Wild Rose is beyond thrilled to be chosen as Etsy's featured seller this weekend!
View the complete interview on Etsy's blog!
The interview as posted on
Etsy:
Hello, my name is Ash. I am the creator of
Wild Rose Herbs,
a botanical skin care company focused on sustainability. I’m entirely
self-taught, and have largely learned through experimentation over the
past eight years. My unique blends are made intuitively using the best,
most ethically-produced ingredients available. I am fortunate to live on
a two acre mini-farm in Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley, and I design,
blend, package, and ship my products from a 400-square foot workshop and
office nestled between an herb garden and a lush, half-wild pasture.
I learned the value of a DIY ethic at a young age. I was raised by a
single mother of three and resourcefulness was key in our household. My
mom gets credit for introducing me to herbalism. Teas, tinctures and bad
tasting supplements were always on hand, and colorful herb books filled
our shelves. This, combined with my immersion in the local punk scene,
made me crave the skills necessary to be totally self-reliant. Despite
doing well in school, I skipped college and invested in a small library
of books on everything from aromatherapy to homesteading.
At first, I didn’t intend to sell my creations. I made them as an
alternative to store-bought synthetic products for myself, family, and
close friends. It wasn’t long before I was selling my herbal salves to
the local health food store, funding my new-found hobby. I maintained a
low-key presence at farmers markets and craft fairs for the next four
years, even while living off the grid in Northern California. When I
found myself back in “the city,” I decided to take my most treasured
recipes and reincarnate my products under the name Wild Rose.
Wild Rose is my response to an economy where the ecological,
political and social costs of manufacturing are veiled. I spend much of
my time tracking down raw materials, packaging and even office supplies
to their source. This minimizes or eliminates the social, environmental
and ethical footprint of my products by choosing sources that are
non-GMO, sustainably harvested, organic or fair trade. I grow many of
the fresh botanicals needed for my recipes just outside my workshop.
Not only do I use the purest, most completely natural ingredients
available, I also seek out raw materials with the strictest quality and
ethical standards. I carefully consider multiple factors when sourcing
my ingredients, including growing conditions, worker treatment,
endangered status or bioregion impact (for oils and herbs),
sustainability, production waste, and ecological impact. I research my
sources on behalf of my customers to ensure purity and sustainability.
It’s what I do when I buy anything for myself or a loved one, and I
can’t help but give the same care and attention to my customers. My
business practices are completely intertwined with my personal ethics
and integrity. This ensures that my customers always receive the best of
what I have to offer.
For the things I can’t grow or collect myself, I try to find
materials locally. Oregon is a hot spot for earth-conscious
professionals, and I am fortunate to be able to source most of my
materials, including packaging, from local producers and distributors.
To help offset the inevitable impact of shipping and manufacturing, I
make yearly donations to both local and national organizations working
to protect critical bioregions. In this way, I hope to set a precedent
through steadfast ethics and transparent business practices.
For me, Etsy is the result of our collective need to take
responsibility for the cascading effects of our lifestyles. The unique
transparency of this marketplace is both rare and in demand. That gives
me hope for an increasingly ethical and true-to-cost economy.
