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Order Online to Support our farm and the community

Inside view of our shop
It can get crowded in here!

Our retail shop was closed during the first month or so of the pandemic.

This post was updated on Feb. 20, 2021.

Shopping shifted online
.

We are following the Coronavirus pandemic closely. The safety of our customers and staff is of the most concern, even if it’s financially painful for us.

We always follow careful cleanliness practices in our entire workspace. Our normal cleaning routines are being augmented with practices recommended by the CDC. This is the very least we can do to promote workplace safety. But, as you know, things are rapidly changing. Our governor has said all gatherings of 50 people (plus or minus) and all restaurants must no longer happen or be open to the public. As you can see, we can’t fit 50 people inside our little shop, but we are so small that folks are necessarily too close to each other at a time when we need to maintain distance. Our customers and staff are very important to us, so we limit the number of people inside the shop. Our staff, will still be making products and filling orders as long as it is safe to do so.

You can still get your lavender products by ordering via our online store and choosing “At Store Pickup”. We will pack up your order and make it available to you when you want to pick it up during normal shop hours (10 to 5).
We will work it out so it’s as convenient as possible for you.

Wholesale Sales not changing, we’ll prepare your orders and ship as normal.

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Help us help you

It is important for all of us to stay healthy.

At Lavender Wind we are increasing our sanitation procedures, encouraging employees to stay home if sick or exposed to the virus (we have sick pay options for them), and we want to stay in business.

So, while we are joining with others to keep social contact to a minimum in the midst of the current Covid-19 crisis, we also want to be able to deliver our products to our loyal customers. To that end we want to know how you’d like us to do it.

Please take this survey so we know what you’d like. We will adjust our ideas and offerings based on the responses we get.

[qsm quiz=6]

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Make your own Hand Sanitizer

Picture of hand sanitizer and ingredients.

We all know that washing your hands with soap and water is the most effective way to stay healthy. But, sometimes you don’t have access to a bathroom to wash your hands.

You can buy hand sanitizers, but if you are like us, we like to know how to make our own products when possible, and we want to make them safe and effective. We found out that a hand sanitizer is easy to formulate. The important part is that it requires at least 60% alcohol.

Because that is a lot of alcohol you’ll want to find a way to reduce the skin-drying aspects of the alcohol. We put in glycerine and it still wasn’t quite enough, so for safety we left the hand sanitizer formula alone and recommend also using one of our lotions or creams (or one of your preference) to keep your skin soft and supple.

Here is a recipe for you to make your own Lavender Hand Sanitizer.

This is a basic recipe to use. It will make about four 2-oz. bottles.

IngredientAmountUnits
Alcohol129.0Grams
Lavender Hydrosol49.0Grams
Glycerine9.0Grams
Grosso EO5.0Grams
Peppermint EO2.0Grams
Clove EO1.0Grams
Cinnamon EO1.0Grams
Total196.0

You will need a scale to weigh the ingredients. It’s much more accurate to do it that way, so we haven’t included the measuring equivalent in cups and spoons. Kitchen scales aren’t that expensive and you can use them for so many other things you want to create.

If you don’t have access to all these essential oils, that’s ok. Use what you have. The ones included here are commonly thought to have good anti-microbial qualities, but the reality is that the alcohol is the main ingredient for safety.

If you don’t have hydrosol you can substitute witch hazel or even water.

You can get the Lavender Hydrosol and Lavender Essential oil at our shop or on our website.

The other essential oils are available through many other sources.

After you have made your Hand Sanitizer, be sure to label the containers. Either make a cute sticker or write on it with a permanent marker. This is important!

Please contact us through this form if you want us to put together a kit for you. We’re not sure how we’d manage that yet, but we are willing to look into it. – March 1, 2020

[contact-form-7 id=”3235″ title=”Hand Sanitizer Query”]

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Lavender Brownies, Gluten Free (or not)

Brownies on a plate

Making lavender gluten free brownies pictures showing step by step. Ingredients and instructions after the pictures. These are seriously yummy brownies!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (138 grams) Lavender Wind Gluten Free Flour* or 1 cup (125 grams) whole wheat flour for a non-GF version
  • 3/4 cup (86 grams) Cacao Barry Cocoa Powder – 100% Cacao – Extra Brute
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (196 grams) butter, melted and cooled slightly 
  • 1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated sugar,
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons lavender extract
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup (128 grams) semi-sweet mini chocolate chips

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and line an 8″×8″ pan with parchment paper.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, stir together the melted butter or coconut oil, sugar, and vanilla extract. Once combined, add the eggs one at a time, and stir just until combined.
  • Add the dry mixture to the wet and stir just until almost no streaks of flour remain. Do not overmix! Fold in 3/4 cup (128 grams) chocolate chips.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  • Bake for about 40 minutes (maybe more). A toothpick inserted into the center will come out wet. A toothpick inserted into the sides will come out with some moist crumbs on it, but not totally raw batter. The brownies will continue to bake as they sit in the pan and will firm up as they cool.
  • Let cool completely and then cover and store at room temperature for up to 4 days. You can also refrigerate them to give them a fudgier texture.

