Business & Friendship

Rooted in Friendship: The Story of Mentorship, Lavender, and Carrying a Legacy Forward

Some of the best things in life begin with a simple question, a generous gesture, or someone willing to share what they know. Sometimes, those small beginnings grow into something much bigger than we ever imagined. For me, that something began with lavender—and a woman named Beth who would become my mentor, friend, and now, an important part of the story of Methow Valley Lavender.

Where It All Began

When I first started dreaming about growing lavender, I searched online for lavender farms near us. At the time, Beth’s farm, Down By The River Lavender, was the closest one I could find. She was the first person I called to ask a very simple question: Would lavender even grow in my part of the Methow Valley?

Beth didn’t just answer my question. She invited me to her farm.

She walked me through the things I needed to know, sharing her experience with plant varieties, weed barrier, pruning, harvesting, and all the little details that can make the difference between a struggling plant and a thriving field. She offered the kind of practical knowledge that comes only from years of getting your hands dirty, learning through experience, and figuring things out season by season.

And when that first spring arrived and my lavender plants looked decidedly dead, I did what any new lavender farmer might do. I sent Beth a picture.

She talked me through it.

That was the beginning of a relationship built on trust, encouragement, and a willingness to help someone else find their footing. I was learning how to grow lavender, but I was also learning something about the kind of person I wanted to be in this industry.

Beth of Down By The River Lavender teaching Monica of Methow Valley Lavender lavender steam distillation techniques in Wenatchee, WA.

A Mentor Who Always Said Yes

Over the years, Beth became the person I called when I had a question, needed advice, or found myself in a bit of a lavender-growing predicament.

She distilled our lavender for us until this year, and she taught me how to distill it myself. When you’re learning a new skill, there’s something reassuring about having someone experienced standing beside you, showing you how it’s done and helping you feel confident enough to try it on your own.

This year, I found myself calling her in a bit of a panic. Our harvest was so abundant that there was simply no way we were going to get it all distilled in time. We had more lavender than we could manage, and I wasn’t sure what we were going to do.

Beth’s response was just like so many of her responses over the years: “Bring it over,” or “I’ll come pick it up. I’m happy to help however I can.”

She has a way of making generosity feel like the most natural thing in the world. No fuss, no keeping score. Just a willingness to show up and help.

Beth is a shining example of community over competition. She understands that there is room for all of us to grow, that sharing knowledge strengthens an entire industry, and that another farmer’s success doesn’t diminish our own.

That spirit has shaped the way I think about my own business. I hope to carry it forward, because the lavender community is richer when we support one another.

Learning From One of the Best

Beth is widely regarded as an expert in our part of the country and well beyond it. She’s shared her knowledge with farmers across the country—she’s even spoken to farmers in New York, for goodness’ sake! At regional lavender meetings, when a technical question came up, Beth was often the person everyone turned to.

She has spent years building her knowledge, refining her craft, and developing a successful business. But what has always stood out to me is that she doesn’t keep that knowledge to herself. She shares it freely, helping other growers avoid mistakes, solve problems, and become better at what they do.

That kind of mentorship is a gift. It gives you more than information or a shortcut through a difficult problem. It gives you the confidence to keep going when things feel uncertain.

As Methow Valley Lavender has grown, I’ve found myself drawing on so much of what Beth taught me. From growing and harvesting to distilling and making products, her influence has been woven into my own journey in ways both big and small.

I’m grateful for every conversation, every bit of advice, every load of lavender she helped us distill, and every time she reminded me that I didn’t have to figure everything out on my own.

Passing the Torch

Lavender artistically captured by Amy Pasley at Methow Photography, in Carlton, WA.

Earlier this year, Beth approached me about purchasing her business as she prepared to move on to other endeavors.

My feelings were a mix of gratitude, excitement, and a little sadness. I was thrilled by the opportunity, but there was also the realization that my mentor was stepping down from a business she had spent a decade building. Down By The River Lavender was more than a collection of products and equipment. It represented years of hard work, creativity, relationships, and a whole lot of lavender-scented memories.

I wanted to honor that.

