Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Farley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ashley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

My business grew rather organically, with a belief that became a lifestyle. With a lifestyle that I wanted to share to expose others to different ways of being. With a lifestyle that transmuted into a brand as I found new ways to share my values (and later my products) with my community.

Shortly after launching my website, I was approached by a friend (shout out to James aka Dat Yoga Dude), who asked if I would like to host a launch party/event. From that notion, The Harvest was created. A plant-based dinner party ‘for open minds and curious palettes’, where I got my first opportunity to flex my chef skills for a large group of friends and community members. The plant-based three course meal was preceded with an appetizer and interactive educational activity, centered around the theme of ‘abundance’ and conceptualizing creative meals with seasonal fruits and vegetables. It was also the first time that I shared my homemade body butters with others, as giveaways at the event.

The Harvest became my flagship event, which I am proud to say has continued annually since 2015, in spite of a worldwide pandemic, some major life changes, and shifts in priorities over the years.

The event has also challenged me to continue to learn, share my passion on a more intimate level, and build up the confidence I have needed to ultimately share with the public the skincare products that I have created for myself, close friends, and family for the past several years.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Around 2008, my mother, a two-time breast cancer survivor, informed me that reproductive cancers run in our family. This made a pretty compelling motivator to find ways to stave off illness as I age by embracing a healthier and more conscious lifestyle. I became truly committed to furthering my own health and wellness in 2014 after watching a compelling documentary. I suffered from severe eczema and alopecia throughout adolescence, conditions that dermatologists and Western medicine seemed to have no remedy for.

I started my journey with education; consuming information to build my own awareness. Then, I felt compelled to share that information with others. This was all a hobby, or a side hustle if you will. My career (life-calling) is that of a social worker, which I’ve been doing for the past 16 years.

A renaissance woman of sorts, I became so steeped in wellness that I became a resource for all things healthy in the lives of those that know me. That has included advising people on how to: go plant-based, create green spaces (both indoors/out), improve sleep, reduce their toxic load, source plant-based recipes, etc. It didn’t occur to me until more recent years that this knowledge and skillset may be of benefit to my community. I have enjoyed curating several events over the years, as well as sharing healthy recipes with kids in community forums and teaching 1:1 cooking classes. I have found ways to incorporate education into my events, as well as in the product line that I created. Ashcooks products are all handmade by me in small batches with ‘hella’ love and intention. They are designed to restore balance/harmony to the user, while taking their senses on a journey with carefully curated aromatic blends. The first product to launch was the Activated Total Body Butter, a unique all-season head to toe moisturizer that is crafted to balance chakras (energy centers in the body). From there, Elemental roll-on blends, sage wands, candles, soaps, lip balms, and a sunscreen followed and yes, they are also natural and plant-based.

As my brand grew, so did my ambition and desire to share my beliefs and products with others.

I am a conscious consumer and think we should all strive to take more caution in choosing our products. I love when people approach me, completely ignorant to the uses for essential oils, or what chakras are. I truly enjoy teaching and am just as happy to connect and engage at events as I am in making a ‘sale’. If, because of me, someone takes additional time to read the labels on their skincare products, or thinks twice before buying artificially fragranced home goods/beauty products, then my job is done!

That said, it’s so rewarding to hear feedback from those that have used my products, on how the soaps and body butters have cleared up their skin issues. or how the Beach Butter (sunblock) protected them from the scorching Vegas sun without leaving that pesky white cast that is a blight on myelinated skin. I no longer suffer from eczema after making key changes in my diet, being mindful of the products I consume, and what I put on my skin. To help others achieve this for themselves and their kids is the best!

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Approachability has been one of my greatest assets. I believe in being fully present and showing up at my best when I commit to an event. This has meant that in recent years, I have had to say ‘no to a few events so that when I say yes, I’m able to show up 100%, fully-engaged. At my best, I am vibrant, energetic, and happy to be outside! (I mean, we were cooped up indoors playing Yahtzee for like, two years!) This energy has had the power to attract others and pique curiosity. This curiosity leads to conversations with community members, who typically assume I may have some food offering (and sometimes I do). Whether I have food or not, my hope is for folks to leave full from their interaction with me, with something to think about for later when they go shopping for their beauty/wellness products in the future.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Consistency with how I show up, with a quality product and professional outset is how I’ve built my reputation. I mentioned earlier that I strive to be approachable and open, laid back and pleasant to talk to. Again, I’m selling ideas as much as I am peddling products. The notion I share is taking charge of your health by building awareness of what contributes to wellness, or illness. With time, I’ve found myself being approached by various organizations and businesses to participate in their markets or events. I commit to what I’m able, while ensuring that if I commit, I’m able to give my all to deliver the consistent energy and products that are ashcooks signatures.

Contact Info:

• Website: ashcooksla.com
• Instagram: @ashcooks
• Facebook: ashcooks
• Yelp: ashcooks llc