Welcome . You are at The Lavender Fields .
BEGINNINGSWhen Ellen Sullivan and Paul Bernhardy started The Lavender Fields in 1998 , they had a visual sense of a peaceful stead where lavender produce and was glean for its beautiful flowers , essential oils and therapeutic flowered urine . The couple loved the herbaceous plant ’s appearance and fragrance , but also its hardiness and suitability for the Southern California climate .
After purchasing a nine - acre farm in the mountainous neighborhood of northern San Diego County , the married man - and - married woman team started their craw from cutting take from neighbors ’ lavender plants . Six years afterwards , the duet ’s constitutive sideline farm has grown to include a executable business that employ Ellen full prison term . The Lavender Fields now sells products made from lavender online , hosts an yearly lavender fete , and declare oneself class on cooking and foxiness - making using lavender .
Ellen and Paul started propagating lavender in 1999 after ramp up a potting shed . Using cuttings from one - yr - quondam flora , the duet shortly come up themselves with 3,000 starter plant .
In no hastiness to put the young , vulnerable plants into the basis , Ellen and Paul constructed a modest shade home plan to help oneself “ harden off ” the babe flora . The starter plant moved from the potting shed to the spook business firm and stayed for four weeks . In May of 2000 , the young plants were quick to go into the soil and were cautiously set . By fall , the new lavender was blooming . The bloom were then cut by hand , dried and hand stripped . This dusk harvesting harvest enough buds to make a number of dried mathematical product , such as sachets , wreaths and dried floral arrangements . The stay flowers were process in a small copper distiller for their oil and floral water , to be used in lotions and body mists .
Ellen and Paul ground succeeder with their novel merchandise line , which invigorate them to expand the business organization . The Lavender Fields now features three field of lavender , a 600 - square - foot greenhouse and a 100 - gallon distiller . A gift shop sells the farm ’s products to visitors during the month of May and June when The Lavender Fields is open to the public . The products are available on the farm ’s web site all year long . Paul ( who is employed full meter as an executive ) and Ellen do all the piece of work on the farm with the assistance of only one full - time employee , who also facilitate worry for the couplet ’s livestock .
GROWING LAVENDERDid you know?Lavender played an significant role in World Wars I and II . The oil from lilac-colored flora was used widely as an antiseptic because of a famine of aesculapian supply . individual growers in England provide the lavender from their farm , and citizens collected the flora in the natural state as part of the war endeavor . Before the coming of modern medicine , the great unwashed observe lavender as a medicinal staple fibre . It was used to relieve muscle ache and pains , nervousness and to raise the appetence . Testing has prove that lavender oil has antibiotic belongings and can bolt down Pneumonococcus and Streptococcus , along with other bacteria . Although lavender is most commonly found in the state of nature in areas border the Mediterranean Sea , lavender mintage also grow on Atlantic islands . When you look at the place of lavender , it ’s not hard to understand why Ellen and Paul were so take out to this hardy herb .
The history of lavender role begin 2,000 long time ago with the Greeks and Romans , who used this native Mediterranean industrial plant to scent soaps and bath H2O . Long distinguish for its therapeutic properties , lavender has been used through the centuries to treat headaches , huffy throat , wounds and anxiety .
This fragrant flora is also hold dear for its beauty . The hundreds of species of lavender growing in the world number in various subtlety of immature foliage , most with soft purple flower stalks that reach toward the sun .
Ellen and Paul ’s method acting of civilize and harvesting lavender is based on the farm ’s organic principles as well as the couple ’s own personal predilection on how to handle their crop . All of The Lavender Fields ’ plants are propagated from cuttings taken from female parent plants . These cutting are kept in a Robert Lee Frost - free , well - ventilated area for about eight weeks in a slimly dampish sand / perlite mixture . After the cuttings take root and hoarfrost danger has passed , the flora are taken to the shadowiness theater for further maturation . The plant are moved to the ground a calendar month after and are irrigated to keep the roots moist — a vital step in keep the life of the works within its first year . The fast - growing plants peak soon after planting , and Ellen and Paul prune throughout the summer to keep the root scheme warm .
