Lavender farm banks on calming crop

A field of lavender, the aromatic plant meant to soothe and relax, could be an ideal place to escape during a pandemic.

One Northumberland County couple has fields of lush, fragrant violaceous plants in their backyard. The property is open to the public in the summer months.

Chris and Katie Davis, of Watsontown, own Mountain View Lavender Farm in Watsontown. The agri-tourist destination offered a U-Pick option this past summer, allowing visitors to the farm to take in the fresh air and pluck their own succulent bouquets.

“We decided to start the lavender farm after purchasing plants to landscape around our home and they did so well that it was always an idea to plant a few rows in the bottom of our field. So after a few years of dreaming, we decided to make the jump and plant 1,500 plants in the spring of 2019,” said Katie, “We went to a local greenhouse and placed an order for our plants and got to work on amending our fields, tilling the soil and laying the ground cover.”

It seemed like a win-win opportunity.            

“I love purple and I like herbs,” Katie said, “My husband did research and thought it was viable here. Plus, everyone loves lavender.”

Calm in a storm

Katie said even with the pandemic impacting everything this past year, people were still willing to go outdoors this summer and take in the fresh air. They had no idea going into the business what this could mean for people in a year such as 2020.

One reason may be due to folks seeking the calming impact of lavender. Andrea Cauffman of Blain, Perry County is an Integrative Nutrition Educator and Certified Aroma Therapist.

“Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, has the natural occurring chemical constituents of Linalyl acetates and Linalool which may not be found in synthetics oils,” she said. “These natural occurring constituents have analgesic, antibiotic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diuretic, disinfectant and sedative properties. Hence, the calming Lavender brings to us during times of stress.”

No matter what brings visitors to the farm, Katie said she wants them to feel comfortable.

The intent of the farm, she said is for agri-tourism. “A lot of people come here and like how beautiful it is. This is what we wanted. We wanted people to come here and relax.”

Variety of options

“We have both French and English lavender types at our farm. Right now, we have 10 different varieties but are looking to expand and add more varieties. When picking people often ask which one’s the best one but my best advice to them is to go out into the field and look at it and smell it and see which one is their favorite,” she said. “Some people prefer the look of the English while others prefer the look of the French when it comes to the smell, it’s all wonderful but there are some slight variations.”

The French varieties seem to do better at the Watsontown farm, she said. The type known as “Phenomenal,” is indeed phenomenal, Katie said. The last two years it has typically grown 24 to 30 inches and produces bright blue-violet flowers.

English varieties of lavender bloom in mid-June. The French variety stays green through winter and bloom in late July, taking on a pointy top to their appearance. Many of the English varieties appear more rounded, and at times even look as though they are “dead,” she said.

Katie said there is one favorite English variety known as the Elegant Purple, simply because of its beauty.

The U-Pick was such a hit, the farm is going to offer it again in June, 2021.  

Visitors are asked to bring a basket and scissors. Bouquets are five dollars. The farm is located on 324 Enterline Road, McEwensville, and specific dates will be posted on its Facebook page.

“I send them to the field and tell them to cut in the bushy, woody shrub and to stay above the wood. I show them the size of a bundle that would be five dollars.”

Numerous uses

Lavender lovers may use their cut flowers as a decorative piece or put it dried in a sachet.

“The buds have a second bloom. You need to cut them before the second bloom if you are using it for culinary,” she said.

Katie said she uses lavender for cooking often.

“My favorite recipes to use lavender in are sugar cookies and lavender lemonade. There are many other recipes people can use lavender in depending on if they prefer a sweet or savory dish,” she said.

The calming effects of lavender has been felt in the Davis home as they take in the soothing scents and flavors.

“Every night before I go to bed I have a cup of chamomile and lavender tea,” Katie said.

Essential oils addition

There are plans to make the essential oil at the farm, too.

“We purchased a copper distiller and look forward to the many benefits lavender offers since it possesses the properties of being antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antibiotic,” Katie said.

Fresh lavender that is distilled is very therapeutic, said Cauffman.

“Unlike synthetically made lavender, pure, unadulterated, lavender essential oil is distilled from the flowers, buds and stems of the lavender plant. It takes approximately three pounds of plant matter to make just one 15ml bottle,” Cauffman said.

Inhaling or diffusing the oils is especially calming.

“When inhaling pure, unadulterated lavender, the aroma passes thought the nose and olfactory bulb where it may have calming effects on our emotions and may boost our learning and memory,” Cauffman said.

Rubbing the flowers on one’s hand and breathing in the fragrance is said to have a soothing effect, too, Katie said.

Visitors may purchase lavender for making their own soaps and body lotions, too.

Wrapping the season

After the U-Pick season is done, The Davises harvest the rest of the lavender and hang it to dry, out of direct sunlight and trim up all the plants before winter.

Katie said the lavender crop does not come without a lot of hard work.

Raised beds are needed to grow the plant because heavy rains can destroy a crop. The plant loves heat and is drought resistant, she said, and grows very well in the French Mediterranean.

Katie and her husband do the bulk of the work year-round as they also raise their two home-schooled sons. There are plans to further develop the lavender farm in the future, to make it an even more memorable and fragrant experience.

 “The lavender farm is a labor of love and we enjoy having people come out and enjoy the beauty of the country while getting to pick their own lavender and enjoy a relaxing time in our fields,” Katie said.