Natural farming
“Our essential oil products are really reinvigorating.” Shelley Chang explains that the top-grade essential oils that go into Blueseeds’ products are extracted and blended by the company from aromatic herbs that it grows itself. This is in line with the aims that Stephanie Chan, founder and CEO, has pursued from the outset.
A former prominent figure in the technology industry, Stephanie Chan once fell seriously ill due to work fatigue. When she recovered, she realized the dangers chemical carcinogens pose to our bodies and our soil. She thus set out upon a new course, turning to nature for healing power.
After some searching, Chan decided to set up a base in Taitung. She teamed up with local farmers in order to control the source of her ingredients, and used a production-line method seen in the technology industry for Blueseeds’ own operations. She oversaw everything from propagating the herb seedlings to planting, extracting, blending, marketing, and packaging. In doing so, she created a unique global supply chain for aromatic herbal products.
Blueseeds essential oils have buyers from places as far away as Canada. This is not only because the company practices natural farming, but also mainly due to the fact that their aromatic herbs grow in a unique environment. “We like to observe various ecologies and plant aromatic herbs specifically where weeds and insects are prevalent.”
This survival-of-the-fittest approach means that the aromatic herbs must compete with the insects and weeds. The weaker strains will be eliminated in two or three years, but “the ones that survive are the strongest amongst the plants.” This concept of plant communities that Shelly Chang speaks of means that every plant they use is a winner in the battle for natural selection.
The local farmers have learned about the subtleties of ecological processes from growing different plants together. Their knowledge has proved highly beneficial to Blueseeds. For example, if mint is planted beneath okra, the okra plants will grow especially well; planting lavender under tangerine trees will lend the lavender a sweet aroma. Blueseeds saves its own seeds in order to keep control of its aromatic herb cultivars.
Stephanie Chan (right), founder and CEO of Blueseeds, dived into the aromatic herb industry in hopes of doing her part to protect the environment.