The farm has new owners Thank you for two decades of loving lavender! To find out about the farm from 2022 on please go to Western Sun Lavender.
Category: Tours & More
We have tours, workshops, and classes.
Photography at Lavender Wind
There is something special about the purple of blooming lavender fields
With beautiful fields of purple we get lots of requests from both professional and amateur photographers to take pictures on our farm. It has been a pleasure greeting photographers over the years. The farm is closed now.
Our owner, Sarah Richards, is working on developing her own photographic skills. Here is where you can see and/or buy some of her photos (Fine Art America)
Lavender & Gardens May 8, 2020
Things are perking up around here! It’s hard to be depressed surrounded by all this beauty.
We will be requiring reservations to visit the farm this summer. Stay tuned for more details.
Lavender Farm Tours from Coast to Coast
Take a Fragrant Farm Tour and Re-connect with Your Inner Zen
By Georgie Lea Smith
If there is one thing you’ll never forget about touring a lavender farm, it’s the smell.
“They ALWAYS drive up and say, ‘I could smell this coming down the road!” an observation Washington state farmer Sarah Richards, owner of Lavender Wind Farm, chuckles fondly about.
Because of course a lavender farm smells… delightfully, wonderfully, fragrantly so! But touring a lavender wind farm is not only an aromatic experience, it combines the beauty of the plants, the connection the land and outdoors, the stimulation of the exercise and the gratification of learning something new about plants, farming and rural communities.
Agri-tourism is most commonly thought of as touring a working farm. Perhaps gathering some eggs, milking a goat, pulling a few weeds, maybe even staying overnight and cooking up a farm meal from what you harvested that day. It is a experiential travel experience that has been surging in popularity over the last decade as an increasingly urbanized American population reach out to their rural origins, scheduling their vacation days with a trip ‘back to the farm.”
Looking to Relax, Unwind and De-Stress? Tour a Lavender Farm
Touring lavender farms is a particularly delightful subset of the ‘agri-tourism’ craze. Farm tours in general are all about the hands-on experiences that visitors love. Learning about the farm and what they do, enjoying the physical landscape and beauty of the farm, connecting back with nature and feeling the ‘land’ beneath your feet.
But touring lavender farms takes all that and raises the bar several notches. Offering up all the delights of a typical farm tour but adding in not only the beauty of the blooming plants, but the unique benefits that the lavender oil provides – reduced stress and anxiety, elimination of nervous tension and enhanced blood circulation.
Honestly, when you combine the relaxing ‘back to nature” of a farm tour with the aromatic, de-stressing benefits of lavender – isn’t it amazing anybody ever leaves a lavender farm tour! Nap-time anyone?
Finding a Lavender Farm Near You to Tour
The most famous area to offer endless purple fields of lavender is without a doubt, the Provence region of France. With oodles of lavender farms located across 100s of miles, this is a lavender-farm, tour-experience extraordinaire. Here in the United States, there isn’t one area so famously dedicated toward lavender production. But, never fear – because lavender is such a hardy and versatile plant adaptable across most growing regions of the United States, you can find a lavender farm not too far away from almost anywhere you might be.
The first thing to keep in mind, timing your tour for the “purple” season. Most lavender farms in the United States are in peak bloom (aka ‘purple’) from roughly the first of June til sometime in August. Some farms may also offer early spring ‘planting’ tours or fall-harvest time tours that might specifically explore such topics as drying lavender, lavender crafts and distilling lavender oil. But, if you want to experience a lavender farm at the height of its beauty and aroma, best to go when the flowers are blooming.
Next, you need to find a lavender farm that offers tours and is open to the public! Each farm is unique and will have different experiences they can share with visitors. Some farms have an on-site store and allow you to view (and even wander) the fields. Others may be only open for scheduled events or host festivals. Some offer specific tours aimed toward unique topics or designed specifically for your group. The best place to find reputable lavender farms in your area is checking with the U.S. Lavender Growers Association for a farm near you. https://www.uslavender.org.
Meanwhile, here a quick round-up of lavender farms coast-to-coast offering on-farm tours.
