Mission

Our mission is simple: we are building a profitable botanical enterprise that puts West Virginians and reclaimed coal mine land back to work.

Some call this a “triple bottom line” business model, where positive impacts on people, profit and the planet are valued equally.

People

We offer flexible employment to people who, due to substance use issues, prior incarceration, lack of transportation, and/or lack of a high school diploma have limited opportunities for decent-paying jobs.

We are hiring and training previously unemployed or underemployed workers, some of whom lost their jobs during the coal industry (and larger energy industry) downturn over the past several years. We are also hiring young adults with little or no prior formal work experience. Our only formal job requirements are that workers be at least 18 years of age and able to pass a drug test. We pay above minimum wage.

Because our workers often face multiple barriers to employment, we’ve teamed with outside organizations to provide needed support services that help our workers keep these jobs. And we’ve provided a few support services of our own such as transportation, meals, and clothing.

Last, but definitely not least, our farm is a beautiful and rewarding place to work: our workers love working outdoors in fields filled with lavender surrounded by rolling hills. (Okay, so the Wi-Fi isn’t great up there, but we’re working on that!)

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Profit

Lavender has a wide variety of uses and lavender grown using organic practices (like the ones we practice) are especially valued by consumers.

Our target market is the conscious consumer willing to pay premium prices for high quality, healthy, and environmentally and socially responsible products. Our strong West Virginia brand identity will appeal not only to local and regional residents, but also to the large numbers of visitors who stop in Southern West Virginia on their way to and from the Southeast, Midwest, Northeast, and Canada.

Our success turning lavender into value-added products also provides financial benefit to coal mine operators. Coal mine operators are legally required to restore the land they have mined. For each site mined, operators put up hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in reclamation bonds, money they do not recover until the land is deemed to be restored and productive. In West Virginia, the most common reclamation method is reforestation, an expensive and time-consuming process. Growing lavender has the potential to rapidly accelerate reclamation bond release. Growing lavender also means revenue in the form of annual rent and royalties for coal mine land owners. It’s a win-win-win situation.

Planet:

Lavender thrives in the rocky soil typically found on a reclaimed coal mine site. It is drought and pest resistant, requires only a tiny amount of organic chicken fertilizer during planting, and can be grown successfully without the use of pesticides. When we watch our honeybees forage in our lavender fields, we know that we are helping to protect a species whose numbers have fallen dramatically in recent years. 

We Believe In

Creating opportunity for all, regardless of social or economic status.
Helping people overcome barriers to employment.
Honoring our commitments.

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Invest

Lavender farm investor

While our goal is for Appalachian Botanical Co. to be funded in West Virginia, by West Virginians, we’ll gladly talk to anyone who shares our commitment to growing opportunity in the Mountain State. If you would like to invest in us, or learn more about this investment opportunity, please click here to send us a message. Our mission is to build a profitable botanical enterprise that puts West Virginians and reclaimed coal mine land back to work.

Our brand is built on the strength of our people, place and products—what some refer to as a “triple bottom line” philosophy.

•   Since 2019, we’ve been growing lavender at commercial scale on reclaimed coal mine land in Boone County, WV. The plants—and our bees—love it up there on Ashford Hill.

•   So do our workers, most of whom come from Boone County.

•   We use organic farming practices. No pesticides, no chemicals—ever.

•   We produce our high-quality aromatherapy, body care, culinary and home products locally.

Since 2018 we’ve been recruiting and training a local workforce to put reclaimed coal mine land to good use. We have 35 acres of lavender under cultivation with plans to expand to up to 120 acres in the next two years. We have a 15-year lease on this land—so we’re not going anywhere anytime soon.

We’ve achieved revenue and we’re building a strong regional brand with excellent potential as a national brand, so please contact us if you would like to invest in us and our mission.

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