What can I do?
Healing is far more complex than ingesting a product. That said, most of us do buy products. And most people, when they hear about the Sustainable Herbs Initiative, want me to tell them what products to buy.
Our goal has always been larger than recommending products or companies. We want to provide resources so we can all use our purchasing power to create worlds that are healthier, not just for ourselves but for the entire value network involved in producing these products.
But we know that begins with the products we buy.
“How and where we spend our money is a political choice, a social choice, and an environmental choice. It is incumbent on us to make these choices and they aren’t easy and we don’t always get them right.” – Sebastian Pole
Educate Yourself
Understand the challenges and issues involved in producing high quality, sustainably and equitably sourced and manufactured products.
Ann Armbrecht’s book, Following the Herbal Harvest: A Search for the Healing Promise of Plant Medicines is a good place to begin.
Support Companies You Like
Choosing what companies to support begins with defining your values. This could be fair trade practices, or supporting biodiversity, or domestic herb growing and bioregional herbalism. Then support companies whose values you align with by buying their products.
Make Your Own!
Perhaps the most important thing you can do is grow an herb in a pot in your window so you understand what is involved. Learn how to use the plant as a tea or to prepare a tincture or salve.
Challenge Companies to Do More
Challenge companies your support to go further. Let them know you will support them (by continuing to buy their products) as they take these risks of implementing more rigorous practices.
Here are some questions to ask.
No Time For Research?
If that’s more than you can think about now, here are some key takeaways:
- Pay more. Inexpensive products do a huge disservice to the entire supply chain. Cheap products are less likely to work and put pressure on companies trying to do it right.
- Buy certified organic herbs.
- Buy fair trade certified when available.
- Pay more for herbs grown locally by farmers with whom you can have a relationship.