Leading the Future of Farming by Example | Featuring Elise & Jeff Higley

This week on Everything You Didn’t Know About Herbalism, we are joined by our long-time beloved friends, farm partners, and stewards of the regenerative organic farming movement, Elise and Jeff Higley. Tune in with Tommy, Elise, and Jeff, as they explore what it means to be a Regenerative Organic Certified® farmer and how we must grow alongside the movement of regenerative agriculture for the preservation of our food systems and the future of our planet.

Elise and Jeff also share about the upcoming Oshala Herb Camp, which is weekend campout hosted in the breathtaking landscape of Grants Pass, Oregon on July 27 – 29.  Filled with classes on medicine making, materia medica, botanical crafting, and hands-on experience for what life on an herb farm is like, Oshala Herb Camp weaves agriculture, herbalism, and sustainability into one to create a weekend of community building with plant-lovers from all walks of life. Be sure to check out the hyperlink above or detailed links included below to learn more about this invaluable opportunity!  

Learn more about Oshala Farm and the farmers behind it below! ⬇️

🚜 Oshala Farm is a 290-acre Regenerative Organic Certified® family farm in Southern Oregon growing more than 80 varieties of medicinal and culinary herbs. With Elise's background in Western Herbalism and Jeff’s background in organic farming, they blended their dreams and created a full-fledged herb farm in 2013. Oshala Farm is where they cultivate with consciousness to ensure that their herbs are grown with care, dedication, and a love for the land. Elise and Jeff consider it an honor to be stewards of the Earth and to grow herbs that support community health.

🪻Elise Higley is a folk herbalist, wife, mother, grandmother, and farmer. She was inspired to start an herb farm when she started a line of herbal teas, but she had trouble sourcing herbs domestically and with the quality she was looking for. In her pastime, (10pm - 5am) she works on agricultural advocacy as a board member of Our Family Farms, Rogue Valley Food System Network. Elise also represents a farmer’s voice on the board of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA). Elise has taught for over a decade at numerous national herbal gatherings and events along with organizing and hosting an annual herb camp on Oshala Farm for the past 5 years.

👨🏼‍🌾 Jeff Higley has spent over the last 25 years farming vegetables in Southern California for CSAs, farmer’s markets, and restaurants. He has grown vanilla, kava, fruit, flowers, and vegetables in Fiji for wholesale, resort, and direct markets. Jeff currently leads the farming at Oshala Farm and also maintains a busy teaching schedule, where he teaches about growing herbs, drying, and farm finance at Universities, conferences, and events.

Read all about the Oshala Herb Camp on the Oshala Farm Blog!

🏕️ Wake Up With the Plants: A Morning at Herb Camp 🏕️

Learn about last year’s Oshala Herb Camp on the Mountain Rose Herbs Blog!

🌾 Cultivating Consciousness with Oshala Farm