I have two words for you: lavender farm. Yes, you read that right, a lavender FARM. And guess what? It's right here in our area and you can take a tour of this kid friendly gorgeous farm starting tomorrow when Lavenlair Farm opens for the season. Truly a magical spot, Lavenlair Farm is such a unique and beautiful place, just a quick drive from the Saratoga Springs area. Today we packed a little lunch (saved some room for the cookies they sell in the shop there of course) and took a relaxed tour of the farm.
The owners, owners David and Diane Allen decided to live their dream and searched for the perfect place, finding a stone farm house from 1820 with 80 acres of land near the town of Fort Ann, NY. They added green utilities to the 19th century farmhouse in an effort to achieve a 21st Century zero carbon footprint: geothermal heat, solar hot water, well water, solar electricity, all sourced locally.
They turned their attentions to making the farm sustainable with organic farming practices and settled on lavender as a crop after Christmas trees proved to be a delicacy for the deer on the property. In 2013, the hand made "Laverinth," a 100ft diameter, lavender planted, Petit-Chartres meditative labyrinth was built. In 2014 the farm added 1600 lavender plants and in 2015, 2400 more. In 2016 & 2017 Lavenlair Farm partnered with Cornell University Extension to host studies of lavender and mint varieties hardy to the North Country. The farm now has 32 different varieties of lavender and 10 varieties of mint.
Visitors to the farm can cut their own lavender bouquets, experience 45-minute guided tours of the farm on the hour when open, take classes in crafting, cooking and distilling lavender essential oil, as well as yoga, chair massage and walking meditation. Two farm-to-table dinners are scheduled in the drying barn in conjunction with [forged] restaurant of Hudson Falls, NY for July 8th and 22nd and a “U Pick-nic” option, featuring boxed lunches provided by [forged] is in the works for weekends to be ordered in advance. Located in the rolling hills of the Champlain Valley of NY, Lavenlair Farm’s views stretch from the Green Mountains of Vermont to the Adirondacks all with one turn of your head and provide an oasis of peace and serenity close to home. “It’s like a visit to Provence without a passport.”
Need more info? Visit them online by clicking the button below. When you go, be sure not to miss the sweet little lavender colored gift shop where they have all kinds of special goodies to sample and take home. The kids LOVE the "lavendo" (and I always get one for myself too). A big thank you to Lavenlair for hosting us on the tour today, we can't wait to go back!
The farm officially opens to the public on Wednesday, June 20th and summer hours will run from Wednesdays to Sundays from 10am to 4pm. Lavenlair Farm is located at 437 Deweys Bridge Rd, Whitehall, NY.
