Today we’d like to introduce you to LeCheryl Radden.
LeCheryl, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey began in 2020 when I was looking for a hobby. My husband, David, and my father, Herbert, built me a beautiful 6′ x 33′ raised garden bed. My husband, children, neighbors, and I filled it with chemical-free soil and fertilizer.
One day, I went to a local nursery to pick up some flowers and came across an amazing herb on the clearance table. It looked like it was on its last limb. I remember thinking, “I can bring it back to life.” That oregano plant became the beginning of my love for herbs.
I planted the oregano in my raised garden bed, and as the plant grew, so did I. I talked to it and nurtured it every day. It grew incredibly tall, but there was one problem—I wasn’t a good cook, and I didn’t know what to do with all that oregano!
I decided to reach out to my community. A chef, a home cook, and a few others came and took some oregano. I noticed that the chef kept coming back for more. Then one day, a woman named Marie Lucchesi told me she was going to dry the oregano. I asked her how she did it, and she explained that she bundled the oregano and hung it upside down for about two weeks. When the leaves crumbled in her hands, she knew it was completely dry.
I told her that sounded like too much work! She offered to take some extra oregano, dry it for me, and bring it back. A few weeks later, she returned with the dried oregano. As soon as I smelled it, I knew I had something special. It smelled amazing!
I began experimenting with the oregano in tea, pasta, pizza, eggs, and pretty much anything I thought it would pair well with. In the process, something unexpected happened—I started enjoying cooking.
In 2024, I decided to test the waters and began packaging and selling my herbs to neighbors, friends, and customers through Facebook Marketplace. I also learned how to propagate oregano and began selling the plants as well.
That same year, I added mint to my collection. I was gifted lemon verbena for my birthday and absolutely fell in love with its aroma. I began growing thyme, chocolate mint, and other varieties. Today, I grow more than 25 herbs using chemical-free soil and fertilizer.
In 2025, I applied to a business program because I wanted to learn more about running and growing a business. I knew there was still so much I didn’t know. I pitched LeCherbs Herbs and was accepted into the Launch JOCO program. Through that experience, I have learned so much about business and have built meaningful connections that have helped me grow both personally and professionally.
Community has become a huge part of my journey. As I’ve grown my business, I’ve participated in markets and events and had the opportunity to meet and learn from people throughout my community. Every purchase, message, recommendation, and Google review has given me encouragement and strength to continue building LeCherbs Herbs.
What started with one struggling oregano plant has grown into a business, a passion, and a way for me to connect with my community.
I don’t just sell herbs—I teach people how to use them. I want everyone to have the option of choosing clean, locally grown herbs and learning how to incorporate them into their everyday lives. I’ve taught several classes and plan to offer even more educational experiences in the future.
Today, my products are available at Sweet Violet in Clarksville, Virginia. I also offer online shipping and local pickup.
I never imagined that one struggling oregano plant would lead me here. But that plant taught me something I’ll never forget: when you nurture something with patience, love, and purpose, it can grow into something greater than you ever imagined.
The more you know, the more you grow!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of my biggest obstacles has been finding my customers. The people who value locally grown, chemical-free herbs and want to learn how to use them in their everyday lives.
Another challenge is understanding what my community wants and making sure I have the right products available. I’m constantly learning from my customers, listening to their feedback, paying attention to what sells, and developing products that meet their needs.
Visibility has also been a major challenge. As a small business, getting my name and products in front of the right people takes consistency, creativity, and community involvement. Markets, events, social media, classes, and word-of-mouth have all helped me build awareness.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
LeCherbs Herbs is known for its wide variety of unique and flavorful herbs. I love introducing people to herbs they may not have seen, grown, or used before and showing them how they can incorporate them into everyday life. From cooking, teas to gardening and self-care.
What makes LeCherbs Herbs special is that it goes beyond simply selling herbs. I educate, encourage, and inspire people to grow and use herbs for themselves. My goal is to make herbs feel less intimidating and more accessible, whether someone is an experienced gardener or planting their very first herb.
What I am most proud of about the LeCherbs Herbs brand is the connection I have created between the garden, the kitchen, and the community. Everything starts with my passion for growing, learning, and sharing that knowledge with others.
I want readers to know that LeCherbs Herbs is more than an herb business, ilt is an invitation to grow something, learn something, and discover new ways to enjoy what nature provides
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success by seeing my hard work come to life. For me, success isn’t just about how much I sell. It’s seeing people take the knowledge I’ve shared with them and actually use it whether they’re incorporating fresh herbs into their meals, growing their own herbs at home, or simply becoming more confident in understanding how to use them.
When someone tells me, “I grew this because of something you taught me,” or shares how they used one of my herbs in their kitchen, that’s success to me. Knowing that what I’ve learned and built is helping someone else live a little healthier, grow something of their own, and connect with their food that’s what makes all the hard work worth it.
Pricing:
- Starts at $6.00-$25.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lecherbs-herbs.square.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lecherbsherbs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EoFoL6sPk/
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@lecherbsherbs
