Our Story
Imagine a piece of land with a rustic cabin tucked away in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada. A former hippie commune laden with old growth trees and black bears, this land was the Harvey family's secret treasure for five years in the late 1990's. Cherry and plum trees abounded and they grew fresh organic produce that they sold to local markets, grocery stores and restaurants. This idyllic spot was the original "Gathering Place," named because it drew like-minded people together and created a vision of organic food, family, and community.
The Gathering Place Trading Company grew from this vision when company co-founders, Lovena and Ryan Harvey began visiting South Africa, Ryan's home country. On info'+s very first trip there, she was introduced to the indigenous Rooibos (or Red Bush) Tea - the tea most consumed by South Africans and what Ryan had grown up on. Being pregnant, she was thrilled that there was a non-caffeinated tea she could indulge in and soon became hooked, returning to Canada with suitcases full of Rooibos. When those ran out, Ryan's mom sent care packages stuffed with tea bags.
They shared Rooibos with their friends in Canada and everyone who tasted it, loved it and wanted to know where they could get more. At that time, there was very little Rooibos being sold in Canada and they realized this was a business opportunity in the making!
Each time they travelled to South Africa, they would dream about having a business connection with the country and the growing organic industry. After organic farming for 5 years in Canada, they were looking for ways to support other organic growers, particularly in Ryan's home country.
In January of 2003, fate intervened. They were traveling in the Cedarberg Mountains, 200 km north of Capetown, the only area in the world where Rooibos grows. They had bought a 1975 VW Jurgens camper van and were touring the countryside, looking for organic farms. They got lost, asked for directions, and learned there was an organic farm just around the corner.
They pulled into the driveway of Frans and Gerda Van der Westhuizen's Organic Rooibos farm. Without knowing who they were or why they were there the couple welcomed Ryan, Lovena, and their two children, Kai and Tosh, into their home for a cup of tea. They were promptly served the best cup of Rooibos they had ever tasted!
After talking with them for a few hours, and hearing their history, their commitment to organics and their stewardship of the land, Ryan and Lovena realized this was the product and people they wanted to promote. Frans and Gerda were the first farmers to grow Certified Organic Rooibos and the first to export it out of the country. They also hand harvest the tea, the best way to ensure the highest quality and land sustainability. They were real farmers growing the best Organic Rooibos in the country.
When Ryan and Lovena left the farm, Frans walked them to their camper van and asked "what are you going to do with the camper when you leave South Africa?" They weren't sure, but said they would let him know.
After a few weeks of research, they decided to make a go of the business and begin to import Organic Rooibos tea to Canada! They excitedly started to arrange the shipping details. Two weeks before they were scheduled to leave they decided to sell the camper van. They faxed Frans and asked him if he would be interested in trading Rooibos tea for the van. He faxed back: "Yes!"
And that's how the Gathering Place Trading Company was born. A camper van named Skillpakie (means "Tortoise" in Africaans) traded for a ton of tea!
Cortes Island, British Columbia is now the home of The Gathering Place and Lovena and Ryan's growing family. They try to balance growing food, community involvement, and family with their exploding business. They have three beautiful children, Kai, Tosh, and Asha. Honouring their farming roots, gardens, chickens and ducks abound.
The Gathering Place products are available in over a 100 stores in B.C., Ontario, Manitoba and Nova Scotia and they have hundreds of customers that they supply directly through farmers' markets and by mail order.
The Gathering Place has established a satellite office on the other coast of Canada, The Gathering Place Tea Traders, to bring their products to the Maritimes. Keeping the business in the family, info'+s sister, Renee Hartleib and her partner Lara Morris are managing this project in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
info'+s Mom, The Tea Granny, Flo Hartleib, is beginning to distribute The Gathering Place products in Windsor, Ontario. Retirement will just have to wait!
Family friends, Arlene Shipper and Alan Schick are selling the tea in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are the Gathering Leaves Tea Company.
The Gathering Place Rooibos is being sold to the Happy Planet Juice Company to be used in their tea and juice blends.
We take pride in being a family owned and operated business, and offer exceptional customer service. We are happy to share the African goodness that we have found on the Mother continent with Canadians.
Thanks for your interest in our company and thanks for buying our products!
"If we love our children we must love the earth with tender care and pass it on, diverse and beautiful, so that on a warm spring day 10 000 years hence they can feel peace in a sea of grass, can watch a bee visit a flower, can hear a sandpiper call in the sky, and can find joy in being alive"
Hugh Ilitis