Meet Sarah Cowan: Owner of The Herb Farm shares insights on natural skincare, family, and business
Meet Sarah Cowan from The Herb Farm. The Herb Farm fuses the power of nature with a deep knowledge of traditional herbs and their own special alchemy to create 100% natural skincare and wellness products. Here Sarah shares the fascinating story behind her business, her personal journey and her family.
OHbaby!: Tell us about yourself
My name is Sarah Cowan and I am the Managing Director of The Herb Farm. I was born and raised in Ashhurst, Manawatu and spent most of my childhood obsessing about horses, and then competing in eventing and show-jumping around the country. After a stint overseas as an international model, I returned back to my roots! I am an animal and nature lover, enjoy losing myself in a good novel, playing football and spending time with my family.
OHbaby!: What does your family look like?
I am married to my teenage-sweetheart, Adam, who owns the business with me, but works as a builder and general jack-of-all-trades. We have two beautiful children, football fanatic Taj (11), and our dancing and gymnastics queen, Sia (8).
OHbaby!: What is your business and what does it do/sell?
Our business is The Herb Farm and we handcraft on-site 100% natural herbal skincare and wellness products. Including safe and effective products for Mums-to-be, Mums, babies and children. We grow our own herbs in our 2-acres of themed gardens, create herbal extracts from them and use these in our products. You can also visit The Herb Farm in the Manawatu, we have a café, retail shop and gardens to relax and reconnect with nature in.
OHbaby!: What is the story behind your business?
The Herb Farm was founded in 1993 by my mother, and Herbalist, Lynn Kirkland. She had a passion to share the power of herbs and nature that she had discovered through her studies and first-hand experiences of healing. All our products are formulated by Lynn, drawing on her 30+ years of traditional herbal wisdom, and new innovations.
I grew up with the business and in 2006 bought into the company and became CEO. It has been a roller-coaster of a journey with many highs and lows (Lynn wrote a book about our journey this year for our 30th anniversary). In 2021 Adam and I bought the entire business and are excited about continuing the legacy for our family.
OHbaby!: What does a day in the life of you look like?
Generally, weekdays have a regular rhythm to them, we homeschool (natural learning) our children, so they are either with grandparents or with Adam or I during the day (we work 4 days a week each to enable this). After work we are at kid’s sport and activities most nights, then home for dinner, a quick relax and bed! I volunteer at our local Football Club and Academy as well, so evenings are often doing administration around that once the kids are in bed.
OHbaby!: What is your favourite thing about your business?
Being able to make a tangible difference in people’s lives – through our natural products and sharing our knowledge and experiences. I get a buzz every time we get an amazing review or testimonial of how a product has helped someone – that’s what the business is all about for me.
OHbaby!: Favourite product?
So hard to choose one! I can’t go without the Transforming Bakuchiol Face Oil at the moment – it is the only face oil I have used that doesn’t make me break-out and I love that it has similar skin benefits to retinol but without the negative side effects (and it is safe for pregnancy).
I add a couple of drops to my face cream morning and night and my skin loves it!!
OHbaby!: Any fun stories you would like to share?
When I was modelling in Milan, I couldn’t be without my Nourish & Glow Face Cream – and Mum would send it over to me. However, the Italy post was notorious for “missing parcels” and sometimes they wouldn’t turn up – we used to laugh thinking that some Italian postman was enjoying the rose scented face cream!
OHbaby!: What is one thing you said you wouldn’t do as a parent that you totally do?
Before having children, I said I wouldn’t use a pacifier – well that went out the window! Both my kids loved the pacifier and when travelling or in those unsettled times, it worked – and that was worth the piece of mind! The ‘Pacifier Fairy’ did have to come and visit in the end, but that worked as well 😊
