Since 2019, our partners at Banyan Farm have been hard at work cultivating a vibrant and abundant patch of farmland that is tended in harmony with the surrounding wilderness.

Located in Williams, Oregon, this 20-acre certified organic farm grows vegetables and both Ayurvedic and western herbs, some of which have been incorporated into Banyan products. It also grows and collects a variety of organic seeds to support others in growing and harvesting their own herbs and heirloom vegetables.

Using sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices such as crop rotation and composting, Banyan Farm is working to support the renewal of healthy soil and protect the biodiversity of the local ecosystem.

They were host to our pollinator research project with Bee Girl Organization in 2022 and 2023, and currently host our Living Ayurveda Internship (LAI).

All herbs, seeds, and produce from Banyan Farm are 100 percent chemical-free, which goes above and beyond the requirements of organic certification. They are grown ethically, harvested with care, and filled with the love and vitality of the land and the people who nurture it.

In this article:

• The Intention of Banyan Farm
• Vegetables, Herbs, and Seeds
• The History of the Farm
• About the Region
• About the Community

The Intention of Banyan Farm

As an Ayurvedic company, caring for nature is integral to the work we do at Banyan Botanicals. In today's rapidly changing world, where climate change is a reality and we face environmental crises across the globe, our choices leave a greater impact on the environment than ever before.

From working to improve the recyclability of our packaging to supporting small farms to ensuring the sustainability of all our herbs, we are constantly working toward making decisions founded in reciprocity with nature.

We are excited to continue collaborating and visioning alongside Banyan Farm. Our collective intention is to grow deeper connections to the land and our local communities, not only through farming but also through education, seed sharing, and mindful land stewardship.

 

Vegetables, Herbs, and Seeds

Banyan Farm is replete with herbs and vegetables, including ashwagandha, tulsi, bhringaraj, chamomile, skullcap, bhumyamalaki, shankhapushpi, echinacea, marshmallow, hemp, rosemary, lavender, bacopa, and brahmi/gotu kola, plus a variety of seasonal vegetables. Banyan Farm's herbs have been used in our products at Banyan Botanicals, as well as in herbal products prepared on the farm.

The farm is also passionate about growing and sharing high-quality organic seeds, many of which are available for purchase to grow in your own garden, pots, or windowsill. The farmers see the act of sharing these seeds with others as a way of passing along a lineage of land stewardship, reciprocity with nature, appreciation for small farming, and a connection to bioregional history.

All of Banyan Farm's seeds are organic, open-pollinated, and grown with regenerative principles. 100% of proceeds go to supporting small-scale organic regenerative farming practices and restoration of wild spaces in Southern Oregon.

The farm also has a thriving educational herb garden and old apple trees that provide some of the best apples in the valley.

The History of the Farm

Banyan Farm is fortunate to be growing on a piece of land with a deep history of conscious stewardship.

Honoring Indigenous History

This land has a significant history and connection with the local tribes that stretches back many thousands of years. We, and our partners at Banyan Farm, acknowledge the tumultuous history this landscape has endured, and we want to express our respect and appreciation for the tribes of this region, including the Takelma, Latgawa, Dakubetedee, Klamath, Shasta, and many others, for tending to this land and setting a model of earth-centered care. 

The Farm's Recent History

More recently, this land has been carefully tended by the Florin family—a team of skilled and dedicated organic farmers. Over decades, they transformed 20 acres of shallow, rocky soil into a balanced topsoil capable of producing healthy and beautiful vegetables and herbs. Thanks to their hard work, the farm has been Certified Organic through Oregon Tilth since 1998.

Fruit trees, native shrubs, and hedgerows planted over the years have created a foundation of biodiversity. The rich fertile structure of the soil reflects years of care and attention. When our partners at Banyan Farm took on the role of caretaking, it was with a commitment to continue to deepen the land's tradition of organic and regenerative farming.

About the Region

The farm is nestled within the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon, placed against the backdrop of rolling hills populated with conifers, oaks, and madrones. 

According to the World Wildlife Fund, the Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in North America. It is an IUCN Area of Global Botanical Significance—one of seven in North America—and is a proposed World Heritage Site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.¹

The Klamath-Siskiyous are home to the Rogue River watershed, which is one of the first rivers designated in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968.² It is also home to several other rivers designated as Wild and Scenic, making it the bioregion with the largest concentration of Wild and Scenic Rivers outside of Alaska. The waterways that weave around Banyan Farm are home to ancestral salmon spawning grounds still active today.³

This bioregion has often acted as a refuge for countless species in times of environmental shifts such as glacial movement and climate change. The unique geologic history of the area is a contributing factor to the biological diversity in the region today.

 

About the Community

Banyan Farm finds its home in a community with a tradition of medicinal herb production and education in Southern Oregon. Herb Pharm, Pacific Botanicals, Strictly Medicinals, and many others located within just a few miles of Banyan Farm have been pioneers in creating a model for growing medicinal herbs.

These farms have helped transform Williams and Southern Oregon into a hub for herbalists, organic farmers, and plant lovers, highly unique for such a small rural town. By working with Banyan Farm, we feel privileged to form part of this community's legacy of sustainable farming and medicinal herb cultivation.