Meet Amy McFarland | Herbalist and Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy McFarland and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I have always sought fulfillment, both personal and financial, in running my own businesses. This has been a mixture of successes and “teachable moments”. I realize now, looking back, that my frame of mind has always been pretty atypical when it comes to a career. I’ve always just thought “what do I want to do, and how can it make me money”, instead of “what kind of job can I find with the skills I have?”. My default is do what you love, even if it never makes you rich. I think I have always been someone who isn’t afraid of taking risks- like moving halfway across the world for a year, or relying on myself to keep the bills paid. If you desire to introduce a product or service that is somewhat unique, it does require some degree of risk taking– it just goes with the territory.

During lockdown, much of my income was coming from events with my business. When these were shut down, I found a full-time job in an industry that had been my side hustle- property management. It was fast paced, very demanding and I struggled to find any time for myself. The salary and benefits were of course what lured me in. I worked there for 2 years, and heard so many of my friends’ expressions of relief that I was going to have a retirement fund, health benefits, and not have such a risky lifestyle. When I felt my mental and physical health failing, I knew it was time to call it quits. I was fearful of losing what we are told is “safe” in society. But not only have I felt a massive stress relief since I quit, but I actually have more money AND free time. Having had the chance to experience both lifestyles, I feel blessed to have a dynamic understanding of the type of choices that will lead me further down the path to happiness and prosperity.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I began making herbal products initially because of my own need for clean, non-toxic skincare. I was challenged to find things without strong perfumes and preservatives, and had reactions to lotions and soaps. I have always dabbled in DIY and home remedies, and I didn’t see it as a challenge to whip up a few things for myself. I started with a charcoal mineral tooth power- I hate minty, foamy fluoride-based pastes and knew I could whiten more effectively. I grew up making herbal salves, and played with recipes for this for all uses- moisturizing, healing, lip care and a variety of other skin issues. Next came deodorant and lip balm, and from there sun cream, face masks, cleansers and toners. Creating these formulas took dozens of iterations, and many years to get them how I wanted them. Lots of friends acted as test bunnies along the way, and I had to put my ego aside when I heard that a product had molded, or melted in the heat. It was all worth it when I could finally hear “this batch is amazing, don’t change it!!”

One of the biggest issues I had to deal with was shelf life, and how to sell a product without preservatives. These basically don’t exist on the market, because companies want to sell in large quantities without having the product go bad. I decided to take a different route, and commit to “small batch” products with natural preserving agents, in which I am picky about my retailers and don’t sell in huge quantities. I refuse to make my products in a factory, instead remaining dedicated to production by hand. ensuring the best quality in every batch. I think of my formulas as heritage– I have a beat up notebook where each recipe is written by hand, with scribbles and amendments. Many details are only in my head, and will be passed down one day.

I am also committed to sustainability, so I choose my packaging to avoid single use plastics as much as possible. I grow and wild forage many of my own ingredients, and purchase organic, Fair Trade and ethical ingredients whenever possible. I know I’m different than other brands, with glossy marketing and products that are tailored to trends. I simply want to make what I am best at making- I don’t need to make another version of the same thing everyone else is doing. I only sell products that I stand behind.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am so grateful to my family for showing me the importance of land stewardship. Growing up on a farm, we produced lots of our own food and medicine. My elders maintained the land with pride, and showed me how to lovingly tend to the gardens, keep the animals healthy, and take moments to respect Mother Earth and the ancestors who cared for this land before us.

Website: www.renegadebotanicals.com

Instagram: @renegadebotanicals

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CaliforniaBotanicals

Image Credits
Marika Israelson