Coast to Coast – Five Lavender Farms Open for Farm Tours
Washington – West Coast Ocean Breezes
Lavender Wind Farm. Whidbey Island, Washington. Approximately two hour drive north of Seattle.
A 9-acre farm featuring 19 varieties of lavender, a farm pond and a Hopi-inspired lavender labyrinth. This breath-takingly beautiful farm offers ocean and mountain views along with their stunning fields of purple. Lavender Wind Farm is open during the ‘purple season’ for self-guided day tours or specifically themed guided tours. Click here for more information. https://www.lavenderwind.com/lavender-farm-tour/
Colorado – Rocky Mountain Plateaus
Sage Creations. Palisade, Colorado. Just a 3.5 hour drive from Denver and an even quicker trip across the Utah border from Moab. This organic certified lavender farm features high desert and plateau views. They offer many lavender-centric experiences, including u-pick and guided ‘agri-tours’ of their farming operations and practices. Check here for more information – https://sagecreationsorganicfarm.com
New Mexico – Desert Blooms
Purple Adobe Lavender Farm. Abiquiu, New Mexico. This southwest desert farm is just a quick 30-minute hop from Santa Fe and located in the same valley the famous painter Georgia O’Keefe lived and painted. Take a guided tour for the farm, learning all about the history, uses for lavender and more. http://www.purpleadobelavenderfarm.com
Kansas – Purple on the Prairie
Prairie Lavender Farm. Bennington, Kansas. Over 4600 plants grown amongst the native tall and short-grass prairies of north-central Kansas, this farm is really close to an urban center, just 20-minute drive from Salina which is likely one reason it has the honor of being Kansas’s more visited farm! Tours are available any time they are open for small groups, larger groups are encouraged to schedule. https://prairielavenderfarm.com
Virginia – Sniff and Sip through the Sheandoah Valley
White Oak Lavender Farm. Harrisonburg, VA. A two-hour drive from D.C. or just a one-hour drive from Charlottesville, this lavender farm is located in the renown Shenandoah valley of Virginia. Also a vineyard, you can smell the farm-grown lavender while sipping the farm-grown wine! Seasonal guided tours are offered four days a week and include lavender information, u-pick and a great walking tour of the farm. https://www.whiteoaklavender.com/
Blooming Season Concerts – 2018
Five wonderful concerts on our lavender farm this summer, for grownups who want to chill out.
Saturdays from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Performers
- July 7, 2018 – Choro Tomorrow
- July 14, 2018 – Trio Nouveau
- July 21, 2018 – Wild Man Cooley
- July 28, 2018 – Skinny Tie Jazz
- Aug 4, 2018 – Budapest West
New this year is a parking fee of $5 per car.
You can bring your picnic or get yummy food and drink at the farm.
Menu
- Sandwiches
- Tuna with herbs and fresh lettuce grown on our farm
- Italian with salami, ham, fresh veggies from the farm and market
- Vegetarian – with Dill sauce, tomato, onion, cucumber, avocado, grated carrot, and provolone cheese
- Lavender Lemonade
- Lavender/Lemon Water
- Cookies
- Lavender Chocolate Chip
- Super Oatmeal
- Ginger Molasses
- Lavender Ice Cream (several flavors)
- Our famous scones
Cooking with Lavender
Friday, October 6, 2017 at 6 PM to 8:30 PM
Lavender Wind Farm
15 NW Coveland St, Coupeville, Washington 98239
Learn how to use lavender in many ways to make your cooking pop! Lavender can be a tricky herb to use, so come to this class to find out how to use it for hors d’oeuvres, main dishes, salads, drinks, and desserts. Many of these dishes will include vegetables grown on our farm or nearby farms and chicken from 3 Sisters.
This Whidbey Week class will take place in our shop in the Historic Waterfront District of Coupeville. You’ll learn ways to prepare the lavender and how to incorporate it into dishes, and you’ll be tasting as you learn. You will leave with an educated palate and some culinary lavender to start your journey.
