how she did it

Lila Avery-Fuson was motivated to start her business because of her diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis. Read her inspiring story below.

Tell us about your business…

We organically farm lavender, distill into essential oil and manufacture remedies and spa items for the whole family. We also have a farm stand and u-pick lavender seasonally with demonstrations as well as host an annual lavender festival with more than 4000 attendees put on by our non-profit lavender growers association that I founded, Central Coast Lavender Growers Association, as a way to give back to research with the national multiple sclerosis society. I am also a founding board member for the newly formed United States Lavender Growers Association.

What is a day in the life of you like?

Mom and wife first. Very early office hours then off to the lab to process orders, make products or formulate new remedies. Afternoons are spent in the garden during the cool months and the schedule is reversed in the summer months. Weekends we bring our goods to 3-4 local farmers markets all year and hold tours and demonstrations of our farm May and June of each year. In the fall after harvest we attend trade shows and travel with our goods all over California.

What have been your biggest challenges so far with running your business?

Not having enough hours in the day. Capital that can keep up with my never ending marketing and product ideas. Working from a home/farm and being a mom.

How did you overcome these challenges?

Faith, patience, gratitude and a loving family. Keeping my eye on the purpose, accepting variations of ideals and allowing others to help me.

What advice would you give to other business owners?

Make sure that you are passionate about the very heart of your business and how it makes you feel. Carve out a place in the highest idea of success for the pleasure of giving back to what ever it was that motivated you to begin in the first place. Have a good relationship with your competition and work diligently with your local community. Donate your ideas, time and efforts to other causes that you care about and always give yourself time for just YOU.

How do you keep motivated through difficult times?

I look back at where I began with this journey and remember all the wonderful lives that have been touched by me sharing our remedies and farm. I try and stay focused on the idea of helping others and that this career is less of a job and more of a destiny that all my work experience and life journeys have prepared me for. Being thankful and trusting is the best aid of all.

What’s your favourite quote?

‘Sometimes in life you just have to jump off cliffs and build your wings on the way down’. unknown.

Who inspires you?

My father for his work ethics, his unwavering optimism and incredible energy and my mother for her keen view on business, staying ahead of the game and for her unique creativity in self reliance and tenacity.

Do you have a business philosophy?

We are pleased to share with you our story, our 7 acre Lavender farm and our certified organic estate distilled lavender essential oils, hydrosols, fine culinary lavenders as well as our natural paraben free skin care and well-being essentials for your health and your home. Central Coast Lavender Farm takes a proud and unwavering stance with the protection and sustainability of our natural planet and the delicate rhythms which harmonize the ebb and flow from day to day. We believe that through universal harmony and an understanding of our ecological awareness within our communities, paired with our native elements creates grace and balance in which we freely give more than we take.This follows the simple, yet powerful Native American dictum… Central Coast Lavender Farm is founded on a love for nature and a passion for the beauty and healing benefits of Lavender. From our California Certified Organic and Green growing methods through the development of our final product, our mission is to:

• Promote natural health & well-being through creating the purest most natural paraben free products that are both good for us and our planet
• Inspire & educate on the health benefits of natural hand crafted skin care products
• Share the beauty of nature’s finest and most versatile herb lavender with Estate Grown & Distilled Lavender
• Practice sustainable Organic agriculture with Green farming methods to benefit the environment
• Provide old-fashioned customer service.

Get in touch…