* Substitute Bob’s Mill Gluten Free Flour.

This was adapted from a recipe on the Texanerin Baking website.

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Winter weather giving you chapped hands?

We’ve got help for that!

Gardeners Hand Cream

Our Gardener’s Hand & Foot Cream is made from fresh ingredients, with as few preservatives as possible. It is a very thick cream packed in a glass jar because we are reducing our use of plastics. It was originally formulated to help my mother with her cracking finger tips. Being true to her nature, though, she was bound and determined to use duct tape instead. Go figure! Meanwhile, we use it to great benefit on both our hands and feet, as well as our faces when they are particularly dry. It comes in two sizes.

Hand & Body Lotion

If you want to have quick pick-me-up, we have our Lavender Hand and Body Lotion. You can slather it all over. It comes in three sizes. Mmmm, your skin will feel so soft and smell so sweet.

These are great ways to smooth your skin, help it withstand the trials and tribulations of winter, and bring a whiff of summer scent for your delight.

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Lavender Essential Oil vs Lavender Hydrosol

by Georgie Smith and Sarah Richards

Our own Beth tells about hydrosol

What is Lavender Hydrosol?

How is it different than Lavender Essential Oil? A lot of lavender fans ask us, so what IS the difference between lavender oil and lavender hydrosol? 

There’s a big hint right in their names. Hydro… Oil… Can you guess? 

That’s right — water versus oil is main difference between lavender oil and lavender hydrosol. The first being ‘oil soluble’ and the second being ‘water soluble.’

Water is such an important part of hydrosols (which can be made from almost all distilled oil products) that a historic name for them is “flower water” or “floral water.”  

Although, ‘floral waters’ is also a name used interchangeably for less rigorous production methods of a water-based aromatic. Simply soaking blossoms in water can create a lightly aromatic ‘water.’ Versus hydrosols, which are made via a steam distillation process. 

Making Lavender Hydrosol

In the modern-day aromatherapy movement, hydrosols were a typically discarded by-product in the distilling process in favor of the more potent essential oil. For every few ounces of concentrated, pure essential oil created in distillation, there are also several large jugs worth of ‘essential water.’ 

That all changed, however, as aromatherapists and professionals began to understand the benefits offered by hydrosols themselves, particularly lavender hydrosol.

The process of steam distillation uses steam and heat to release lavender’s ‘essential’ components. 

Watch the distillate come out of the still.

The process starts with the flowers, leaves and stem of lavender placed into a distillery chamber. Hot steam is put through the plant material and causes the plant to degrade and open up. The water molecules in steam pick up the plant’s constituents, forming a hot distillate that rises to the top of the still as steam. That condenses into liquid and runs into a separator.

Then, the layer of essential oil is skimmed off the top and preserved. What is left is the lavender hydrosol.

Lavender Hydrosol has Different Components than Lavender Essential Oil

Though they are made from the same process, hydrosols and essential oils also are comprised of different components. 

Hydrosols contain constituents from the plant that dissolve in water. Essential oils are the constituents that dissolve in oil. 

Hydrosol, which contains many of the herbaceous elements of the origin plant that essential oils do not, often are considered to have a ‘greener’ aroma than essential oil. 

Lavender essential oil tends to have a sweeter aroma than the hydrosol from the same plant which some find more refreshing.

Why Use Lavender Hydrosol versus Lavender Essential Oil

Less concentrated is a not necessarily a bad thing. 

After all the power of essential oils IS that they are so powerful (for instance, they are solvents which means they can dissolve oil-based paints)! 

Hydrosols, and in particular lavender hydrosols, work in many (but not all) applications that essential oil does. They just do it in smaller, safer doses. 

Because hydrosols are water soluble, they dissolve easily in water-based applications – like baths. Versus essential oils, which will float on top of water, not dissolve. In addition, therapists often will recommend applications of essential oils be applied (sparingly) into a ‘carrier oil’ first to dilute the effects. 

Putting lavender hydrosol in spray bottles is a great way to use it.

Hydrosols, on the other hand, are a simpler, and safer way to venture into using aromatherapy and often recommended as the ‘first choice’ when experimenting with the effects of essential oils. This makes them safer for home and non-professional use and even aromatherapy professionals will often choose hydrosols as the first method in their treatments. 

Lavender hydrosol can also be a way to get that “lavender” effect at a greatly reduced price as compared to the essential oil. Hydrosol is diluted by nature, and no need to further water down or mix with other agents. 

