Walking through the fragrant rows of Hambly Lavender Farm just north of Paso Robles, it’s easy to feel as though you’ve stepped into a place shaped as much by heart as by soil. Much of that feeling comes from Gina Hambly herself. Warm, welcoming, and instantly familiar, Gina has a way of making visitors feel less like guests and more like old friends. As she leads the way through the blooming fields, she points out the subtle differences among lavender varieties, inviting you to brush your fingers through the plants, inhale their scents, and notice how each carries its own personality. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and her love for this community is unmistakable.

Gina is one of those people whose name seems to surface often in Paso Robles. In addition to the 365-day a year task of running Hambly Lavender Farm, she serves as Chair of the Paso Robles Olive and Lavender Festival and as Events Coordinator for FARMstead Ed. She and her husband, Milton, are also active members of the Paso Robles/Templeton Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau. Despite her many roles, Gina’s presence never feels rushed; instead, she brings a grounded, thoughtful energy to everything she does.

Hambly Farm is deeply personal, rooted in a family story that has come full circle. While agriculture has always been part of the Hambly's heritage, life initially led Gina and Milton down different professional paths. Milton spent more than two decades teaching eighth grade at King City Middle School and later instructing at local community colleges. Gina built her career working for the County of San Luis Obispo. Still, the land was never far from their lives. Their three grown children were raised participating in 4-H and FFA, caring for hogs, goats, and steers, experiences that quietly shaped the family’s connection to farming and to one another.

In 2017, Gina and Milton purchased 26 acres with plans to raise animals and plant orchards of olive trees. But as drought conditions made olive farming impractical, the land itself seemed to suggest a different direction. Lavender, well suited to the soil, climate, and water realities of the Central Coast, emerged as the unexpected foundation of what would become Hambly Lavender Farm. Officially launched in 2019, the farm now produces a beautiful line of handcrafted lavender products designed to highlight the plant’s therapeutic qualities.

Everything at the farm is grown without pesticides, harvested by hand, and steam-distilled right on the property. Gina now runs the farm and business full time, while Milton helps as often as he can between continued teaching commitments. Their philosophy is simple and uncompromising: if something goes in or on your body, or even into your home, it should be free of harmful chemicals. That intention is evident everywhere you look, from the fields to the finished products.

One of the family’s proudest moments came when they earned a gold medal at the 10th Annual International Lavender Oil and Culinary Competition for their Dutch Mill Lavender Essential Oil. Gina speaks of the honor not as a personal achievement, but as a celebration of the journey, the choices, the challenges, and the care poured into every step.

Though their children now live lives beyond the farm, they remain closely connected, lending a hand whenever they visit. Hambly Lavender Farm also features an inviting on-site shop, and friendly farm animals. Their family home is just steps from the fields and sweeping views of rolling hills and neighboring farms, Hambly Lavender Farm stands as a testament to resilience, community, and the enduring community of Paso Robles that has shaped the Hamblys for generations.