Lavender Farm Offers Pre-Made Products

Lavender Farm Offers Pre-Made Products The Loess Hills Lavender Farm in Missouri Valley, Iowa, continues to bloom under its second owners. “Founders Tim and Mary Hamer went to a lavender festival in Sequim, Wash.,” says current owner Tracy Porter. “They fell in love with the concept and purchased a 17-acre parcel in Iowa for their own lavender farm.” By 2022, the couple was ready to retire. “Lavender was their baby— I don’t think they would’ve sold to anyone who couldn’t carry on the farm,” Porter says. Fortunately, she and her husband fell in love enough to buy the property. “We don’t have a background in lavender farming; it was a learn-as-we-go situation.” Today, the farm employs one full-time and two part-time workers, in addition to Porter and her husband. They currently care for about 1,000 plants, with an aim to eventually grow to 1,500 to 1,800. “There’s machinery for lavender, but we’ll never scale to the point of needing it,” she says. The farm operates as a wedding venue with several pergolas, and an indoor space is available for graduations and other special events. Since taking ownership, the Porters have made many significant changes. “I wanted kid-friendly elements and aim to educate the public on folklore—gnomes, fairies, we even have a troll on our bridge.” She also created a “birds, bees and butterflies” area to educate people about the importance of pollinators. Most of the lavender is Hidcote, an English variety that’s ideal for cooking and baking. The buds are processed on-site into various products sold at the farm store, along with handmade crafts from about 40 other vendors. “Our most popular products include a spritz, balm and lotion,” Porter says. “Each can be purchased in multiple sizes and even as a pack.” U-cut lavender is another popular feature, with a long-stemmed French variety being the preferred choice. “We have no issues with our u-cut operation,” Porter says. “I give visitors a basket and signage that shows them where to cut on the plant. They have to use kiddie scissors for insurance purposes, and I explain that an ‘okay sign’ is about one bundle.” Despite the farm’s whimsical nature, it isn’t immune to Mother Nature. “The previous owners once managed 3,000 plants. Many died from disease after another plant’s introduction, and the following year, plants died because Mother Nature delivered very little snow to protect them from freezing rain. Snow creates insulation,” Porter says. “Without it, the plants can’t tolerate below-zero temperatures and freezing rain.” Managing various plant life cycles can also be challenging. “Baby lavender plants have entirely different care needs than mature ones,” Porter says. “Mature ones do okay with rainfall, but babies need plenty of water to grow.” She recommends that future lavender farmers start slowly. “I read about someone starting a brand-new lavender field and planting 2,000 plants in a season. That’s too many. You can do your research, sure, but it’s not the same as real experience. Learn through mistakes, then scale up.” Similarly, she emphasizes the importance of understanding your farm’s role in the market. “Are you interested in staying open to the public? That changes insurance, layout considerations, and more compared to selling at a farmers’ market. Have a clear sense of what you want to do with your farm before you start putting in the work.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Loess Hills Lavender Farm, 2278 Loess Hills Trail, Missouri Valley, Iowa 51555 (ph 712-642-9016; lhlavenderfarm@gmail.com; www.loesshillslavender.com).

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