At Mountain Rose Herbs, we recognize the essential role of considering the human experience at every level of our business. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is more than just words. We understand the importance of supporting underrepresented communities and are proactively building strong partnerships with those who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

This year, we are proud to take significant action for social justice by amplifying BIPOC voices through our Free Herbalism Project and partnering with new BIPOC organizations that are making a substantial impact in sustainability initiatives, such as organic agriculture and herbalism.

The Free Herbalism Project: Cultural Herbalism Edition

What is the Free Herbalism Project? It's an interactive community event that offers lectures from expert herbalists, live music, and a sense of community—all at no charge to the attendees! Our goal is to provide an experience for those interested in herbalism, wild foods, and natural living. This event is one of the ways Mountain Rose Herbs gives back to herbalists and our local community.

This year's special Cultural Herbalism Edition will highlight herbalism's cultural and ancestral aspects, particularly from those whose lineage comes from underrepresented and often underacknowledged groups. The knowledge passed down from our ancestors plays a vital role in our individual experiences and herbal practices. We believe it is crucial to understand, honor, and respect these aspects of herbalism.

Featured Sessions Include:

• Celebrating Our Ancestors Through Plants with Lucretia Van Dyke: Author of African American Herbalism, Lucretia has over 20 years in the herbal industry as a holistic educator, speaker, herbalist, and ceremonialist.
  
  
• A Mexican Ray of Healing with Mimi Prunella Hernandez: Renowned author of National Geographic Herbal, Mimi is a dedicated advocate for traditional and professional herbal practices.
  
  
• Weaving Ties of Herbalism Around the Globe with Susan Leopold: Executive Director of the United Plant Savers and an ethnobotanist known for her work in plant conservation, sustainable agriculture, and ethnobotany.
  
  
• The Significance of Great Lakes Plants in Anishinabek Culture with Nathan Wright: Indigenous Herbalist and owner of the Herbal Lodge, a Native American and veteran-owned company.
  
  

Strengthening Partnerships with BIPOC Communities

In addition to the Free Herbalism Project, we are excited to strengthen relationships with BIPOC communities through new partnerships. This year, we've teamed up with two impactful organizations:

• Feedem' Freedom Foundation (Portland, Oregon): This organization's mission is to ignite and center Black Agriculturists as owners and movement leaders within agriculture, land stewardship, regional food security, and economic prosperity.
• Jubilee Justice (Alexandria, Louisiana): This group aims to heal and transform the wounds suffered by people and the land through reparative genealogy and regenerative agriculture.

Our Ongoing Commitment

At Mountain Rose Herbs, we strive to be part of the solution by continuously educating ourselves on diversity issues and informing our community about our steps toward improvement. We acknowledge that meaningful change takes time, but we are committed to genuinely doing better. Join us in celebrating and supporting the voices that shape our world of herbalism and sustainable agriculture. Stay tuned for more updates and details about our Free Herbalism Project and our partnerships with these incredible organizations. Let's uplift voices for social justice and make a lasting impact together!

LOOKING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS' SUSTAINABILITY Initiatives?

Check Out Our Alternative Commute Program

You may also be interested in:
The Mountain Rose Herbs Seed Stewardship Project
Organic Sourcing from the Pacific Northwest
Benefit and Beyond: Company-Supported Agriculture