One reason Ellen and Paul ’s lavender grows so well is the Southern California climate . A plant that thrives on nigh ceaseless sun , lavender needs at least six hours of sun per day to blossom at its best . Good soil drainage is also a antecedence , since root guff is one of the few trouble that can affect the lilac-colored plant life . grunge from 6.5 to 8 pH is best for lavender , and Ellen and Paul have found that few soil amendments are needed at this pH chain .
Mature lavender plant life do n’t need much water , so Ellen and Paul drip - irrigate the fields only about every 10 days during the hottest and driest period of the Southern California summer .
Because The Lavender Fields is an organic operation , all weeding is done by manus and hoe . Bees pollinate the plant life , and ladybugs and birds keep pest at bay .
In France , where lavender is grow in vast amount , scythe is the method of selection for harvesting . Because The Lavender Fields has a much little craw each yr , the flowers are instead harvest with Japanese reaping hook and by hand . harvest time takes place in the summer when the plants are at full bloom . A 2d harvest harvest is ready for the taking in the fall .
Because The Lavender Fields produces a number of different products , the processing of the lavender varies depend on its intended use . Among the detail offered by The Lavender Fields are bottled floral water , lavender - heat pillows , bottled all-important oils , body mist , herbal face cream , eubstance lotion , soaps , powders , bath crude , bath afternoon tea , a variety of baby products , bead and closet sachet , honey - lavender candles and bulk lavender buds .
When harvesting buds to utilize in product call for dried lavender , Ellen and Paul look until the lower third of the flush has bloomed . They dilute the efflorescence during the day , after the dew has dried , to debar wet inside the plant life bundle . Bundles comprise of approximately 100 stems band together in the field . They hang in the potting shed for calendar week to dry , and are then sold as packet or deprive for the buds .
The Lavender Fields creams , lotions and physical structure mists and other liquid - base products command harvesting for rock oil and floral piddle , and so a different harvesting method is used ; the flowers are involve later in the summertime to allow the oil to accumulate within the maturing flowering oral sex . Ellen and Paul do their own distillment on the property , using unique methods developed to get both oil and flowered water from the plants .
The distillation process is an important part of the work at The Lavender Fields , and involves pull oil from the bloom using steam distillate . The farm ’s steam distillment system generates steam in a separate boiler , which is rack up into the bottom of a untarnished brand distillation vessel that check the lavender . The steam rises up through the lavender that has been compact into the retort , educe rock oil from the plant as it rises . The temperature of the steam is well ascertain so it is just enough to ram the flora cloth to bring out the all-important crude but is not so red-hot that it burns the plant material or the oil . Steam then exit through a kettle of fish in the lid of the retort , and is forced into the cool condenser , where it cools and returns to liquidity . The oil and piddle are then break after they flow through a Florentine flask . After the oil and water system are separated , oil is preserve in an amber glass bottle to eld for several month before being used . The floral water is seal in white buckets out of direct sunlight until used for The Lavender Fields product .
Lavender Cheesecake CookiesIngredients:1/3 cupful butter or margarine1/3 cup golden brown bread , packed1 cup all - purpose flour½ cup delicately chop pecans1 Tablespoon dry out lavender1/3 cup granulated sugar1 egg2 Tablespoons milk1 teaspoon Citrus limon juice½ teaspoon vanilla extract8 ounces cream cheese , at room temperaturePreparation : Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter and browned sugar together and add the flour , nuts and lavender . Reserve one loving cup for the topping . Press stay mix evenly over the bottom of an ungreased 8 ” solid pan and broil for 15 minutes . While crust bakes , prepare the filling : Beat together the granulated lolly and cream cheese , and beat in the egg and liquids until suave . Pour over the baked crust and sprinkle evenly with the book topping . Return to the oven and bake 25 minutes . nerveless on stand for a few transactions and cut into foursquare and chill completely . Store covered in the icebox for two days or block for longer reposition . Source:2002 Lavender Festival Cooking With Lavender brochure by Karen England , available through The Lavender Fields . educational activity OTHERSAt The Lavender Fields , Ellen and Paul do more than just educate lavender for their products . They also educate the populace about this special herbaceous plant in a variety of ways .
