Cajun Acres Hydroponics
Camille Schuneman / Lafayette, LA
Favorite Color:
Butter lettuce green + happy girl pink
What do you sell/make/offer:
Hydroponic lettuce! Chemical free, pesticide free, dirt free, crazy clean greens. I’ve become known as the lettuce lady & I couldn’t love that more. I thrive on being a joy spreader - health and wellness fall in line with that perfectly! I also love empowering women to chase their wildest dreams!
What made you get started in the first place?
It was an accident! I was joking with my uncle about selling me his business and later that day - it just happened. Cajun Acres was started to help Respire Haiti try to figure out how to have a more sustainable food source. It turned into a great business and I’ve expanded it tons since purchasing! We haven’t set up in Haiti yet, but I’d love to see that come to fruition. I grew up with a horticulturalist father and my parents owned their own plant business! I knew how important plants are to our livelihood overall and always figured I’d do something with that love.
What item of yours is inside the 2024 Galentine Box?
The “Locally Grown” lettuce sticker designed by Hannah Gumbo
Your "treat yo self"go to?
Treat yourself - you can catch me at Sweet Caroline Boutique! Or definitely indulging in all the things at Lafayette Farmers Market! Self care is done at the gym, in the greenhouse or in my prayer chair with a good book!
Besides being a "small business", what other hats do you wear:
Owner / Manager / Dreamer / Entrepreneur / Motivator
Describe briefly what your job/workflow may look like on a "busy" day?
Harvest days are my favorite! I start by unplugging the water micro tubes and move channels of lettuce onto sawhorses to harvest. Pulling each head by hand, ringing out the water & ripping the roots. Then weighing and packing orders! Then of course, the clean up. All done by hand! Delivery days are equally as busy and soul filling - I love chatting with all the chefs!
What is your "dream gig"?
Professional world traveler
What motivates/inspires your work?
My children! I love showing them how hard I work and the joy it brings. Being able to meet people who love my produce really makes me feel valued and motivated to keep growing!
Name a productivity tip that you rely heavily on:
Super loud music - anything from the breakfast jam to Lauren Daigle. Just loud! I also THRIVE with a todo list!
How do you measure success?
I think success to me looks like joy, being able to cover extra financial things for my family and being able to work on my own schedule. Making a difference in our community- that’s definitely success to me!
Name one belief/thought you had to let go of in order to get to where you are today:
I think a combination of “I don’t know enough & I'm not important/wanted enough.”
Where can I buy more of what you make/offer?
Saturday Morning Farmers Market at Moncus Park in Lafayette, LA
I also offer farm pick ups! Message me on social or email me to schedule!
What's the best place to follow along in your journey?
Instagram + Facebook! @cajunacres