Sylvia and Bill credit the herb farm's growth to several factors, not the least of which is hard work. "This place has taken every bit of energy that Sylvia and I have to make it what it is today," says Bill. "Also, we really study what we're doing, and we have a story to tell."

Perhaps most important, though, is the Varneys' philosophy, which runs deeper than economics. "I've always felt that we were a little bit ahead of our time in having a lifestyle approach to well-being," Sylvia says. "I really believe we'll continue to stay a step ahead because we've never really tried to compete against anybody else — we never thought there were any Joneses to stay ahead of. We just do what we can to make a difference.

"So many companies approach the consumer with the attitude that the consumer is defective," she continues, "and that buying this product or that service will remedy the defects.We don't believe that people are defective but that everyone has potential for growth, be it physical, emotional, or spiritual.We simply proved the place, the fertilizer, for making that happen."

She laughs. "Call it herbal social work."

by:
Christopher Dow
photos by:
Tommy LaVergne

Originally
Published in
Sallyport
The Magazine
of Rice University
Summer 2001

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