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Gearing Up For The Lavender Festival

Jul 05, 2008 -

The Sequim Lavender Festival is less than two weeks away. Things get pretty busy around here this time of year.

While preparing for the Lavender Festival is a year round project, the weeks leading up to the event definitely get more intense. Very lucky for me, I have a great crew of people here to help me get ready.

My neighbor Alex has been working here for four summers. He's been helping me weed the fields and all of the flower beds so everything looks good. He even tackled our row of tayberries in the front of the farm. They were a mess, but now you can actually see the berries beginning to form. We still need to do one more pass on the main field and the sample garden. My father in law, Joe is crucial to our weeding process. He rototills down the lavender rows in the spring and fall, and hoes around the plants. This does a great job of cleaning up, but sooner or later someone has to get down on their hands and knees and pull up everything that grows in the middle of the plants. This year, that has been Alex, Staci and myself.

Staci has also been with me for four summers. She's in college now and got out really early, so she did the first pass on the field. Mostly she helps in the gift shop and helps me to prepare products. We make just about everything here on the farm, so there's a lot to do. Right now, we're finishing up all of our soap labeling, then we'll be making more sachets, bubble bath and bath salts.

This is Kali's second year. She is also a great help with the shop and product preparation. In addition to working in the shop and at the street fair, she will be helping my sister Debbie teach visitors how to make lavender wands and ornamental baskets during the festival.

Then, of course, there's my mother in law, Marilyn. She is a crucial member of the team. Not only helping out during the summer, but throughout the year. She is my relief so I can get away now and then. If you've visited the farm, you've probably met her. She's a great ambassador.

Rounding out the team are Robbie and Taylor who help with festival set up and parking. And, of course, everyone helps with harvest, but more on that later.

For now, I better get back to work...