La Paix Herb Farm
Owner:
(Steward)
Myra Bonhage-Hale
Founded:
1981
Location:
3052 Crooked Run Rd.,
Alum
Bridge, WV 26321
North Central West by God Virginia
Employees:
contract, seasonal: 1 Apprentice 2007: 1
Q: How did you start (or become owner) of the business?
Wanted an inexpensive, not to say cheap, acreage where I could
grow organically and found it in WV. in 1981. Before
retiring in 1991, organized a tour of organic farms in the area
which
were members of MSOGBA (Mountain State Organic Grower and Buyers
Association). This was so successful I began having
monthly workshops.
Q: What made you choose this type of business? Became
interested in the environment through the League of Women Voters
in Balto., - I was a member and had a radio program called
Politics and People. We examined various issues in government
by
doing in depth research and discussion. Loving gardening, I
realized that organic gardening and being environmentally
friendly
were also a political and ethical statement. Haven’t stopped
since!
Q: What is your background? Grew up on La Paix Lane in
Towson Maryland, a suburb which was enhanced by the fact
that F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda lived at the
homestead of the La Paix estate. Towson High School,
Academic.
Washington College, Chestertown Maryland, B.A., Psych., Soc.,
Spanish majors. U. of Md. School of Social Work MSW
community organization major. Boston University, Psychiatric
Rehabilitation trainer. Australasian College
of Herbal
Studies: Aromatherapy in Provence.
Q: What are your
biggest challenges as an herb business?
Keeping my enthusiasm despite not making much money.
Q: What are the biggest rewards of being an herb business?
Being able to inspire apprentices and the participants to
explore, create and be all they can be.
Q: What is your philosophy of customer service? I always
go the extra mile.
Q: What makes you stand out from your competitors? I
inspire people.
Q: What plans do you have for your business? Continue it
as long as I can.
Q: Is your family supportive of your business? Yes, but
mostly from a distance.
Q: What do you wish you’d done differently with the business?
Made a business plan – and had more money to invest.
Q: What do you think people starting out should know about
getting into your type of business? You’re not going to get
rich in $.
Q: How has the internet helped/hurt your business? It has
helped it immeasurably – now have about 200 visits a day, over
5000 a month from all over the world.
Q: How long has it taken for your website to pay off? What
is a pay off? If in satisfaction that I am doing all I can do,
immediately.
Q: What things have you done to promote your website?
Everything I can possibly think of that doesn’t cost $. Having
the support and help of Maureen Rogers of the Herb Growing and
Marketing Network over the years has been so helpful, as well
as recent membership in the herb business list serve. I am very
pleased that the Wild Wonderful West Virginia magazine with a
wide circulation is featuring La Paix for the second time (1995
the first time) in June of 2007.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to tell people about your
business, growth, or plans? Come visit me really or
virtually
at
www.lapaixherbfarm.com there’s something new all the
time. For instance, although I have had three other research
grants
from SARE (USDA sustainable agriculture), I was turned down for
one which I recently submitted. This extensive research was
to determine if stinging nettle could be a viable fertilizer and
herbicide for farmers all over the world (stinging nettle grows
in Siberia
and South Africa). If it was proved that stinging nettle was
effective, poor farmers and environmentally friendly farmers all
over the
world could improve their crops by using a resource growing on
their own farms. I intend to publish the entire research
application
on the web and ask for funding of the research. One of my main
characteristics is perseverance. You might have guessed
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