Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia
Hi Julia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Allison: “You want some loofah seeds?”
Me: “What’s a loofah!?!”
Nearly two decades spent swimming upstream in the corporate marketing world ended when Allison, a fellow designer gifted me some loofah seeds. It only took one growing season for to redirect my career into creating what is now Loof’n Round Gardens.
As we embark on our seventh year growing over 250 loofah vines; my husband and I have brought thousands with us on our adventure of discovering everything the loofah plant has to offer a sustainable eco-friendly lifestyle.
The enchantment begins with the revelation that these all natural loofah scrubs are actually loofah gourds! This incredible vine is actually related to the cucumber, producing young loofah gourd which can be eaten and used for skincare. Now as these young gourds grow, they’ll look like giant zucchini on the vine; when allowed to dry the gourd meat transforms into the scrub fibers we all recognize as loofah scrubs.
Boom! We have an instant upgrade to synthetic luffa which only compromise your hygiene and pollute our planet.
Our fascination peeked, we dug deep into the rabbit hole of all things loofah and found the entire vine has a multitude of natural upgrades to make available!
Loof’n Round’s product line offers a caffeine-free sweet green tea using dried mature loofah vine leaves, skincare & haircare products using the loofah seed oil we press from the hundreds of seeds inside each loofah scrub, the gourds for consumption and skincare products, loofah vine water for skincare cleansers and toners – and these are all on top of the multitude of ways to utilize natural scrubs beyond cleaning your skin.
Introducing the magnitude of possibilities and insights to our community resulted in opening our garden gates for folks to see first hand what it takes to grow loofah. In 2024 we kicked off our first year of workshop tours with the over-whelming positive reception making it officially part of our regularly scheduled programming for the foreseeable future!
A unique u-pick opportunity that includes taste testing, sample testing, the 4-1-1 on growing loofah, touring the vines to pick a loofah to peel, peeling a loofah (SO FUN), shopping opportunities, and everyone goes home with a sample bag!
To say the least, we are incredibly grateful Allison planted a seed of positive change in our life. It has sprouted into something so grand it keeps her with us as we grow.
Me: “Allison, you were taken from us far too soon. Know we feel you Loof’n Round with us with every loofah we grow.”
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Customer: “How do you make your loofah?”
Me: “We grow em!”
Loofah/luffa is such a broad term – it creates a bit of an uphill climb in educating our customers on what a loofah scrub from Loof’n Round Gardens truly is.
Most relate the term ‘loofah’ to the sponges grown in the sea or the synthetic poof-balls made using nylon and plastics.
Empowering our customers with insight on how our all natural loofah starts with sharing how they can replace synthetic scrubs and sponges not only in the bathroom but around your house! Realizing they will scrub surfaces without scratching means tackling your dishes, cast iron, glass windows, appliances, countertops, floors, etc.; are possible now too!
The longevity and biodegradable characteristics are also new to customers who are used to tossing their synthetic luffa every month or when bacteria has made them smell.
And those are just the characteristics of the loofah scrubs!
Expanding into what the entire vine has to offer, especially with skincare and haircare, adds an entirely new mountain to climb!
Thankfully our loofah products speak for themselves and customers are sharing how using them has helped their health journey in various ways.
These additional products as well as our workshop tours has expanded our small business beyond selling loofah scrubs at festivals and markets; to selling over 30 different products online, in retail locations across America, wholesale, and to other small businesses as ingredients for their products.
Customer: “I never knew you could grow a loofah?!?”
Me: “Ha-ha! Well strap in cus we have a lot of options for you!”
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Anyone: “What do you do?”
Me: “I’m a loofah wrangler.”
Since 2019, I have shifted from marketing and designing for other businesses, to creatively educating and marketing the all natural loofah products we grow.
While we are a loofah farm, I don’t consider myself a farmer; rather a loofah lover with lots of insights to share from growing them for years.
Loyal customer: “There’s the loofah lady!”
Me: “Hello beautiful Loofer!”
What’s next?
Customer: “Where can I find more of your products?”
Me: “Glad you asked cus we’re expanding!”
In addition to making some big upgrades and additions to our loofah gardens for workshop tours; we are expanding where and what we’re selling in and around our neck of the woods with some unique collaborations taking center stage!
Starting with kombucha – Maybe you’ve heard of it?
A Chattanooga based collaboration has resulted in an unexpected delicious discovery – a caffeine-free kombucha using loofah leaves as their tea base! Response to initial tests has resulted in ongoing conversations to ensure we have plenty of product growing to supply this popular kombucha producer.
How about hair growth struggles? – I know I’m not alone here!
A Charleston, SC based collaboration with a fellow loofah grower has haircare products in our very near future; with hair growth oil as our leading endeavor. Not to be out paced by a Dalton, GA herbalist collaboration with our loofah seed oil going through trials in their shampoo and conditioner line.
Is that loofah gourd I’m tasting? – Prolly not; wait let me explain!
Culinary connections have been top of our list for a while and it’s because loofah gourd is so nutritious, and blends with your dish so seamlessly, chances are you aren’t really tasting it. Now taking a bite of fresh loofah gourd, it’s a combo of cucumber and zucchini with a very soft texture; but once you marinate or season for your final dish, it’s soaking in those flavors big time!
Time to go the natural route? – We are too!
Skin cleanser, toner, sunburn soother, and masks are just a few of the products we are aiming to produce using elements of our loofah vine and select plants we grow as Loof’n Round Gardens. Our loofah seed oil is already offered in it’s pure form as well as a key ingredient in our Loofah Salve, with both becoming staples in our product line due to their effectiveness for our customers.
Ready to help spread the love of loofah? – Always!
Engaging with gardening groups, sustainable living enthusiasts, low/zero waste entrepreneurs, home school co-ops, schools of all ages – This is a huge priority and goal for us. We are actively seeking opportunities like this one, to share our insights in order to spread the love of all natural loofah.
Customer: “My skin feels amazing! I love my loofah!!”
Me: “Yay!!! I’m so glad!”
Pricing:
- Blue tags = Body scrubs
- Orange tags = General cleaning
- Purple tags = Face exfoliators
- Ask me about my loofah!
- ^ (iykyk) ^
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.loofnroundgardens.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loofnround/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LoofnRound
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@loofnround
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/loofn-round-gardens-no-title?osq=Loofnround
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@loofnround
