Legend
crops that the family had grown for years were not earning enough income to keep the ranch operational, so botanicals were planted and essential oils were first extracted in 1990. Twenty-two years later, the excitement and anticipation of walking through her fields is still fresh for Donna Bayliss. During a recent tour of the property, she kept two young women, a journalist and a photographer, chasing after her as she energetically named plant varieties, broke off samples to pass around for a sniff-test, and pointed out areas with pleasant compositions and proper lighting despite the midday sunshine. The property as a whole is a blend of old and new, residential and commercial, California and Provence. In the 1920s, the original farmhouse was relocated from its foundation near the highway to its current location next to the main entrance. In the 1960s, Donna and her husband moved in. The newer main house features neutral colors, elegant styling, and a landscaped yard reminiscent of Coco Chanel’s “La Pausa” on the Riviera. Paved walkways, well-manicured shrubs, and a simple pool make the yard complete with cast-iron patio furniture and dried botanical displays. One of the oldest orange trees in California has a place of honor near the old pump house. Outside of the landscaped garden lay the botanical fields, parking lot, and processing building. The original rice silos are no longer in use, but they stand tall to remind visitors of the farming origins of Bayliss Ranch and quite strongly resemble the light-tower in Cannes. The property whispers with stories of history - of generations of laborers, years of dreams, and pioneers of California. There is so much landscape and architecture to experience that Bayliss Ranch almost feels like a small village in itself, complete with a boutique filled with Lavender Ranch™ skincare products and displays stating exactly how many blossoms of extract go into each bottle. “Please visit us at the store and share your thoughts on Facebook,” invites Donna Bayliss. “We love hearing from you and we would really like to know if you are interested in classes to learn more
about our botanicals and natural products for healthy skin and body.” This dreamy business began as what Bayliss likes to call a “boutique sampling.” She started small, struggling to succeed for fifteen years with the help of family and friends but soon discovered a much more fundamental issue at the root of organic practices: the general public is not sure what that means for skincare botanicals. More specifically, a skincare product can qualify as “organic” without having any essential oil as an ingredient. “We did this because we wanted people to experience the real powers of Mother Nature, unadulterated and real!” she declares. Innovative organic practices have earned awards for Bayliss Ranch from The California Agricultural Club in 2008 and the California Council for International Trade in 2011. Today, Bayliss Ranch produces about a dozen botanicals, listed on the Lavender Ranch™ website. Four office staff members and five field workers are regularly employed to help the ranch run smoothly. But, Donna never forgets the tough times when she lost her husband. “What we [women] lack in muscle power, we make up for in staying power!” she proclaims proudly. “Adversity helps to do your own checks and balances.” That time of struggling to succeed gives you “time to double-check your intentions and desires. Even after you’re done, you still make mistakes but then you just return to your mission. Our mission here has always been to give the public the example of what real botanicals are like and how they function with you as a person.” That is what makes this Local Legend an inspiration.
www.lavenderranch.com www.baylissbotanicals.com
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