We love lavender…lavender in bath & body products, home decor, candles, and we love culinary lavender in many of our favorite recipes. Lavender is an incredible, versatile herb in the kitchen. Flowers and leaves can be used fresh for garnishes, salads and desserts. Dried lavender buds pair well with herbs such as oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, and savory, and add a pop of flavor to many savory dishes. Culinary lavender continues to delight our taste buds at Lavender Rhapsody. Culinary lavender is commonly cultivated from Lavandula angustifolia plants, commonly known as English or True Lavender. True lavender has much less oil than the aromatic lavender used in making bath & body products. Culinary lavender has a mild, peppery, floral flavor...
Deciding whether to cover lavender for the winter, or not, is a question many lavender farmers ponder. Conferring with other growers in preparation for our first winter, the most important takeaway was in examining our microclimate. I’ve heard it said, “if you don’t like the weather in Missouri today, stick around, it will change.” So true! Our winters usually consist of dry-cold air from the northern plains and Canada, sometimes capable of producing ice, snow, fluctuating temperatures, and extreme precipitation events. Brrrrr! We decided to give our new lavender plants every possible opportunity to survive the winter. Our rationale, if Mother Nature’s wrath killed them, it wouldn’t be because we didn’t do all we could to aid them in survival...decision...
We are so happy to say Lavender Rhapsody passed the Certified Naturally Grown on-site inspection for the second year! We don’t use any synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or GMOs, just like certified organic farmers. We strongly support natural and sustainable growing practices.CNG was founded by farmers dedicated to the original ideals of the organic movement – small-scale sustainable agriculture serving local communities. Certification involves peer inspections and strengthens the farming community by fostering local networks. Production standards are based on organic principles and are transparent for all to read on the CNG website. Our standards are high. We believe in creating natural lavender products our customers can trust. We are proud and grateful to be recognized as a Certified Naturally...
We are often asked why lavender? To be honest, I see why the question comes up, we live in the heart of cattle country. After moving to our farm, we began to investigate whether we should raise livestock or grow crops. At my suggestion of lavender, Scott looked at me with a bit of skepticism and asked, why lavender? I gave my elevator pitch, but it wasn’t until we visited Lavender Lake Farms (no longer a lavender farm) in Independence, Oregon, that Scott was convinced. Working in the farm shop that day was Don Roberts, well-known plant geneticist. He graciously spent the next hour discussing growing lavender and the idea took ‘seed!’On the plane home, we drafted a long-term plan...
Our drying room, located in our basement, is full of beautiful lavender bundles. The aroma of drying lavender permeates our home, keeping the two of us in a constant state of relaxation...not! No time to relax just yet! Visitors frequently ask, what do you do with all the lavender bundles?We create lovely bouquets from many of our bundles. Fragrant bouquets visually enhance home decor. Bouquets displayed in tablescapes, dry vases, wall sconces, near photo frames, or atop a stack of books create eye-catching designs. Pull out a few sprigs to tuck into a napkin ring for a beautiful place setting, the possibilities are endless. Placing your lavender in a dry area, out of direct sunlight, is helpful in retaining the...