Beth thoughtfully crafted a transition plan to help me take over the business. She developed a training schedule so she could teach me her formulas, explain her processes, and make sure I had the knowledge I needed to continue producing the products her customers knew and loved.

With each training session, I hauled a little more home: manufacturing equipment, bottles, caps, ingredients, books, and all the other pieces that make a product-based business work. Little by little, her lavender shed emptied as the tools of her trade found a new home with me.

It was a practical transition, of course, but it was also something more meaningful. Every trip represented another piece of knowledge being shared, another responsibility being entrusted to me, and another step toward carrying her work forward.

One of my favorite memories from this season was an afternoon when my son, Ben, Beth, and her son spent time making bath bombs and eating sushi. It was a lovely reminder that businesses are built by people, not just processes. Behind every formula and every product is a person, a family, a story, and a collection of moments that make the work worthwhile.

Beth & Ben making bath bombs.

I feel incredibly fortunate that this transition has allowed room for all of those things—for learning, laughter, friendship, and the passing along of something Beth has worked so hard to build.

A Business Built on Relationships

One of the things I admire most about Beth is her business acumen. She knows her craft, understands her customers, and has built a thriving business through years of thoughtful work and dedication.

Purchasing her product line and wholesale business is an opportunity I don’t take lightly. I’m excited to continue the work she began and grew, and I’m honored to serve the wonderful customers who have trusted her over the years.

Lip Balm production at Methow Valley Lavender in Carlton, WA.

I also understand that trust isn’t something that transfers automatically with a business purchase. It has to be earned.

For those of you who were customers of Beth’s, I want you to know how glad I am that you’re here. I look forward to filling your orders, getting to know your businesses, and building relationships with you over time. If I’ve already had the opportunity to fill an order for you, thank you. I’m grateful you gave me the chance.

I know that you have choices about where you source your products, and I want you to feel confident choosing Methow Valley Lavender.

As I take on this new chapter, a few things are especially important to me:

• Quality comes first. Maintaining the level of quality Beth established is of the utmost importance to me. I want you to receive products you can feel good about offering to your own customers.
• Timely, dependable shipping. I understand that your orders are part of your own business plans. You need products to arrive when you expect them, with competitive shipping options and careful handling along the way.
• Clear communication. You deserve thoughtful, responsive communication and to know where things stand with your orders.
• Your satisfaction matters. I want you to feel cared for, respected, and confident in working with us. Your feedback is welcome, and I’m committed to doing my best to meet your needs.

I know there will be plenty to learn as I settle into this role, and I’m approaching it with both humility and enthusiasm. My goal is to honor what Beth built while bringing my own care, experience, and commitment to the work.

Most of all, I hope to earn your trust, one order at a time.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

There’s something beautiful about the way knowledge and experience are passed from one person to another. A farmer teaches another farmer how to tend a field. A maker shares a formula with someone who will continue crafting the product. A mentor offers encouragement, and eventually, the person who once asked all the questions finds herself in a position to help someone else.

That’s how a legacy grows.

It isn’t simply about keeping a business running or making sure the shelves stay stocked. It’s about preserving the values, care, and relationships that made the business special in the first place.

Beth has given me so much more than the opportunity to purchase a product line. She’s given me years of guidance, a model of generous leadership, and a friendship I treasure. Her willingness to share what she knows has helped shape not only my business, but also the kind of business owner I aspire to be.

I’m excited to see where this next chapter takes us. Methow Valley Lavender is growing in new directions, and welcoming this wholesale business into our family of lavender offerings is a meaningful part of that growth.

To Beth, thank you. Thank you for answering that first phone call, inviting me to your farm, sharing your expertise, helping me through the hard moments, and trusting me with something you’ve worked so hard to build. I’m cheering you on as you turn toward new adventures, and I hope you know how much your generosity has meant to me.

And to our customers, whether you’ve been with Beth for years or are just finding your way to us, welcome. I’m so glad our paths have crossed. I look forward to serving you with care, producing quality products, and building the kind of relationships that make doing business feel a little more like being part of a community.

With love & lavender,

P.S. If you’re a small retailer and would like more information about our wholesale program, please visit our wholesale page at Methow Valley Lavender.