A Recap of our Annual Retreat

More than 35 years ago, Motherlove began with a deep connection to the land, harvesting herbs by hand and creating products. Today, that connection continues to guide us. During our annual retreat, our team returned to the Colorado meadows where Motherlove’s story began.

HONORING OUR HERBAL ROOTS WITH SHI'S CEO & FOUNDER

We also welcomed Ann Armbrecht, Founder and Director of the Sustainable Herbs Initiative, to join us on our opening day.

Sustainable Herbs Initiative (SHI) is supported by a diverse group of companies and organizations across the herbal supply network. From family farms to global brands, members are united by a shared commitment to ethical sourcing, ecological care, and industry transformation.

Having Ann join our retreat offered a new perspective to the entire team. It allowed us to deeply connect with individual plants, see the bigger picture of the industry as a whole, and better understand how Motherlove can make an impact. These exercises help set the tone for the rest of the week and grounded us all in what we are really doing at Motherlove.

PLANT VISUALIZATION

During Ann’s visit, we were guided to each think of an herb that is important to us, and visualize its journey from where it grew to how it ended up in the final product sold on a shelf. This allowed us to see how for many plants, that journey is not linear or transparent. Ann’s exercise allowed for everyone to identify how vast the disconnect is between the plant and the end product.

This reflection encouraged us to look deeper into the many hands, decisions, and steps that shape an herb’s journey before it reaches us. Do you know where your herbs are coming from, how they were sourced, who is gathering them, what their quality of life is like, and how they end up at your front door? How marketing and sales, ops and production all come into play?

HERBAL INDUSTRY MAPPING

To start our day together, Ann guided our team through a visual mapping exercise to explore an herb’s journey from where it was grown to how it became part of a final product. We collected objects from nature and worked in cross-functional teams to create maps representing the many steps, stakeholders, and decisions involved in the herbal industry. The exercise helped us identify the disconnect between plant and product, while deepening our understanding of the importance of thoughtful sourcing.

Our team gathered items from nature to symbolize those exact steps in a plant’s journey to help identify where the gaps lie.

WILD HARVESTING

After connecting to the plants, we walked the land mindfully, wild harvesting with gratitude for the abundance and bounty. We were able to reflect on the immense labor that went into collecting plants. This exercise allowed our full team to connect more closely with an ingredient and with those who harvest our ingredients. Soon we will launch a small-batch oil honoring the land, plants, and our time together.

For Ann, seeing our team engage with these questions was a reminder of why this work matters. "I loved being part of the Motherlove retreat. It was exciting and inspiring to see how the tools and practices of SHI could be used in a company to deepen their connections with the plants, with the values of herbalism on which their company is founded, with the industry as a whole, and with each other. This is the first time I've been invited to lead a company wide workshop and I'm impressed by Slencia's vision and trust that it would be of value and her commitment to invest in making this happen. I am also impressed by all of the employees and their willingness to jump in and try things that weren't what they normally did. I look forward to seeing how this work unfolds in Motherloves day to day operations." - Ann

Returning to the land where Motherlove began reminded us that our relationship with plants is at the heart of everything we do. As we continue to grow, we remain committed to honoring the herbs, people, and practices that make our work possible.

Want to learn more about choosing herbs with care? Read this Herbal Buyer’s Guide to better understand what to look for when sourcing herbal products.