Claudia Tsas Founder and CEO of Kharis Lavender Fields

By Marissa Yelenik

Claudia Tsas (pronounced ut-sas), the founder and CEO of

Fields, started her business on a lot next to her residential property in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Tsas was born in Bolivia, South America, but moved to Maryland in 2005 and has resided in the area ever since. She values kindness and humility and works to incorporate her family into her business.

With a background in business, Tsas previously had no experience with gardening but now provides lavender fields, lavender products, and a venue for events. She hopes to expand her business’ culinary production to local shops and hotels.

What is Kharis Lavender Fields? Where did the name Kharis come from?

It comes from the Greek word for grace. It is the result of a spiritual and relational journey that took me to a different level of understanding of God’s “grace.”

Kharis is devoted to supporting a natural and balanced way of life. Our goods are formulated with ingredients provided by nature, handcrafted with love, and delivered directly from the farm to every family and home. We are just as passionate about respecting the environment, using our business to provide opportunities for the underprivileged, and creating a brighter world for our children.

Tell me about the founding of your company.

We started our lavender adventure in March 2020. It was an exciting, scary, fulfilling, and never-ending learning process. It is wonderful to work so close to home because I don’t need to be driving or in traffic at any time, and I can be there when my kids need me.

Do you have any gardening background? Why lavender?

No, I don’t have a gardening background. We are focused on growing only lavender at this point in our business development. As soon as I started my research on the medical benefits of lavender, especially in relation to mental health, I felt the desire to share all this knowledge with a community seeking natural ways of self-care and their families.

I fell in love with the medicinal properties of lavender; its ability to help with mental health and its antiseptic properties allows us to use its essential oil in numerous essential products for our homes, family, and self-care.

Does your family take part in the company or fields?

Absolutely! My husband, our adult kids, young kids, in-law kids, and grandkids all have a role or level of involvement in the company.

What kind of products do you produce?

We have a variety of self-care products like lotions, soaps, body and lip scrubs, shower steamers, etc. We offer homecare products such as carpet refreshers, linen sprays, candles, etc. Our gourmet selection includes lavender tea blends, lavender honey, and lavender balsamic vinegar.

Tell us about the different components of Kharis. What draws the most attention?

It all depends on the season. When the plants are in bloom, visiting the fields is at the top of our customers’ attention. During the off-season, our Lavender Barn functions as a venue for private events and classes, which helps us create community. The holiday season brings more attention to our products and gift suggestions.

Who has most influenced your career?

I was very influenced by Steve Jobs’ biography with his love for detail. His focus on the customer experience and the aesthetics of each of the products he developed inspired me to strive for the same.

What advice would you give to gardeners who want to build their own plant-based companies?

Aspiring founders should write a business plan, seek local advice from their agricultural extension office, make a detailed analysis of their S.W.O.T. (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats), and keep in mind that it takes time to build a dream.

Do you have any plans for the future?

We are looking forward to expanding our culinary lavender production to meet restaurants’, coffee places’, and hotels’ demands for lavender products.

How can readers contact you to find out more?

My email is claudia.tsas@ kharislavender.com and our website is www.kharislavender.com. Thank you for the opportunity to share my experience and journey with your readers. o

Marissa Yelenik is a rising junior journalism and psychology major at the University of Maryland, College Park, and an intern this summer with Washington Gardener. She is a Savage, MD, native and amateur gardener

Kharis Lavender Fields is a miniature farm, processing plant, factory, retailer, and destination.