Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Sharpe, CEO of Rebel Gardens, LLC.
Hi Barbara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
My name is Barbara Sharpe. I work in the compliance space in Silicon Valley. Over the years I’ve been known to be a serial entrepreneur, dabbling in project management, real estate and now hemp.
Can you tell us more about your new venture?
When you reach a certain age, often your first thought, when you wake up, is, “what hurts?” As someone with previous experience in the health care industry, specifically adult medicine, I’m familiar with the day-to-day aches and pains that millions of Americans face. Aging, life and career stressors, and things like anxiety and insomnia take a toll on our bodies. Instead of ingesting a cocktail of prescription and over-the-counter medicine to combat this, my husband and I decided to look for a more holistic approach. Our research led us to CBD.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the natural chemical found in the cannabis (hemp) plant. A lot of people are leery of CBD because of its infamous cousin, THC. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis. It causes the “high” sensation that’s often associated with marijuana. However, unlike THC, CBD is not psychoactive.
This quality makes CBD an appealing option for those who are looking for relief from pain and other symptoms without the mind-altering effects of higher THC or certain pharmaceutical drugs.
The usual CBD formulation is oil, but CBD is also sold as an extract, a vaporized liquid, and an oil-based capsule. Food, drinks, and beauty products are among the many CBD-infused products available.
Now, we’re seeing the benefits of CBD gain momentum in the health and wellness world. Scientific studies are confirming it eases the symptoms from ailments such as chronic pain, depression, and anxiety as well as the reduction of inflammation in the body, among so many other things.
When the 2018 Farm Bill finally passed in Georgia, in 2020, we thought this would be a great opportunity to become hemp growers. But this was no easy feat. After we applied, we learned how heavily regulated the industry was. But with prayer and a strong will, we were admitted as one of the first 10 approved growers to be licensed in Georgia, and our company’s story began.
I serve as the Chief Executive Officer and my husband, and two sons support the business in different roles. The “Garden” as we call it is located in Southwest, Georgia – Lumpkin County to be specific. This land has been in my husband’s family for over 75 years.
Last year, our first harvest was rough. We didn’t know, what we didn’t know. But we went into it with a learner’s mindset. This year, we harvested our second grow year in September and are currently in the drying/processing steps. I am happy to say this season was much better – we had ample rain and doubled our harvest.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road. During our 2020 and 2021 grow seasons, we experienced what most businesses have experienced – labor shortage.
It was a challenge to find people willing to work, as such we oftentimes had to overpay. Also, due to the highly regulated nature of the product, there were a lot of hurdles we had to overcome. Often requiring submission of duplicate paperwork to both the state, local, and federal agencies. So, a lot of time was spent doing administrative tasks.
Thanks for sharing. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Rebel Gardens is one of only a few licensed hemp growers in Georgia. With diverse leadership at its helm, and family at the root, Rebel Garden’s message of #homegrownwellness is sure to inspire.
We produce quality products, using oils extracted from the highest quality of Georgia-grown hemp, right from our garden. Rooted in superior, custom-designed hemp genetics, we strive for excellence in everything we do.
“We decided we wanted to be a purpose-driven company vs just profit-driven.” – Barbara Sharpe, CEO
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
One of the things I love about living in Atlanta is that it offers a ton of opportunities for small businesses, especially Black-owned. I also see Atlanta as an international city consisting of a melting pot of people from different places in the world. Because of this, it allows us to experience different cultures, foods, and lifestyles. I like that, for the most part, we have good weather with all four seasons.
Least, the traffic.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@rebel-gardens.com
- Website: https://rebel-gardens.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebel.gardens/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRebelGardens
Image Credits
Nathaniel Carter
Jecoby Carter
