After visiting a nearby lavender farm for their 20th wedding anniversary , Mike Mitchell and Sandra Solano - Mitchell were inspired to turn their own 10.5 acres of kingdom into a similar speculation . They named itWillamette Valley Lavender .
“ It was then , circumvent by solitude , lavender and bees that we make up one’s mind to start in with both feet and take on this new adventure , ” the couple recalls . “ In October 2020 , we planted our test garden with 200 plants and 11 cultivars . This allow us to see what would grow well in our micro climate .
“ Since then , the farm has expand to over 3,000 industrial plant and more than 30 cultivar . ”
We utter to Sandra and Mike about the therapeutic nature of faming and the differences between French , Spanish and English lavenders . We also got into the best elbow room to contain lavender into your preparation procedure .
A Focus on Lavender
A berth shared by Willamette Valley Lavender – Handmade Gifts ( @willamettevalleylavender )
“ For many years we brainstorm ideas about what to do or grow at the farm . But everything we came up with required huge total of time yr - rotund , and we needed to be mindful that our teaching jobs already demanded most of our fourth dimension , ” explains the couple . ( They think of themselves as public school teachers by daylight and hobby Fannie Merritt Farmer on the weekends . )
“ We discover lavender to be more of a teacher - well-disposed crop , ” they continue . “ Harvest time and plant care align well with our school schedules , as we harvest too soon in our summer geological fault .
“ Although there is still a bunch of body of work to do year - round . We really enjoy the process and everything lavender has to extend . The lavender work is stimulating and reenergizing , which make for an excellent disconnect from our everyday occupation . ”
scan more : Commitment to permaculture blossoms at Indara Farms !
An Organic Way of Growing
When it comes growing lavender , Sandra and Mike are counsel for constituent methods . “ We do not need to summate fertilizer or pesticides to nature , ” they explain .
“ Preparing the ground , we may total amendments to reach the proper pH level for the soil . But once the stain is ready the only additive we have for the plants is a little bone repast to help them ground . So this fits with our using the resources already on hand . ”
English, French or Spanish Lavender?
There are over 450 varieties of lavender available . But Sandra and Mike like to categorize them into three principal categories in the United States :
They discover the English motley as being an “ fantabulous choice for culinary purposes ” due to its fresh and delicate floral fragrance .
On the other hand , French lavender possesses an “ invigorate sweetness ” that wee it bully for aromatherapy . Spanish lavender is a must for garden and landscape purpose .
Cooking with Lavender
Moving into the kitchen , Sandra and Mike are devotee of using lavender in drinks .
“ Lemonades , lattes , mocktails and cocktails can be easily achieved with clean or juiceless bud or by making bare homemade lavender syrups , ” they say . “ We also enjoy baking recipes , fruit salads or desserts . When cooking with lavender , a minuscule bit goes a long style . ”
Finding Comfort & Joy
“ Farming is rewarding because it gives us a respectable , creative and fertile retail store to our officious and often stressful commandment jobs , ” say Sandra and Mike when expect about the positivistic wallop that Willamette Valley Lavender has had on their life history .
“ It also gives us the chance to share our lavender mathematical product with our residential area during farm sojourn and farmers markets , ” they continue .
“ That is highly fulfill because we — like many multitude — love the fact that lavender brings us pleasant retentivity , joy and comfort . ”
