What does organic mean?
'Organic' is a term which is strictly defined by law. All production of food intended for sale as organic must be inspected annually by an authorised body such as The Soil Association. The Soil Association's Symbol (like others governing organic quality) is only awarded to herbs processed according to their rigorous standards, which cover a broad range of aspects including growing methods, farm animal welfare, environmental criteria, processing and packaging. Organic herbs are grown without the used of chemical fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides and the use of genetically modified organisms is prohibited. Instead of these artificial methods, the development of healthy, fertile soil, growing a mixture of crops and encouraging a diversity of beneficial insects and other wildlife contributes towards healthy, healing plants produced in a vibrant, unpolluted countryside.
Once all criteria are met a constant surveillance or growing methods is kept up and certificates awarded on individual crops, which prove worthy of standards imposed.
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What exactly is wild harvested?
It is said that herbs effectively gathered from their natural habitats may be more potent than those that are cultivated. Wild harvesting was a common and original worldwide process for collecting herbs; it was only superseded by commercial growing once demand and supply could not be met. It still is a world wide used method of collection and generally only reputable wild herb crafters who know how to correctly identify herb species and who pick from areas unpolluted by roads, industry or conventional farming, pursue this caring profession. Many have permits from National parks and such like.
Gathering takes place at the peak of each herb's growing cycle. All harvesting is done taking in mind the non-depletion of natural plant populations or damage to their habitats. The word 'crafted' conjures the care and knowledge that goes into such a special way of herb culling. Sometimes the word 'Wild Harvested' is also used, and to many it means the same thing, but some companies view the word as meaning those who collect without knowledge or care; something to be avoided at all costs. (Herbs Hands Healing does not necessarily take the view that wild harvesting necessarily means this lack of care and knowledge.)
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Sustainability
If carefully managed, herbal medicine production is a sustainable industry. The continued growth of herb sales can also help to protect and increase the biodiversity of many ecosystems around the world which are presently on a decline, due to problems such as over-farming and pollution. All the herbs used in our herbal tea range are organic whilst the for the rest of our medicinal range, 75% of Herbs Hands Healing's herbs are grown locally, in fertile organic and biodynamic soil. The other 25% mostly comes from the rest of Europe and a small percentage of that from America. This is important to us, since the less herbs we import the less ‘travel miles’ and the more we support a real alternative to the conventional farming industry in Britain. We feel particularly strongly about environmental consciousness, since our relationship to Mother Nature is naturally a close one. We care about the quality and standard of all our products, right from the very beginning when the herbs we use are still growing, to cropping and production, and finally to when you, the customer, use our products. Therefore, our company ethos is to be intelligent and ‘in-tune’ with the environment. All our packaging and containers can be recycled or reused by you. |
