the farm

Processing our lavender

    

LAVENDER, THE SUMMER CROP

 

In our district lavender looks best from December, and we harvest it right through January.

The harvesters work along the rows of lavender bushes, take an armful of lavender, and then saw through the stems with a hand sickle. The bunches are hung under the verandahs of the house to be dried by the sun's heat  under the metal roof. It looks and smells divine.

Later the flowers are winnowed to remove the flower heads from the stem, seived, and packed into our eye pillows, sleep pillows, culinary lavender etc.

The fresh lavender is sold as bunches.

We also distil the fresh lavender to make our lavender water and lavender oil  which are part of the recipe for our hand-made body products. An acre of lavender (1000 plants) makes a litre of oil. In an average year we produce 5l oil and 1000l lavender water.

Of course we love to have you shop in person in the Barn, but you can order from the webcart (click left column SHOP) or by filling the order form at BODY PRODUCTS and FAXing to us...