Spring is upon us, and many of us spent the cold and dark days of winter planning spring and summer gardens, selecting plant varieties, acquiring seeds, and getting a head start on sowing, germinating, and nurturing the young seedlings in our windowsills and greenhouses. Nowadays, we can buy everything from seeds and trees to full-grown flowers and shrubs at nurseries around the country. But not all nurseries are alike. A surprising number of the most popular suppliers of the seeds and plants we love give little regard to environmental issues. Don’t despair! There are guidelines and best practices we would like to share with the Mountain Rose Herbs community that will help you select seeds and plants that were grown using practices that support the health and vitality of our ecosystem.

What to Look For In Plant Nurseries & Seed Companies

• We believe organic is essential—choose nurseries that support organic agriculture through their purchasing or propagation standards.
• To further minimize environmental impact, select nurseries that focus on native and heirloom varieties.
• Supporting a nursery that, in turn, supports nonprofit environmental organizations can mean that your dollars also support environmental action or involvement in projects such as native plant rehabilitation or riparian restoration.
• We always advocate for prioritizing local nurseries and farms, when possible. Being able to inspect quality in person can be a real eye-opener, and building a relationship with a business in your community is rewarding.
• We also suggest sourcing seeds directly from the seed farmers. One of our favorites is Strictly Medicinal Seeds.

Strictly Medicinal Seeds

All the seeds we offer at Mountain Rose Herbs come from our good friend Richo Cech at Strictly Medicinal Seeds in southern Oregon. Offering more than 1,000 varieties of herb seeds, Richo and his family have been lovingly growing these varieties and offering them for sale since 1985. At that time, realizing their passion for cultivating diverse herbal seeds and seeing the increasing need in the herbal community, they began selling their products through a homemade catalog.

Over 35 years later, Strictly Medicinal still uses organic agricultural practices and now make their seeds available to the nation's herbalists and home gardening enthusiasts online. We chose to work with Strictly Medicinal Seeds because they understand that providing herbal seeds and live plants to people not only connects folks to their own health but also to nature. Every seed packet sold has specific instructions about how best to sow the seed since every plant has different requirements. This informational material helps the grower understand the cycle of that plant, as well as the environment in which one lives.

How We Shop Makes a Difference for the Planet

Whether growing an assortment of fruits and vegetables or dedicating the yard to native plant varieties that are drought tolerant and supportive of pollinators, our purchasing decisions impact the environment, either for good or to the detriment of the stability and resiliency of the planet. Gardening connects us to our ecosystem and reminds us of the myriad ways in which life is interrelated and interdependent. We can choose to be stewards of the natural world simply by incorporating responsible purchasing practices and choosing seed and plant suppliers that support biodiversity and sustainability.

Please join Mountain Rose Herbs in committing to organic and regenerative agricultural practices, focusing on native and heirloom plant varieties, and working with local nurseries and farmers that minimize the carbon footprint associated with the transportation of seeds and plants we adore. In doing so, we can rejoice in knowing that what we sow, grow, and harvest is not just a flower or piece of fruit. We are supporting the values and ideals that are the foundation of thriving and inclusive communities that support planetary health and wellbeing.

Want to learn more ways to support the planet in your garden?

Read The Importance of Continuous Blooms Amidst Changing Climate

You may also enjoy:
Plant Diversity & Natural Pest Solutions for Garden Health
Tips for Shopping Green & Clean at the Farmers Market
How to Harvest, Dry & Store Herbs From the Garden