Our Lavender

We currently have over 1400 lavender plants in our field. At the moment they are mostly the sweet English varieties of Munsted and Hidcote. These varieties provide the best oil for perfume and the best essence for cooking because they are so sweet. From our own cuttings we are slowly adding the long stemmed hybrid varieties of Grosso and Provence. Grosso and Provence are known in the cut flower market for their beautiful long stems. The length of the stems is also favored by those who like to make lavender wands, wreaths and other classic lavender crafts.

Click on photos for larger view.

	The blue tones of freshly cut Munsted lavender.
	The beautiful purple shades of freshly cut Hidcote lavender.

Our farm is a certified organic farm with certified organic status. What this means is that each year we must document all our farm activities, minimize any soil products that we bring onto the farm, and plant green manure crops to improve soil fertility. An independent inspector visits the farm each year to audit our books, walk our property and review good organic farm practises with us. We do not use any chemical fertilizers or sprays.

The lavender harvest takes place every summer for about 3 weeks usually at the beginning of July. All harvesting is done rather quietly and slowly by hand in the morning as soon as the dew has evaporated and before the heat of the day.

	Our first harvest was a very exciting time on our farm, July 2004
	Harvesting lavender is quiet, full of fragrance, and relatively easy on the back.

Bundles are cut from each plant, wrapped with an elastic band and either sold as fresh cut flowers or hung in our drying shed to dry.

Typically a bundle of lavender consists of 70 stems wrapped in an elastic band. As the stems dry and shrink, the band tightens and holds the bundle together.

Our first harvest was in the summer of 2004. Everything was for the first time - buying the proper scissors, hiring and educating a small crew, learning how to count the number of stems, making each bundle consistent, knowing what to do it if started to rain etc. We harvested over 98,000 stems!

Last year was our best harvest ever and we look forward to our third harvest this summer. Make sure to look for our lavender for sale when you visit the Fairmont Empress Hotel and the Butchart Gardens.

	Everyone gets involved when it comes to harvest time.
	Our drying shed holds an impressive number of bundles. Windows are darkened to preserve the color of the flowers and fans circulate air to speed up the drying process.
	A pretty display of lavender including pink lavender, lavender lemon tarts, lavender incense and great lavender books

By chance and good fortune, a reporter from our local City paper phoned last summer and asked if she could come for a tour. We have included a copy of her article here to give you her perspective on what it is like to visit our farm. Enjoy.