AV俱乐部

By Emma Geldart

Growing up, Jessica Fogarty (Class of 2015) spent a lot of time in the forest. Her interest in the natural environment was something she couldn鈥檛 ignore. Following her heart, she found herself studying Plant Science Technology with a specialization in Organic Agriculture at AV俱乐部 Faculty of Agriculture. Now, almost three years after her graduation, Jessica has launched her own business that falls in line with her love for the forest.

Fog Tree Forest Natural Products is a wild crafting and herbal business based on Cape Breton Island. Jessica uses wild harvest and locally cultivated plant species to create value added products. Her current products vary from salves, teas, tinctures, pressed leaf gift cards and bookmarks, herbal confectionary and so much more.

Although Jessica didn鈥檛 grow up in an agricultural community, her interest in plant science sparked when she was young. She admits that the potential of farming or working in an agricultural industry wasn鈥檛 something she saw as realistic in her youth but she was always curious about living a rural lifestyle.

鈥淚 spent a lot of time with my grandparents at their home in Mabou,鈥� Jessica says. 鈥淥ver the years they had a few chickens and pigs and they always kept a garden. Not only did I learn how to grow crops, I learned how to grow soil- to reduce soil erosion, build soil organic matter and preserve the integrity of the land. Take care of the Earth and it will take care of you.鈥�

The idea for Fog Tree Forest began to form when Jessica turned to a fellow herbalist for a recipe to cure her own issue.

鈥淚 wanted something that would cure my eczema,鈥� Jessica explains. 鈥淚t worked and I was so fascinated with the skin cell restoration properties of the plantain. How could a little weed that grows in compact soil along the sides of driveways speed up the healing process? Wow!鈥�

It was then that Jessica鈥檚 idea for Fog Tree Forest began to really take shape. Jessica explains that getting started was not necessarily an easy task.

鈥淪tarting your own business is hard!鈥� Jessica exclaims. 鈥淭he first step is to write down all of your ideas, brainstorm and then build a business plan. The plan will change a thousand times before the business is launched!鈥�

Once she had a rough idea of her business, Jessica conducted market research. She looked at her client base, competition and room for potential growth. She then began to develop her line of products, beginning with a product that wasn鈥檛 too extensive and then tweaking products based on sales and popularity. Jessica also began to establish her brand through both an online and local presence. She then developed a clever name for her business, a play on her last name combined with her memories of the times she spent at her grandparents鈥� house growing up.

鈥淭he name is a play on my last name, Fogarty/Fog Tree,鈥� Jessica explains. 鈥淚t also comes from the mist that settles in the valley below my grandparent鈥檚 property in the mornings. It doesn鈥檛 matter what kind of day it鈥檚 going to be- sunny, cloudy, hot, rainy; the fog rolls into the forest in the morning and rolls out before noon. It鈥檚 really very beautiful.鈥�

As a start-up business in its first year, Jessica currently works from home and focuses selling her products at the Cape Breton Farmers Market and Mabou Farmers Market. With plans to expand in the near future, Jessica is thrilled with the success of her small business in just one year.

鈥淛ust being up and running is a great success,鈥� Jessica exclaims. 鈥淚t feels good to see that my community is starting to recognize my business and trust me as a business owner.鈥�

Not only did her community in Cape Breton adopt Fog Tree Forest and its鈥� exquisite products, Dal AC has recognized Fog Tree Forest and has distributed some of Jessica鈥檚 products at student events.

Farmers' Salve provided to donors and students at the Scholarship Banquet.

鈥淚 recently supplied my Farmer鈥檚 Salve for the Dal AC Scholarship Banquet and it was a huge honor,鈥� Jessica explains. 鈥淢y Farmer鈥檚 Salve is an all-purpose salve with a blend of herbs like plantain, calendula, yarrow, chamomile and red clover to help reduce irritation and speed up the healing process.鈥�

Jessica is now looking to purchase her own property to be able to expand Fog Tree Forest. Her goal is to be able to cultivate a food forest focusing on indigenous and naturalized plants. She also wants to be able to offer her forest as a tourist destination, teaching environment for students and an acceptable venue for dinners, photoshoots, workshops or community activities.

Although Jessica is clearly on the path to success, she didn鈥檛 get where she is today without her fair share of challenges. The many obstacles Jessica faced were overcome, but not without help. Jessica explains how Cultiv8, a program offering student鈥檚 access to industry mentors and entrepreneurial resources, was a valuable resource to her.

鈥淐ultiv8 gave me the foundation I needed to get started as a small business owner,鈥� Jessica says. 鈥淚t challenged me in a way that forced me to look at all of the obstacles I had ahead of me, to know these obstacles were normal and it gave me the confidence to keep working toward my goal.鈥�

With guidance from Cultiv8 mentors and access to valuable entrepreneurial means, Jessica was able to make her dream a reality. While she faced a few challenges along the way, she learned from her mistakes, persevered and is now on the path to what is sure to be great success.

Follow Fog Tree Forest Natural Products on Instagram @fogtreeforest