard to do business in a way that leaves the lightest possible footprint on this earth. Each year we publish a detailed report to measure and monitor our sustainability efforts and provide our customers the transparency they deserve. We’re still working on our 2017 report but couldn’t help ourselves from sharing some initial results with you!
Ashwagandha is to Ayurveda what Ginseng is to Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s a cornerstone root used through the ages as a part of daily life. A root so treasured that its popularity has spread globally and its use is common.
Earlier this summer, The Future of Ginseng and Forest Botanicals Symposium was held on the beautiful Monongahela River in Morgantown, West Virginia. This critical event was organized by Dr. Susan Leopold, Executive Director of the nonprofit United Plant Savers, and we were pleased to be in attendance.
Since our beginnings in 1987, Mountain Rose Herbs has been committed to supporting farmers who cultivate herbs without the use of synthetic chemicals. We seek out and foster relationships with farmers who operate in an ethically and environmentally responsible manner. In particular, our farmers support organic and sustainable agriculture, just like us! All of our crops are cultivated organically, without chemicals, and/or are consciously wildharvested. One of the most critically important components is … soil!
Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, we put a lot of thought into sourcing, crafting, and delivering our customers the finest organic, non-GMO, and fair trade botanicals from across the globe. What good are consciously sourced products if they’re not packaged in equally sustainable materials? We make sure we are using the best available sustainable packaging materials in order to reduce our environmental impact and leave a smaller carbon footprint.
Berries are ripe, flowers are blooming, and my vegetable garden is in full swing. I feel so blessed to live in Eugene, Oregon, especially in the summer when the sun is shining and everything is bursting with life! Everywhere I look something is growing or ready to harvest. The Native Plant Nursery, managed by the Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah, is no exception.
In late 2013, I came across an inspiring article from EarthShare about Green Teams. The idea is that a group of employees come together to have candid conservations and brainstorm creative ways to improve their sustainable business practices. I immediately saw the benefit for Mountain Rose Herbs to create our own Green Team, and in March 2014 we held our first meeting!
Buzzwords are everywhere these days and ÛÏsustainabilityÛ is right there at the top of the list. But what does it mean to use sustainable business practices? It’s often defined by the triple bottom line ÛÒ people, planet, and profit ÛÒ a term coined by author and entrepreneur, John Elkington, in 1994. Elkington believes in corporate responsibility, sustainable development, and looking at the full cost of doing business. (more…)
Interested in becoming an environmental champion and moving towards a zero waste lifestyle? The first step is to adopt the practices of a Master Recycler!
Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, we are so grateful for all of the pollinators in our lives, globally and locally. Our business literally exists on the backs of the bees and other lesser-known pollinators. And as suppliers of herbs, spices, and other botanical goods, we intimately understand that 75% of the world’s agricultural products depend on at least one pollinator, which is one reason why we’re passionately committed to organic agriculture. June is Pollinator Month, and we’re honored to celebrate and raise awareness about the plight of the pollinators.
We are so passionate about organic agriculture and quality herbs that we make regular trips to visit our growers. And we always have a blast! Not only does it expand our understanding of our farmers and what we can do to support them, but it also gives us a chance to make sure that the highest quality processing starts before the goods arrive at our facility. This time around, we got to go behind-the-scenes to see how our amazing hydrosols are made. (more…)
Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, we do everything we can to reduce our energy consumption. From powering our facilities with a 100-panel solar array to supporting our local utility’s Greenpower program. However, despite our hard work, we still end up releasing some greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. (more…)
In November, we had the great honor of hosting a delegation of tea marketers and producers from Eugene’s Sister City of Kakegawa, Japan. The group carefully prepared and served Fukamushicha (deep steamed green tea) for members of the Mountain Rose Herbs team.
The holidays are the most giving and generous time of the year. They are also the most wasteful. Between Thanksgiving and New Years, Americans throw out about 25 million tons more trash than normal — a 25 percent increase over the rest of the year. We can change that!
Earlier this fall, we visited our farm that straddles both Oregon and Washington, interrupted by the blue Columbia River running down its middle. The farm’s verdant green fields shone brightly against brown, parched hillsides that stretched as far as the eye could see. The irrigated fields provided relief to the eyes, a soft green that promised healthy harvests yet to come.
I grew up exploring the forest in my backyard, splashing in creeks, climbing trees, and playing imaginary games. Throughout my childhood, we took family hiking and camping trips in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Access to public lands allowed me and countless others to connect with nature. Those experiences shaped who I am. (more…)
Chief Operations Officer, Jennifer, visits with a group of Fair for Life farmers on this intercropped forest farm with yearround harvestability in three stories of the forest canopy.
Increasing demand for spices acquired from tree barks, such as our beloved cassia (a.k.a. cinnamon) is putting many tree species in peril worldwide. At Mountain Rose Herbs, we are passionate about supporting sustainable harvesting that preserves the life and integrity of the tree, rather than killing it. Our Fair for Life Project farmers in India use methods that are unconventional, harvesting only small sections of the tree bark and then allowing the tree to heal completely before taking more.
A proud Fair for Life farmer shows off our certified organic nutmeg and mace fruits.
The smiles on the faces of the farmers as I handed them organic cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, and clove saplings were ear-to-ear grins. Today, I had the pleasure of hand-delivering the saplings to one of the 60 farms we collaborate with as part of our innovative Fair for Life Project.
Mountain Rose Herbs carries many certified organic herbs, and we’re proud to be a part of Oregon’s thriving organic industry! Help us celebrate the 28th Annual Organically Grown in Oregon Week (September 11-17, 2016), a tradition that began in 1988 as a means for acknowledging Oregon’s organic industry and leaders of the organic movement.
We are so excited to share this post from our upcoming Free Herbalism Project speaker Susan Leopold, PhD!
Mountain Rose Herbs is committed to organic, sustainable agriculture and we’re not alone. We support the Oregon Organic Coalition (OOC) alongside other businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals passionate about growing the organic industry. The OOC works to inform, educate and advocate for policy change around organic legislature, the National Organic Action Plan, and other initiatives. They also know how to celebrate success and pay tribute to leaders in the industry at their annual luncheon.
Mountain Rose Herbs is a Business Member of EarthShare Oregon and we have setup a generous employee giving program that connects our staff with like-minded environmental organizations working to protect and defend the places we hold dear. Through this program, Mountain Rose Herbs generates thousands of dollars each year for numerous non-profits in the state of Oregon. Employees also work closely with many of these organizations through the Mountain Rose River Project. Our staff loves to give!