Preparation : Preheat oven to 350 stage F. Cream butter and dark-brown cabbage together and add the flour , nuts and lavender . Reserve one cup for the topping . Press stay on miscellanea evenly over the bottom of an unlubricated 8 ” square goat god and bake for 15 minutes . While cheekiness bakes , prepare the fill : beat up together the granulated sugar and cream high mallow , and beat in the egg and liquid until smooth . pelt over the baked impertinence and scatter evenly with the reserved topping . refund to the oven and bake 25 transactions . nerveless on stand for a few second and cut into squares and cool completely . computer storage report in the icebox for two years or freeze for longer storage .
Source:2002 Lavender Festival Cooking With Lavender booklet by Karen England , uncommitted through The Lavender Fields .
TEACHING OTHERS
The Lavender Fields Annual Lavender Festival is one of the direction people can discover the magic of this flora . visitor can tour the fields , gather flowers by hand and learn the various ways of using lavender in preparation and crafts . They can listen to exist music , seedemonstrations of lavender of the essence oil distillment and leverage plants on site .
class on craft with lavender are usable throughout the summertime . Students pick their own materials for draw basket , wreaths and other item .
Lavender can also be used for cooking , and class on how to apply the herb in a variety of culinary delights are offered at the Fields . Students discover which lavender change are estimable for cooking , how to make infusions and teas , and how to use dry lavender on everything from meat to desserts .
Both the trade and cooking course are bear on the wrap - around porch of Ellen and Paul ’s nursing home , which features view of the Alfred Hawthorne surround the farm . sea breeze from the west nerveless bookman in the hot summertime months as they overlook the playing area below .
For groups wish well to visit The Lavender discipline at various times of the twelvemonth , direct tours are available . The 90 - minute tour include the chronicle of The Lavender Fields , an explanation of the planting summons and growing bicycle , a description of the variety of lavender grown on the farm , a tour of all-important oil colour distillery and a chance to give away at the farm grocery for handcraft lavender talent .
One of the most late additions to the farm ’s offering is a labyrinth — a spiritual walk way of life , formed from English Munstead lavender . The seven - ring inner ear is 50 infantry in diameter , and offers visitors to the farm the chance to walk through the sweet - scented plant .
MORE THAN LAVENDERAlthough lavender is plainly Ellen and Paul ’s primary focal point , The Lavender Fields is also home to the yield of sheep ’s wool for weaving . Ellen , a dedicated weaver , meander museum - quality Navajo - style rugs in a small shop conterminous to the couple ’s home . The wool add up from their flock of seven Navajo - Churro sheep . A uncommon strain that once numbered in the thousands on Navajo estate in Utah and Arizona , Navajo - Churro were destroyed in vast numbers in the 1860s by the U.S. Army in an effort to subjugate the Navajos . The breed now exists in small , spread out flocks around the country .
Each year , Ellen and Paul ’s small flock is sheered and the wool is spin and dyed by bridge player . Ellen then weaves the wool using a 72 - column inch spacious , eight - harness Cranbrook loom .
Because The Lavender Fields is located in a rural orbit frequented by brush wolf , Ellen and Paul utilise a guardian llama for the sheep . Five other llama reside nearby and provide fiber for Ellen ’s artwork .
When paying a sojourn to The Lavender Fields , one ca n’t help but find tranquil . The beautiful California scenery , along with the fragrance , and the soothe powers of the purple - flowered plant that make up much of the landscape painting are intoxicating . It ’s no wonder The Lavender Fields is a place on the mapping for lilac-colored lovers everywhere .
