Catnip Hanging to Dry

If you’ve ever watched what happens when you put a cat and a pot of catnip (Nepeta cataria) together, you’ve witnessed what could rightly be called the feline version of reefer madness. Most cats, even lions and tigers, are helplessly drawn to nepetalactone, an aromatic compound in the plant’s leaves. They’ll energetically play with catnip-stuffed toys — even roll on the plants themselves! — and become frisky, playful, and even amorous. Most cats find it irresistible, but not all cats. It’s been discovered that sensitivity to catmint is inherited, so if your cat turns her nose up at catnip, it may just be that she’s immune to its spell and not a big party pooper. We have our own quality tester. Lavender Wind Farm’s cat, Siduri,

Siduri

who’s job is to make sure the current year’s crop is excellent for cats.

For people, on the other hand, Nepetalactone has the opposite effect. Catnip tea is traditionally used to reduce tension, nervousness, and anxiety. And like many other members of the mint family, it can settle a stomach and ease motion sickness. For generations, in fact, herbalists have recommended it to relieve discomfort in colicky babies.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Catnip sprig

and Catmint (Nepeta x fassennii)

Catmint just starting to bloom

are actually different plants. Cats are not attracted to catmint the way they are to catnip, although sometimes one will be interested. Catmint has graceful long spires of blue flowers. Catnip’s flowers are white. Catnip will reseed itself and can become a bit of a pest, whereas, Catmint will not reseed (being a hybrid, its seeds are sterile). If you want blue beauty in your garden most of the summer, Catmint is your plant.

Catnip is the more potent when it comes to herbal effects. As mentioned above, it has numerous health benefits when used as either a tea (infusion) or tincture. A researcher at Cornell University1 says that Catnip developed it’s unique scent and chemical profile to repel insects that might want to chomp on its leaves. This turned out to be a great hint to researchers who seek mosquito repellants. Catnip essential oil has been shown to be effective against those pesky, buzzing, disease bringers – but the effect varies depending on how, where, and when the oil is distilled.

For an easy way to protect against bugs, you can use catnip, along with lavender, and make some bug repellant sachets. Combine dried catnip and dried lavender and use that mixture to stuff sachet bags. Put them in your closet and drawers for a much more natural and pleasant way to keep moths and bugs at bay.

Catnip is an amazing plant – your stomach, your cat, your skin, and your clothes will thank you for growing and using it.

(Authors: Sarah Richards & Toni Grove)

Lavender Baklava

Toni Grove, our resident herbalist and nursery worker, came to work with her FAMOUS Baklava for a goodbye party for our longtime staff member Nancy. She made it with lavender!! It was fabulous!

Recipe

Filling

4 C Finely Ground Walnuts
1/3 C Sugar
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 C finely ground lavender
1/2 Lb. melted butter

1 pkg filo dough

Syrup

1 C sugar
1 C water
1/4 C honey
1/4 tsp Cinnamon (optional)

Assembling

Preheat oven to 350º

Lay the filo dough leaves in the bottom of a lasagna pan, buttering (use basting brush dipped in melted butter) every other leaf until you have a layer of about 6 or 8 leaves. Mix together the ground walnuts, 1/3 C sugar and 1/4 tsp cinnamon. Spread 1/3  of the mixture evenly over the filo layer. Lay two more filo leaves over the filling you just put on and butter the top filo layer. Spread 1/3 more of the filling, spread evenly, and another layer of two filo leaves with butter on top. Spread final third of mixture and top with the remaining filo leaves, buttering every other one.

Bake for 45 minutes

Take out of oven, or turn off oven and let it cool in the oven.

When cool, slice in your desired shapes. You’ll now need to make the syrup. Heat in microwave for two minutes on high: one cup sugar, one cup water, and 1/4 honey. Stir well until everything is dissolved. Pour over your nicely cut baklava.

Sarah is the proprietor of Lavender At Stonegate which is a retail and wholesale nursery in Oregon, near Portland. She is one of the rare people who is talented and friendly, makes you feel like you’re her best friend even though you might have only met her five minutes ago. She is smart – which is handy when you’re going to her for advice. She has made a bunch of YouTube videos teaching people how to take care of their lavender.

Hey, if we work hard at it, maybe we can get Sarah Bader to come to Whidbey Island and teach us about lavender right here…. We’ll need lots of your support to do that, so let us know you’re interested.

Sarah Bader, from Oregon, brought cases of her new lavender book. We’ll have it for you in our gift shop on Monday. It’s great to talk with so many lavender professionals!

Ann Harmon taught us about making hydrosols as a primary goal rather than a secondary one.

Our old friend, Kathy Gerht, has been inspiring all the cooks in the group. She agreed to come after our new shop opens and teach a cooking class or two – can’t wait!

Curtis Beus, received an award of a purple plaque and a life-time membership in the Sequim Lavender Growers Association.

The newly formed United States Lavender Growers Association gathered many new members at its launch this weekend.

There were a couple of vendors here that you’ll be glad we saw when their products get to our shop.

Sarah Richards owns the only lavender farm on Whidbey Island.  With views of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, she has built a popular destination for tourists.  She has also developed a full line of culinary and personal care products which are sold online, at her farm, and by local retailers. This summer, she is opening her first retail store and production facility in Coupeville.  She is a member of the Puget Sound Food Network, a board member of Northwest Agriculture Business Center, and was a founding member of the Whidbey Island Grown brand.  She is also a founding board member of the new United States Lavender Growers Association and will be attending the Sequim International Lavender Conference, April 27-30.

