TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.
Lila Avery Fuson embraces joy, gratitude and faith. In 2005, Lila found herself coping with a diagnosis of MS, Headaches, sleeplessness along with the side effect of medications were robbing her energy. Lila reached for essential oils to help boost her immune system.
With a three year old daughter, Lila needed every ounce of energy she could get. Determined, she studied and learned about lavender. Lila reached out to the leaders of the essential oil industry and learn more about the farming and distilling of essential oils. With the help of her husband and father, Lila started Central Coast Lavender Farm in 2006. With a 1920 plow, they originally planted 4 acres with lavender plants. Today, Central Coast Lavender is the largest lavender producer on the Central Coast.
"It all came about because of MS.," said Lila. "Lavender took me from being a victim of the diagnosis to a champion and an ambassador for essential oils."
TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORKSPACE, SHOP, OR STUDIO.
Our farm is a working farm and distillery. We distill our oils in the lavender field or near the cottage. My lab was once our 3 car garage and is one of my favorite places to create formulas for our product line. I craft, formulate, make soap, lotions and balms weekly in my lab/studio. My office is attached to my lab and here is were I manage the business. I wear several hats, Formulator, manufacturer, shipper, web manager, social media, public relations and customer service to name a few. It all happens right here at our family farm and I absolutely love it!
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Nature and alchemy. The one thing I find inspires me most is when I hear of a testimony from one of my customers who shares how my creations have helped make their lives pain free, heathy and feeling well. This is the best form of inspiration I could ever ask for!
WHAT MAKES YOUR BUSINESS STAND OUT?
It began as a business with a purpose. What makes us so different is that we grow process and formulate from the ground up working along side our family. We are here to teach and help others interested in lavender farming and processing. Our friendships over the years have helped grow the industry as a whole both here in California and across the US. We are family grown and owned with zero employees working from our land sustainably as stewards of this amazing land.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE AN ASPIRING CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR?
Find what you are most passionate about and surround yourself with it. Study it and believe in yourself. Don't be afraid to reach out and learn from others in the trade. Be willing to learn, be humbled and make mistakes. Don't settle for less than you dream. If an opportunity presents itself that you may think your not ready for, ready yourself, commit and make it happen! Love what you are doing and create the 'you' environment that feeds your creativity. Create a vision board and place it in the space were you spend most of your time. The most important thing is to have fun and motivate yourself by helping others with what you do. Let that be your success, not money and success will inevitably be waiting for you :-)
WHAT DOES AMERICAN MADE MEAN TO YOU?
American Made ....to me it means made from the native soil and with the hands of the one who nurtures it and lovingly crafts a sustainable way of life for themselves and their family all the while helping others.
http://www.marthastewart.com/americanmade/nominee/...
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