The snakes and wild turkeys
are long gone, but the Fredericksburg Herb Farm continues to flower.
Not long ago, the Varneys purchased an adjoining ten acres where they
hope to expand their facilities, and that means, of course, planting
more gardens. "I want the next garden to be a maze or labyrinth,"
Sylvia says, "so that people can get more into the spiritual
side of healing and be inspired to view life from different perspectives.
And I really feel it's important that we start planting a row for
the hungry and contribute to the community's food pantry." Sylvia
also would like to see more research done at the farm. "It could
be an incredible resource for some school in studying herbs and their
uses."
Sylvia and Bill credit
the herb farm's growth to several factors, not the least of which
is hard work. "This place has taken every bit of energy that
Sylvia and I have to make it what it is today," says Bill.
"Also, we really study what we're doing, and we have a story
to tell."
Perhaps most important,
though, is the Varneys' philosophy, which runs deeper than economics.
"I've always felt that we were a little bit ahead of our time
in having a lifestyle approach to well-being," Sylvia says.
"I really believe we'll continue to stay a step ahead because
we've never really tried to compete against anybody else —
we never thought there were any Joneses to stay ahead of. We just
do what we can to make a difference.
"So many companies
approach the consumer with the attitude that the consumer is defective,"
she continues, "and that buying this product or that service
will remedy the defects. We don't believe that people are defective
but that everyone has potential for growth, be it physical, emotional,
or spiritual.  We
simply proved the place, the fertilizer, for making that happen."
She laughs. "Call
it herbal social work."
|
by:
Christopher Dow
photos by:
Tommy LaVergne
Originally
Published in
Sallyport
The Magazine
of Rice University
Summer 2001
Click on any of
the small photos
to view full size
|