Ways to Use Lavender Hydrosol

Minor Wound or Abrasion Care

While western medicine hasn’t taken hydrosols very seriously they are reported to have positive impacts on small wounds. Europeans traditionally keep a small bottle of lavender essential oil in their kitchens. Lavender hydrosol can be effective for rinsing, cleaning and promoting healing of skin abrasions and cuts. 

Skin Itchiness from Sun or Wind Burns, or Eczema, Dryness and Aging

A refreshing tonic that soothes skin itchiness.  Also works for diaper rash!

Skin Toner 

Many people use lavender and other hydrosols to create a refreshing skin toner that is rejuvenating and rehydrating. Or add it to your homemade skin care creams for added benefits. 

Baths and Showers 

Lavender hydrosol can be added to bathwater (like lavender essential oil), with many of the same effects, providing a relaxing floral experience. Or use as a body spritz in the shower!

For General Household Cleaning including Windows

A mild disinfectant, lavender hydrosol is great for all hard surfaces. It is also non-streaking and does a terrific job cleaning windows, glass and computer and TV screens. Some drivers put it in their car’s window washing reservoir so every time they squirt their windshields they get a whiff of lavender and clean glass.

For Washing Fruit and Vegetables

Lavender hydrosol is a perfectly safe product to use on fresh fruit and vegetables. 

Keeping Insects at bay

Lavender hydrosol is well-known for discouraging common insects include flies, fruit flies, spiders and ants in common areas like counters, sinks and garbage cans. 

Plant Spray 

Use lavender hydrosol on both indoor and outdoor plants to discourage aphids and mealy bugs in particular.

But our favorite thing about using lavender hydrosol – it smells GREAT. (Obvious we know, but so true!). 

Hydrosol 32 oz.

Check out Lavender Wind Farm’s selection of Lavender hydrosol products HERE.  

P.S. We will soon have catnip and rosemary hydrosols available, so keep checking, sign up for our emails, or like our facebook page.

Learn more

Want to make your own hydrosols? Ann Harman’s book (Harvest to Hydrosol) is the best, but it’s hard to find as of this writing. Here is a podcast with Anne.

More info on Using Hydrosols at AromaWeb.

For aromatherapy resources the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy is a good place to start.

If you want to further your education in a formal setting, Bastyr University in Seattle, WA has an Herbal Sciences program

A great resource for information on herbs in general is The American Botanical Council

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Mixing Up the Perfect Lavender Cocktail – Or Lavender Beer!

Cocktail
Photo by Paula Hayes on Unsplash

By Georgie Smith

It’s summer. The lavender fields are blooming. 

Time to mix up a lavender cocktail, pour the husband his cold glass of lavender beer and send the kids to the street corner to sell some lavender lemonade. 

Wait a minute…lavender? To drink? Isn’t that for soap?

Well yes. And no. 

Lavender IS an amazing and natural fit in traditional ‘floral’ applications. Soap, lotions, potpourri, oils, perfume, cleaning products and more. 

But, used correctly, lavender is also a surprising and refreshing flavor profile addition in many of your favorite summer-time cocktails (or mocktails) and even a fun addition to beer. 

So how do you impress with your lavender mixology skills? By understanding the basics.

Understanding the Science Behind Taste and the Theory of Flavor Matching

The science behind taste has evolved in recent years. There are entire websites and complicated charts on ‘flavor pairings.’ 

https://www.nature.com/articles/srep00196

One prevalent theory is that most palatable flavor pairings are combinations of ingredients that share one or more ‘flavor’ profiles. This is how chefs have come up with crazy pairing ideas like chocolate with blue cheese (they share 73 flavor compounds). 

Cultural and regional preferences also have a lot of influence in what is experienced as pleasant, versus unpalatable. In Western cuisine we tend to prefer pairings that ‘share flavor compounds’ in a sense that they ‘balance out’ different tastes. 

This is simplified to the four main ‘flavor’ experiences. Salty (aka as savory), sour, sweet, bitter and many chefs like to add ‘spicy.’ 

These are all taste profiles we experience in different ways and that can be used to balance each other in flavor pairings. So, a spicy dish benefits from just a hint of sweetness, for example. https://www.cooksmarts.com/articles/study-flavor-profiles/

Lavender, which let’s not forget IS a herb as much as it is a ‘flower’, lies squarely in the ‘sweet and savory’ characteristics, with a healthy dose of bitter thrown in for good measure. So, when thinking about beverage ‘pairings’ consider how a bit of the floral sweetness can balance a sour flavor like lemonade. Or a little bit of that lavender ‘bitter’ bite can combine into an amazing martini with a subtle floral overtone. 

