When we talk about climate change, we are really talking about an imbalance in our atmosphere. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide trap heat close to the Earth’s surface, creating a chaotic effect that disrupts weather patterns, ecosystems, and communities around the world. The challenge we all share is how to reduce and remove these emissions and live in balance with the planet that sustains us.

We recently traveled to our neighboring state of Washington to visit several long-standing farm partners. Peppermint, spearmint, catnip, red clover, California poppy, and oats were among the botanicals we got to see, but even more important than that was getting some one-on-one time with our partners. Opportunities like this are largely possible by being an independently owned and mission-driven company that truly cares about its sourcing. These trips allow us to get boots on the ground to see how the plants are grown and also foster meaningful relationships with our partners. It is an important part of our support for domestic suppliers, while also ensuring that the quality and purity standards you expect from us are met.

There are four core aspects of our farm visits, which help provide the framework for the questions we ask and the ways we can offer our ongoing support.

Nestled in the lush and green Willamette Valley of Oregon, a generational farm is hard at work growing, harvesting, and processing pumpkins and pumpkin seeds.  The farm has been growing seed pumpkins for decades, but after learning about the health benefits of pumpkin seed oil, they recently decided to expand their offerings to include pumpkin oil. Not only did this diversify their offerings, but it also helped to improve their waste stream.

In a room filled with changemakers from around the state, Mountain Rose Herbs’ CEO and CFO,Cameron Stearns proudly accepted the Oregon Organic Coalition Retailer of the Year Award. The Oregon Organic Coalition’s Awards for Excellence recognizes organizations whose vision, leadership, and innovation strengthen Oregon’s organic food and farming movement.

In 2023, we launched our Seed Stewardship Project campaign to help raise awareness about at-risk medicinal plants. Rooted in our commitment to ecological stewardship, we created this program as a solution-oriented approach to supporting the botanicals on the United Plant Savers At-Risk List. By offering free seeds to three selected plants on the list, we were able to help get the community excited about these plants while also helping to repopulate them. When you see a plant go from seeds in a packet to a living being, there is a very special connection that happens. It's the magic that keeps us falling in love with plants again and again, and what gets the community impassioned and committed to ensuring a future for that plant. 

Mountain Rose Herbs is proud to partner with the Ocean Blue Project to advance our commitment to protecting waterways from the harmful impacts of trash and microplastics. Recently, we initiated a community cleanup event with our dedicated staff along the Bertelson to Meadowlark Prairie Bike Path, a vital ecological corridor we have formally adopted for ongoing stewardship.

There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes at Mountain Rose Herbs. The things that appear as “new” are often the result of years of hard work and ongoing collaboration before they reach your apothecary shelves. Our domestic FairWild initiative is no exception to this. 

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.  

Since its inception, Mountain Rose Herbs has put plants, people, and planet before profit. Led by these values, we’ve been a longtime leader on the list of green companies, helping to positively shape the herbal industry with environmentally focused initiatives. Our core values revolve around sustainability and as such, we’ve implemented innovative programs in energy efficiency, zero waste, and alternative commuting incentives.

During our sourcing tour across Europe, we had the opportunity to experience a unique type of farm visit. This particular stop required us to suit up and engage closely with some pollinator companions—honey bees.

With any herbal practice, conservation and protection should be the first part of the conversation. Safety and sustainability are vital when foraging. In today's world, countless individuals share images of plants they've harvested, often asking, "What is this, and what can I use it for?" This highlights the importance of education. Understanding herbs involves responsible usage, not just identification. Prioritizing education promotes wildcrafting practices that respect nature while ensuring safety and realizing the benefits of herbs.