How Jekka's Grows Its Herbs Sustainably

Jekka's describes all of its herbs as grown "following organic principals," and the farm presents sustainability as the root of everything it sells and teaches. That claim rests on three things stated on the site: more than 40 years of growing experience at a family-run farm near Bristol, a stated commitment to "green, environmentally friendly and sustainable" products, and a current focus on sharing growing knowledge rather than large-scale plant production. If you want to know how the herbs you buy or see at Jekka's are actually cultivated, the site gives you the principles and the context — but not a step-by-step growing manual.

What "sustainable" means at Jekka's

The farm's own wording is the clearest guide to its approach:

• Organic principles. Jekka's states that "all herbs are grown following organic principals." This is the farm's stated method for its culinary and medicinal herbs, both plants and seeds.
• A long track record. The farm describes "over 40 years' experience in sustainably growing and using medicinal & culinary herb plants and seeds." Longevity is presented as evidence that the method works, not just as a marketing line.
• A product-wide standard. Jekka's says "all our products follow our root of being 'green, environmentally friendly and sustainable.'" That framing covers seeds, kits, gifts and herbal infusions sold through the online shop, not only the plants in the ground.

A shift in how the herbs are produced

Jekka's has changed what it does with its growing space. After more than forty years, the farm says it has "stepped back from large-scale plant production." The focus is now on:

• Jekka's Herb Garden and the Herbetum (the herb collection)
• Herb experiences, talks and books
• A "carefully curated range of seeds and products"

For a buyer, this matters: the sustainability story is now tied as much to knowledge-sharing and a smaller, curated product range as to volume growing. If your reason for buying is to support a working production farm, the current model is closer to a teaching garden with a seed and product shop.

How to see the approach for yourself

The site points to two ways to check the claim rather than take it on trust:

1. Read the farm's stated approach. Jekka's links its growing philosophy from the herb experiences section ("read about our approach"), where the organic principles are set out in the farm's own words.
2. Visit during an open day. Jekka's runs open days where you can walk the herb garden and see the collection. The next listed dates are Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September 2026, for a September Open Day and Plant Sale, with limited morning and afternoon e-tickets released on 16 August. The farm also notes plant, seed and book sales plus a café at the event.

Open days and experiences are the most direct way to judge whether the growing method matches the description, since the herbs are on display in the garden rather than only described online.

What the site does not tell you

A few practical questions about sustainable growing are not answered in the available material:

• Certification. The site says "organic principals" (its spelling) but does not name a certifying body or certification scheme. If formal organic certification matters to you, that is a question to ask the farm directly.
• Inputs and methods. There is no detail on soil management, composting, pest control, water use or packaging. "Green, environmentally friendly and sustainable" is the stated standard, not a breakdown of practices.
• Price and availability. No pricing, stock levels or delivery terms appear in the source material, so nothing here should be read as confirming cost or free access.

Who this approach suits

Jekka's sustainable-growing claim is most useful if you are:

• Looking for culinary or medicinal herb seeds and plants grown without synthetic inputs, based on the farm's stated organic principles
• Interested in learning to grow herbs yourself, since the current focus is on seeds, kits, books and experiences
• Planning a visit and wanting to see a long-established herb collection in person

It is less useful if you need certified-organic documentation, detailed cultivation data, or large-volume plant supply — the farm has deliberately moved away from large-scale production, and the site does not publish certification or growing specifications.