What The Business of Botanicals Taught Me About Ethical Herbal Commerce
At La Ferme À Ciel Sur Mer, we believe in growing herbs with care—for the soil, the plants, and the people who use them. But what happens when herbs travel across borders, oceans, and through the hands of dozens of people before they reach the tea blend in your cup?
The Business of Botanicals, a book written by Ann Armbrecht, explores this question with nuance, curiosity, and a deep respect for both plants and people. It's not just a book for herbalists—it’s a guide for anyone who wants to make more ethical and informed choices in the herbs they consume.
In this post, I’m sharing seven quotes from the book that helped me reflect more deeply on the herbal trade, global supply chains, sustainability, and what it really means to know your herbs. I came across this book while I was doing research to start my own Organic herb farm and it motivated me that what we were working toward was important work!
1. “We know so little about where our herbs come from, about the people and the places whose lives are intertwined with the plants we consume.”
Many people think of herbs as natural, wholesome, and good for the planet—and in many ways, they are. But unless you're growing your own or buying directly from a local farm, chances are your herbs have traveled a long way. This quote reminds us that every tea bag, tincture, or capsule is connected to someone’s labor, landscape, and livelihood.
The book invites us to slow down and ask: Where does this plant come from? Who harvested it? How were they treated?
2. “In the global herb trade, distance masks accountability.”
Herbs often pass through multiple intermediaries—collectors, brokers, processors, exporters, importers—before they end up in a supplement bottle or tea tin. As the chain grows longer, it becomes harder to trace the source and even harder to ensure fair treatment, sustainable harvesting, or proper quality control.
This distance makes it easy for exploitation and ecological harm to go unnoticed. And yet, as consumers, we have more power than we think when we choose to support transparent, values-driven producers.
3. “When plants are removed from their cultural and ecological contexts, something essential is lost.”
Many of the herbs popular in Western herbalism—like ashwagandha, turmeric, or shatavari—come from systems of traditional medicine such as Ayurveda or Traditional Chinese Medicine. These plants carry not only healing properties but also deep cultural meaning and ritual.
When we treat herbs as isolated ingredients, we risk stripping them of their roots—both literally and figuratively. This quote invites us to honor the full story of each herb, including the people and cultures who have used them long before they entered the global marketplace and to ensure that we think about herbs holistically.
4. “Sustainability isn’t a checklist. It’s a relationship.”
There’s a growing demand for sustainably sourced herbs, and that’s a good thing. But what does sustainability really mean? Is it an organic certification? A FairWild label? A carbon offset?
Armbrecht challenges us to go deeper. Sustainability, she suggests, is not a box to tick. It’s an ongoing relationship—between humans and plants, businesses and ecosystems, harvesters and land. It requires attention, reciprocity, and a willingness to adapt.
At our farm, this relationship shows up in how we plant cover crops, build soil, and harvest by hand with respect. For larger companies sourcing herbs globally, it means knowing their farmers, investing in communities, and listening to those closest to the land.
5. “Herbs may be traded globally, but the people who grow and harvest them often remain invisible.”
This quote hits hard. Behind every pound of dried echinacea, tulsi, or nettle, there are people—often in rural, marginalized communities—whose knowledge and labor make herbal commerce possible.
Yet these people are rarely acknowledged, much less compensated fairly. The business of botanicals, as Armbrecht shows, is also the business of justice. Elevating the voices of harvesters and farmers—and supporting brands that do—is a crucial step toward a more equitable herbal industry.
6. “Transparency is not only about information. It’s about relationship, trust, and respect.”
Transparency isn’t just listing an herb’s country of origin or having a clean website. It’s about showing up in relationship—with suppliers, customers, and the plants themselves. It’s about being honest about what you know and what you’re still learning.
As a small farm, we take pride in offering herbs that are fully traceable—from seed to drying rack to package. But even we are part of a larger system that demands ongoing questioning and care. Transparency is not a one-time report; it’s a practice.
7. “What if buying an herbal product could be an act of connection, not consumption?”
This is the question I return to again and again.
What if choosing a bag of tulsi tea or of calendula could be more than a transaction? What if it could be a gesture of connection—to the land, the grower, the traditions, and the ecosystems behind the product?
This quote invites us to move from consumer to co-steward. To buy less, but better. To know our sources. To support companies and farms that share our values.
Final Thoughts: Why This Book Matters
At La Ferme À Ciel Sur Mer, our relationship with herbs is not just agricultural — it’s deeply personal, intentional, and grounded in respect. The plants we grow are part of a living tradition, with long histories of use and reverence across cultures and generations. As farmers and stewards, we feel a responsibility to honor that lineage — not by trying to replicate it perfectly, but by listening, learning, and doing our best to grow and share herbs with care, purpose, and integrity.
Knowing exactly where our herbs come from — the soil they were grown in, the weather they endured, the hands that sowed and harvested them — creates a level of connection that’s rare in today’s food and wellness systems. On our farm, the distance between the earth and the end user is not just short in miles, but in steps. There are no long chains of processing, packaging, and repackaging. When you drink our herbal tea or use our herbs, you’re experiencing something that’s traveled directly from our fields to your cup — fresh, vibrant, and alive with its story intact.
We also believe that true quality is not just in the herb itself, but in the way it was grown and handled — in the energy and intention behind it. That’s why sustainability isn’t a marketing term for us; it’s our founding principle. We’ve built our farm on the idea that success and even profitability can — and must — arise from sustainability and land restoration. Stewardship is not just a value we talk about; it’s the foundation of our daily work. Healthy herbs begin with healthy soil, which begins with a healthy system — one that gives back more than it takes.
As farmers, we are present. We’re out in the fields, walking the rows, observing the plants, and tuning into the subtle shifts in season and soil. And we are equally present to you — our customers and community. You’re not just buying a product; you’re connecting with a place, with a growing process, with a story. Through our farm and our brand, we aim to bring you not just herbs, but also the values and practices that nurtured them.
In this way, the cycle continues. From seed to harvest, from soil to sip, from our farm to your hands — we are grateful to share the abundance, beauty, and medicine of herbs with you. Thank you for being part of this journey.
Interested in connecting more deeply with your herbs?
Explore our farm-grown, organic offerings—from tulsi to chamomile—and taste the difference that care makes.
👉 Learn about our Growing Practices
Newsletter coming soon!