When people visit my booth at festivals or scroll through my Instagram, they see the pretty jars, the dainty packaging, the lush body creams—but what they don’t always see is the story behind it all.
Merle’s Garden didn’t start with a factory or a team. It started with a KitchenAid mixer, a few pitchers, and a deep desire to create something beautiful in honor of someone I loved.
The Spark: Honoring My Grandmother, Merle Betty
Growing up, some of my most cherished memories took place in my grandmother’s garden in Jamaica. Her name was Merle Betty, and she embodied love, care, and grace. Her garden overflowed with vibrant fruit, exotic flowers, and a scent that would wrap around you like a hug.
When she passed, I felt this deep pull to carry her essence forward—not just in memory, but in something living and blooming. 9 years later Merle’s Garden was born.
Handmade in the Truest Sense
Every single product you see was once just an idea in my head. I’d spend late nights mixing body creams by hand, piping whipped scrubs into jars, cutting labels with my Cricut, and praying that the vision would work out. I don’t have a team—I am the mixer, the bottler, the label designer, the customer service rep, the website builder… and still, the full-time wife and mama.
I built Merle’s Garden during nap times, after bedtime stories, and sometimes while my daughter sat on my craft studio floor next to me, watching cartoons.
Why Festivals?
Markets became my way of connecting with real people. After months of building online, I realized there’s magic in face-to-face conversation—watching someone smell a perfume and light up, or try a body oil on their wrist and say, “This feels like luxury.”
Each festival has its own rhythm. It’s a hustle. It’s waking up at dawn, praying it doesn’t rain, hoping I packed enough inventory. But it’s also the joy of seeing returning customers, making new ones, and hearing, “I found you again!”
What I’ve Learned Along the Way
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Your ‘why’ will keep you going. When orders are slow or shows flop, I remind myself why I started: to share love through self-care.
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People connect to the story. My brand is more than pretty jars—it’s heritage, healing, and heart.
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Perfection isn’t required, but passion is. You’ll figure it out as you go. And trust me—you’ll get better.
To Any Mama With a Dream
If you’re building something while raising babies, I see you. It’s not easy, but it’s possible. You don’t have to wait until life is perfect to start. You just need to begin, where you are, with what you have.
Merle’s Garden was born out of love and built on faith. Every product I craft still carries that same energy. And I’m just getting started.