Everlasting Herb Farm: Microenterprise of the Year
by Small Business Administration Herbs, plants and other earthly treasures have many uses beyond the culinary realm. Everlasting Herb Farm in Peacham uses these items to make body care solutions that soothe the skin and heal the planet.
Owner Wendy Mackenzie is passionate about making effective body care solutions that are also kind to the Earth. Her commitment to environmentally friendly practices is reflected in her diverse range of products, including soothing salves, nourishing creams, luxurious lotions and even a surprisingly effective plant-based deodorant for people with sensitive skin.
Photo: Wendy Mackenzie, owner of Everlasting Herb Farm. Courtesy photo.
The inspiration for Mackenzie's natural deodorant came in a chance meeting with a stroke victim who shared her difficulty using traditional plastic deodorant applicators Recognizing the opportunity to create an eco-friendly solution, Mackenzie developed a plant-based deodorant packaged in recycled metal tins.
“We are thinking about the bigger picture, trying to get rid of plastic packaging and be more innovative,“ Mackenzie explained. “We are doing Vermont-things, like composting and reusing packaging that our supplies are shipped in. By thinking through every little detail, we are focused on the environment, which is so important here in Vermont.“
Photo: Products packaged in recycled tin cans. Courtesy photo.
Mackenzie's dedication to these types of sustainable business practices and her commitment to the Vermont community in Vermont have earned Everlasting Herb Farm recognition as SBA Vermont’s 2024 Microenterprise of the Year.
Vermont’s business landscape, with its 77,000 small businesses making up 99% of all businesses, has proved to be a haven for microenterprises. Data shows that 78% of these businesses operate without any employees, making Vermont an ideal place for ventures like Everlasting Herb Farm to thrive.
Mackenzie's’ journey from teacher to the world of herbalism began in 1998, sparked by a guest speaker in her for Family and Consumer Science classroom. In 1998 an herbalist came into her classroom as a guest speaker. The herbalist’s sweet-smelling vials of essential oils and colorful jars of dried herbs sparked a passion in Mackenzie, leading her into the study herbalism.
She took the things she learned and applied them to starting her business in 2003. Initially, the business served as a side hustle, allowing her to continue working full-time as a teacher while dedicating nights and weekends to its growth.
Mackenzie urges other business startups to take a similar approach.
“Start your business as a side hustle,“ she said. “Start while you still have that nice paycheck and good benefits to rely on. Do your side hustle in the evening and the weekends until you run out of time. That’s when it’s time to pitch that full-time job aside and focus on your business.“
Eventually, Mackenzie achieved her goal. As Everlasting Herb Farm continued to grow, with an expanded product line and increasing customer base, and take on more customers, she was able to transition her side hustle into a full-time job in 2018.
Photo: The barn that serves as headquarters for Everlasting Herb Farm. Courtesy photo.
The key to running a successful business, whether it's a side hustle, your main gig, a micro-enterprise like Mackenzie’ or something larger, is cultivating a strong network of advisers who can help you navigate the complexities of the business. Mackenzie has fostered such a network that she consults with along the way.
Mackenzie has benefited from the support of the Small Business Administration and several of its partners throughout her journey. Recently, she worked with Vermont APEX Accelerator (formerly the Vermont Procurement Technical Assistance Center) to get certified as a woman-owned small business. She also collaborates with a SCORE mentor based out of Pennsylvania that she picked from the national registry, a retired skin care specialist who has provided guidance on Mackenzie's’ specific business challenges.
In addition, Mackenzie tapped the resources of Center for Women & Enterprise, which works to create an equitable world by amplifying the power of women.
“CWE has been the biggest help to my business that I could have ever imagined,“ Mackenzie said. “They were a real game-changer for me.“
Now, as Mackenzie's’ business continues to flourish, she has valuable advice to aspiring entrepreneurs .
“Try to solve a problem,“ she said. “If you can solve a problem that you have or that someone else has, you’re off to a great start, because there are going to be other people who have that problem too.“
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