WHAT MATTERS MOST TO US
OUR CORE VALUES
REGENERATIVE
We recognize our business and bottom line is only as strong as the ecosystems and communities it depends upon. That’s why we’re committed to using regenerative and socially responsible practices on and off the farm.
ROOTED
Rooted in place. We live, work, and play in Vermont --it's our beloved home. We plan to be here stewarding the land and serving our neighbors for the long haul.
LOCAL
Choosing local. Vermont has a striking reputation for keeping business local. We choose to invest our dollars locally with small and independent business owners whenever possible.
ACCESSIBILITY
We refuse to believe CBD and herbal wellness is only for those who can afford it. We remain committed to ensuring that our products are accessible to all
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REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE
We challenge the notion of “sustainability.” Rather than having less of an impact to sustain the status quo, we believe in maximizing our positive impact on the landscape and within our local communities. We see the intersections of regenerative agriculture, the tradition of herbalism, and values-driven business as a way to do just that.
But, what is regenerative agriculture? Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming that is increasingly popular in the sustainable and organic agriculture movements. As with many innovative land stewardship practices, regenerative farming has its roots in BIPOC knowledge and traditions. As White farmers, we feel it necessary to acknowledge that the techniques we utilize are borrowed with great reverence and respect from these communities.
In practice, some of the most noteworthy impacts of regenerative agriculture is its ability to build robust living soils, sequester atmospheric carbon, improve water quality, utilize low carbon energy inputs, and encourage overall farm resiliency. It is an approach that encourages an ecosystem approach on the farm and community scale. On our hillside farm we employ the following techniques to meet these desired outcomes:
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Planting on a permanent raised bed system designed to follow the land's natural contour. This erases the need to till and prevents erosion and stormwater runoff from our hillside fields.
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Cover cropping with native medicinal flowering species to build soil health, encourage pollinators, and yield ingredients for our herb-infused products.
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Drip irrigation via a gravity-fed system that is entirely off-grid.
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Fertilizing with compost teas brewed on farm using organic approved inputs sourced from our fields and neighboring purveyors.
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A portion of our acreage is dedicated to cultivating traditional food and medicinal crops for our local Abenaki community, the indigenous peoples of so-called Vermont, via the Abenaki Land Link Project.
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Regeneration must exist beyond the land if we are to achieve collective well-being. We envision a culture that is built upon trust and interdependence. A culture that is inclusive to all diversity and is able to adapt in the face of change, just like the vibrant ecosystems of nature. At Hillside Botanicals, we're committed to nurturing this culture, which is why we make an effort to practice values-driven business:
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We honor the plants as our greatest teachers and seek to share their gifts to our community in meaningful and accessible ways.
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We commit a portion of our harvests and medicine-making to offer herbal first aid supplies to BIPOC-led organizations, disaster relief efforts, and ongoing grassroots organizing.
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Any ingredients we can't grow or produce ourselves are procured from local or domestic suppliers that align with our values and standards of cultivation.
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We strive to maintain zero waste packaging via reusable, up-cycled, or plant based materials.
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We take civic engagement seriously and communicate regularly with our local and state officials about issues impacting our community and the local agricultural industries.
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We're devoted to sharing our knowledge and experiences to encourage the evolution of a vital community of farmers, herb enthusiasts, wellness professionals, and all around happy humans.