| Indiana couple’s fragrant retirement is in lavender |
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| By ANDREA McCANN
Indiana Correspondent
MOORESVILLE, Ind. — A small cottage industry blossomed in Central Indiana six years ago and, with plenty of nurturing from owners Kieran and Libbe O’Connor, has taken root and matured into a purple, perfumed retirement plan.
The O’Connors own Willowfield Lavender Farm near Mooresville. Kieran said he believes their farm is the only one in Indiana dedicated just to growing lavender.
“I wanted something to grow in retirement,” explained the Indianapolis firefighter, who’ll retire later this year.
Growing lavender was an idea that took root from Libbe’s early-morning television watching. Kieran said his wife, an artist, is an early riser and saw a lavender farm featured on “Ag Day.” Wanting to do something different from other Indiana growers, they settled on lavender as their crop.
“I bought 100 plants in the fall when they were discounted,” Kieran said. “I knew they needed well-drained soil and full sun.”
He said he mixed sand with the clay soil on the farm and planted his first crop. Once lavender is established, he said, it can be left alone because it’s drought-tolerant. It takes about three or four years for a plant to mature, Kieran said.
“Those plants survived, and I thought ‘I can do this kind of farming,’” he said, with a grin.
Kieran began to study the techniques of lavender farmers in Washington state. Now he uses pea gravel for drainage and mixes sand, lime and topsoil in which to set the plants. He said lavender plants need an alkaline soil with a pH of 5.5-6.5.
The O’Connors’ most recent plantings are in raised beds with weed cloth. Kieran said besides the obvious benefit of keeping weeds out, the weed cloth holds in moisture longer and absorbs heat to help the plants through the winter. “The first couple years, we couldn’t keep up with the weeds,” he said.
The O’Connors grow two species of lavender at Willowfield – Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula x intermedia hybrids. Of the some 60 species throughout the world, Kieran said, these two are most suited to Zone 5, the USDA hardiness zone in which most of Indiana is situated. There are many different varieties within these species, and the O’Connors raise several, ranging from white to pink to deep purple and small, compact plants to large, rangy ones.
They sell live plants, bundles, lotions, soaps, essential oil, gift baskets, teas, bath salts, candles and sachets. In addition, they sell pottery, photography and baskets. Basket-making classes and concerts are offered from time to time at the farm.
“Because everything has been so well received, we’re going crazy with ideas,” Kieran said. “‘No’ is not in our vocabulary right now. We’re small, but we’re not limiting our markets and growth. It’s a small cottage industry with the potential to do a lot. We’re blessed to have family and friends to help.”
Currently, Willowfield boasts 2,500 lavender plants on 3.5 acres, but the O’Connors are expanding to plant more of the most popular varieties. They propagate the plants themselves and raise the cuttings in a small greenhouse.
“Angustifolia can be propagated by seed or stem cutting,” Kieran said. “The hybrids can only be propagated by stem cutting.” All labor in lavender production is done by hand, he added, except for cultivating the initial bed.
Lavender is a woody perennial shrub that originated in the Mediterranean. It needs six to eight hours of sun daily. The O’Connors recommend planting where it’ll get the hottest sun of the day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
They also recommend a good topsoil, compost and sand or gravel to establish roots and promote good drainage. Planting on a slope or berm will promote good drainage, as well, Kieran said. Fertilizing after planting isn’t necessary.
Little watering is required, but in the first year, lavender should be watered each time soil feels dry to the touch when fingers are dug into it. Roots must go through dry spells to fend off root and stem rot. Rock or stone mulch should be used instead of organic mulch, according to Kieran, who said the organic mulches hold in too much moisture.
Pinching off flower buds in the first year will promote good mass. Regular pruning will stimulate growth and keep lavender plants from becoming rangy and sprawling, Kieran said. Angustifolia can be pruned spring and fall, he added, but the hybrids don’t rebloom and should only be pruned in the fall.
“You can’t go wrong with pruning in the fall,” he said. “Don’t prune into the heavy wood, but you can prune almost to it. You’ll get more center growth if you prune it down.”
One important tip, Kieran said, is to start with a zone-hardy plant. Home-improvement chain stores may not carry plants that are hardy to their locale. He said starting with the appropriate, hardy plant is key. “Spanish lavender only grows as an annual here,” he explained, as an example.
Growing lavender as a houseplant is another bad idea, according to Kieran.
“You can grow lavender in a pot, but it really seems to do better in the ground, where it can get the maximum growth and maximum number of stems,” he said. “It definitely will not grow indoors. It doesn’t get enough air around it, and typically can’t get enough light. It has to get that hot sun.”
Kieran said lavender has many uses, including medicinal and culinary, and he and Libbe are passionate about it. He’d like to compile stories about their customers’ successes with its use.
“Lavender is definitely one of those herbal medicinals that’s had great success through the years,” he said. “In Europe, aromatherapy is taken very seriously.”
Lavender essential oil is distilled from the buds. It’s relatively expensive, Kieran said, because it takes a lot of buds to get a little essential oil. The oil is used for headaches, burns and hair loss, as well as for an insect repellent and sleep aid.
Lavender scent has a calming effect that one special education teacher told the O’Connors helps calm her students when they smell it. She keeps lavender sachets on hand for student “meltdowns.”
“It goes to the pain center of the brain,” Kieran said.
The aroma can be captured from a sachet, candle, lotion or other means, or the oil can be applied directly. “Lavender oil is one of the few essential oils you can put directly on the skin without a carrier oil,” Kieran said.
“A lot of manufacturers are riding the lavender wave, if you will. People need to read the label. If it says angustifolia or true lavender oil, there are no chemical synthetics.” He said there are no medicinal or aromatherapy benefits from the synthetic products.
In cooking, the bud is used instead of the oil, according to Kieran. He said Provence is the primary variety used in cooking. It can be used in many confections and as a garnish or accent. It’s also used in teas.
“It has a slight earthy taste,” he said. “The plant is very versatile. To have a plant that’s all that – that’s pretty cool.”
Harvest at Willowfield Lavender Farm is from late May into July. There’s a festival at the farm in June, when the color is at its height. Throughout the season, the O’Connors can often be found at central Indiana farmers’ markets, such as those in downtown Indianapolis, Bloomington and Broad Ripple.
There’s a Christmas open house at the farm in November. This year’s open house will be Nov. 15-17, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. To learn more, call 317-831-7980 or visit www. willowfieldlavender.com |
| 9/5/2007 |
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