We’re looking forward to introducing you to Julie Thurgood-Burnett. Check out our conversation below.
Julie, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
Honestly? The most surprising thing I’ve learned is that my customers love lavender even more than I do—and I grow 6,000+ plants for a living. They show up for the products, but they stay for the story, the fields, the feeling, and occasionally for Gordie the cat, who I’m convinced has a bigger fan club than I do.
What truly amazes me is how deeply people connect to what we create “from our soil to your soul.” They’ll message me about how a serum changed their skin, how a sachet made their home feel calmer, or how our fields were the backdrop to a moment they’ll never forget. It’s made me realize that we’re not just selling lavender; we’re becoming part of people’s routines, rituals, and memories.
And that—well, that still surprises me in the best possible way.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Julie Thurgood-Burnett, the founder (and chief lavender wrangler) behind Hereward Farms in East Garafraxa, Ontario. What started as a simple “why not?” moment with 40 lavender plants back in 2020 has grown—quite literally—into a 250-acre farm with over 6,000 lavender plants, 400,000 sunflowers, and a full line of all-natural, Canadian-made skincare and home products crafted right here on our land.
Our ethos is simple: from our soil to your soul. We grow the lavender that goes into every bottle, bar, balm, and bundle, and we run a genuinely sustainable operation where nothing goes to waste—not even the stems. Our Lavender Lounge + Boutique + Café is open year-round, offering guests a calm escape (and yes, the butter tarts are worth the drive).
What makes us unique? We’re not your grandmother’s lavender brand. We’ve been featured in Vogue, Vanity Fair, Elle Canada, Globe & Mail, Toronto Star, and more—proof that clean, Canadian, farm-to-skin beauty can be both luxurious and grounded. And we’re still growing—literally. We’re increasing our lavender fields by another 2,000 plants in the spring of 2026, bringing us to a fragrant total of 8,000 plants.
At the heart of it all, we’re a family-run farm with big dreams, a mischievous orange cat named Gordie who thinks he’s the CEO, and a mission to create products and experiences that feel good, do good, and smell incredible.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Oh, that one’s easy—my husband, lovingly known around here as Mr. Lavender. Long before I believed I could turn a “little hobby” into a full-fledged farm and brand, he saw exactly where this could go. He’s the one who nudged me, supported me, and quietly (okay, sometimes not so quietly) pushed me to dream bigger.
He believed in Hereward Farms before I even had the courage to see it for myself. And honestly? None of this would exist without that early faith—and his willingness to plant “just a few more” lavender plants every time I got another wild idea.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I’ve had a few defining moments that left more than just emotional scars. When I was nine, I was attacked by a dog and ended up with 72 stitches across my face, two rounds of plastic surgery, and a front-row seat to childhood bullying. It was brutal, confusing, and far too much for a little girl to carry—but those years taught me grit long before I even knew the word existed.
Losing my dad at 15 cracked my world open in a way nothing prepares you for. And then, at 18, my mom became sick—a long, difficult road that ended when I lost her at 30. Those losses shaped me more than any success ever could. They forced me to keep moving, even when standing still would have been easier. They taught me that you can be grieving and growing at the same time.
I didn’t heal all at once—no one does. But every wound pushed me to build something meaningful, to create beauty in the world because I had seen so much of the opposite. That’s the quiet engine behind everything I do today. It’s why I pour so much heart into my work, my farm, my brand, and the people who show up for it.
Those early cracks didn’t break me—they became the place where the light eventually got in.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I wholeheartedly believe that kindness—real, everyday kindness—can change the world. I can’t chart it on a graph or back it with data, but I’ve seen what happens when people genuinely care for one another, when communities lift each other up, and when someone chooses compassion over convenience. Those little moments ripple outward in ways we’ll never fully see.
And that belief isn’t just philosophical—it’s something we try to embody every single day at Hereward Farms. Whether someone walks into our Lavender Lounge, wanders our fields, or places an order online from miles away, we want them to feel that bit of care, love, and human connection. It’s our way of adding a drop of kindness into the world… one lavender-scented moment at a time.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Finally—finally—I’m doing what I was born to do. For years, like so many of us, I followed the path I thought I was supposed to take. But building Hereward Farms from the ground up has been the first time I’ve felt completely aligned with who I am, how I work, and what lights me up.
I wasn’t “told” to grow lavender, start a farm, or create a brand rooted in nature, sustainability, and care. But the moment I stepped into it, it felt like coming home. Every lavender plant, every product, every customer connection—it all feels like the work I was meant to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://herewardfarm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herewardfarms
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hereward-farms/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herewardfarms/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@herewardfarms2558
Image Credits
Images: Jenna Hunter Photography
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