If you are like my sister and I, we always look forward to the New Year setting goals and thinking of what we want to accomplish for the new year (which, by the way, always includes losing that last 5-10 lbs). But as many of the best self-help books on “creating your dream life” will tell you, you must first look back, reflect and take count of where you have been before you can look to the future. So I thought it would be a great idea to stop, reflect and tell the story of how Mt Airy Lavender began.

For those of you that know me, I love everything about France; the language, the food, the lifestyle. I studied French in high school and college, and continue to practice and study this romance language today. I had been fortunate enough to visit Paris several times and always fantasized about living in Europe some day. And then in 2006, I had the fabulous opportunity to move to Brussels, Belgium while working for a large American Investment company. My husband, daughter and I had only two days to find our new home and our relocation consultant was taking us from one house to another on a whirlwind house-hunting trip. Nothing really clicked for us and then I knew at first-site that the house with the walkway and driveway lined with luscious lavender bushes was going to be our new home. For me, it was a sign that we had found “our place”. I didn’t realize it then, but it was there at 25 Square Larousse, in which the seeds of the future Mt Airy Lavender were sown.

Lavender lined walkway at our house in Brussels, Belgium

We lived there for five years and during that time I traveled to the Provence region in southern France while the lavender was in full bloom. I was mesmerized by the rolling hills of lavender. As you look over the rolling hills all you could see was a sea of lavender and the fragrance was intoxicating. Here are just a few of the pictures from that memorable trip.

I loved living in Brussels and I loved the lavender. When we moved back home to the US in 2011 and settled back in our house on the family farm I knew I wanted to bring home a little bit of Europe back home with me. So I decided to plant a small field of lavender in my backyard, in honor of the house on 25 Square Larousse. Looking back, I am not sure what I was thinking, but the following year in 2012, I bought 500 plants and had them shipped from Oregon to PA. The next year, 2013, I bought another 500 plants and I suddenly found myself a “Lavender Farmer”.

Soon after planting our field, I learned about the US Lavender Growers Association (www.uslavender.org) and quickly joined and attended their first conference held in Richmond, Virginia. I learned so much at that two-day conference, not just from the speakers but from all the friendly, open and sharing lavender farmers that attended. Since then, I’ve attended all their conferences, eventually buying a shiny copper still in 2015.

Mt Airy Lavender’s Copper Still for Distilling Lavender to make Lavender Essential Oil

Now with our new still we started to distill our lavender to make Lavender Essential Oil. We weren’t sure what we were going to do with our essential oil until an opportunity and call for action fell our way. We were asked if we would be interested in selling our lavender products at a Harvestfest. We had no products, but we said “Yes”! In one month, I solicited my artistic niece to create a logo and started to develop our products. The logo we chose was from a picture of my beloved sheepdog named Panda who flew with us over to Brussels and back and lived to the ripe old age of 17. He will always hold a special spot in my heart.

Here is a picture of that first Harvestfest.

Since then we have added two more lavender fields, several more products, host workshops and events and created an on-line shopping store.

I continue to learn about lavender mostly from the mistakes I’ve made but also with the help of fellow Lavender growers. Over the years, I have become more and more involved with the US Lavender Growers Association and in 2019, I was the Chair Committee member for the 2019 Conference in Charleston.

This year, the United States Lavender Growers association is holding a Virtual Conference and I encourage anyone who has a love of lavender to attend. For those that do not want to become a member, there are individual talks open to the general public. I will be Presenting a Talk called “Lavender Primer- History, Gardening Basics, Varieties and Joys”. Click here to learn more.

Amy and I have had such a great journey since that first lavender plant was planted in 2012. We have met so many wonderful people at our open houses and events. We are so excited for what we have planned for 2021 and can’t wait to share that with you soon.

Joanne and Amy