Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Busboom. Them and their team share their story with us below:
In July of 2015 Amber Busboom and a friend went to Wimberley Market Days to buy some all-natural Bug Spray from Wimberley Lavender Farm only to find the booth for sale. In a crazy move, they bought the booth together and a handful of recipes and took over from there.
The following year a tree fell on the booth and completely destroyed it. They sold their lavender products out of a tent for a year while they rebuilt with the help of friends, family, and the Lions Club volunteers.
By 2017 they were selling their goods in a couple of local stores Kamaway Market in Wimberley and The Olde Blanco Emporium in Blanco.
In 2019 Amber took full ownership and sold the Market Days booth to lease her own spot in the Wimberley Square.
Last summer the store moved into its new home in the little yellow house on Oak Drive.. they’ve been at this location for just over a year now and it’s just adorable.
· Key features of your business and products
The store has evolved into all the things we think compliment our lavender products; books, teas, honey, and happiness. Its shelves are also sprinkled with handmade jewelry, botanical-themed clothing items, and quirky toys and home decor that support sustainability, wellbeing, and equality. The things that are important to us.
· Epilepsy Foundation
Amber’s son had Epilepsy as a child. He wasn’t a good fit for regular summer camps. He needed to be around adults that could help him if a medical situation came up but these camps aren’t cheap. It costs about $1,250 for a child to attend one of these camps for a week.
He was able to attend one of these specialty summer camps thanks to a sponsorship from the Epilepsy Foundation of Texas. EFTX sponsors several summer camps across Texas, staffed with medical personnel specifically trained to assist children with epilepsy. They do this with the help of generous donors called “Camp Angels”.
Amber wanted Cypress Creek Lavender to be a part of this, after all, Lavender is recognized as the international flower of epilepsy. And Purple is the color of our ribbon. It started small, just $30 a month and then in 2019, we made a pledge that if we could hit a specific number in sales at the Blanco Lavender Festival (our biggest event of the year) we would donate enough to become a Camp Angel and we did! It was our goal to do this every year. Unfortunately, in-person camps were disrupted due to the pandemic. But they’re back in 2022 and we were able to be Camp Angels again this year.
· Details about the farm and current progress
Originally we harvested lavender from the old Wimberley Lavender Farm off FM2325 but as the property changed hands and the lavender died off we were left trying to find alternative suppliers of fresh and dried lavender.
In 2020 Amber and her family bought about 8 acres west of Wimberley and started a homestead where they grow several varieties of lavender in addition to keeping bees and raising chickens and kids (both human and goat). We’re hoping to be able to open the farm to visitors in the near future.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My background and education are in Molecular Biology. I worked as a lab rat in California, New York, and Houston before moving to central Texas to focus on my family.
The thing I’m most proud of is building a life of purpose. Being able to raise my kids and show them what healthy relationships look like, both personal and with work/life balance.
And ultimately, to show them you can always change your path in life to find peace no matter what lemons get thrown at you. – I mix mine with lavender and peppermint to make a killer lip balm. 😉
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Le sigh….
I learned that the general public needs more scientific-based education, full stop.
I learned that people in general long for comfort and security when they are afraid.
This is partly why we traded “city”life for the #farmlife. And why we are trying to build a sustainable and pseudo off-grid homestead. To at least feel as if we have some control over our food and water sources.
The stuff in my store is a bonus. The lavender is soothing, the teas bring us comfort, and books are great when you’ve finished Tiger king and there’s nothing else to watch. (Or the power goes out for a few days.)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cypresscreeklavender.com
