Raychel

Raychel Kolen, blog contributor, originally hails from the Midwest but has been calling Oregon her home for more than a decade. With her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa, Raychel enjoys storytelling in all its forms and especially relishes the opportunities to visit our farm partners in the Pacific Northwest and across the globe, shining a light on the remarkable efforts these hardworking farmers are doing to grow and nourish our beloved botanicals. When she isn’t thinking about marketing strategy or teaching workshops at the Mother Earth News Fair, Raychel can be found adventuring in the outdoors, foraging for wild mushrooms, fermenting fresh veggies in her kitchen, or hanging out with her hubby and sweet rescue dogs.

Recent Posts

Organically Grown Stinging Nettle + Nutritious Infusion Recipe

In our neighboring state of Washington lies one of our organic farms—650,000 acres of herbal splendor amidst an otherwise desert landscape. Thanks to the pristine Columbia River, this region has an unlimited supply of the highest quality water any agricultural operation could desire. Here, head farmer Phil has the space and resources to grow one of our most popular herbs: stinging nettle.

Read More
Posted by Raychel

How We Handcraft Our Small Batch Body Care Offerings

Every Fourth of July for nearly two decades, Mountain Rose Herbs’ co-owner, Julie, headed into the mountains to collect St. John’s Wort flowers for our certified organic infused herbal oils.

Read More
Posted by Raychel

10 Ways to Use Pumpkin Pie Spice

With the start of autumn come vibrantly colored leaves, cooler temperatures, and the ubiquitous pumpkin-pie-spiced-everything! But you don’t have to trek to the nearest coffee shop or ice cream parlor to enjoy this seasonal taste treat—you can savor this flavor in the comfort of your own kitchen. With Mountain Rose Herbs’ organic pumpkin pie spice blend, you can easily craft your own seasonal creations at home.

Read More
Posted by Raychel

Pioneering Jojoba Farmers in Arizona's Sonoran Desert

Meet the family whose commitment to crafting the finest organic jojoba oil in the world transcends trends and spans generations.

Read More
Posted by Raychel

Flavor and Family Near the Seaside of Sicily

We travel to our farm partners' fields across the world to maintain close relationships with our growers and learn from one another.

Read More
Posted by Raychel

5 Tips for Preserving Homemade & Natural Body Care Products

When seeking out natural alternatives to store-bought body care and wellness products, it can be hard to know how to create shelf-stable versions of store-bought staples at home. In fact, some of the most common questions we receive from our friends and customers relate to naturally preserving homemade botanical goodies.

Read More
Posted by Raychel

Our Top Recipes of 2018

While looking forward to a fresh new year, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on the past and the lessons learned along the way. We had a blast creating a variety of botanically inspired recipes for you, from natural body care formulations to herbal remedies that will keep you well all year long. Here are seven selections from 2018 that really stood out:

Read More
Posted by Raychel

Organic Passionflowers on the Adriatic: An Italian Love Story

Verdant fields of our certified organic passionflower flourish on our Italian farm partner's land. Gianfranco's family has passed down its agricultural wisdom through the generations while inspiring other farmers to embrace organic growing practices.

Gianfranco's kind eyes gaze lovingly at the single passionflower blossom he clutches in his hands. He buries his nose deep in its vibrant purple petals and inhales. “I could have made more money growing other crops,” Gianfranco says through a translator, “But I have a big love—I am in love—with passionflower.”

Read More
Posted by Raychel

Scent Stories from the European Countryside

Our Mountain Rose Herbs farm liaisons regularly travel to visit our family farmers. On a recent trip to Europe, David (one of our farm liaisons) met Frank (a fourth-generation farmer) and got to see his fields first-hand.

Read More
Posted by Raychel

Why Our Pacific Northwest Farms Grow Organic

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.

Read More
Posted by Raychel

Herb-Infused Summer Cocktails and Mocktails


My partner and I find great joy in sharpening our novice mixology skills in our kitchen overlooking the Douglas fir-covered hills of Eugene, Oregon. Having daily access to thousands of herbal delights at Mountain Rose Herbs has really upped our homemade cocktail game!

Read More
Posted by Raychel

WELCOME

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

Raychel

Raychel Kolen, blog contributor, originally hails from the Midwest but has been calling Oregon her home for more than a decade. With her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa, Raychel enjoys storytelling in all its forms and especially relishes the opportunities to visit our farm partners in the Pacific Northwest and across the globe, shining a light on the remarkable efforts these hardworking farmers are doing to grow and nourish our beloved botanicals. When she isn’t thinking about marketing strategy or teaching workshops at the Mother Earth News Fair, Raychel can be found adventuring in the outdoors, foraging for wild mushrooms, fermenting fresh veggies in her kitchen, or hanging out with her hubby and sweet rescue dogs.

Recent Posts

Organically Grown Stinging Nettle + Nutritious Infusion Recipe

Meet the Pacific Northwest farmers who grow our organic nettle leaf, an herbal powerhouse perfect for nourishing infusions and more!
WRITTEN BY Raychel

April 9, 2020

How We Handcraft Our Small Batch Body Care Offerings

Mountain Rose Herbs staff use time-tested recipes and old-fashioned techniques to craft high-quality body care products for those who don’t have time to make their own.
WRITTEN BY Raychel

October 21, 2019

10 Ways to Use Pumpkin Pie Spice

Celebrating pumpkin spice season doesn't have to stop with a latte! Here are ten ways to use our organic pumpkin pie spice blend for every meal!
WRITTEN BY Raychel

September 16, 2019

Pioneering Jojoba Farmers in Arizona's Sonoran Desert

Meet the family whose commitment to crafting the finest organic jojoba oil in the world transcends trends and spans generations.
WRITTEN BY Raychel

August 14, 2019

Flavor and Family Near the Seaside of Sicily

We travel to Sicily to visit our family farm partners who cultivate some of Italy’s finest culinary herbs for our grateful chef customers here at home.
WRITTEN BY Raychel

May 22, 2019

5 Tips for Preserving Homemade & Natural Body Care Products

Learn how to preserve your handcrafted and natural body care formulations with these five easy tips! We've got several plant-based additions and prep tips to extend the shelf life of your favorite creations.
WRITTEN BY Raychel

January 10, 2019

Our Top Recipes of 2018

Revisit the best of 2018 with our most popular recipes of year! These how-to guides are perfect for getting started with natural body care, herbal remedies, soap making, and more!
WRITTEN BY Raychel

December 18, 2018

Organic Passionflowers on the Adriatic: An Italian Love Story

Meet an Italian passionflower grower whose family has passed down its agricultural wisdom through the generations while inspiring other farmers to embrace organic growing practices. Stories like his inspire Mountain Rose Herbs to develop lifelong relationships with our extraordinary farm partners.
WRITTEN BY Raychel

October 25, 2018

Scent Stories from the European Countryside

Looking for fragrance that inspires? Visit a family farm in the European countryside where sage and other local herbs are lovingly grown, harvested, and distilled into organic essential oils.
WRITTEN BY Raychel

September 7, 2018

Why Our Pacific Northwest Farms Grow Organic

We passionately promote sustainable agriculture everywhere we grow, but especially in our Pacific Northwest backyard. Hear our local farmers explain why they’re so proud of their organic practices!
WRITTEN BY Raychel

August 23, 2018

Herb-Infused Summer Cocktails and Mocktails

Looking for some unique and seasonal summer beverage ideas? Our Smoky Elderberry Margarita and Ginger Palmer mocktail recipes use flavorful goodies like ginseng & smoked salt to help you "win" your next cookout!
WRITTEN BY Raychel

May 30, 2018