In a world grappling with climate challenges, Climate Day 2024 stands as a pivotal moment to reflect on sustainable practices. Extreme weather conditions are disrupting ecosystems globally, affecting our economies and threatening medicinal plant populations. To address this, WishGarden explores the benefits of Forest Farming, an innovative approach to botanical sourcing that aligns with the ethos of sustainability.
Climate Day Reflections: The Urgency of Sustainable Practices
The surge in demand for natural health products has intensified the strain on plant populations. Climate-related challenges, such as extreme droughts and rising temperatures, have pushed iconic herbs like Goldenseal and American Ginseng to extremely vulnerable stages. On this Climate Day, our spotlight is on sustainable solutions, particularly Forest Farming, which presents a domestic unique opportunity to diversify botanical sourcing and cultivate in harmony with nature.
Forest Farming: A Sustainable Approach to Botanical Cultivation
Forest Farming, a sub-category of Agroforestry, is gaining prominence as a domestic regenerative practice. This intentional combination of agriculture and forestry creates a sustainable land-use model. The method focuses on high-value crops like Goldenseal, decorative ferns, and mushrooms, providing an alternative to wild harvesting. Forest Farms, often on private land, are meticulously managed to ensure the delicate balance necessary for the cultivation of medicinal plants.
WishGarden's Sustainable Commitment
On Climate Day, WishGarden reaffirms its commitment to sustainability by embracing Forest Farming. We proudly source 20 different At-Risk plant species from family-owned forest farms in the USA.
Goldenseal Root, Black Haw Bark, Black & Blue Cohosh Roots, Red Root, Wild Yam Root, Wild Cherry Bark are some of the many plants we purchase exclusively from Forest-Farms rather than from wild-crafted sources.
Our annual Goldenseal needs are sourced from a multi-generational forest farm in Missouri, USA, where the plants thrive under the protective canopy of trees on organic land. The farmer and his family manage thousands of diverse trees on their land with up to 100 Goldenseal grow beds. It takes 20-40 entire Goldenseal plants to yield 1 pound of dried root! Most importantly, our forest farmers understand the importance in preserving their private eco-system for future plant growth in order to sustain their supplier business. Similarly, our fresh St. John's Wort Flowers are harvested from a local forest-farm in the Rocky Mountains, emphasizing our dedication to responsible botanical sourcing.
Preserving Plant Populations for a Sustainable Tomorrow
As we commemorate Climate Day 2024, it's crucial to recognize the role of Forest Farming in safeguarding plant populations. WishGarden celebrates sustainable initiatives that not only meet the demands of the botanical industry but also contribute to the restoration of our precious plant allies. Let this Climate Day be a reminder that, together, we can cultivate a sustainable future through practices like Forest Farming.
For more resources about preserving plant populations:
Lauren Ann Nichols-Sheffler attended The Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism and received her certificate in medical herbalism. She is the owner of Blue Yarrow Herbs aka Herbal Vice, an herbal product company practicing bioregional herbalism by cultivating plants and sourcing locally. Lauren loves educating and advocating for plant sustainability. She is the sourcing and Purchasing manager for WishGarden Herbs.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or sell any product.
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