herbnet

I’ll be at the 2009 West Virginia Lavender Festival this weekend (June 27) at La Paix Herb Farm in Alum Bridge.  It’s a hard place to stay away from.  If you believe in fairies, the place is filled with them.  And as you suspend your anxieties and enjoy the remote surroundings, you’ll find out why people come back year after year. 

This year the theme is “Keep on Dancing” and dance we will.  The music will be there along with a gourmet luncheon from Chef Dale Hawkins.  If you nothing but sit and enjoy the lectures it’s the best way to spend a summer Saturday that I know.  For a lot more details visit www.lapaixherbfarm.com   I hope I’ll see you there.

Could be a need to expose others to the joy of working with plants.  Whether it is a gastronomic experience, or because you feel that alternative medicine is a kinder, gentler form of healing, or the idea of working with scents makes sense (pun intended).  If you get into the herb industry because you have a passion, it will be a lot easier when things don’t always go right.  And trust me, they won’t.  And passion takes a job and makes it a career.  That’s why if you’re not doing something you love, start looking for a change. 

For some reason people think that having an herb business is different than being in any other business.  Perhaps that’s why normal business dealings are often ignored.  Yes, you have to know about the industry.  But when you have a welding business, for example, you usually know more about welding than the person on the street.

But it seems people with herb businesses don’t think the rules of business don’t apply to them.  And that could be why most herb businesses fail.  The ones that succeed….they’re the ones that act as any other business does.  They plan, they look at lots of ways to promote their sales and not just the usual “herby” ones.  One of the more successful herbal businesses I knew swore that “The E Myth” was their bible.  And they didn’t get into it for the usual “herby” reasons…..they wanted a successful business that they could retire on….they did.

On one of the lists I’m on, someone asked whether social media is taking people away from the group.  Honestly, I think life takes people away.  When you first start a small business, you’re looking for people to share information with.  Or a group that gives you moral support.  Unfortunately, the people that talk the most on lists are ones that have a lot of free time. 

I don’t expect to see my favorite successful authors or business folks answering questions on forums.  They’ve got more important things to do.  Or they use their “free” time to have a life, not sit around and “twitter”.  I’m amazed when they do find the time to answer and they contribute some really awesome items. 

For some reason, we now think people should answer our emails when we never would even have approached these same people with a phone call not too many years ago.  I had someone recently complain bitterly that no one would answer her questions, when she asked.  I asked her what the question was, and it was the non-ending question: Tell me everything I need to know to start an herb business. 

Everybody wants to get in social media lately.  I’ve joined them all and what do I do now?  I have a life.  If I had time to sit and twitter, that means I have no work to do.  Or sales made.  Or a life to live.  Or countries to visit. 

Can you imagine going to a place like China or India and spending time on the computer chatting when you could be seeing the Great Wall?  Or in NOT going to an exciting live event because you have to report on what you’ve been doing to your online community?

I think technology is wonderful.  The amount of information we have available is awesome.  But when twittering and spilling your life story on facebook takes the place of having a life….it makes me glad I lived through the seventies and eighties. 

With all the get-rich quick internet schemes, herbs are still a growing market.   When things get tight, more and more people try and sell natural products and nothing’s better than herbs. 

The problem is that many are looking for anything to sell and herbs sound good.  I’ve seen too many weight-loss products, herbal male “enhancements”, anything that goes after our insecurities. 

The successful people sell products that work, whether for colds, cold sores or a delicious addition to dinner.  They sell products that they, their family and friends use successfully.  Maybe you need to reformat the design.  Maybe it needs a new label.  But they don’t sit on it and wait.  They try it out.  Get some feedback.  If it’s edible, do demos and see what others think.  Who knows, you may be sitting on something really special.

Here it is November 10….it’s been a strange year with most of it a year of recovering from a major stroke.  Things have been difficult.  It wasn’t until July that I really started to work again.  And it really wasn’t until last month that my head was really back to speed.  I’ve really tried to change my behavior….no more working all night.  I’m not worrying about things I can’t change.  That’s why my blood pressure was so high…278/170.  Now if it gets to 135 I  take a little time out.  The doctors had me on too mny pills…I think there were about 10.  With a little research I’m down to one.  Eventually I’ll probably drop that one. 

