The San Juan Mountains Osha Preserve

The San Juan Mountains Osha Preserve is a collaboration between Floracopeia, Tomten Farm, and the local landowners of the Hastings Mesa area outside Telluride, Colorado.

Osha (Ligusticum porteri) is a famous Native American ethnobotanical medicine. It is renowned as a potent aromatic expectorant, immuno-stimulant, and respiratory remedy. Its native habitat is 9,000 feet and above, which makes it difficult to cultivate. Because of cultivation challenges combined with an increasing demand for this powerful herb, osha is now considered by organizations such as United Plant Savers to be at risk, meaning “a medicinal plant in active commerce, with plant populations dwindling in their current range, that are innately rare or sensitive.”

The osha roots of this region have markedly superior properties as a result of high altitude, rich soil, uncontaminated environment, and undisturbed native ecosystems.

The mission of the Osha Preserve is to:

• Protect the existing populations of osha plants that are indigenous to the area.
• Increase the populations of osha plants through methods such as root division and specialized seed germinating techniques.
• Protect the natural environment through sensitive forest cultivation of the local osha roots.
• Provide sustainably harvested fresh osha roots to herbalists and the herb industry.
• Provide high-quality osha products to the general market.
• Increase knowledge and awareness of this important botanical remedy through education.

The Osha Preserve harvests and sells fresh and dried roots every fall. To place an order or get further information, please contact us, or call 970-728-1412.