Meet Natasha Gourlay | Owner of Mala Mama Farm & Senior Nursing Student

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

Hi Natasha, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
For me it was crucial that I embraced a mindset of a lifelong learner. This has been instrumental in my past success and my future success not only as a business owner but as an individual. Staying curious, seeking knowledge and adapting to change has kept me in a space that allows for continuous growth.

What should our readers know about your business?
Mala Mama Farm is a sustainable urban farm dedicated to curating the finest in Hawaiian plant medicine. Grown and produced with the purpose to heal, Mala Mama specializing in growing mamaki, comfrey, olena (turmeric) and many other healing plants. Mala Mama cultivates a variety of natural remedies, utilizing sustainable practices and a deep reverence for aina or the land. Every plant grown is imbued with intention, cultivated with care to harness its healing properties. From bottled mamaki tea blends to potent healing salves it is our goal to help people integrate healing remedies into their daily lives. Mala Mama’s vision extends beyond providing products, we aim to educate and empower others to reclaim their health and well being through the power of plants. With a focus on sustainable farming practices and community engagement, Mala Mama is committed to nurturing both the land and the people it serves, fostering a deeper connection to aina and a healthier more vibrant community.

Mala Mama was not created over night and it has been a journey of growth, not just for the business but also as a person. When I first started Mala Mama I did not even know how to register a business, obtain a GE tax license or have the knowledge of all the different permitting required. It was a process that I had to learn on my own and be able to do my own research to get what I needed. In any small business you encounter many challenges but it is about how you choose to react to them and how you get through them. Through every challenge you make it through you gain a little bit of growth and experience.

If there was a message that I could send to the world about Mala Mama and what we stand for is that we regain the relationship that we had with the aina around us. In the modern world that we live in, we are quick to running too and reaching for remedies that do not quite heal us, they only put a temporary bandage on the underlying problem. If we made an effort to regaining a relationship with aina and the plants that it offers us, many of or day to day simple issues could be healed by that simple relationship.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Most of my friends live here in Hawaii and I am blessed to be able to see them on a regular basis. We love to go down to the beach in Kailua and make sure to stop by certain places like Kalapawai market where we enjoy there fresh made sandwhiches and some of our mala mama teas 🙂

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people that have been apart of this success! First, if it was not for my Kupuna (ancestors) that came before me I would not be where I am today without their sacrifices and knowledge that they have passed on. My Ohana (family) has supported me in the highs and the lows but always believes in the vision that was created. I have had so many small business friends that have given their time and advice to me through the past 5 years that has helped in many different ways. Last but not least my other half, Dorian. He has supported me in all my endeavors and continues to be the rock that keeps me going when things are tough and the person that will celebrate all the little wins with me when they may seem invisible.

Website: https://www.malamamafarm.com

Instagram: malamamafarm

Facebook: Mala Mama