The Many Roles of An Herbalist
The first time I ever helped someone’s sleeplessness and stress with a simple tisane blend, I felt such a strong sense of familiarity, rightness, and resonance that I knew that something in my life had irrevocably changed. Stepping from curiosity into active involvement in herbalism was a form of initiation for me, a door opening into a world I’d always wanted to be a part of, but wasn’t sure I was good enough for. This transition also shifted my role in my community, and I became a person that others came to for help, advice, support, and information much more often than previously.
Now that I have witnessed and helped so many others through the same portal, this moment of transformation is something I think of as the taking on of the green mantle. I imagine it like the fairy shawl of Manx folklore, woven of living flowers, moss, and mushrooms that rests upon the shoulders of all who follow this path of devotion to the healing powers of the green world. When I meet someone with a deep connection to the plants, it almost seems as if I can see that mantle on them, and it never fails to remind me of the importance of connection and relationship in herbalism.
Citrus Essential Oils: How to Choose the Right Citrus Oil
Citrus essential oils are bright, sweet, and sour and are known to bring a smile to your face. They are energetically uplifting and engaging and pack a punch in DIY cleaning products. But which one should you use?
Organic citrus oils are cold-pressed from the fruit peel of various citrus trees. These lovely essential oils are mostly made up of the same constituents but vary in the amounts that they contain. (+)-Limonene is the primary monoterpene in all of them and contributes to their use in surface cleaners, room sprays, and soaps.
What Sustainability Means to Us
What does sustainability mean to you? Is it about balancing what we take and what we give? Is it about leaving a natural legacy for your children or grandchildren? Or maybe just leaving the land in better shape than you found it? Different people think about sustainability in different ways, but in the end it comes down to a recognition that this is the only planet we’ve got and we need to take action in our daily lives to do our part to caretake our home. We asked our staff members what sustainability means to them and how working for Mountain Rose Herbs reflects their commitment to put the care of our planet at the forefront. Listen in and let us know what sustainability means to you and what you do to live your best sustainable life.
Why Mountain Rose Herbs Chooses Oregon Tilth as Its Organic Certifier
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.
Within a year of moving to Oregon, Mountain Rose Herbs became a certified organic processor through OTCO and began a relationship that we have cherished now for two decades. From the beginning, our experience with OTCO has been invaluable. Working hand-in-hand with this outstanding organization has enabled us to create alliances and sustainable systems that are the bedrock of our business. Their expertise and dedication have helped us put in place the tools and relationships we need to provide our customers with the finest organic botanicals—from our state-of-the-art onsite laboratory and quality control department to long-lasting working contracts with certified organic farmers and wildharvesters that we know we can trust. We would not be able to do what we do today without OTCO’s half-century of experience.
7Song’s Scientific & Humorous Approach to Herbalism
In the summer of 2022, our Creative team traveled to Ithaca, NY, to spend a few days learning about 7Song (@7Songsevensong) and his Northeast School of Botanical Medicine. Our friend, esteemed herbalist 7Song, has been inspiring herb students at his school since the early 1990s. While some herbal schools are rooted solely in plant medicine, the Northeast School of Botanical Medicine focuses on the human body, critical thinking, and botany. As a self-described cynic, 7Song brings humor and practicality to an often challenging field of work.
Visit 7Song at 7song.com
Follow him on Instagram @7songSevenSong
Follow him on Facebook @Sevensong.Sevensong
Mountain Rose Herbs’ Alternative-Fuel and Electric Vehicle Fleet
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. So it’s no surprise to the people who know us that our entire fleet of commercial vehicles runs on electricity, alternative fuels, or is an electric hybrid. For us, the decision to commit to an alternative fuel and electric fleet is all about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combatting climate change. It is the same reason we invest in our Alternative Commute Program, because we want to encourage everyone to reduce their carbon emissions, and we want to lead by example.
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at How Mountain Rose Herbs’ Tea Blends Are Made
Ever wonder how Mountain Rose Herbs’ tea is made? Production Supervisor and 20-year team member, Julie DeBord, gives us an inside look at what goes into serving up the freshest and most potent cup of tea. She says it largely comes down to the quality of ingredients and our hands-on process.
Join us for this exclusive look behind the curtain to see how our loose leaf tea is crafted with your health and pleasure in mind.
Herbal Extracts: Made with Care at Mountain Rose Herbs
Have you ever wondered how extracts are made here at Mountain Rose Herbs? Our dedicated extract production team carefully oversees the process from delivery of fresh plant material to bottling, packaging, and shipment to our customers. We use only the freshest cultivated and wildharvested plants, organic grain alcohol, and reverse osmosis water to create these handcrafted herbal extracts.
Mountain Rose Herbs’ Extract Production Supervisor, Keegan, shows us the ins and outs of our extract facility here in Eugene, OR, where we mill, tincture, and bottle all our herbal extracts.
From fresh plants and organic alcohol to quality control checks, our line of single and combination extracts is crafted with care and attention to detail.
