We are so excited to announce that we are now carrying FarmTrue products in our Shanti Shop. FarmTrue is founded by Kim and Lynn, the two California College of Ayurveda alumni who formed a friendship through sharing experiences of the life-changing teachings of Ayurveda. Together a partnership was formed to bring the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda to their families and community, beginning with the transformative power of ghee. We wanted to learn more about how they found the path of Ayurveda and more about their business so we sat down with Kim and Lynn to ask them a few questions.
How did you discover Ayurveda?
Kim: I had first heard of Ayurveda while sitting in a waiting room at Yale Children’s Center listening to Dr. Oz explain to Oprah the healing benefits of Ayurveda. My daughter, who was 7 at the time, had come down with a severe mystery illness that had left her very depleted in both the body and the mind. While waiting for her to come out of an appointment, Dr. Oz was touting the benefits of ghee and it really caught my attention. I went home and began to research ghee and Ayurveda and was blown away by all of the healing benefits. I began to implement ghee into my daughter’s routines immediately and many of her severe symptoms of OCD, along with some ticks and tremors, began to improve within just a few days. I knew I had to learn more.
Lynn: I first learned about Ayurveda during my yoga teacher training. I recall thinking, “Wow, this makes so much sense”! From there, I registered for a workshop locally that was taught by a CCA graduate and master teacher. After this workshop, I felt a strong desire to further my education through CCA in order to learn more and become more empowered in my own health.
What inspired you to study Ayurveda? Why did you choose CCA?
Lynn: After my first workshop, I felt pulled to learn more and I recognized that when I started to implement simple Ayurvedic principles into my routines, I felt better overall. I chose CCA because our teacher had received her education there and the Ayurvedic Health Counselor program seemed like a great fit for me to learn more for myself and to share with others.
Kim: Determined to get my daughter back to a healthy state, I also found a local workshop posting that was taught by the same CCA graduate and master teacher. While it was extremely informative and gave me a foundation to begin implementing some Ayurvedic principles into our lives, it mostly sparked a passion for me to deepen my understanding and knowledge of Ayurveda. It was at this workshop that I met Lynn. She made the decision to study at CCA and she reached out to me to say, “Hey, I’m doing this, do you want to do this together?” It just felt perfect.
What was the most rewarding part of your education?
Kim: Bringing healing to myself, my daughter and my family will always be one of the biggest rewards for choosing to study Ayurveda. Another would be the relationship that I have developed with Lynn over the years. Going on this journey of self-discovery and healing together has brought me so much fulfillment and I wouldn’t change a single moment of it.
Lynn: Our education in Ayurveda has helped me to learn more about myself and implement wellness routines so that I can feel my best in body, mind, and spirit. Beyond that, I love how we’ve been able to connect with others through Ayurveda and grow together.
How did you meet and how did Farmtrue get started?
We met at a local Ayurvedic workshop in 2013. We had a shared desire to learn more about Ayurveda so that we could be more empowered in our own health and wellness and our families. The idea of Farmtrue was sparked when we were in California at CCA for our intensives of the year-long program. We had grown close during the past year of our studies and wanted to be able to share the wisdom of Ayurveda within our own community. We thought that we could use ghee as the vehicle to introduce Ayurveda since ghee had made such an improvement in our own health. However, at the time, ghee was mostly unheard of and very difficult to find on the East Coast. We met with a farmer that had the values we were looking for and began producing our own ghee with butter from his grass-fed cows. Soon after we started selling in farmers markets and it really took off! Not only were people interested in learning about ghee they were really excited to hear about Ayurveda.
How has your business grown since your launch in 2014?
Since 2014, we have expanded our product line to include an entire self-care line including body oils, Nasya, and pulling oil as well as offering kitchari and digestive teas and spices to align with dosha and season. In 2017, we built a facility that includes space for production, offices, and shipping as well as a beautiful space to hold workshops.
Why did you choose to start Farmtrue with ghee?
We chose ghee because it is such an important part of Ayurvedic medicine and it has made such a big impact on our own health. We also thought that it would be an interesting way to introduce Ayurveda within our community at local farmers markets. Many people were drawn to our table initially to learn about the culinary aspects of ghee but left contemplating the health benefits. It really was a wonderful way to gently introduce Ayurveda, something that was very foreign to most people in our area at the time.
What product is Farmtrue’s most popular and why?
Ghee, of course! Because we’ve stayed committed to sourcing the highest quality USDA organic, grass-fed butter, we have both loyal and new customers that can taste the difference in our ghee vs other brands. A close second would be our fix stick, a ghee-based all-over balm that helps nourish all of your dry spots. It is a customer favorite, where often they have several around the house, at work, in the car, etc.
How do you balance running a business and living an Ayurvedic lifestyle?
It’s definitely a work in progress! We both help to balance each other and remind ourselves of the purpose and passion behind why we started our business. We aren’t in this business to be the largest Ayurvedic lifestyle brand. We try to always come back to our mission, which is to spread the wisdom of Ayurveda, one person at a time.
What has been the most rewarding part about sharing/providing Ayurvedic products and knowledge?
We love seeing how our customers light up when learning about Ayurveda just as we do! When they implement Ayurvedic routines into their lives, they see a difference in how they feel. When they share their stories of healing, that is extremely rewarding. We love being a part of a community of wellness seekers.
What advice would you give someone who is just discovering an Ayurvedic lifestyle?
Be patient with yourself. Learning and implementing lifestyle changes takes time and it is a lifelong journey. Also, try not to go it alone. Having people to talk to along the way can be very supportive and help with lifestyle changes. We love it when we can be that community for people.
What advice would you give current CCA students who are starting their practice or business?
Listen to what feels best to you and trust in your knowledge. Ayurveda gives you everything you need. When we were studying at CCA we felt a bit unsure of how to best utilize our education. We wanted to make a difference and that could be accomplished in many ways. We entertained a lot of options including meeting with clients individually to support them on their wellness journey. Ultimately, sharing Ayurveda through a wellness product line with ghee at the center of it felt most authentic and energizing to us. Whether you are starting a practice, a podcast, or creating a product line, staying true to the why behind your work is the most important thing. The how will follow.
Being in business for 7 years now, what do you predict for Ayurveda in the future?
We see that Ayurveda is definitely growing in popularity. With health being at the forefront of everyone’s mind, especially during this pandemic, we believe that more people will look to Ayurveda to balance their mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. We see the need for even more supportive Ayurvedic communities and hope that Farmtrue will continue to be a positive influence and resource for anyone seeking this path.
Dr. Marc Halpern, Kim, and Lynn recently sat down to have a conversation about Ayurveda, Ayurvedic practices, and business. You can watch the video here.