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Lavender

Lavender is available for u-pick July through September. 

Bunches are $9 for all you can fit in an eight-inch twist tie. Baskets, snips and twist ties are provided.

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We grow certified organic lavender for unique fragrance, essential oil, and culinary use. Throughout summer we distill six varieties for essential oil using a copper distiller. Copper preserves the sweetest notes and provides a natural anti-bacterial environment. We offer pure lavender essential oil and hydrosol in our farm store along with lavender scented personal care products ~ all blended and bottled on the farm.

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Wilderbee Farm

There are some things though, I know for certain. Always throw spilt salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can.

~Practical Magic

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Growing

Lavender prefers full sun and sandy loam, well-draining soil. Plant in spring or fall. Mix a handful of bone meal into the soil at planting. Water well the first year and sparingly in subsequent years. Lavender is drought tolerant and susceptible to root rot when too wet. Rainfall in the Pacific Northwest is ample once plants reach maturity. 

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Harvesting

Using a hand sickle, we harvest lavender July-August for drying and essential oil distillation. For fresh bouquets or dried bundles, harvest when the first few flowers have bloomed. Hang upside down to dry for 10-14 days. For essential oil distillation, the optimum time to harvest is when half of the flowers have withered. 

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Pruning

After harvesting, we prune each mature lavender plant using a battery-powered hedge trimmer; shaping it to about one inch of green stem above the woody part of the branch. This leaves each plant looking like a tightly-trimmed topiary ball. Lavender responds well to pruning. It will become lanky and woody too soon if not pruned properly.

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Our Varieties

 

 

 

English {Lavandula Angustifolia} 

 

1. Melissa 

Early summer bloomer

Pink, light fragrance

Best floral essential oil

 

2. Royal Velvet 

Early summer bloomer

Dark purple, sweet fragrance

Best culinary

 

3. Sachet 

Early summer bloomer

Violet-blue, sweet fragrance

Best sachets

 

4. Folgate 

Early summer bloomer

Violet-blue, sweet fragrance

Culinary, essential oil

 

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Lavandin {Lavandula x intermedia}

 

5. Grosso 

Mid-summer bloomer

Light purple, classic fragrance

Best classic essential oil

 

6. Provence 

Mid-summer bloomer

Highly fragrant violet flowers

Sachets, essential oil

 

7. Hidcote Giant

Mid-summer bloomer

Dark purple, strong fragrance

Long stem for dried bouquets

Favorite Recipe

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Lavender Shortbread Cookies

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Ingredients

1 cup softened Kerry Gold butter (8 oz)

⅔ cup powdered sugar

1 ¾ cup flour

1 Tbsp vanilla bean paste

1 Tbsp culinary lavender

Coarse sugar for sprinkling

 

Directions

  • Cream butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl until fluffy.

  • Add vanilla bean paste, flour, and lavender.

  • Mix until dough comes together. 

  • Place dough on a large sheet of plastic wrap.

  • Shape into a log 3 inches in diameter and roll up.

  • Place in refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight.

  • When ready to bake preheat oven to 350˚F.

  • Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

  • Cut ¼ inch thick cookies from chilled log and place on cookie sheets. Work quickly so the dough doesn’t soften.

  • Sprinkle each cookie with coarse sugar and press down lightly.

  • Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the edges are just barely brown.

  • Cool on wire racks.

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