And I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the business and what direction I want to take it.  The Herbal Green Pages will be online.  It’s already started.  www.herbworld.com/green_pages.htm I’m hoping to make an unbelievable database of herb businesses.  Too bad you can just copy and paste the book.  The Herbalpedia is going strong…it took months before I could write a monograph but that’s coming along too.  Amazing how hard it is relearning everything.  It seems like I lost so much I took for granted.  But each day I remember a little more…and each day my body responds a little better.  In some ways, this stroke was the best thing that could have happened. 

I’ve spent much of the past year in the blahs.   A lot of reasons, I’m sure.  In a new house (that I love) but it’s still not “home” like the one I lived in for 14 years alone was.  I’m in that middle age muck where you wonder whether what you’ve been doing for over 20 years is still what I want to be doing or do I want to sell everything, leave the cats at my sister’s and join the Peace Corps or move to China.  We’ve all been there at some point.  Or will be if you haven’t had the joyful experience yet. 
         But a realization came to me this morning of why I wasn’t moving through the muck as easily as I usually do.  I had stopped bringing something new, spiritual, motivational into my life and when that stopped, my creativity went as well.   At the old house I had my “room”.  Actually I had an entire large house to myself, but this particular room was my haven.  The shelves were lined with books that had made a difference to me or looked as if they could become part of that collection.  There were decks of cards I had used to inspire me…..hate to use the phrase tarot cards because many were really more than that….perhaps inspirational cards would be a better term.  There were items that friends had added to the room…..a smudge dish and feather from Tina…a Tibetan Prayer Wheel from Diane….a beautiful framed print of Grandmother Moon I’d fallen in love with as I sat in a booth at a trade show next to the artist…and a very comfortable chair.  I’d sit and read almost every morning for a time…..sometimes 10 minutes….sometimes 30.  But I read something that made me think and feel and start those creative juices flowing. 
           It was never herb books or website design books or anything to do with business.  I got those read in the evening or as needed during the day.  These were books where the author shared wisdom…..”The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron….anything by Sark like “Succulent Wild Women”, Wayne Dyer’s latest inspiration.  Books like this inspired me to scramble up to my office and do something I felt passionate about….herbs and the people that were trying to make a business working with something they were passionate about as well. 
            And the new house didn’t have that cozy warm room where I could find that inspiration.  So over the past couple weeks I thought I’d try to recreate that space.  Not to look like the old room, but something that fit into who and where I am now.  I purchased an incredible chair that was big and roomy where I could put my feet up.  I lined the walls with a set of prints of the four seasons I found in China that brought me to tears.  There was a different bookcase, a good light, lots of windows and a return of the cats which hadn’t spent much time in the room before.  And after a few days, voila, my mind started seeing possibilities again.   “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert was devoured.  I’m now in the middle of “Reflections on the Art of Living: A Joseph Campbell Companion” and have every other page turned down because there’s so much I know I’ll want to refer back later to.  (How I screen books later to pass on…..if the book isn’t dog-eared, it didn’t work for me.)
            So if you’re in a malaise right now and you need a lift, create that sacred spot where you can be alone with your thoughts and read only what makes you think and laugh and cry.  It will help you “Make Your Creative Dreams Real” (another wonderful book by SARK.