Tasting Items:
- Lavender Goat Cheese Spread
- Lavender Simple Syrup for Drinks
- Chicken with Lavender Balsamic Marinade
- Fresh Garden Salad with Lavender Dressing
- Roasted Lavender & Sage Potatoes
- Lavender Chocolate Chip & Sour Cream Cake
- Lavender Mulled Hot Cider
Lavender Wind
15 Coveland St.
Coupeville, WA
(360) 544-4132
Friday Oct. 6, 2017, 6:00 pm
Cost is $50 per person, must be prepaid Class size is limited
to 8 people, so book early.
Cancellations will receive
shop credit, no refunds
Blooming Season Concerts
Welcome to our Blooming Season Concerts!
These concerts are debuting in 2017 and will replace our festival that we have hosted for 13 years. It’s time for a change. Time for a relaxing experience listening to music, having a picnic, and wandering in the lavender fields.
What happened to the Lavender Festival?
We decided to focus on what we do best – grow lavender and turn it into the great products you have come to love.
Lavender activities are going on everyday during the summer in one form or another. We are open to the public for about 2 1/2 months during which you can watch us harvesting lavender, pick some yourself, learn about stripping the lavender off the stems and cleaning it, watch our distilling process, and simply wander in the fields.
Our community has an awesome Arts and Crafts Festival the 2nd weekend in August that has way more artists to choose from. There are also several Art Tours all year at various times so art is easy to find on Whidbey Island.
Tell me about the concert series!
On five Saturdays there will be a band or single musician who will regale you with songs, music, and stories from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. See the Blooming Season Schedule for who is playing this summer.
During concert Saturday we will still be working on harvesting, processing and distilling lavender. There will be U-Pick available, for you to harvest your own lavender.
There will be sandwiches available (from The Cove Café), as well as our signature cookies, scones, lavender lemonade, and ice cream. You can bring your own picnic, but please, the Liquor Control Board insists that no alcohol be brought on the premises.
Sandwiches will be limited so they will be first come, first serve.
-
- Italian Submarine Sandwich – Genoa salami, ham, provolone cheese, house-made tapenade, lettuce, and tomato on a soft, chewy Ciabatta roll
Concert Dates and Performers for 2017
- July 8 – Choro Tomorrow: A group of musicians who play brazilian music — focusing on the beautiful and complex music that is choro.
- Here is a video with clips from Choro Tomorrow’s concert.
- July 15 – Trio Nouveau: The lyrical conversation between the Trio Nouveau guitarists and their instruments is creative and amazing.
- July 22 – Wild Man Cooley (They don’t have a website yet! Wild Man Cooley plays a mix of Western Swing from the 1920’s-40’s, mixed with some jazz standards and very early rock tunes. Their upbeat song list is very danceable for all ages – in a style the band has dubbed Northwest Rural Swing. Wild Man Cooley features John Koschnick on Guitar, Peter Keating on banjo, drums, and vocals (simultaneously!), Fran Einterz on string bass, David Howell, vocals and harmonica, Peggy Moe, vocals and accordion, and Rick Castellano, vocals, ukulele, and cornet.
- July 29 – Skinny Tie Jazz: Plays Jazz Standards And Not So Standards!
- August 5 – Triptych: an instrumental group will perform familiar favorites from the big band era of the 30’s-50’s.
Lavender Wind FESTIVAL – 2016
Sat. & Sun. July 30 & 31, 2016
Join us for our annual celebration of lavender and art at Lavender Wind Farm, located on Whidbey Island. Stroll the gorgeous grounds and lavender labyrinth, browse the various booths showcasing local artisans, wander through the fragrant fields of lavender, and sit in the wine garden and enjoy live music. Wine Garden benefits the Pacific NW Art School. There will be activities for children and demonstrations of lavender distilling and crafting. Free admission and on-site parking. Two fun-filled days for the whole family!
- Dates: Saturday & Sunday, July 30 & 31, 2015
- Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Artist Booths: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Children’s Activity: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Lavender Demonstrations: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Wine/Beer Tent: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
- Music: 12:00pm to 4:30 pm
This page will be updated anytime we have new information, so keep checking back.
ARTISTS! LWF Artist application 2016
Food
Food will be provided by Milepost 19’s new venture. If you are a local you are well aware of their bagels. For the festival they are going all out to create delicious and healthy food for you to enjoy at the festival. As usual, our cookies, scones, and lavender lemonade will also be available.
