Over the centuries, Chaste Tree gained widespread recognition across Europe, where it was commonly incorporated into herbal traditions and wellness routines. Its long-standing popularity has made it one of the most well-known and widely used botanicals in the region.

In 2023, the Gaia Herbs® sourcing team visited Albania and witnessed firsthand the stunning, unspoiled mountains where these berries are sustainably wild-harvested. Working closely with local communities, our supplier supports collectors through resources such as collection bags, infrastructure improvements, and plant transplants that help maintain long-term sustainability.

During the July and August harvest season, skilled collectors carefully gather the small ripe berries by hand (60kg per person per day can be collected), a process that requires both experience and dedication.

Harvesters take great pride in their work and have shared that the FairWild premium helps recognize and reward the value of their efforts. These premiums also support meaningful community initiatives, including projects in 2024 that helped rebuild a local school and establish a healthcare clinic in a remote region.

The Milky Oats used by Gaia Herbs® are exclusively sourced from our Regenerative Organic Certified® Gaia Herbs® (Silver Level) Farm in Brevard, North Carolina where they are extracted fresh.

We harvest our oats in the “milky stage” before the seed has hardened into the oats you know in your oatmeal.

Milky Oats are at their peak potency when they are rich in polysaccharides. To best capture this potency, our milky oats go straight from harvest in the field to extraction in a matter of hours.

Each herb is tested for potency in the field, carefully harvested, and brought to our onsite production facility to be extracted and crafted into our herbal formulas. From seed to soil to supplement, we oversee every step to create the highest-quality herbal supplements.

Wild-harvested in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, Black Cohosh thrives in its native habitat, where it has been gathered and used for food and herbal practices by Indigenous communities for generations.

The Appalachian region remains one of the most important areas for sourcing this plant. Working with reputable suppliers is critical to ensuring that harvesters follow responsible collection practices, helping to protect wild populations from over-harvesting and supporting the long-term health of these ecosystems.

At Gaia Herbs®, approximately 20% of the ingredients we source each year come from wild plant populations. We recognize that relying on wild-harvested botanicals carries a responsibility to safeguard the delicate ecosystems and communities that depend on them.

That is why we are committed to sustainable and regenerative sourcing practices designed to support biodiversity, promote ecological resilience, and help ensure that these valuable plant communities continue to thrive for generations to come.