In addition to growing my own herbs, I purchase many of the dried herbs and roots from a local health food store, or from mail order catalogs. There are many that just are not available to me in the wild and I still want to be able to use them.
There are many different sources for herbs. Most of the seed companies carry at least a few herb plants as well as many of the seeds. Your local nurseries will also carry a few. Check with friends and neighbors. You may be surprised at the number of acquaintances that grow a few herbs for their personal use.
I find that most people are more than willing to share starts of plants. I have found that the people who grow herbs are some of the nicest people in the world. They are willing to share stories, remedies, and information along with the herb starts. You can meet some of these wonderful, caring people through garden and herb clubs.
There are many newsletters and magazines that carry information on how to use and where to purchase herbs. This is a never-ending hobby. The more you learn, the more you will want to learn. Many communities are starting herb workshops, homestead groups, and classes to help you learn about how to live a more natural lifestyle. If there isn’t a class in your neighborhood, perhaps you could start one on canning, soapmaking, or other skills that you have. People you meet through any classes that you teach will have other skills that they can teach you. The learning project could grow until there could be many such classes in learning how to live a more natural lifestyle.
I have listed a few companies here that carry some of the herbs. The first part of the list is devoted to sources for native plants. I feel that it is important that you grow the wild plants in order to become acquainted with their growing habits, as well as to provide an opportunity to learn to identify them.
A few of the companies charge a small fee for their catalogs, but I feel that it is not money wasted. Some handle only the seed for the wild plants, and this is good because it will give you experience in starting your own. If some of the herb seeds are difficult to germinate, just keep in mind that you have to duplicate nature’s seasons. Some of the seeds that are not annuals will have to be placed in the refrigerator or freezer for at least a week to duplicate the winter season that these seeds must have in order to germinate.
Sources for native plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
2278 Baker Creek Rd.
Mansfield, MO 65704
417-924-8917
Crimson Sage Nursery
PO Box 337
Colton, OR 97017
503-824-4721
Catalog $2.00
They specialize in Chinese ayarvedic and Native American medicinal herbs.
Hayes Regional Arboretum
801 Elks Rd.
Richmond, IN 47374
317-962-3745
Wildflower seeds available January through April only. Free seed list.
Herb Liscious
1702 S. Sixth St.
Marshalltown, IA 50158
515-752-4976
Land Reformers
35703 Loop Rd.
Rutland, OH 45775
740-742-3478
You can just call and leave name and address for their catalog.
Niche Gardens
1111 Dawson Rd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
919-967-0078
$3.00 for catalog.
Wildflowers, no wild collected.
Prairie Moon Nursery
$2.00 for catalog.
31837 Burr Oak Lane
Winona, MN 55987-9515
866-417-8156
Richter’s Herbs
Goodwood, Ontario
LOC 1A0
Canada
905-640-6677
Free catalog.
Great place to get all the wild herbs. They specialize in wild herbs. Wonderful plant and seed selections.
Taylor’s Herb Garden, Inc.
1535 Lone Oak Rd.
Vista, CA 92084
207-437-9294
$3.00 for catalog.
Sources for dried herbs and
Herb related products
Ameriherb Inc.
PO Box 1968
Ames, IA 50010-1968
1-800-267-6141
Free catalog.
Good source of dried herbs.
Frontier Cooperative Herbs
PO Box 299
Norway, IA 52318
1-800-669-3275
Free catalog.
Great source for herbs and herb related products. This company is a co-op and sells wholesale. They do offer a catalog for retail sale called “herb and spice collection.”US sales only.
Good Earth Gardens
1350 W. Pine Lake Cir.
Montgomery, TX 77316
936-588-1794
Good selection of herbs and herb products. Free catalog
Rafal Spice Co.
2521 Russell St.
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-228-4276
Spices, herb teas, essential oils, and containers.
San Francisco Herb Co.
250 14th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
1-800-227-4530
Free catalog.
Good selection of dried herbs, spices, and related products.
The Whole Herb Company
PO Box 1203
19800 8th Street East
Sonoma, CA 95476
707-935-1077
Wholesale only of bulk and dried herbs.