SAN MIGUEL, Calif. — October 1, 2026 — Seven years ago, Gina and Milton Hambly planted approximately 200 lavender plants on their San Miguel property to answer a practical question: Could lavender withstand the area's extreme heat and limited water? The answer was yes.
That small trial has grown into Hambly Lavender Farm, now home to nearly 5,000 plants across eight varieties, an award-winning essential oil, a year-round line of products made with lavender grown and distilled on the farm, and seasonal experiences that welcome visitors into the fields.
"I never set out to become a lavender farmer. There was no grand master plan," said Gina Hambly. "We needed a crop that could handle the heat and use very little water, so we planted 200 and waited to see what happened. Then customers started asking for products, asking to visit, and telling their friends. That is how the farm grew."
A Practical Experiment Became a Family Business
The Hamblys purchased their 26-acre property in 2017 with plans for orchards and animals. Their children grew up in 4-H and FFA and are the sixth generation of the family raised in the Paso Robles area. After a consultant evaluated the soil, climate, and ongoing drought conditions, lavender emerged as a water-wise crop suited to the land. It could bloom in its first year and be sold fresh or dried, used in culinary products, or distilled into essential oil.
The first crop bloomed in early 2020, just as COVID-19 changed how small businesses reached customers. Gina and Milton began testing recipes, handcrafting small batches of lavender products, and selling through informal pop-ups. Customer feedback shaped a collection that now includes essential oils and handcrafted home, body, and gift products.
Both owners continued working full-time while building the farm as a side business. They reused materials, reinvested what the farm earned, and expanded row by row without taking on debt. Growth had to pay for itself.
Customers Kept Asking to Visit
At nearly every market and pop-up, customers asked whether they could visit the lavender farm. The Hamblys eventually traded the weekly work of hauling products to markets for opening the property to visitors. Seasonal U-Pick days, guided visits, workshops, picnics, and special events followed.
The farm continues to hand-weed, hand-harvest, and distill its lavender on site. In 2025, Milton Hambly, the farm's head distiller, earned a Gold Medal at the International Lavender Oil & Culinary Competition for the farm's Dutch Mill Lavender Essential Oil. It was Hambly Lavender Farm's first competition entry.
A Local Story with Timely Relevance
The seventh anniversary falls during California Farmer and Farmworker Month and the United Nations' 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer. The international observance recognizes women's essential work across agrifood systems, while Gina's experience as a San Miguel farmer, entrepreneur, and active community leader brings that global theme home through a story of resourcefulness, persistence, and community support.
"I did not start farming to make a statement. I was trying to make the next smart decision for our land and our family," Gina said. "But I know how much work women do on farms and behind farm businesses that is easy to overlook. I am proud to be part of that story from our little corner of San Miguel - and very proud of what Milton and I have built together."
Celebrating the People Who Made the Farm Possible
On October 24, Gina and Milton hosted an anniversary dinner on the farm for family and friends who rolled up their sleeves, community partners, and special customers who supported the business from its early pop-ups through today.
As a public anniversary thank-you, the farm also offered The Seventh Is on Us from October 7 through 13. Customers who bought six Lavender Beeswax Lip Balms will receive the seventh free. Seven 0.5 oz tins are $42 instead of $49, a $7 savings for the farm's seventh year. Each was made with local olive oil and beeswax, shea butter, and lavender essential oil distilled on the San Miguel farm.
To read Gina's anniversary story and shop the anniversary offer, visit hamblyfarms.com.
About Hambly Lavender Farm
Hambly Lavender Farm is a family-run farm in San Miguel, California, north of Paso Robles. Founded by Gina and Milton Hambly, the farm grows nearly 5,000 lavender plants across eight varieties. Its lavender is hand-weeded, hand-harvested, and distilled on site for estate-grown essential oils and handcrafted home, body, and gift products. The farm welcomes guests for seasonal U-Pick experiences, guided visits, workshops, and special events. Hambly Lavender Farm creates calm, rooted in everyday life. Learn more at hamblyfarms.com.
