Farmer Profiles

"Ruth Ann & Rachael Kondylas"
Everlasting Herb Farm, East New Market, MD

"Work is love made visible. After you do all the research, choose an area you love most."

Ruth Ann Kondylas, Everlasting Herb Farm, sells her products at the St. Michaels, MD, farmers' market

The Farming Operation:   Ruth Ann and her daughter grow lavender, sage, lemongrass, rosemary, French tarragon and thyme on 1-1/2 acres in Dorchester County, Maryland. After harvest, they manufacture herbs into bodycare products, including handmade soaps, body balms, aromatherapy spritzers, and herbal and floral bath goods. Ruth Ann also produces and sells dried herbs and flowers in the Fall and fresh herb plants in the Spring.

Marketing:   Ruth Ann and Rachael sell products directly to customers at two farmer's markets: St Michaels, MD and DuPont Circle, Washington DC. They also sell products at the People's Garden Community Health Coop, Teaism Tea Shops, and the National Cathedral in Washington, DC; Accokeek Foundation, in Accokeek, MD; and Sunnyside Market, in Washington, VA. Products are not available on the internet at this time; Ruth Ann and Rachael accept telephone orders and mail order only.

Information Sources:   Ruth Ann attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's Small Farm Field Day, How to Start Your Own Business class at Chesapeake College, and the Mid-Atlantic Direct Marketing Conference. She visited every small herb business in a 200-mile radius of her farm and asked lots of questions. Favorite books include Growing Your Herb Business by Bertha Ruppert. Ruth Ann finds herb fairs, festivals, and local farmers markets to be great places to check out products, meet the owners and ask lots of questions.

Words to Live By:   Ruth Ann believes, "Listen to your customers. Our business evolution was shaped by our customer requests. We started with the sale of herbs at the local farmer's market. Customers asked for recipes, which led to baked herbal goods. The production of gift baskets of herbal body goods resulted in more customer requests."

Sources of Pride:   Ruth Ann says, "Our little herb farm is a family operation. Late nights sitting around the farm house table wrapping soap and labeling packages has strengthened our family relationships. We have time to talk about events of the day and discuss future products from the farm. For us, purpose is more important than profit. Our TRUE profit is when a customer returns and says...your soaps are so wonderful...thank you."

Contact:   Ruth Ann Kondylas, 3816 Wanex Rd., East New Market, MD 21631; phone 410-943-3485; email herbfarm@lycos.com; or on the internet at http://www.everlastingherbfarm.com.

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