Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Finch.
Hi Wendy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
If you had asked me twenty years ago if I would someday own a lavender farm, I probably would have laughed. It wasn’t part of any grand life plan.
For more than two decades I built marketing strategies and business stories for other people. I loved my career and was fortunate to have many opportunities and successes, but after my divorce I realized something was missing. I had rebuilt my life financially, purchased a home, established a career I was proud of, and was looking toward retirement. Yet I wanted something that was mine—something built with purpose instead of simply built for a paycheck.
In 2019 I purchased six acres in rural Oregon City with the hope of creating a gathering place for my family. My original vision was an outdoor event venue, but life had other plans. The pandemic changed how I viewed that business model. My father suffered a stroke while my parents were building their home on the property, and I realized I needed to rethink everything.
While researching ideas, I discovered lavender. What first attracted me was its beauty and practicality. As I learned more, I became fascinated by the possibilities. I spent six months researching, reading every book I could find, taking university courses, studying successful farms, and writing a business plan before I planted a single lavender plant.
Somewhere during that journey, the farm stopped being about lavender.
It became about purpose.
What began as a place for family slowly became a place where neighbors, visitors, and complete strangers could slow down, breathe a little deeper, and feel welcome. Along the way I discovered something unexpected—that I wasn’t simply growing lavender. I was creating a place where people could gather, connect, and hopefully leave feeling like they had made a friend.
Today Whispering Lavender Farm continues to grow, not because I set out to build the biggest farm, but because I wanted to build something meaningful.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but looking back, every obstacle shaped the business into what it is today.
The first challenge was letting go of my original vision. I had planned to build an event venue, but COVID made me realize I couldn’t depend on a business that relied entirely on large gatherings. At nearly the same time, my father’s stroke changed life for our entire family. My parents had just moved onto the property, and suddenly their needs became part of every business decision I made. Instead of seeing those changes as setbacks, I learned to adapt.
The biggest challenge, though, was becoming a farmer with absolutely no farming background. I often joke that I was probably the least likely person in my family to end up farming. Before buying the property I had no gardening experience even as a hobby, let alone farming. My life had revolved around raising my children and building a career.
So I became a student.
I researched constantly, attended classes, watched webinars, learned from other lavender farmers, and asked countless questions. I still do. I don’t believe I’ve ever arrived at the point where I know enough, and I hope I never do. Continuous learning has become one of the greatest joys of this business.
There were also moments of self-doubt. Starting over later in life can invite skepticism, both from others and from yourself. There were certainly people who thought owning a lavender farm sounded like a cute retirement hobby. Instead of arguing with anyone, I simply decided my response would be to quietly build something worthwhile.
One lesson I’ve learned is that not every good thing can be planned. Some of the best parts of Whispering Lavender Farm happened almost by accident. Mother Bird Market, growing cut flowers with my mother, the self-serve flower stand, and even the sense of community that has developed all evolved naturally because I stayed open to what the farm wanted to become instead of trying to force it into my original plan.
As you know, we’re big fans of Whispering Lavender Farm . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
People often assume I grow lavender because I’ve had a long passion for lavender, or a dream to grow flowers or even love making skincare products or candles. While I do enjoy these things, that’s only part of the story.
I discovered that product making combines two things I love: creativity and science. Developing recipes, understanding ingredients, testing formulations, and continually improving them has become one of my favorite parts of the business. I also believe in creating products with thoughtfully selected ingredients and complete transparency about what goes into them.
I also love the clean slate that comes with every Fall frost. That’s when planning the next year begins. The mistakes from the year become lessons for the next. The decisions are now available to grow what has been successful or to change what didn’t thrive.
But what I really do is create experiences.
Whether someone spends five minutes at our self-serve flower stand picking up a bouquet on the way home, wanders through the lavender field with friends, visits Mother Bird Market, attends one of our farm events, or visits our website from afar, I hope they leave feeling a little lighter than when they arrived. I hope they find a familiar connection.
One of my favorite compliments came from two women who had the entire lavender field to themselves. As they were leaving they told me, “We like it here because it’s quiet.” That simple comment helped me realize I didn’t need to become the biggest lavender farm. I needed to become exactly what Whispering Lavender Farm was meant to be.
Another unexpected joy has been sharing this business with my family. After my father’s stroke, my mother needed a creative outlet after becoming his caregiver. She had been a florist for many years, so together we began growing flowers. I grow them, she designs the bouquets, and together we’ve created something that has become meaningful for both of us.
At the end of the day, I don’t measure success by how many products I sell. I measure it by the conversations I have, the people who return, and the relationships that continue long after their first visit.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My family has been instrumental in the progress of Whispering Lavender Farm. From the earliest days, my son spent weekends helping me shop for farm equipment, tackling projects, and coming to my rescue whenever something broke or needed fixing. My grandsons have spent many summer days planting, trimming trees, mowing, and lending the extra muscle that so many farm projects require. My daughter has been a constant source of encouragement while building her own business, and it’s been especially rewarding to find opportunities for our businesses to collaborate while each pursuing our own dreams. My parents, who live next door on the property, have also become part of the daily rhythm of the farm, and my mother’s lifelong experience as a florist inspired an entirely new chapter as we began growing flowers together after my father’s stroke.
In short, whether it’s my parents just across the driveway, my immediate family’s hard work and encouragement, or extended family members who have never hesitated to lend a hand when it’s needed, Whispering Lavender Farm has always been a melting pot of generous helpers. While the dream may have started with me, it has grown because so many people I love have shared their time, talents, and unwavering support.
I’m also grateful to the previous family who cared for this property for over fifty years. Early on I discovered it had been a small piece of a greater plot of land and recorded as the 109th Oregon Donation Land Claim, and that history changed my perspective. I don’t really think of myself as owning this land. I think of myself as its steward for this season of my life, with the responsibility to care for it well before someday passing it on to the next caretaker.
Finally, I’m thankful for every customer who has become part of this story. Some have become familiar faces who stop by every few months just to say hello or pick up a gift. One customer asked if she could give me a hug before she left the farm. That simple moment reminded me that what we’re building isn’t just a retail business.
It’s a gathering place.
If people leave Whispering Lavender Farm feeling like they made a friend, then I know I’m doing exactly what I hoped this place would become.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://whisperinglavenderfarm.com
- Instagram: @whisperinglavenderfarm
- Facebook: @whisperinglavenderfarm
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-barnett-finch/
