Stephanie Craig is the owner of Tullamore Lavender Co (TLC), a small-scaled lavender farm located in Mapleton. What started as a small test plot of 100 plants in 2021, they now boast over 4,000 plants. TLC is located within the territory of the Anishinabek Nation, Saugeen Ojibway Nation, and the Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
"I found the programme easy to access. This was open to sole-proprietorship and had a lot less barriers."
In 2021, Stephanie and partner Steven Larmer wanted to open their farm to Tourism, effectively shifting their business model to agri-tourism. “After receiving funding for a study grant through Mapleton, we worked with architecture students to create design around the farm and how to open for agri-tourism”, Stephanie recalled. “The Community Improvement Programme supported different elements of different process to opening up the farm”, she added.
By engaging and supporting landscape architecture students, Stephanie was able to complete the studies required for their building permit and eventually build TLC to what it is today. “We had to put in infrastructure and start from scratch when it came to Agri-Tourism. We were taking a blank landscape and turning it into an accessible campus for people to visit”, Stephanie answered, when asked what led her to join the programme. “[the programme] met us where we needed to be, and we learned to pivot our asks to complete aspects of the project. We were able to put out things very professionally and properly instead of DIY-ing it”, she added. As of the interview, Stephanie was happy to report that they are receiving a growing number of visitors. TLC also hosts the Lavender Bloom Festival that happens in June.
When asked if she can share a memorable moment during the programme, she responded with “We made the choice to invest on a flagstone pathway. [It] was a very expensive choice; but when I saw how many kids loved jumping from stone to stone, it was unintended, but it brought so much joy. In that moment I realized it was worth it; and the programme helped fund that.”
Stephanie closes the interview by stating “I found the programme easy to access. This was open to sole-proprietorship and had a lot less barriers.”