Fresh Herbs of Early Summer 2026

This is the first, wildest and wisest thing I know,

that the soul exists, 

and that it is built entirely out of attentiveness. 

 ~Robin  Wall Kimmerer

Greetings Allies and Co-Collaborators,

How do you define value?

And what exactly is the price of paying attention?

In a culture that often confuses what is of value, and most certainly dissuades paying attention, I am deeply grateful for our communities of plants and their people.  

Value is defined by our actions. 

And our actions are informed by our ability to be attentive.

Value manifests in support of our local farmers, in making medicine for someone in need, in growing food, in raising our children who know they are valued and loved, loving one another regardless of their current physical   embodiment.

Being attentive to how we honor the land on which we live, work, and play. 

Honoring our wild and not so wild neighbors in their varied and glorious manifestations. 

And at the very least, acknowledging that we are on the unceded territories 

of the indigenous peoples: the Coast Miwok and the Southern Pomo.  

May we, individually and collectively, strive to do our ding dang best to show up in a good way.

Here at the Sonoma County Herb Exchange, we strive to walk in honor, and in doing so we offer that which is grown organically so as to not harm our neighbors, wild and not so wild.

And with that consideration in mind, we offer the following locally and organically grown medicinal herbs, available for the next short while: 

Agrimony herb (Agrimonia   eupatoria)                               LAST CALL

Anise hyssop herb (Agastache foeniculum)

Bacopa/Brahmi   herb (Bacopa monnieri)                           COMING SOON

Blue vervain herb (Verbena   hastata)                                 SOLD OUT*    

Calendula orange   flower (Calendula officinalis)  

California poppy whole   plant (Eschscholzia californica) 

Catnip herb (Nepeta   cataria)    

Clary sage flw  tops (Salvia sclarea) 

Curry plant flw tops((Helichrysum   italicum)                

Echinacea leaf/flower (Echinacea   purpurea                      COMING SOON

Elder berry (Sambucus   nigra ssp.   Caerulea)                  COMING SOON

Feverfew flw tops  (Tanacetum parthenium)

German chamomile flower Matricaria recutita) 

Gotu kola (Centella   asiatica) herb                                     SOLD   OUT*

Hawthorn berry (Cratageus   spp.)                                     COMING   SOON

Hops strobile (Humulus   lupulus)                                        COMING   SOON

Lavender flower (Lavandula   x intermedia)

Lemon balm    herb (Melissa   officinalis)                             LAST   CALL

Mullein leaf (Verbascum   spp.) 

Olive leaf (Olea europea) 

Passionflower herb (Passiflora caerulea)

Peppermint herb (Mentha piperita)

Rose buds (Rosa   spp.)

Rose petals (Rosa   spp.) 

Rose geranium herb (Pelargonium   graveolens)

Rosemary herb (Rosmarinus   officinalis) 

Saint John’s/ Wort flw   tops (Hypericum perforatum)          LAST CALL FOR ORDERS**

Skullcap herb (Scutellaira   lateriflora)                               COMING SOON

Tulsi herb (Ocimum x   africanum)

White sage herb (Salvia   apiana)

Wild lettuce whole   plant (Lactuca virosa)                     LAST CALL

Wormwood herb (Artemisia   absinthium)

Yarrow flw, lf/flw (Achillea   millefolium)                             SOLD OUT*

Yerba mansa whole   plant (Anemopsis californica) 

Yerba santa herb (Eriodictyon calfironicum)
 
 FROM THE SEA:
 All dried

 Bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) frond

 Nori (Porphyra perforata) leaf

 Ocean ribbon (Lessionopsis littoralis) leaf

 *Sweet kombu (Hedophyllum sessile) leaf - new item 

Wakame (Alaria   marginata) leaf

*Hedophyllum Sessile or Sea Cabbage or Sweet Kombu is a brown seaweed that has cabbage-like leaves. It contains complex polysaccharides that produce a sweet and salty flavor as well as mucilage such as Kombu. 

The combination coats the intestines and is anti-inflammatory and cooling. 

Wonderful to put in  soups, make teas, and use in the bath for repeated skin use. You can also make vegan jerky using this fine gift from the sea.

For the items listed but are sold out (*), it is suggested that one makes their pre-order early in the season so they can access some of these in demand herbs.

Herbs marked *SOLD OUT are included to encourage pre-ordering 

at the beginning of the season as these popular herbs often sell out quick.

**SJW will be coming in the next couple of weeks.  

This is the last week to place a pre-order for this much beloved   herb. 

Please have your request in by this Wednesday, at the very   latest.

The SCHE provides on a first request, first receive basis. 

If you have placed a pre-order for the 2026 season, your requests will be offered first, in the order in which those orders are received. If you have not yet placed your pre-order for the 2026  season, you can do so by sending an email with the herbs you would like receive, preferably listed in alphabetical order by   common name, and if you know the botanical name, include that for the sake of clarity, noting plant part (root, herb, berry, bark, etcetera) 

You can find plant parts that are offered for each herb on the price lists available here:
https://www.sonomaherbs.org/herb-exchange

Please include the amounts you want for each herb, and we will assume you want fresh herbs unless you specify dried.
 

Please note that dried herbs are offered as available.

We ask a minimum of 1/2 lb per fresh herb request. Herbal offerings, 

including prices and projected availability for fresh herbs can be found here:
 https://www.sonomaherbs.org/herb-exchange

If you are not inclined to place your order for the entire season, you are welcome to request herbs   by the week. To do so, have your requests for herbs submitted by Wednesday, for pick up or delivery the following Tuesday, given the parameters we have in place, as stated in the above.
 
We are asking all buyers to support the overseeing non-profit entity, the  Sonoma County Herb Association, by being a member. 

If the Association goes away, so does the Herb Exchange.
You can join here: https://www.sonomaherbs.org/membership

If you have questions about availability before you become a member, please inquire by sending an email to herbexch@sonic.net.  

If you have any questions about your membership status, please send an email to the same address. 

We truly appreciate your support

How do you define value?

And what exactly is the price of paying attention?

Relationship is about showing up.

That what’s community is all about. 

Community of plants, people, the farmers, the makers, the   pollinators, those how help the plants grow, those who help us have clean air   to breath. 

Those who strive for a life that is not meant to be commodified by humans. 

The unseen heroes, and heroines…

Value is defined by how we show up, individually and collectively. 

Being alive at all is the most extraordinary stroke of good luck 

any of us will ever experience.

Thanks for showing up with the medicine you bring to the day.

Blessed be community.

All the plants.

All the love.

 ~Barbara Jean (BJ) Avery, Director