Why Lavender?

The first question we are often asked when we say we’ve started a lavender farm is, “why lavender?” Brian put a great deal of research into determining just the right way to use our farm and the answer kept turning up lavender. In his research, he learned that lavender grows well in our climate and can be reasonably profitable. And the biggest selling point of all…once established, lavender pretty much thrives on neglect.

If you are familiar with Southwest Michigan you know that we have very sandy soil. There are certain areas of our property that are like walking at the beach. For many plants, this would be a problem. But, not for lavender. Lavender does not like to get its roots too wet, and does not require a very nutrient-rich soil. Lavender is also drought-resistant once it becomes established, which is great because our region has variable and unpredictable rainfall.

Lavender is in demand. The popularity of lavender-based products is on the rise. Just look at the popularity of Starbucks’ honey lavender latte and frappuccino, or scan the beauty supply aisles for how many washes, lotions and creams feature lavender. Moreover, people are willing to pay for high-quality, locally grown lavender. Once established, there are numerous lavender-based products including dried lavender, lavender essential oil, skincare products, and culinary items. We’ve chosen to focus our farm on culinary lavender… more on that in a future blog post.

Let’s not forget the visual and olfactory benefits of owning a lavender farm and being surrounded by this beautiful, aromatic herb. Lavender has been used in aromatherapy for centuries because of its relaxing, stress-relieving properties. Our plants are still small, but even so, there’s nothing quite like the aroma coming from the lavender field when there’s a gentle breeze blowing toward our house. And yes, we planted the lavender fields upwind from our house!

We’re excited for next year when we can actually harvest lavender, as it will mean being a part of something bigger than just growing plants: joining farmer’s markets, connecting with customers, and educating others about the benefits of lavender.

Maybe the better question is, “why not lavender?”