Yes, there is a Lori!
This is Lori, owner of Lori’s Original Lemonade.
It started with a lemon tree in the front yard
and three kids who wanted to make some money.
So Lori made some lemonade and the kids set up a stand outside their home in Ojai to sell that lemonade.
It was a big neighborhood hit!
But then Lori had an idea…
…to spruce up that lemonade with some lavender.
She got some lavender from a local farmer, brewed some lavender tea, and infused her lemonade with that delicious lavender flavor.
Soon people–including her three children–
were encouraging Lori to bottle her lemonade.
Mom… you can do it!
So a year ago Lori took a deep breath and jumped into the business.
Recently Bethany (Marketing Director), Mykey (Art Director and Graphics Designer) and I met Lori at New Oak Ranch in Ojai, where Lori gets the lavender for her delicious lemonade. She told us her story and shared her excitement for her wonderful product.
Lori started by selling her lemonade in several Ojai shops, but then decided to expand.
She had a goal to put her three kids through college.
She visited our buyer, Josh, at the Ventura store and was thrilled when he wanted much more than she expected him to order.
Lori uses Organic lemons for her lemonade, as well as Pure Cane Sugar–
No high fructose corn syrup!
Lassen’s is proud to have helped Lori as she was launching her business!
New Oak Ranch
We also got to meet Bill, the owner of New Oak Ranch.
Bill showed us the different kinds of lavender and taught us all about it.
The culinary variety of lavendar is Provence, but Bill also grows the Grosso variety,
which is used for oil.
It takes about 30 lbs of lavender buds (shown here) to make (through steam distilling)
6 oz of oil!
It is used in many kinds of bodycare products.
This beautiful variety, Buena Vista, holds its color and is often used for decorating and in other items that need the color retained.
Bill also showed us his greenhouse where he has propagated (by cuttings) a full crop of new lavender plants.
The cuttings take about 8-10 weeks to be strong enough to be planted.
Bill will soon plant a full field of these new plants.
Bill also grows Olives, Ojai Pixie Tangerines, and Walnuts at his ranch.
With her unique and delicious recipe, Lori is getting rave reviews for her lemonade.
Mykey, Bethany and I decided that heating up the lemonade to soothe a sore throat just might make feeling a little under-the-weather not so terrible!
Stop into Lassens and try LOL–Lori’s Original Lemonade!
Maybe her family motto will rub off on you too:
“Wish It, Dream It, Do It, and Anything is Possible!”
Love,
Lassen’s
PS–and by the way, the drive through the Ojai Valley is spectacular! Take Highway 150 through Ojai and beyond (keep following it and you’ll get to Santa Paula) for a beautiful drive!
I love this lemonaide!