Studying and working with herbs and learning how to grow, harvest and harness them, Lynn Kirkland had a vision in the 1990s to create a business where she could use her herbal knowledge and remedies to positively support and nurture others. And so, The Herb Farm was born – celebrating the therapeutic qualities of herbs and nature’s undeniable ability to create beauty, with a strong focus on environmental care and sustainability. They have since grown from humble beginnings into a thriving destination for natural skincare and wellness. With a commitment to creating safe, effective and truly natural products, The Herb Farm continues to blend family values with innovation, inspiring parents and families to embrace the beauty and balance of nature in their everyday lives.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
The Herb Farm was born from a deep love of nature and a belief in the power of plants to heal and nurture. Our founder, Lynn Kirkland (my mother) began making natural remedies in the 1990s when she saw a need for truly safe, effective products for our family. In 2006, I bought into the business, and that passion for harnessing the gifts of nature still drives everything we do today.
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
Lynn initially started making our natural products in her kitchen at home, before building The Herb Farm shop, which initially was a multi-purpose building for making the products and welcoming customers, to selling the products and running workshops. Our herbal products have always used fresh ingredients grown in our own gardens, and word spread quickly through friends, family and local markets, so before long, demand outgrew the initial shop building. The Herb Farm has since grown into a thriving business with a purpose-built facility, function rooms, café and gardens – but we still create every product with the same care and integrity.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
Our biggest breakthrough has been developing a unique process to create fresh herbal extracts directly from our gardens. Unlike most dried extracts, these fresh extractions retain the full potency of the plant, ensuring our products are more effective, fresher and closer to nature. This innovation set us apart in the natural skincare industry and reinforced our position as pioneers in herbal skincare.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
Work-life balance is really important, both as a business owner and as an employer. We know that life can be stressful and many of our team are working mums, so we put a strong emphasis on creating a supportive workplace. Offering flexible working opportunities and fostering a culture of understanding allows our people to thrive at work while also taking care of their families and themselves.
