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.
The farm was founded in 2019 by Rose High Bear, a lifelong educator and advocate who grew up in a remote Athabascan village in Alaska. After decades of cultural and ecological work, including founding Wisdom of the Elders, Rose created Elderberry Wisdom to focus on hands-on learning and land restoration right here in the Willamette Valley.
We connected with Elderberry Wisdom through our 2024 Grants for Plants program, and we were immediately drawn to their mission. During our recent visit to the farm, we toured their Native Plant Nursery, learned about local ecosystems, and had engaging conversations with the interns, many of whom shared how Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Indigenous knowledge are shaping their careers and lives.
Here's a spotlight on what Elderberry Wisdom is growing:
We're proud to support Elderberry Wisdom Farm, not just for the incredible work they do but for the way they do it: rooted in culture, connection, and care for the land. It's an honor to be part of their growing story.
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Topics: Inside Mountain Rose Herbs, Sustainability
Joseph Schneiderhan is the Sustainability Specialist for Mountain Rose Herbs. He grew up in southern Texas spending much of his childhood on ranches and farms where agriculture and livestock were a cornerstone in his upbringing. At 18 he got his first start in farming by helping to establish a 10-acre hydroponic farm that grew lettuce, basil, and microgreens for local restaurants and grocery stores. He moved to Eugene Oregon in 2007 where he managed a garden store and began to gain an appreciation for organic and sustainable farming practices. He studied agricultural science at OSU with a focus on sustainability and permaculture, and in his off time, you’ll find him in the forest foraging for mushrooms and wild herbs, or in the ocean surfing with his family.
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.
The farm was founded in 2019 by Rose High Bear, a lifelong educator and advocate who grew up in a remote Athabascan village in Alaska. After decades of cultural and ecological work, including founding Wisdom of the Elders, Rose created Elderberry Wisdom to focus on hands-on learning and land restoration right here in the Willamette Valley.
We connected with Elderberry Wisdom through our 2024 Grants for Plants program, and we were immediately drawn to their mission. During our recent visit to the farm, we toured their Native Plant Nursery, learned about local ecosystems, and had engaging conversations with the interns, many of whom shared how Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Indigenous knowledge are shaping their careers and lives.
Here's a spotlight on what Elderberry Wisdom is growing:
We're proud to support Elderberry Wisdom Farm, not just for the incredible work they do but for the way they do it: rooted in culture, connection, and care for the land. It's an honor to be part of their growing story.
You may also be interested in:
Topics: Inside Mountain Rose Herbs, Sustainability
Joseph Schneiderhan is the Sustainability Specialist for Mountain Rose Herbs. He grew up in southern Texas spending much of his childhood on ranches and farms where agriculture and livestock were a cornerstone in his upbringing. At 18 he got his first start in farming by helping to establish a 10-acre hydroponic farm that grew lettuce, basil, and microgreens for local restaurants and grocery stores. He moved to Eugene Oregon in 2007 where he managed a garden store and began to gain an appreciation for organic and sustainable farming practices. He studied agricultural science at OSU with a focus on sustainability and permaculture, and in his off time, you’ll find him in the forest foraging for mushrooms and wild herbs, or in the ocean surfing with his family.
