The Sustainable Herbs Program

09/16/2026

I started this work following herbs to the source because of a feeling I used to have when shopping. When I put an item - can of beans, a box of tea - into my shopping cart, I sensed the people and places behind those products also tumbling in. My purchase pulls those strings.

In his outline of how formulation can be a way to support what he calls the people-plant-place unit, Guido Masé at Traditional Medicinals proposed something different: formulate products that pay attention to market trends AND support the cultural, economic, and ecological resilience of your sourcing partners.

But I realize that doing that in a way that can be sustained requires a deeper shift. I was recently speaking with Sebastian Pole, co-founder of Pukka Herbs and founder of Herbal Reality, about our work at the Sustainable Herbs Initiative. He said that it seems our work is less about sustainability and more about building and deepening the culture of companies. “If you have a company that knows how to love,” he said, “then you are going to win. If you have one focused on outputs and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), then you won’t. People won’t stick around.”

If you have a company that knows how to love, you are going to win.

09/09/2026

These sourcing practices developed by Sustainable Herbs Initiative members are the foundation for the new Learning Lab that starts next week! Find out more and register at the link in our story!

05/12/2026

Just back from France. Five days in the Drôme valley with l’Herbier du Diois and twenty-three people from eight countries, sitting in fields of thyme and savory, harvesting pine buds on a ridgeline in the Ardèche, listening to farmers talk about weeds, paperwork, the moon, and the view, and visiting the most ecologically responsible medicinal and aromatic plant processing center I’ve ever seen.

A farmer named Samuel Gachon, third generation, said this when someone asked what he wanted customers of his herbs to know: “We do our best and every day we take care. And we hope you can see this when you see the product.”

A wild harvester named Max told our whole group not to step on the bilberries. He wouldn’t be harvesting them. But someone else would, and our carelessness would matter to them. “The unseen future informs our present actions” is how I later tried to put it into words.

Tijlbert Vink, the CEO of l’Herbier, said: “Patience is what allows you to do things the right way, and when you do things the right way, they last longer.”

These Learning Journeys exist because place matters. The people working with the plants matter. When thyme reaches the global market it is just thyme, stripped of everything that made it what it is. These journeys are a way of giving that back, even a little.

Full piece at the link in our profile.

05/07/2026

Returning from any trip is hard, but it is especially hard to come home from an incredible week with 22 others from around the world (Namibia, India, Peru, England, the Netherlands, France, Canada and the US) in the herbal products industry visiting farmers, wild collectors, and the incredible processing facility of l’Herbier du Diois in Die, France.

Every Sustainable Herbs Initiative Learning Journey has been powerful - and so it astonishes me how this one was even more so.

I’m so inspired by the commitment of everyone in this group to listen and learn and do more to help the people, plants, and places that are the heart of this industry. And how deeply everyone shows up, heart open, to support each other in having more courage to do the work needed.

More details soon. For now, resting in the memory.

01/16/2026

“If the world is to be healed through human efforts, I am convinced that it will be by ordinary people, peoples whose love for this life is even greater than their fear.” - Joanna Macy

The news, especially but not only in the US, is so disturbing right now. It is hard to balance what is happening with the daily tasks of focusing on the work I have to do. And so this quotation by Joanna Macy, which I came across today while looking for something else, offers me some solace.

My love for this life is at the heart of everything I am trying to do at the Sustainable Herbs Initiative: my belief that we can live in ways that honors and respects all of life, human and non-human. And that we can create businesses, economies, that honor and respect that life.

I don’t know if it’s actually possible. But I know we have to try and that an industry based on the healing power of plants is the best and most likely place where it can happen.

These virtual Learning Labs provide the foundation for the collaborative work that is the heart of SHI. We will explore:

🌼 How can medicinal plant sourcing enhance global wellbeing?
🌼 How do we cultivate true respect for plants, people, and planet?
🌼 What systemic changes are necessary? 🌼How can we collaborate to drive meaningful transformation?

The Learning Lab includes 8 hours of live sessions.

Dates: Jan 27, Feb 3, Feb 17, Feb 24

Time: 11 am -1 pm ET

🌸Session 1: Intention and Awareness. 🌸Session 2: Open Mind: Systems Awareness: What is Happening, What is Needed?
🌸 Session 3: Self: Open Heart: What is Mine to Do?
🌸Session 4: Courage: What Will I Do Now?

The Learning Lab beginning on Jan 27th will likely be the last live (virtual) Learning Lab Julie and I will offer so it’s a good time to join!

Free for SHI members. Scholarships available.

For more information, go to the link in our profile.

11/12/2025

Giveaway!
🌿𝑺𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒃𝒔 𝑰𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚

Am so grateful for the generosity of these brands - you can enter the giveaway or purchase the bundle! 100% of proceeds go to support ❤️🌀✨

The Sustainable Herbs Initiative Holiday Bundle unites eight beloved herbal brands. Inside you’ll find teas, tinctures, honey, fire c***r, shea butter, and more, each crafted with deep care by Sustainable Herbs Initiative members—in support of a more transparent and regenerative herbal world.🌱☀️
𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒍𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒏:
Fire C***r to support immunity and digestion
Kick-Ass Immune tincture for seasonal defense
Rosy Mood Tea to uplift the spirit
Whipped Shea Butter with Olive Leaf for deep moisture
Mountain Chai, a cozy spiced blend
Turmeric Honey for digestive support
Rapid Rescue capsules for immune strength
Berberine & Milk Thistle capsules

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫:
1. Follow all 7 accounts tagged above plus
2. Like and save this post
3. Head to ’s link in bio {linkin.bio/evanhealy} and click on this image
4. Enter your email when prompted
Or head directly from your web browser to evanhealy.com/pages/giveaway and enter your email when prompted.

This Sustainable Herbs Initiative Holiday bundle that we’re giving away is also available for purchase on evanhealy.com. 100% of proceeds go directly to the Sustainable Herbs Initiative.
https://www.sustainableherbsinitiative.org

Giveaway ends Wednesday Nov 26 at 11:59 PM PST. Must be a US resident with a domestic mailing address and 18+ years old to enter. One winner will be randomly selected and announced via direct message on Dec 1. This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram. By entering, participants agree to release Sponsors (evanhealy, Banyan Botanicals, Traditional Medicinals, Wishgarden Herbs, Oshala Farm, Asheville Tea Co, Pure Synergy, and Gaia Herbs) and Instagram from any liability.

10/19/2025

09/05/2025

Filming at L’Herbier du Diois in southern France. Freshly harvested lemon balm from nearby fields.

06/25/2025

Beautiful first evening of the gathering in Oregon! Thank you Elise and Jeff Higley from for hosting! ♥️✨🙏

05/27/2025

Happy to have a chance to visit last week where they are working hard to get everything planted despite all of the rain. And super happy to have Nate Brennan as a neighbor now! Nate has been a huge part of our work at during his time and it will be wonderful now to meet and dream in person in addition to online!