When it comes to second chances, Victoria Lavender owner and farmer Alan Mayfield could write the book. It took not one but two major heart attacks in his mid-fifties to change the trajectory of his life. Today, he’s healthy and the happiest he’s ever been.
Originally from Kent, England, Alan earned a degree in Chemical Engineering and moved to Canada shortly after, beginning a 30-year career in the Canadian lumber industry. He worked in a high-stress, travel-heavy position and suffered a serious heart attack at age 55. Twelve months after returning to work, he suffered a catastrophic heart attack that nearly ended his life – and saw him spend four months in rehab. This second heart attack was his epiphany and set him on the track to where he is today.
“It was a huge thing for me to grasp, figuring out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life,” he says. “For many men, their self-esteem and their being is their job. It can be a struggle to adjust to that new reality, and I was a classic case of that.”
Alan cut ties with life as he knew it and opted for a year at sea on his boat. He sailed around the world, seeing countries like Vietnam and China, countries he had previously seen through very different eyes as a travelling businessman. Life was slower paced, and his body began to heal. He ultimately landed back in BC, on Salt Spring Island, where he rented a place while he pondered his next move. Having lost 60 pounds and given up smoking and drinking, he was in the best shape of his adult life and ready for a new adventure.
After doing some research and getting involved with lavender farming organizations, Alan decided to try his hand at growing the aromatic plant.
“Lavender is associated with a calm, peaceful existence, and that really suited someone who’d had a couple of heart attacks,” he says.
Alan grew up on a farm, gleaning bits of knowledge from his hardworking father. In his youth, he’d had little to do with the fruit orchards to which his father dedicated his life; later in life, it became apparent he’d paid more attention than he thought.
Decided on his new path, Alan headed back into the world to learn about the lavender industry hands on. The first stop was France, which was a bit of a dead end as the French are very protective of their illustrious lavender industry. Undeterred, Alan moved on to Australia and New Zealand, working in exchange for room and board, and the sharing of knowledge. Making friends along the way, he’s since returned several times. Back in BC, he bought land outside Sidney and found that farming was a perfect fit.
“I deeply resent the fact that I didn’t find this life before,” he says. “I didn’t know I was any good at it. That’s my regret – not finding this until I was in my late fifties. I wish I could apologize to my father. I wish he could see me now, walking around in my gumboots. Maybe he’s looking down on me from heaven saying, ‘I told you so.’”
Alan took on the many tasks at hand with his trademark determination, clearing the brush, building fences, ploughing, and planting about 10,000 lavender bushes. From there, the farm grew and, 15 years later, lavender is far from the only thing being cultivated. The farm is open to the public on weekends and thrills visitors with a petting zoo featuring a variety of adorable critters, 15 aviaries of rare peacock and pheasant species, four Great Pyrenees dogs, cats, and other wildlife as far as the eye can see. Alan has a particular interest in the birds, having bred them as a child in Kent. “I think they’re the most beautiful species of the bird family,” he says of his prized ornamental pheasants and white peacocks.
Newer to the farm is goat yoga, which has proven to be wildly popular. In late 2016, Alan suffered a health setback when he had a stroke. He wasn’t sure how his recovery would play out and he worried for the care of the animals, wondering how the farm would keep running as a not-for-profit. A friend suggested goat yoga, having heard of it on a farm in Oregon. Alan was intrigued and did plenty of research before announcing the idea on Facebook. He admits that just like when he was starting out farming, he didn’t know much about yoga, but thought it was an interesting idea.
“In 10 days, we got just over 20,000 hits, so that was a clear sign there was real interest,” he says.
When the newest herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats were born in April 2017, it was unseasonably cold and wet. Alan called upon a seamstress to sew up pajamas for the kids to help keep them warm. And knowing that if they were to survive, they’d need extra love as well, Alan appealed on Facebook and in the media for goat cuddlers. The farm got over 9,000 applications in several hours, forcing Alan and his staff to shut down the ad.
“From then on, we had volunteers pretty much every day. It’s been huge, and it was probably a really good pipeline into the demographic that does yoga,” he says.
There were over 1,200 students registered for the classes last spring. This year, he aims to offer goat yoga for a longer period, having staggered the goat breeding season.
Building on his entrepreneurial spirit, the farm also offers 65 different varieties of lavender products. Two staff members work full time to manufacture the products created for sale, ranging from beauty products to culinary-grade lavender used in ice cream and for gin distilleries. As the farm gets busier, Alan knows he needs to step back a little – but not too much. The farm is his home, and he’s happy to continue to run it on his terms.
“At 72, I want to work smarter, not necessarily harder,” he says.
You can find Alan rushing around, hosting visitors, chatting with staff, caring for the animals, and overseeing more than 30 varieties of lavender during the very busy growing season.
“It’s been a wonderful thing for me. It’s given me a very healthy existence, I’ve got great staff, I get to do whatever I want, and I’ve got my animals. If I were 50, I think I’d do it differently. I’d have five farms and 20 shops and be an idiot, driven business guy just like I was,” he says.
“Sometimes your retirement is dropped on you like a bomb,” says Alan. “None of us are getting out of here alive, so I think I’ve been very fortunate in where I am now. I’ve ended up loving every minute.”
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