Heidi

Heidi is an award winning freelance writer with a passion for urban homesteading. She has been honored to receive a number of literary prizes including the esteemed Pushcart Prize and an Individual Artists Award in Creative Writing from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. She is proud to have earned a certificate of completion for the Herbal Medicine Making Course at the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. When she isn’t working in the garden, cleaning the henhouse, preserving food, crafting herbal formulations, or writing and editing content for really fantastic small businesses, you’ll likely find her with her nose in a book.

Recent Posts

Herbal Irish Coffee

I love a good Irish coffee. The conundrum, however, is that I generally limit my daily caffeine consumption to a morning espresso and I don’t want whiskey for breakfast, so it’s hard to figure out when to have said Irish coffee. St. Patricks Day is almost here and I'll be getting together in the afternoon with my coffee-loving friends and family, which will include traditional, festive Irish coffee. Happily, my talented mixologist of a husband recently got inspired by a tin of Mountain Rose Herbs herbal coffee. I wasn’t sure what he was up to tinkering away in the kitchen, and then he came out with this creamy glass of pure ambrosia. Although I am not generally an all-caps kind of woman, this herbal Irish coffee recipe is, OMG SO GOOD. Bonus: I can drink a glass in the evening and still get a good night’s sleep.

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Posted by Heidi

Hasselback Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, & More + Herbal Seasoning Recipes

It’s the time of year when I’m working my way through the last of our stored root vegetables and winter squash looking for ways to extend their lifespan and nutrition. With this in mind, I spent an afternoon last weekend hasselbacking. In its simplest form, hasselbacking is a special cutting method for raw vegetables (also some fruits and even bread) before roasting. The most common version is Hasselback potatoes: the Potato à la Hasselbacken or, in Swedish, hasselbackspotatis. The glory of this cutting/cooking method is that it allows you to get flavorful fats and your favorite herbs and spices down inside the food so all that deliciousness gets roasted in. Plus, hasselbacking makes your food so pretty!

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Posted by Heidi

Herb Flavor Profiles for DIY Tea Blending

As herbalists, many of us create infusions (teas) with health and wellness in mind, choosing herbs based on what constituents they can provide us. As tea enthusiasts, we also care about the tea-drinking experience and the synergistic way that the flavors and aromas of different herbs can join together when put in hot water. It is this synergy that comes into play with tasting notes. Tasting notes are the descriptive language that connoisseurs use to help us understand the nuances at play in each cup: a set of terms to describe visual cues, aromas, taste, sensations, and more. I can’t tell you why ‘tangy, lively, and refreshing’ are the flavor notes in my everyday go-to drink-it-all-day herbal tea, but knowing those terms helps steer me toward other herbs and spices that work well together when making my own herbal tea blends.

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Posted by Heidi

Fermented Rice Water Hair Treatment with Herbs

Fermented rice water has a long history of use in Asia as a hair rinse. When we soak or cook rice, we capture the natural inositol from the grain in the water. Inositol is a form of sugar that our bodies naturally produce to provide structure to our cells, and is also found in some foods, including grains and legumes like rice. Inositol-rich rice water, especially when fermented, also carries proteins, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids believed to support a healthy scalp, hair strength, and shine. Want to take it up another notch? Infuse rice water with hair-loving herbs! 

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Posted by Heidi

Stir Fry Sauce: Oyster Sauce & Hoisin Sauce Substitute + Stir-Fry Recipe

We are big stir-fry and Asian food fans at my house, and I love a really good stir-fry sauce. But I struggle with the high fructose corn syrup and the way-too-many-preservatives-and-ingredients-I-can’t-pronounce problem in most bottled sauces. Also, the presence of seafood and/or gluten are issues for my vegetarian and gluten-free family members. And finally, for many households like mine, it’s hard to get through an entire bottle before the contents spoil. All of this means I refuse to purchase pre-made stir-fry sauces and the oyster or hoisin sauce that is so common (and delicious) in my favorite Asian sauces. I wanted to create an easy-to-use substitute that packs in the umami goodness I love about these sauces.

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Posted by Heidi

Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies Made with Agar

I like inclusivity in food, and my friends and family group includes omnivores and vegetarians/vegans, as well as people with food allergies, autoimmune diseases, religious restrictions, etc. I love to feed my people, so I’m always experimenting, which is how I found myself going down this agar-agar as a replacement for gelatin rabbit hole, and then one thing led to another, and I got curious to know how much agar is the right amount for the best mouthfeel in vegan gummies (welcome to my brain). I made elderberry juice gummies, which were tasty and a fun way to get an extra boost of vitamins and minerals. Then I discovered apple cider vinegar gummies—I love these little ACV morsels!

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Posted by Heidi

2023: A Year In Review for Mountain Rose Herbs

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.

