A Shared Dream
When Ryan and Myriah Hopkins met, they were both working office jobs in Los Angeles, pursuing business careers. They were successful but dreamed of a different life, one that would connect them to the land as they built a business, raised children and gave back to the community.
The couple compared notes. Myriah had a passion for essential oils, studying plant-based remedies and health products. Ryan, an Air Force veteran, dreamed of working in agriculture as the couple started a family.
The couple then moved 300 miles up the coast from L.A. to begin farming lavender in Monterey County, California. Today, Lavender Creek Co. is a family-owned lavender farm and wellness brand located about 20 miles east of Big Sur.
“After we got married, we were driving down the road and we saw this land along the creek, and we pulled over,” said Myriah. “It was for sale. We heard the creek, and we said, ‘Oh, this is so relaxing.’ We knew we had to get out of L.A. and move up here.”
This is prized Central Coast wine country, where a tributary of the Salinas River cuts through coastal mountains and meets cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean. Neighboring farms and vineyards form a close-knit, rural community.
What had started as a side project online turned into Ryan and Myriah’s day jobs as they transitioned from office workers to farmers.
“In our research, we discovered that lavender is a perfect fit for California,” said Ryan. “It likes a Mediterranean climate. It’s drought-resistant and pest-resistant. It was also probably one of the easier things for us to learn how to grow.”
Lavender Creek now sells a wide range of products, ranging from dried lavender buds to soothing balms, bubble bath soaps, eczema relief lotions and scented towels. The farm’s organic lavender has been used to make ice cream, lavender fizz drinks and even seasoning for pork chops.
It’s a testament to the versatility of lavender, which has been used for millennia as a healing herb. Modern studies point to lavender’s antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its ability to soothe nerves and reduce anxiety, insomnia and depression.
“We want to sell products that are natural, good for the skin and good for the environment without extra ingredients,” said Myriah. “We were using essential oils to relieve stress in our everyday lives. We wanted to make a product for everyone that is healthy and gentle on the skin, and lavender just fits the bill.”
Renewable Energy
As the business has grown, so has Myriah and Ryan’s family. The couple now have two children, Aulora and William, who are experiencing life on the farm.
“We are in the thick of things right now with young children,” said Myriah. “For us, spending time on the farm is therapeutic. We bring the kids, and they run around the fields. Even when it’s tough to balance, I know it’s the right decision for them to grow up out here.”
Lavender Creek is completely run on solar power, with downhill irrigation that requires little energy to water the lavender fields. Ryan said sustainability and environmental integrity are important for the couple personally and in how they run the business.
“Sustainability ties into some of the values that Myriah and I have always had,” he said. “We want to make sure this is an eco-friendly business that uses natural ingredients and has a positive impact on the environment.”
Spreading the Love of Lavender
Looking ahead, the couple says they plan to open Lavender Creek to the public as a community space for relaxation, as well as a venue for weddings, parties and other events that will be set against a backdrop of purple flowers and a bubbling creek.
Ryan and Myriah have worked with American AgCredit to finance their business activities and build a strong foundation for future growth.
“It’s a blessing to be able to help them with their dream,” said Olivia Maldonado, a retail lender with American AgCredit.
“We have been there since day one. [Myriah and Ryan] come to us for ideas and opinions,” Olivia said. “We’re currently looking at expansion with them, and that’s exciting. And we share their same excitement for the future.”
Myriah said lavender has been a recurring theme in her and Ryan’s relationship, showing up in key moments before they had ever dreamed of farming it.
“When we got married, we made lavender soaps for our wedding,” said Myriah. “Somehow our wedding ended up having lavender everywhere – around the mirrors, in the bouquets and the soaps. Through everything we’ve done together, there’s been lavender.”
This article was originally published by American AgCredit.
