Never Wildcrafted
At 69herbs we do not wildcraft our ingredients. Wildcrafting (harvesting plants from nature) and herbalism in general have skyrocketed in popularity in the US in recent years. This has led to many plants being unsustainably and carelessly harvested. Overharvesting and improper harvesting deplete native and endangered plant stands, disrupt ecosystems, and ultimately perpetuate cycles of greed and capitalism that don't make the stuff of good medicine.
At the community scale we’re working at, we believe it is best practice to grow our own herbs where we can, and beyond that to support smaller, regional, organic farms that are invested in the long-term health of the land. These farms use growing practices we feel aligned with. The plants they cultivate are vibrant, high-quality, and grown with intention and care. We source as many of the herbs we use in our formulas as possible from these farms. Please see below for a list where you can support them too!
Farms we love:
- Cutting Root Apothecary
- Forest Mushrooms
- Foster Farm Botanicals
- Foxtrot Farms
- Oshala Farm
- Pacific Botanicals
- Whistle Down Farm
We have yet to source from but our community has recommended:
- Five Finger Farms
- Golden Hour Farm
- Sawmill Herb Farm
- Soulfull Simone Farm
- Steadfast Herbs
- Tooth of the Lion Farm
BDS
69herbs is a Jewish-owned and operated business participating in the BDS movement. BDS is a Palestinian-led movement which calls for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions from Israel. For us this means: we strive to never purchase or use herbs grown in Israel; Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine; OR from companies that buy herbs from such farms.
Starting in 2021 we began boycotting Mountain Rose Herbs and Starwest Botanicals, two of the largest herb suppliers in the U.S. During a time of increased violence in occupied Palestine, there were public calls on both to stop sourcing herbs grown in Israel / occupied Palestine. After these calls, Mountain Rose Herbs agreed to discontinue sourcing (dead sea salt, cilantro, paprika, dill, parsley, and cumin seed oil) from Israeli farms and settlements, which was a huge win for the BDS movement!
We recognize that as far as influence goes, we are a tiny business and are not one of the big players determining international policy. We don’t want to fall into the trap of holding small businesses and individuals responsible for massive systemic harm. And also we believe that we, the littler guys, are powerful together, and we hope others will join us in the call to shift our practices in alignment with our values.
Resources
On Wildcrafting, an Indigenous Perspective: By Karyn Sanders on The Herbal Highway
Notes on Wildcrafting for Herbalists from 7song
Jewish Voices for Peace on BDS
Call to Boycott Mountain Rose Herbs