From a 0.1-Acre Backyard to Luxury Products

The very beginning - April 2020

I didn't set out to build a wellness brand. I set out to grow things, to cultivate a deeper connection with the earth and the plants that flourish within it.

My property in the San Gabriel Valley of California is small, just a tenth of an acre, but I've never treated it that way. In fact, I have come to regard it as a vibrant and dynamic ecosystem, a sanctuary where life thrives. Over the years, it's transformed into a working homestead, where raised beds brim with seasonal vegetables, galvanized stock tanks serve as makeshift ponds for aquatic plants, and fabric grow bags are lined up in every sun-drenched corner I can find.

I've planted a variety of fruit trees: pomegranate, peach, apple, plum, and olive, each one a testament to the passing seasons and the care I’ve poured into them. I spend my mornings in this verdant paradise before anything else in the day competes for my attention, hands buried in the rich, dark soil, checking on the herbs that burst with flavor and fragrance, contemplating what’s ready to harvest and what still needs time to mature.

That intimate relationship with plants is where Purple Jade Luxury Products actually started, long before it had a name or a brand identity. It was born from a passion for nurturing life and a desire to share the benefits of nature's bounty with others.

I come from a lineage of women who understood plants not only as sources of nourishment but also as powerful medicine and vessels of memory. This kind of knowledge, rich and profound, doesn't usually find its way into books or formal teachings. Instead, it is passed hand to hand, batch to batch, through generations of people who trusted their senses and instincts over the confines of a recipe card. The very first product I ever crafted was a salve, thoughtfully formulated for a family member who lives with chronic pain. Witnessing the tangible relief that plants could bring to someone I love transformed this endeavor from a mere hobby into a profound responsibility, a calling to share what I had learned.

Starting Purple Jade in 2019 was my way of making that responsibility official, a commitment to honor the plants and the wisdom of my ancestors by channeling it into something meaningful.

Situation in 2026 (at the time this is being published): sweet potatoes, tomatoes and a small variety of flowers and herbs

The brand is plant-based by design, not merely as a trendy marketing term but as a steadfast rule I hold myself to with unwavering dedication. If it goes into a Purple Jade product, I can tell you exactly what plant it came from and articulate the reason for its inclusion. There are no filler ingredients, no vague claims designed to mislead, and no attempts to dress up a formulation to sound more sophisticated than it truly is. This rigorous standard has shaped everything from the herbal elixir line to a thoughtfully curated collection of bath salts inspired by the healing properties of various stones.

Community access sits right alongside that plant-based standard as a core part of why this business exists. Wellness products are often priced and marketed for individuals who already have access to wellness resources, creating a barrier for many. I envision Purple Jade working in the opposite direction, establishing a give-back program aimed at underserved communities and ultimately making our products available at farmers markets in a way that welcomes SNAP and EBT shoppers; not just those who can already afford specialty pricing. This commitment to inclusivity is integral to the mission of the brand.

Purple Jade Luxury Products offers clean, plant-based topicals

Right now, I find myself in the midst of proving out that vision at a practical level. I hold an active NRCS EQIP contract through 2032, which has driven me to build out tangible infrastructure on this modest property. This includes a rainwater collection system and a cistern-fed irrigation system powered by solar energy, which supports various growing zones throughout my homestead. It’s slow, hands-on work, and it has taught me as much about patience and perseverance as any other aspect of this business journey. The next step involves converting my garage into a dedicated manufacturing studio to streamline the process. A one-woman operation on a tenth-of-an-acre doesn’t scale itself; it scales because you consistently show up, keep building, and continually advocate for the resources that align with the work you’re already doing.

Me, at a Glendora area pop-up event in 2024

The honest state of Purple Jade today is that of a plant-based wellness brand deeply rooted in inherited knowledge and cultivated, quite literally, from the ground up on my small San Gabriel Valley property. It is run by someone who is also managing a full-time job Monday through Friday, because that’s the reality of building something real and meaningful for most of us. It’s a balancing act of passion and practicality, of dreams and daily responsibilities.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my story and the journey of this brand. There’s so much more to come, and I look forward to revealing the next chapters soon.