Organically grown Herbs and Herbal Products
from Finland s pure nature since 1981
Frantsila Farm is a pioneer of organic herbal growing and a natural health product manufacturer in Finland. The Frantsila Organic Herb Farm is located 40km north west of Tampere, Finland. The area is environmentaly clean with a high percentage of organic farms adjoining the Frantsila property. The farm has been in the same family for at least 300 years. The growing of herbs on the farm started in 1981 when Virpi Raipala-Cormier and her husband Jim Cormier decided to establish a herbal centre. Virpi Raipala-Cormier has been working with herbs since early childhood. She started making herbal tea mixtures and growing culinary herbs as a young girl. She has had a continual interest in herbal growing and herbal medicine throughout her life. She studied Agriculture at the University of Helsinki and graduated as an agronomist. She has actively promoted organic growing methods and all of Frantsila farming is of course based on those principles. Jim Cormier has worked in gardens and has been interested in nature since early childhood. His interest in medicinal plants blossomed after completing high school and before entering university. He choose to study Agriculture and selected Plant science as his area of study. Throughout the University time and afterwords his interest in herbal medicine grew. From 1981 to the present time Virpi and Jim have led Frantsila Herb Farm through various phases of development. The early years were full of experimenting with different forms of organic growing. Many different types of medicinal plants were put through growing trials. The plants most suitable to the Finnish climate and those with the most worthy medicinal effect were selected for growing and production. The early years were also very busy with the development of an educational facility and educational programs to meet the thirst for knowledge of plants and healing; Frantsila School of Natural Healing was formed. Development of herbal medicines has been an ongoing process from the early days to present. A few hundred of natural health products have been developed over the years. By 1986 the public demand to visit the farm had grown to such an extent that a centre was established to meet this need. A public herbal exhibition garden was established. In the same area a vegetarian cafe and a herbal health product shop were opened. Here it is possible to give lectures to the public on different herbal topics such as growing, medicinal effect and culinary use. Frantsila is a very dynamic company and has won several awards for its contribution to the welfare of the community. Frantsila is networking also with other organic farmers and wildcrafters in Finland. The philosophical base of Frantsila Organic Herb Farm is to do as much good as possible and to help uplift the overall physical, mental, and emotional health of the public as well as protecting and improving the natural environment.