NABC’s Sherrye Wyatt caught up with Sarah earlier this month to find out more about the origins of her “accidental” business, the unique challenges of farming on an island and operating a business out of a historic house, and some of Sarah’s other passions.

 Read more…

Thank you Sherrye!

Sarah in the Field by Sherrye Wyatt

Back to why I’m putting this in our blog…This is an important vote for us, because our Coupeville Shop is being created in an existing historic Ebey’s Reserve home.

The Craftsman Bungalow style house was built in 1916 by Otto VanDyk for the C.C. Cushen family and used as a family residence. The house was later owned by Lewis Matthews and purchased in 1941 by Michael Criscola. In 1968 a small sun room was build on the south facade. In 1976 it was purchased by the Wienringa’s and converted to a B&B.  Our friend, Lyla (Libbey) Snover said she went to kindergarten there as a kid and she later babysat for a family there. The house has gone through various uses over the years. At one point it was a B&B, several times a residence. Lately, someone tried to have an antique store on the site, but couldn’t due to parking ordinance issues. We are delighted to be able to maintain most of its warm, homey, and historical character as we transform it into a commercial use property.

This house was a B&B in the 1970's we think.

When you come into the shop, you’ll see the original front rooms with only slight modifications. You’ll be able to wander the new landscaping (that is still in the planning stages) have a cuppa outside in good weather, and get a take-out of our lavender scones and cookies all weather. Not to mention be able to buy all our wonderful lavender products and more. Other times you’ll be able to take classes… but I’m getting ahead of myself. Right now our builders, plumbers, electricians, engineers, and staff are all working hard to get this remodel done and keep the house looking as cute (or cuter) as ever.

Looking for purple in April we found these tulips behind the gazebo. When you’ve got a lavender farm the search for purple is endless. It’s a good day when we find it!

Meanwhile, we are planting thousands of more lavender plants, sunflowers, chamomile and other herbs. It’s green, busy and beautiful here. Come see for yourself, we’re now open until 5:00 pm every day.

“When is the best time to see the lavender in bloom?”

The short answer is summer. But that is really short and doesn’t really give you the full story. Lavender’s home turf is the area around the Mediterranean. It thrives on the wet winters and dry summers in the chalky, rocky soils that are found there. There are over 400 varieties of lavender world wide. Many people in hot and dry climates grow lavender – and they bloom earlier (usually). So, our lavender colleagues in Texas can have lavender festivals in May and June. Here in the Pacific Northwest in view of the Salish Seawaters, the lavender can bloom from sometime

Lavendula Stoechas

in May to October. That is true, if you include Lavendula Stoechas

which can grow here. But to see fields of lavender you typically won’t fine that kind of lavender in large fields. You will see Lavendula Angustifolia starting to bloom sometime in June, last year it was towards the end – but you never know for sure.

Lavendula Angustifolia

Lavendula x-Intermedia, which is the larger of the two species/hybrids that you will find in large plantings. It’s most famous variety is named “Grosso” and has a wonderful scent. These bloom from the beginning of July well into August: It depends on the variety and the season. When you’re farming, you can’t dictate the decisions that “Mother earth” makes.

So, now you know. Tell your photographer friends, and the family members who want to go on picnics in purple, and others who are just curious. Lavender blooms in the summer.

The pictures are thanks to various sites – you can click on the pictures and see their original sites. (We like sharing, how about you?)

Lavendula x-Intermedia

Essential oils are concentrated complex aromatic compounds that are extracted from plants, usually through steam distillation. Also known as volatile oils, they’re fragrant because the molecules that make up these compounds are tiny and can easily travel up into the air, unlike fatty-acid-based “fixed” oils, such as olive or corn oil.

But what makes essential oils so attractive to the senses can also pose problems if you’re not careful. Their volatility not only makes them combustible, their bottles must be kept tightly capped or they’ll eventually evaporate.

Keep all your essential oils in dark glass bottles, not plastic or metal, and away from heat and direct sunlight. Remember too that these purified, highly concentrated compounds shouldn’t be ingested at full strength. And avoid applying any pure essential oil except for lavender directly to the skin.

Copper Separator for Lavender Essential Oil

What makes lavender essential oil unique?

Essential oils from plants are highly concentrated compounds. Because of this, they have the potential to be both effective natural medicines and also, if used incorrectly, dangerous toxins. For example, when applied full strength to the skin, lemon oil can cause photo-toxicity, and both cinnamon and clove essential oils can be highly irritating. And it’s been discovered that some people are allergic to members of the sunflower, or aster, family of plants, even when not in a concentrated form.

For this reason, do your homework and find out as much as you can about the plant the oil comes from, any known toxicity, and how it is best used. Don’t assume all essential oils are safe. Then dilute your essential oils in a fixed oil, like almond or olive oil, before applying to your skin or adding to your bath water.

Lavender essential oil is a wonderful exception to this rule. For almost everyone, it can be applied full-strength directly to burned skin, insect bites, minor wounds, and inflammations. At the same time, its calming fragrance will soothe you and help your body to heal.

By Toni Grove, Lavender Wind Farm