Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriella Parola.
Hi Gabriella , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Love + Lavender Farm really started as a family project. About three years ago, we planted our first lavender field on our family property in Corral de Tierra. At the time, I don’t think I fully realized where it would lead—I just loved the idea of growing something beautiful on our land that our family could be a part of.
As the lavender grew, so did my curiosity about everything I could create with it. I started learning about harvesting and distilling our lavender for essential oil and hydrosol, and from there I really fell in love with the creative side of it. I love making soap, linen sprays, candles, and experimenting with new products and ideas. There’s something really special about starting with something we grow here on our farm and finding different ways to turn it into something people can enjoy.
Eventually, I started bringing our products to local farmers markets and pop-ups, and that has become one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. I’ve loved meeting people in our community, talking with customers about what we do, and especially seeing people come back because they enjoyed something they purchased from us before.
Love + Lavender Farm is still a very small, family-run farm and business, and I’m learning as I go. I’m enjoying the process of creating, meeting people, and slowly building something that feels very personal to our family. I’m excited to see where it takes us.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been realizing just how much goes into building something from the ground up. Growing lavender is only one part of it. There’s harvesting and distilling, developing products, sourcing ingredients and packaging, attending markets, and all of the behind-the-scenes work that comes with running a small business.
Product development has been both one of the most challenging parts but also one of my favorite. I genuinely love creating soaps, linen sprays, candles, and other products. I’m always experimenting with new ideas and refining my recipes, and I’ve learned that sometimes even a small adjustment can make a big difference in the finished product. That process has really helped me develop my own style and become more intentional about the products I create.
Marketing and promoting the business has brought its own challenges. You can create something you really believe in, but you still have to find ways to get it in front of people and tell the story behind it.
Farmers markets and pop-ups have been especially valuable because they give me the opportunity to connect with people directly. I love getting to talk with customers, hear their feedback, and see what they’re drawn to. One of the most rewarding things is when someone comes back and tells me how much they loved something they purchased from us before.
There are always new challenges, but I’ve learned that they’re simply part of growing a small business. Each season brings something new to learn, and when I look back at where we started three years ago, it’s really rewarding to see how far Love + Lavender Farm has come.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Love + Lavender Farm?
Love + Lavender Farm is a small, family-owned lavender farm located in Corral de Tierra, California. We grow several varieties of lavender on our property, including our main field of Grosso lavender, which we harvest and distill ourselves to produce lavender essential oil and hydrosol.
A big part of Love + Lavender Farm is creating handmade products inspired by the lavender we grow and by the things I personally love to make. Our offerings include artisan soaps, linen sprays, candles, lavender products, and handmade gifts. Soapmaking has become an especially creative outlet for me. I love developing different scent combinations, working with natural ingredients like clays and botanicals, and creating something that is both beautiful and enjoyable to use.
What I think makes Love + Lavender Farm special is how personal and hands-on everything is. From tending and harvesting the lavender to distilling it and creating our products, so much of the process happens right here on our farm. Even products that aren’t centered around lavender are still created with the same care and attention to detail.
I’m especially proud that the business has remained true to what inspired it in the first place—family, creativity, and a love for what we grow and make. I want people who discover Love + Lavender Farm to feel like they’re getting a little piece of our farm, whether they find us at a local farmers market, receive one of our products as a gift, or bring something home for themselves.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think one of the most important qualities has been genuinely caring about what I do and the people I get to share it with. Love is really at the heart of Love + Lavender Farm—not only the love I have for creating, but the connections I’ve been able to make with people along the way.
One of my favorite parts of the business is meeting customers at farmers markets and pop-ups. I love talking with people, helping them find something they enjoy, hearing their feedback, and getting to know the familiar faces who come back to see us. It means so much when someone returns because they loved a product, or when they choose something I made to give as a gift to someone they care about.
I also think that connection motivates me to keep learning and improving. I put a lot of thought and care into what I create, whether I’m developing a new soap, making a linen spray, pouring candles, or putting together a gift. Knowing that those things are eventually going home with someone makes the creative process even more meaningful to me.
For me, success isn’t just about how much the business grows. It’s about creating something with care, building genuine relationships with people, and hopefully bringing a little bit of joy into someone’s day through something we’ve grown or made.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.lovelavenderfarm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/love_lavender_farm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577867078866&mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