There are many options in growing herbs.  You can grow for the culinary market.  This includes selling to restaurants or farmers markets.  It also includes growing for manufacturers.  And there’s money to be made in all three markets.  If you’re just getting started, farmers markets can be your best test market.  If you purchased Sandie Shores’ book that I mentioned in the previous post, you’ll have a good solid start.  To be wildly successful in a market as well as selling to chefs, you really do need to love people and love showing them how your quality material will enhance their lives.  Any great business person is a bit of a show man.  If you’re walking along the rows of a market and you have your choice of visiting a booth where the salesperson looks bored and tired or visiting one where the owner is laughing and giving samples to their customers, where would you go?  I personally go to the vendor that seems enthusiastic over their goods.  I want to see what’s so great.  If you’re one of those people that would rather dig in the dirt than ever talk to a customer, you best be finding yourself a partner, spouse, sister or friend that feels differently.  Passion and enthusiasm is the most important part of sales.  I don’t care how much you “feel” it internally, if it doesn’t come across to the customer, it won’t work.   
             Growing for a farmers market gives you the opportunity to try various herbs and how they’re accepted by buyers.  It’s a way to introduce new ideas into your community.   Successful vendors have given samples of something made with the exotic herbs and even recipes.  If you’re consistent with your recipes you can even come up with a booklet that can be sold at the market along with your herbs.  You can add potted versions of what you’re offering in the spring and bring up your sales even more.  This is a great way to get your feet wet in herb growing without a tremendous investment in land and labor.   At one of my local markets there are probably 10-15 produce stands.  Most are small but their produce is so outstanding that many pass up the mega-vendors to buy from them.  And my special favorite is a young man whose products are organic and even though his selection is limited, it looks (and tastes) so luscious that he always has a line waiting to buy.  
         To get started, pick a selection of herbs to grow for the market.   Start with a good assortment of between 10 and 20 herbs.  Pick ones you’re in love with yourself and try some others you think your locale will support.    You’ll need to have a good seed source (or plugs….small plants that have already started to grow).  Look for sources that are reputable.  Many growers choose Johnny’s (www.johnnyseeds.com), a good source if you’re on the west coast is Wood Violet Herb Farm (email herb.farm@yahoo.com). Richters (www.richters.com) and Companion Plants (www.companionplants) are other excellent sources.  Get all the growing information you can find on your choices and get a notebook started.  Every good grower I know keeps a diary of their work.   Details include what seeds and their sources they choose.  If there’s a lot number on the seed package, record it.   When each type is planted and conditions (weather, soil, etc) on the day the seeds/plants put in the ground, amount of rain or water, fertilizer or other additions, growth rate….these should all be recorded religiously.  This recording provides so much information you’ll be grateful for not only later that year but in future years when you’re trying to remember whose seeds didn’t produce or what you did that made the basil especially flavorful. 
               

I get several emails a week from those wanting to grow herbs commercially.  The comment usually is: “tell me everything there is about commercial production in 50 words or less, preferably giving all the names of businesses that will buy the herbs after I grow them.”  Excuse me?  Everything about growing “herbs” (that big vague term)?   If I had that magic formula I’d be sipping drinks down in Costa Rica reading blogs and not writing them. 
              There is so much to consider in growing herbs commercially.   First, you need to have that magic business plan.  For some reason, many people think that farming (and that’s really what commercial herb production is all about) is not like any other business.   You just DO IT.   When you start dealing with Mother Nature and her whims, you’re even more in need of planning than other indoor ventures.  To make this even more clear: Herb Farming is NOT herb gardening.  I don’t care how much you love plants and that your garden thrives, the only similarily between herb gardening and herb farming is that you have your hands in the dirt.
             The first thing to consider is why you’re doing it.  Are you making your own products and need a “purer” source for the materials?  Did you recently inherit a few acres and think you’ll grow something quick and easy that pharmaceutical companies will magically hear about and beat a path to your door?   Have you been growing more traditional crops (corn, tobacco, soy beans) and feel herbs would be a better investment of your time and land?  Or are you just tired of that nine-to-five job and think that herb farming HAS to be easier than what you’re doing now?  (I said “easy” not “more fulfilling”….that’s a given probably).  Tomorrow we’ll discuss the serious thinking that has to be done before you possibly dig a bigger hole than you intend.  
        I’ll try each day to give you a resource that may help you in your decision.  We’ll start with growing herbs, but it will expand into categories as well.   Today’s recommendation for those that want to get into growing and marketing Culinary Herbs:   “Growing and Selling Fresh-Cut Herbs” by Sandie Shores (available at www.freshcutherbs.com )   There is no better or more complete information on the subject by a woman that’s done it for more years than she cares to admit.  It’s worth every dime you spend and filled with detailed information on the subject.