On the front table we had plants: lavender--Grosso and Munstead and herbs--Sage and Oregano. We also had the Oregon Lavender Association "Lavender Festival" sign and the lavender scythes on the table. On the front of the table, we put up a sign about upcoming events: The May 2-4 Deschutes County Home and Garden Show when HearthCricket Farm will participate along with us, and the July 12-13 Oregon Lavender Association's Lavender Festival in which lavender farms across the state open their farms to visitors. This will be our first year involved in the lavender festival and the first year we will be open to the public: July 1-August 31; Tuesday - Saturday; 10a-6p.
People asked many questions... good questions... about the lavender. We referred them to Sarah Bader's book "The Lavender Lover's Handbook" when asked about specific plants. We invited people out to Still Waters Lavender to walk among the lavender, to choose what they preferred and to observe which plants did well and which ones do not. People asked about the Oregon Lavender Association's (OLA) Festival and we gave out hundreds of the beautiful brochures prepared by the OLA. People asked about the scythes--how do you use them--and we referred them to Susan Harrington's minute video on her webpage "Labyrinth Hill Lavender".
The vendor behind us (in the next aisle) was Paulina Springs Bookstore. Gene was apprehensive about being next to a bookstore--he thought he might lose me for the day. There were so many good books about gardening, composting, small land farmers (as I said, so many good books). I understood his concern but it all worked out well. We--Gene and I--decided that two books were paramount for us: "The Lavender Lover's Handbook" by Sarah Berringer Bader and "Discover Cooking with Lavender" by Kathy Gehrt. I did not have any culinary lavender buds--Miss Katherine which is sweet and Folgate which is subtle--with me because they all sold in 2013; however, that does not mean we cannot talk about cooking with lavender with our customers. Even though lavender has been used for centuries in cooking, people were surprised to hear about using lavender in their everyday cooking and seemed eager to learn. Every time we talked about using lavender in our food or were asked about specific plants, we would let people know that Paulina Springs Bookstore could order those two books and delivery would be in just a few days.
The book "The Lavender Lover's Handbook" is on top of the shelf containing the lavender-infused honey and the lavender-infused preserves. Just because I didn't have any culinary lavender buds for sale was no excuse for not having "Discover Cooking with Lavender" so, for our next show on May 2-4 at the Deschutes Country Fair and Expo Center's "Home and Garden Show", "Discover Cooking with Lavender" will be displayed so that people will be able to see recipes using this wonderful culinary herb. Also at the May 2-4 show, HearthCricket Farm will be participating. We sell their lip balm beauty product. We use them, we like them and we think you will like them, too. Another culinary delight is the lavender syrup... People try; people buy. Another bath/beauty product is our handcrafted soap: honey n' oatmeal and the ever popular goats milk lavender soap made from the Saanan goat milk from HearthCricket Farm. There is also lavender essential oil and lavender hydrosol. Many handcrafted items using WITM Enterprise's beautiful fabric is for sale: a variety of lavender-filled sachets as well as lavender/rice-filled chicken doorstops. A new item, lavender spheres, are also for sale. When children came by our booth, we explained how to make the spheres: four ingredients--styrofoam ball, paint (to seal the ball), white glue and lavender. Place the spheres in a vase or bowl on a table and, when the sun hits the lavender spheres, the oils will be released from the lavender buds and will make your home smell lavenderly wonderful. Still Waters Lavender buds are available for this project, although in a limited quantity.
At the end of the main table we put up a rack containing lavender-filled chicken moth repellents, lavender pomanders, lavender stemmed crochet doll ornaments and amulet pouches.
At the end of the day, we were tired but thrilled with the response of this first show of the season for us. Central Oregon Master Gardeners were wonderful hosts and we were honored to be asked to return... and, if the Good Lord is willing and the creek don't rise, we will be there in 2015. Now, it's home and preparing for the May 2-4 Deschutes County Home and Garden Show. New products--and the introduction of LongBottom Coffee! We hope to see you there!
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