Get the recipe for this beautiful drink at http://veggiecravings.com/blueberry-lavender-mocktail/

Don’t Forget the Olfactory Power of Lavender!

When using lavender for culinary purposes it is always important to remember that aroma makes up a HUGE part of a tasting experience. Eighty percent of how we perceive flavors is determined by aroma, according to many researchers. http://cst.ufl.edu/taste-vs-flavor-whats-the-difference.html

And that’s one thing lavender has in abundance – aroma. Particularly, a very floral, sweet aroma most typically associated with soaps, lotions and ‘perfume.’ After all the origin of the word ‘lavender’ comes from a Latin word ‘lavare’ meaning ‘to wash.’ 

Yet, what we like to ‘wash’ with isn’t what we typically want to eat, even though sometimes those scent profiles might be used in interchangeably purposes with different affects. You might enjoy and sort of want to eat, the chocolate-scented candle your husband bought you for your birthday. But probably not the lavender-scented one. 

So how does that work when it comes to lavender? Which we can all agree has a LOT to offer when it comes to aroma?

It’s simple. Don’t use too much! 

Home brewer and local high school math teacher Marc DeArmond followed that rule religiously with his “Hop Scald Pale Ale.” His ale, brewed from hops grown at the school garden and lavender sourced from Lavender Wind Farm, was the unanimous winner in all categories at a recent “Cook for the Cause’ contest and fundraiser for a local farm to school program. https://www.coupevillefarm2school.org

He added just two tablespoons of culinary lavender into a five gallon batch of brew. 

“If you didn’t know the lavender was there, you might not have noticed. It’s just enough of the flavor to add to it,” DeArmond says. “Generally, if you’re doing anything with lavender, that’s where you want to be. You want it to have a nice floral bit without being overwhelming. It’s all about limiting how much you do.”

Whether you brew beer or cider, lavender can be a great addition. Locust Cider used our lavender https://www.locustcider.com/

Use Culinary Lavender for Culinary Purposes

Sort of a no-brainer, but it really makes a huge difference to use the RIGHT type of lavender in beverages (or any food application.). 

What IS culinary lavender? Well, it is varietals of what is commonly called “English Lavender”, or the Lavandula angustifolia species. English lavender, often considered the ‘true’ lavender by many aficionadas, has a more subtle, softer lingering flavor with the more intensely perfumed or camphoric (think Vick’s vapor rub) aroma than the other Lavandula species possess. 

To read more information on the differences between lavender species check out our blog post here: https://www.lavenderwind.com/2019/lavender-essential-oils/

Making sure to source and uses culinary lavender, freshly-grown locally without chemicals so it’s human safe, properly cured and dried as well, is an important step in creating that perfectly ‘lavender-enhanced’ refreshment. Or you might end up creating a much different flavor experience than you were going for!

Make a Lavender Simple Syrup

A lot of the recipes use for lavender beverages start with a ‘simple syrup’ infused with lavender. 

This prevents a lot of potential mistakes with using lavender flavor profiles. 

It combines the sweetness of lavender with even more sweet (which we know works well because like flavor profiles pair well). It dilutes the intensity of the floral effects of lavender. It puts the lavender ‘flavor’ into an application that easily dissolves and mixes well with other liquids. 

And also gives you a beautiful ‘syrup’ to display in that gorgeous little apothecary-type bottle you’ve had floating around your kitchen and never knew what to do with! (Just store in your fridge, up to two weeks). 

Creating a simple syrup is, not surprisingly, very simple. The only ingredients needed are dried or fresh lavender flowers, water, sugar and sauce pan and a strainer. https://www.thespruceeats.com/diy-lavender-simple-syrup-760293

Ready to Start Mixing? Lavender Cocktail Inspiration Commence!

So, what’s next? Now that you understand the basics and are ready to start concocting? How about a little inspiration? Here’s a few of our favorites.

Lavender Lemonade
Lavender Lemonade

Lavender Wind Farm’s Lavender Lemonadehttps://www.lavenderwind.com/2015/lavender-lemonade/

A classic, summer-time favorite. Great for the kids, or you can add a little rum for an adult beverage!

Lavender Bee’s Knees – https://www.gastronomblog.com/lavender-bees-knees-a-gin-cocktail/

A twist on a historic favorite, the gin sour cocktail. Using lavender and honey for a sweet, floral and earthy aroma. 

Lavandou – https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/lavandou-cocktails-2010

This is a heavier lavender-flavored cocktail, using cognac and a lavender-honey syrup. 

Lavender Beer – http://chopandbrew.com/recipes/pedal-pusher-lavender-wit-homebrew-recipe/

There are many variations on how to use lavender in beer making. This blog post is a good example. You can always call up Mr. DeArmond though…he says he is always happy to share!

Culinary Lavender from Lavender Wind
Get our Culinary Lavender and get started!