Oshala Farm’s Nettles
Culinary and Medicinal Magic in One!
Oshala Farm’s lyrical name is inspired by the native perennial taproot, Lingusticum Grayi. This flowering plant is believed to relieve sore throats from colds, coughing, dusty country fairs, and too much singing or howling at the moon.
Elise Higley farms with her husband, Jeff, in southwest Oregon’s Applegate Valley, where they raise 37 acres of certified organic medicinal and culinary herbs. With the help of their son and a dedicated nine-person crew, they grow 70 crops for the wholesale herb market and direct- and value-added production. Their products are known for their stand-out organoleptic qualities, meaning brilliance of color, smell, flavor, and touch.
Jeff’s background is in vegetable farming, and Elise’s is in western herbal medicine. She started investigating where her herbs were coming from for the products she was making and preferred using U.S.-grown plants. Domestic herbs were hard to come by, so they soon discovered their niche.
It’s their fresh, certified organic nettles that brought OGC and Oshala together back in 2017, and in 2020, OGC awarded Oshala Farm with a Mission Fund grant to help fund a new walk-in cooler for their newly expanded pack-house
“Nettles are one of our provider plants,” explains Elise. “They’re a gift of spring and start to bring money into the farm, helping us balance the season. We’re super thankful to be growing for OGC.”
Oshala Farm grows three acres of organic nettles, which are traditionally a wildcrafted plant. “Many people have access to nettles, but others don’t, and the soil health and where they grow are significant,” said Elise. “Native plants often grow in ecologically sensitive waterways where they keep their little feet wet, but not all waterways are clean, so cultivation is a great option.”
Besides her passion for herbs, Elise is a devoted advocate for small family farms and seed integrity. She is known for her grassroots work as director of Our Family Farms Coalition, the political action committee that supported the 2014 ballot initiative banning genetically engineered crops in Jackson County, Oregon.
“The team at Oshala has an incredible work ethic and grows beautiful plants,” said OGC Buyer Matt Visser. “Their farming practices, from seed-saving to how they care for their land and crew, result in a high-quality product, and we’re proud to support this amazing family farm.”
With shoppers’ increasing interest in wildcrafted and medicinal foods, now’s the ideal time to introduce them to nettles. With a limited window of availability, be sure to contact your Account Representative to include nettles on your next order!
