We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Leslie Brown a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Leslie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I love to tell this story… because I didn’t name Haven. Haven told me her name.

In 2016 I whispered a simple prayer “God, how can my life and my family be of service to this community?” The next morning I awoke to what felt like an audible answer in my heart. The answer was “Go and buy land” I had no idea WHY, or what in the world I would do with this land, but I knew I needed to find it.

We searched all over for a plot that would fit within our budget. And then, one day my dad asked me if I would ride out and take a look at a piece of land he had found. It was out of my budget and bigger than I felt like we could maintain. But I went anyway. When we pulled into the rugged dirt driveway on this barren piece of grass I got out of the car – just knowing there was no way this could be the place. But – once again – an almost audible voice echoed through my bones… I heard the word – “HAVEN”. I didn’t know how we would attain this land or what we would do with it, but I knew this was the place.

After we purchased the land we began growing crops here and just taking one day at a time to see what instructions might unfold. As the years progressed we began farming hemp and leaned into learning how to cultivate the land…thus the name Haven “Farm” was born. As we moved from growing hemp into producing hemp based products, we started attending pop-up markets where we met THE hardest working people in America. And we dreamed about how we could pour back into them. Show off their unique talents. Offer them space.

There was an old abandoned house on the farm and we dreamed of turning into a one room shop where these local makers could have their goods and we could sell our products from the farm. Along the way we realized that in order to be able to give back to the community in the deepest ways, we would need more revenue than produce, eggs and hemp would provide – so we decided to build a venue. I like to tell people, the Wedding and Event venue is the “how” to our “why”. Hosting private events, parties and weddings allows us to run the farm in a manner that provides a space for the community to enjoy – for free.

As we have leaned into the name Haven, we have become her. Haven Farm is a place where families come to get outside and off the screens. Where kids come and roll in the grass, play with the animals, and get dirty. Where people come to unwind and reconnect with nature. It’s both quiet and full of fun – buzzing with some activity every day. Blooming with the seasons in colors of new life.

What we learned while living on and working the land, is that nature has a cure for pretty much everything. For anxiousness and worry- she offers a calming reminder that abundance and provision are everywhere. For ailments in your body – she offers plants and foods to nourish you on every level. For the noise and distraction of society- she offers a peaceful glimpse into the world of oneness where everything works together to hold balance. It’s an invitation to remember the things we have forgotten, and return to things that are simple. Things that hold a certainty and safety, that create a Haven to rest in.

That is what this place is about. Sure – we have festivals and activities, weddings and parties. Donkeys that hee-haw and goats that head butt each other all day. It’s busy in its own beautiful kind of way. But yet – there is a quietness we all long for. Here – everything and everyone are on level ground. Everyone belongs. Everyone is safe. Everyone has a place here. THAT is Haven.

Leslie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Our family began growing hemp in 2019 out of a desire to bring understanding and awareness to the brilliant plant medicine which is cannabis. Our son, Jeremiah, became our lead grower while he was still in high school. From those crops we produced high quality CBD products to help with various health issues. We would set up at local pop up markets where we met some of the most incredible makers and businesses.

While developing the hemp business we developed a desire to help these other small businesses as well. So. we decided to remodel an old run down house on our farm and turn it into a one room shop that has now become a hub in our community for local makers to showcase their products. People come from everywhere to enjoy local goods, plants, foods and snacks, ice cream, coffee, adult beverages, and spend some time with the animals and the outdoors. We host weekly workshops and classes for kids and families, yoga and wellness classes, and community themed events for the public.

We also decided to build a larger facility that could host private events, weddings, and parties. Our modern barn is whitewashed with high ceilings and a custom chandelier designed from one of the trees we had to remove in the building process. Guests enjoy the indoor outdoor experience on beautiful days as the glass doors that flank the sides can open for a free flowing experience. Whether they are hanging out near the fire pit, or watching a beautiful sunset, Haven is the perfect place to enjoy an event that is family friendly, laid back, and creatively curated.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I offer this learning with both gratitude and grace, as I know that everyone is doing their best with what they know and are taught. My lesson – was about setting priorities that align with my soul, and keeping the main thing…the main thing.

I was raised in a retail family business that is nearly 60 years old now. That business was built on a lot of hard work and a knack for entrepreneurship. It was built on a model of keeping profitability as the main goal and target. Now – that sounds sensible for sure, because what business can be successful without being profitable? But the one thing I always struggled with, was making “money” the main goal of my day to day focus. I woke up each day with a “number” in mind that I had to hit, or a labor budget I had to hold to. What I noticed – in myself – is that that just didn’t feel right to me. I couldn’t get motivated by it. I didn’t feel fulfilled by it. I knew there was something more important that I needed to focus on.

What I felt deeply as I moved throughout my days, was that the MOST important thing to focus on – was the PEOPLE. Both the people who worked IN our business, and the people who shopped FROM our business. Without them – there WAS no business. I became acutely aware that the most valuable asset our business had… was people. So I began to shift my focus each morning from sales goals and targets, to checking in on our people. If THEY were healthy, happy and fulfilled – the business would thrive, and the customers would have an exceptional experience. If our people were struggling…so was our business.

As I’ve moved into my own space now and we are creating a legacy for our own family, we made the intentional shift towards a business model to focus on “people first”. Meaning – we value people, their gifts, and their experiences above all else. We sow into our team. We allow them space to create and work within roles that are molded to their strengths. They love coming to work. Our team is collaborative and happy. And… that means our guests and customers feel it too. We create an energy together that buzzes with joy and appreciation for one another.

That model extends to our guests and how we set goals for the business as a team. The instruction that I was given was “Keep community the target – and abundance will be the overflow” So the first thing our team asks when we are looking at a new idea, product, or event is – “does this add value to people’s lives?” If the answer is yes, we move on to the next and secondary question – which is “will this help Haven to be profitable and successful”.

We honor both things – but we keep the main thing… the main thing. People over profit. People over everything. THAT is what community is about. And community – is what we are building here.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Absolutely. I have read many great books, but the one that shifted my life and the way I approach business and management most, is “Start with Why” by Simon Sinek. This book walks you through a discovery of what really lights you up inside, helps to unpack the things you’ve been programmed to believe about work and career, and points back to the heart so that you can uncover what matters most to you.

Once you’ve gotten in touch with your core values and the things that fill you with joy, you can evaluate whether or not the life you’ve built is aligned with those things. From there – you get to make a choice about the future you build, and the WHY behind the decisions you make.

I have not only used these principles as personal guidelines, but it has become an important part of how I interview for our team and ensure that people are in the right place at Haven. I want people to be here because Haven helps them uncover and step into the things that light them up on the inside. Things that awaken their joy. THAT – is MY why.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.havenofknightdale.com
• Instagram: haven_farm
• Facebook: havenfarm17