Today we’d like to introduce you to Shauna Duncan.
Hi Shauna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Originally from Florida, I’m a countrywoman who enjoys the farm life. I moved to Georgia with my husband seven years ago into a quiet new development outside of Savannah. Soon enough we had close neighbors and after spending 4 years in the suburbs we decided it was time to get back to our country roots.
We began the long search for the perfect plot of property. I wanted horses, and my husband wanted to fish, and between us, we were wanting country quiet with neighbors a bit further away, and of course every land owners dream, the potential to earn revenue.
We decided very early that whatever we purchased, it had to have the potential to provide a better than normal return, but also with the both of us working, allow for us to work toward that over time. We did a lot of research on different land use ideas and ultimately we decided that growing lavender was an option that was worthwhile looking at. Of course, a better than normal return typically makes it a whole lot harder to achieve, but we were determined to give it a shot. I joined the lavender growers association, and took some time to visit some farms around the country. We did a lot of research to identify land that was best suited, because lavender is not supposed to grow very well here in south Georgia.
After months and months of weekends looking at properties, we finally found our place, and we were both sold in a heartbeat. It was a bit further out of Savannah than we really wanted, but checked every other box.
As we were finalizing sales, the seller told us that they wanted to leave their existing herd of goats and other farm animals. And that was the start of our interest in goats.
I quickly became very attached but the problem was, the herd we inherited were breeders for the meat industry. I wasn’t too happy about that, and while we hadn’t anticipated raising goats, we did enjoy it, To keep doing this, we decided to move to a milking herd. We sold our meat goats to a friend, and brought in our first Nubian does. Since then have been working on growing our herd, with a focus on strong bloodlines.
Through this, we were looking at how we were going to be able to use the various products we were producing to generate revenue. I love arts and crafty type work so started to look at making soaps. At first, this was something I did to make use of some of our product, for friends and family. Toward the end of 2020, I decided it was time to get serious and increase focus. I had developed some fragrances from various essential oils, and started to produce a lot more soap. I completed my candling course and attended my first market in April 2021 selling soaps and a colorful range of eggs. By November I was working full-time on the farm milking goats, collecting eggs and producing signature soaps along with sprays and other products.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
On a farm, there are always going to be challenges, but that’s what makes it all so rewarding. The lavender has always been, and will always be a crop that is very difficult to grow here in South Georgia. It is always disappointing to walk the rows and discover a plant that was doing so well, suddenly just die. Over time we have trialed different types of lavender, and different planting methods. It will always be disappointing to lose plants, but now we replant, and we move on. We expect that over the next five years we will continue to be experimenting with different types of lavender, and the way we grow them.
Livestock is a whole new challenge. In moving to goats I thought we were going to be raising animals that would eat anything, and were hardy and strong. I quickly found out they are completely the opposite. They are fussy and sensitive animals. The fussy I can deal with, I spoil them and treat them with the best, but the sensitivity is my biggest stress. I have had to learn all about everything that can go wrong with a goat, and all the treatments to keep them healthy and strong. They have no schedule for getting sick, so outside of everything else we do, these are the days that are the most challenging.
I love making the products I make, Everything from the branding, the look and feel that lead up to having a product ready for the market. That means any new range has to be produced, cured and inspected before it is considered for sale and they aren’t always successful.
Like any business, a big challenge for us has been our entry to market, We have attended many different types of events and found that some are much more successful than others. Some events are just not for us, and understanding that has been a journey.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Camhanaich Farm?
Camhanaich (pronounced “kav’-an-ach”) is Scottish Gaelic meaning ‘Early Morning Twilight” and we named the farm for the amazing dawns. I handcraft a range of artisan products on the farm including signature soaps, body butters, shower steamers, sprays and more. My products are made from scratch and do not include melt and pour or premade bases soap. They are produced in small batches, are plant based and cruelty free, and use only plant oils that are natural or from certified sustainable farming. My products are uniquely formulated with pure essential oils and ingredients sourced from the most trusted of suppliers, and include lavender and fresh goat milk produced here on Camhanaich Farm.
“Dreamer” is my signature Lavender essential oil goat milk soap, and is named for the calming effects of Lavender.
“Sunshine” carries a hint of lemon and “Her” with a combination of Rose and Lavender has been described as sweet honey.
My earthier tones include “Him”, “Legend” and “Lucky”, each with its own special combinations of lavender and other essential oils including sandalwood, spearmint and others. All of my signature fragrances are available in body butters, body and room sprays, lip balms, shower steamers and essential oil blends. My products are also available in seasonal gift sets and special orders can be produced for events.
I also sell dried lavender bunches and lavender buds from Lavender grown on our farm, and source and sell a range of pure essential oils, lavender, and soap related products from trusted suppliers.
Camhanaich Farm regularly attends events in Savannah, Tybee, Statesboro and Richmond Hill. All of our products are also available on our website, and farm fresh eggs are available for pickup at the farm.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters to me is that my customers are getting the quality they desire. My soaps are a labor of love, and not all soaps are produced equal. I encourage anybody purchasing soap to ask the questions they need to ensure they are getting the quality they desire. After all, an investment in a good soap is an investment in your skin. At Camhanaich Farm, we use REAL Farm Fresh Goat Milk, pure essential and absolute oils, and plant based oils as a base to produce a soap that we believe is of the highest quality.
Pricing:
- Soap bars – $9.00
- Body Butters – $15.00
- Sprays – From $9.00
- Gift Sets – From $19.00
- Farm fresh eggs – $5.00/dozen
Contact Info:
- Email: shauna@camhanaichfarm.com
- Website: www.camhanaichfarm.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/camhanaichfarm
- Facebook: facebook.com/CamhanaichFarm
Image Credits
Shauna Duncan
