Carrot cake is one of those things in life that you either hate or love. For those who identify with the latter (including myself), there is something so uniquely comforting about the warming spices, complex textures, and subtle earthy sweetness that make carrot cake the truly delectable dessert it is. The one downside to carrot cake is that although the addition of a vegetable may elude the impression of being healthy, it is still a cake after all. But what if you could harness all that beloved carrot cake goodness into a nourishing, satisfying, and convenient grab-and-go snack? Enter—carrot cake breakfast bars!

Vanilla is both unassuming, yet utterly magical. As a child, I remember believing that vanilla was a plain or even boring flavor. Now as an adult, I realize that nothing could be further from the truth. With its delicate and creamy flavor, vanilla is not only enchanting on its own, but it also has the power to draw out and enhance any other flavor that it is paired with. I find myself adding vanilla extract to matcha, hot cocoa, coffee, moon milk, oatmeal, chia pudding, and, of course, almost all my baking projects. With such a variety of uses, it is no wonder that I like to make sure that vanilla extract is well-stocked in my cupboard, which is why I have taken to crafting my own in larger batches. Vanilla extract is surprisingly easy to make at home—all you need is whole vanilla beans, alcohol, and a jar. It also makes an awesome DIY gift!

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.

As we journey through life, our skin often reflects our inner well-being. With the skin being our largest bodily organ, it’s no wonder environmental and internal factors, such as pollution and stress, greatly influence the appearance of our skin. When counteracting the day-to-day wear and tear on our skin, it’s not often to find a self-care practice that offers an inside-out reset for the skin. Luckily, herbal facial steams are a luxurious, easy, and convenient exception to this. Herbal facial steams encompass an all-in-one aromatherapy, facial care, and sensory relaxation experience that works wonders to rejuvenate tired and dull skin.

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.

Healthy snacks are a staple in any herbal tinkerer’s toolkit. One of my all-time favorites snacks has always been caramel apples! While they get the most hype around Halloween, I’ve created an oh-so-perfect vegan version that is too good to only enjoy for one season per year. This date-based alternative offers the sweetness and consistency of caramel with earthy undertones of mesquite and maca powders. And if there is a way that I like to get my herbs in, it’s blended perfectly in a sweet-treat like this!

Each fall, I add a fresh batch of fire cider to my wellness cabinet. For years, I have (loosely) followed the classic recipe with excellent results, but I wanted more—more vitamins, more minerals, more health benefits! Fire cider is generally an herbal preparation that is used to support the immune system, but since so much of our immune system is affected by diet, I decided to explore the idea of adding more vitamins and minerals to the recipe.

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 “graveyard” 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.

Each year around this time, I create a new wax melt and candle recipe to celebrate the season. I love the smells of fall, but I often yearn for something other than the stereotypical cinnamon or pumpkin spice “flavors” you find most anywhere. Last year, I made an Autumn Breeze Blend, that was meant to bring fresh autumn air into my home. This year, I went all out on a new concept that brought me deeper into the woods to replicate the essence of an autumn hike.

At Mountain Rose Herbs, we feel it is our responsibility to ensure all the botanicals we offer support the entire supply chain. This includes the farmers, the harvesters, and those who call upon them in times of need. One of the strategies we employ to ensure a steady and sustainable supply of organic herbs and spices is contract purchasing. This means that we make projections of our community’s needs, sometimes before the seeds even go into the soil, so that farmers can better rely on the sale of their crops and we can ensure people will have access to what they need to support their health and wellness goals.

The human memory can be a funny thing. Although I often struggle to remember the birthdays of my loved ones, I vividly remember the moment I found out that my most beloved childhood cake, red velvet, wasn’t anything more than chocolate cake with red food coloring. I still have a hard time coming to terms with the fact that red velvet cake isn’t quite the one-of-a-kind red carpet of the cake world I had once believed it to be.