In early August, we had the pleasure of visiting with herbalist Richo Cech from Strictly Medicinal Seeds at his ranch in southern Oregon. We were greeted not only by Richo’s friendly smile, but also by his beautiful garden full of thriving herbs and happy pollinators.

Caffeine is a way of life in modern western culture. The philosopher Terence McKenna once jokingly quipped that if caffeine were to disappear from the western diet the economy might collapse due to no one getting any work done! Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, we certainly enjoy our organic black and green teas, organic yerba mate, and even organic, fairly traded coffee. Some of us like to get creative with our caffeine intake, and guarana seed offers an excellent alternative.

Growing up, game night was one of my favorite things. Whether playing at a campground with my family by lantern light, or in my living room on a winter evening with friends while sipping hot cider, game night was something special to look forward to all year long. Much of the magic of game night was found in gathering with others and sharing the same activity. Now as a parent, I know that one of the best things about board games is how they engage our brains and cognitive process. What a great thing to combine that wonderful benefit with my love of herbs.

Vanilla beans are the ripened fruit of the tropical orchid Vanilla planifolia. This is the only orchid in the world that produces an edible fruit. Over the last year, we have seen prices more than double for this culinary favorite.

A sip of herbal tea or a dropperful of tincture can be the catalyst for a lifelong pursuit of herbalism. Many of us begin our studies making these simple and effective preparations, yet basic concepts sometimes become complicated when trying to decipher Latin binomial nomenclature, formulations, physiological actions, and historical research. The most common mix-ups arise from misused terminology, and one term that tends to be applied to a variety of preparations is tincture.

Call me frugal, but I love to save money. Nourishing herbal infusions are a great way to add a bit of extra botanical sustenance into your life without spending a lot of cash. Drinking herbal infusions has been a regular practice of mine for years now. 

As someone who has needed to navigate the world of challenging and limited diets, I often depend on bitters to encourage the healthy digestion my body so regularly denies me. When I "oops" on something that doesn’t settle well with my tummy, I reach for one of my favorite bitters. If there isn’t a bottle of Urban Moonshine’s Original formula around, I make my own!

The Winter Solstice is just around the corner, and we are slowly adjusting to the mounting darkness. One of our favorite things to do this time of year is to pull up a comfy seat in front of the fire, brew a cup of our herbal tea, and curl up with a good book.

Fall is my favorite time of year. We find more time to spend with family and friends, indulge in lovingly-prepared meals that feature the abundance of the harvest, and light the first warm, cozy fires of the season. For me, the focus on the harvest extends beyond food and crops: we also gather community, stories of summer, projects, and hopes for the coming year.

The path of herbalism is in many ways a journey, endless and winding, each turn on the way a chance for discovery for even the most experienced traveler. For many of us, it feels not like a hobby or business so much as a calling, beckoned forward by a sense of purpose, by the possibilities of healing, by the entreaties of plants whose voices and abilities we could give a lifetime to understanding. 

We are excited to announce our next Free Herbalism Project event!

Join us for an amazing lineup of free plant talks as we welcome Vermont herbalist Guido Masé and ethnobotanist Susan Leopold, PhD of the United Plant Savers. Registration is now open for this community event featuring a full day of free herbal classes (details below), free tea, live music, a plant sale, food carts, and more. Help us support the United Plant Savers with your purchase of books, t-shirts, herbs, and other botanical goodies in our Free Herbalism Project shop during the event! Register now and follow us on Facebook for more news and updates. We look forward to gathering with you!