Music
Saturday
10:30 – 11:00 – Shifty Sailors
11:30 – 12:30 – Jim Castaneda
1:00 – 2:00 – Just In Time Jazz Duo
2:30 – 3:30 Budapest West
4:00 – 5:00 Budapest West
Sunday
11:30 – 12:30 – DB Jazz
1:00 – 2:00 – Choro Tomorrow
2:30 – 3:30 Skinny Tie Jazz
4:00 – 5:00 Choro Tomorrow
Wine & Beer Garden
This festival started years ago as an Art Festival to celebrate the amazing artists in the community as well as the art of nature. So, over the years we have supported various non-profits with Wine & Beer sales. For the last three years we have teamed with the Pacific Northwest Art School (right here in Coupeville). The sales in the garden will go to the school to support their art classes and activities.
The garden is right in front of the stage where the musicians will be playing.
Lavender Wind Festival – 2015
Join us for our annual celebration of lavender and art at Lavender Wind Farm, located on Whidbey Island. Stroll the gorgeous grounds and lavender labyrinth, browse the various booths showcasing local artisans, wander through the fragrant fields of lavender, and sit in the wine garden and enjoy live music. Wine Garden benefits the Pacific NW Art School. There will be activities for children and demonstrations of lavender distilling and crafting. Free admission and on-site parking. Two fun-filled days for the whole family!
- Dates: Saturday & Sunday, July 25 & 26, 2015
- Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Artist Booths: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Children’s Activity: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Lavender Demonstrations: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Wine/Beer Tent: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
- Music: 12:00pm to 4:30 pm
This page will be updated anytime we have new information, so keep checking back.
Food
We are delighted to announce that Hot Rock Pizza will have their awesome pizzas at the festival. Between their wide variety of pizzas and our cookies, scones, and lavender lemonade you will be happy.
Music
Saturday
- Noon – 2:00 pm Shifty Sailors
- 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm Skinny Tie Jazz
Sunday
- Noon – 2:00 pm Siri Bardarson
- 2:30 – 4:30 pm Jim Castaneda
Wine & Beer Garden
This festival started years ago as an Art Festival to celebrate the amazing artists in the community as well as the art of nature. So, over the years we have supported various non-profits with Wine & Beer sales. This year we are teaming with the Pacific Northwest Art School (right here in Coupeville). The sales in the garden will go to the school to support their art classes and activities.
The garden is right in front of the stage where the musicians will be playing.
Lavender Wind Festival – 2014
Our 11th annual Lavender Festival is bringing back wine and music for your enjoyment. Relax walking the lavender fields, then sit back and sip some local wines and listen to music. Want to learn how to make a lavender wreath or a lavender wand? This year we have booths with lavender craft activities, a children’s activity booth, and a wide variety of art booths by fabulous local artists. Oh, and did we mention food? You will find an amazing array of tasty treats for any palate.
You don’t need tickets to come. Free Parking, if you are nice to the parking attendants!
Music Schedule
July 26
12:00 pm Siri Bardarson
3:00 pm Shifty Sailors (Time delayed 1/2 hour)
July 27
12:00 pm The Muse and Eye
2:30 pm Skinny Tie Jazz
Artists
- Mary Alice Sterling – Handmade & shaped baskets
- Penny Allison Rees – Original Watercolor paintings
- Mike & Marilyn Dessert – Red Cedar tote boxes,specialty dispensers & paper Quilling art
- Cheri Bricker – Wire art creations for growing & protecting plants
- Lyla Lillis – Artistic utilitarian pottery made with Whidbey Island Clay
- Janis Swalwell – Handblown & sculpted art glass for your garden
- Susan Large – Native American jewelry inspired by nature
- Lucy Johnson – Modern style encaustic, mixed media & watercolor art
- Jay Crowdus & Stuart Nelson – Metal animal & bird ornaments & garden design accents
- Barbara Marks – Original paintings, ceramics & wood carvings
- Peter Durand – Original Linoleum prints
- Joel Griffith – Iron & wood furniture, wood bowls, sculpture & bird baths.
Lavender Crafts
- Wreath Making
- Lavender Wand Making
- Distilling Demonstration
- Children’s Activity Booth