FARMERS' by Welsh Lavender Ltd. is a collaboration between Nancy Durham, owner of a small lavender farm in rural Wales, and Helen Lowe, a leading artisan in the development of cosmetic creams. All FARMERS' products are handmade by Helen in her North Wales studio using lavender oil distilled on Nancy's farm, complemented by a range of natural, beneficial ingredients.
The products have proved to be a huge hit at Trunk, with customers returning time and again to stock up on hand cream, or buy a set of miniatures as a gift. Nancy visits London regularly and always pops by for a chat, so we thought it was high time we sat down to find out a little more about the business and Nancy's farm. As ever, we also asked for a few travel tips, and with a background in international journalism, Nancy was a great source of ideas.
Trunk: Can you tell us a little about FARMERS' – your products and the philosophy behind the brand?
Nancy Durham: Our products are inspired by the labours of Welsh hill farmers, our neighbours on the rainy windswept hillsides of mid Wales. This is sheep country but we wanted to see if something different might thrive here so in 2003 we decided to plant 2,000 lavender plants. Today we have around 12,000 lavenders and are considering growing other herbs.
In our exposed location we are up against the elements day in and day out and I liked the idea of developing body creams that would stand up to all weather and all occasions. Our creams and balms – all handmade in Wales – provide tangible benefits quickly. We value the stylish simplicity of our labels and the clean, soft feel of our London–made aluminium jars.
Our philosophy is like our tractor logo: authentic, well made, and utilitarian.
- Nancy Durham. Photo by Mats Klingberg
T: What are you currently working on?
ND: FARMERS' SCRUB is set to launch in late spring. It is robust yet gentle and leaves your face, elbows or toes - any part of your body in need of a little polish - feeling soft. Minuscule walnut and almond particles deep clean while lavender, geranium and frankincense oils encourage moisture retention.
With winter coming to an end, we are tidying up the gardens and lavender fields and spring cleaning the out buildings, generally getting ready to welcome all the visitors who come to see how we manage to grow lavender in this sometimes inhospitable climate. Visitors are welcome to roam the fields, take in the lavender distillation process and swim in our pond. I grew up swimming in ponds, lakes and rivers in Canada. Over here this activity is regarded as rather exotic and these days it’s called 'wild swimming'!
We’re also very excited to be building a FARMERS’ shop. We scoured Wales for nice pieces of old wood in need of a new home so our store is being made with wood from a former schoolhouse in South Wales and floorboards from an old Swansea house. Its shelves will be stocked with our creams and balms of course, along with other locally made products.
T: Where do you call home?
ND: Home is right here on our farm, Cefnperfedd Uchaf. There is much debate over the meaning of Cefnperfedd, so we have taken some poetic license with the Welsh language and settled on "in the midst of the highest ridge" as this aptly describes our situation at 1100 feet with stunning views in all directions. Uchaf means upper.
My favourite restaurant is right here on the farm when my husband, the philosopher Bill Newton-Smith, is cooking which is most nights.
T: Where is your favourite travel destination?
ND: My life as a journalist took me across Europe, China, Africa and the Middle East. I worked in every corner of the Balkans where I fell in love with a dish called Ajvar made with tomatoes, peppers, garlic and olive oil. Serbs, Croats and Albanians all make it with their own twist and with flair. These days my destinations are small, smart towns in the UK and the cities of London, New York, Toronto and sometimes Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz make the best felt slippers in the world and I would be lost on my travels without one of the pairs I've picked up at Tumar Art Salon in Bishkek.
London is a city for constant discovery. My association with Trunk has drawn me to Chiltern Street which I adore. It is fun watching it develop anew and it's an exemplary street for shop windows that pull you inside. Chiltern has gone from quiet to rocking in a very short space of time. When I was a student I did lots of waitressing and bartending and this past year I have done a few stints at the new Monocle Café in Chiltern [Nancy is also a regular on Monocle 24 Radio] and loved the way a tray and an apron transported me back to my teenage years. The success of this neighbourhood is testament to the vitality and imagination of its shopkeepers.
My partnership with Ace Hotel's Shoreditch location has lured me to the east end of London reacquainting me with places like the Columbia Road flower market and the narrow streets of Shoreditch. I relish the tiny shops, some the size of a closet with shopkeepers smiling, welcoming and selling! If I find myself in London on a weekend I head for a Morty & Bob's grilled cheese at Netil Market.
T: What are your 5 essential items for travel?
ND: 1. A good book.
2. A notebook and a variety of pencils and pens. I am fussy about my pens, pencils and paper.
3. A map of the city and countryside, wherever I will be.
4. I use our own products so I always carry a set of FARMERS' creams and balms plus a few to give away.
5. Portable radio, iPhone, iPad and laptop.
A warm thank you to Nancy from all of us at Trunk for taking the time to chat. For more from behind the scenes at Trunk, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.