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Posted by Heidi

Mountain Rose Herbs: Organic Sourcing from Pacific Northwest Farms

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.

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Posted by Heidi

Bee Balm Monograph + Herbal Steam Recipe

There is always happy anticipation around Mountain Rose Herbs when we get the opportunity to bring in a new herbal ally. And when that botanical is grown by one of our passionate, conscientious farm partners right here in Oregon, our excitement is tinged with some home-state pride. So, we are pleased to announce that we are now carrying organic bee balm (Monarda fistulosa) grown at Oregon’s own Oshala Farm!

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Posted by Heidi

Holiday Scents: 3 Essential Oil Blends for the Winter Season

The winter holidays are such a feast for the senses: not just our tastebuds, but also our eyes, ears, and olfactory system. This time of year, our public spaces are full of bright lights, festive music, and perfumed everything. Unfortunately, those expensive store-bought candles, diffuser oils, and room sprays are often made with synthetic ingredients that aren’t a healthy choice, no matter how much they promise to imbue us with the spirit of evergreen forests, candy canes, and homemade pumpkin pie. Diffusing natural essential oils—at home, at work, or in your car—is a wonderful alternative to scent your space with seasonal aromas. We love these three time-tested, holiday-inspired, DIY essential oil blends!

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Posted by Heidi

United Plant Savers: Protecting At-Risk Native Medicinal Plants

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.

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Posted by Heidi

WELCOME

We offer one of the most thorough selections of certified organic herbs, spices, and botanical products and are commited to responsible sourcing.

Heidi

Heidi is an award winning freelance writer with a passion for urban homesteading. She has been honored to receive a number of literary prizes including the esteemed Pushcart Prize and an Individual Artists Award in Creative Writing from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. She is proud to have earned a certificate of completion for the Herbal Medicine Making Course at the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. When she isn’t working in the garden, cleaning the henhouse, preserving food, crafting herbal formulations, or writing and editing content for really fantastic small businesses, you’ll likely find her with her nose in a book.

Recent Posts

Herbal Irish Coffee

If you love Irish coffee but don’t want the heavy caffeine dose that comes with it, try this delicious cocktail with Mountain Rose Herbs herbal coffee.
WRITTEN BY Heidi

March 11, 2024

Hasselback Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, & More + Herbal Seasoning Recipes

If you’ve ever eaten a Hasselback potato, you know how delicious they are! Up your cooking game by learning how to hasselback with herbal salts & blends.
WRITTEN BY Heidi

March 4, 2024

Herb Flavor Profiles for DIY Tea Blending

As herbal tea enthusiasts, we use tasting notes to help us choose tea herbs that we’re likely to love. Learn how tasting notes can serve you and help you create more flavorful homemade blends.
WRITTEN BY Heidi

February 8, 2024

Fermented Rice Water Hair Treatment with Herbs

Infusing rice water with hair-loving herbs adds herbal goodness to an age-old hair rinse recipe. Here’s how to make a fermented rice water hair rinse!
WRITTEN BY Heidi

February 2, 2024

Stir Fry Sauce: Oyster Sauce & Hoisin Sauce Substitute + Stir-Fry Recipe

This gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly stir fry sauce is a perfect substitute for oyster sauce or hoisin in your favorite Asian dishes.
WRITTEN BY Heidi

January 31, 2024

Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies Made with Agar

Want the gut-supporting benefits of apple cider vinegar but don’t like the taste? Try these DIY apple cider vinegar gummies made with agar-agar.
WRITTEN BY Heidi

January 20, 2024

2023: A Year In Review for Mountain Rose Herbs

We completed some exciting goals in 2023! As we reflect on the last year, we want to share our most notable accomplishments and say thank you so much. 
WRITTEN BY Heidi

January 4, 2024

Mountain Rose Herbs: Organic Sourcing from Pacific Northwest Farms

Did you know Mountain Rose Herbs sources about 75% of our American-grown organic herbs from farmers in our bioregion?
WRITTEN BY Heidi

January 2, 2024

Bee Balm Monograph + Herbal Steam Recipe

Mountain Rose Herbs is proud to be sourcing organic bee balm from Oregon’s own Oshala Farm. Learn about the traditional uses of this powerful herbal ally.
WRITTEN BY Heidi

December 8, 2023

Holiday Scents: 3 Essential Oil Blends for the Winter Season

Diffusing essential oils is a wonderful, natural way to freshen your home. Celebrate the aromas of the season with these 3 holiday-inspired DIY oil blends!
WRITTEN BY Heidi

December 1, 2023

United Plant Savers: Protecting At-Risk Native Medicinal Plants

Learn how Mountain Rose Herbs uses United Plant Savers' Species At-Risk List and List of Herbs & Analogs to help make ethical purchasing decisions.
WRITTEN BY Heidi

November 22, 2023