Hi friend! Today on the blog, I am sharing my tips and tricks on lavender picking! Over the weekend, my boyfriend and I took a day trip to Sunshine Acres Farm in Morrow, Ohio to go lavender picking. I had been wanting to do lavender U-pick for the longest time, and I finally made it! So, I’m sharing my experience and some tips that may help if you’re new to U-pick and also want to visit a lavender farm this year.
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Before we get into the tips, I want to talk about why U-pick is the best. Going to a farm for a U-pick is one of my favorite things to do. Since I’m living the apartment life, I don’t have a garden. However, I can go to a local farm or farmer’s market to get my farm fresh fix.
Why U-Pick?
Firstly, you’re supporting local farmers! A dollar spent in your community stays in your community. Second, the crops are fresh. The lavender was much fresher than I could find in a grocery store. Third, U-pick is less wasteful. There’s almost no packaging! And most of the time, minimal to zero plastic. The only plastic we used at the lavender farm was the small zip ties they gave us to create lavender bunches.
Fourth, the lavender (or any other fruit/vegetable you might pick at a farm) doesn’t travel nearly as far to get to you. Shorter distances traveled equals fewer carbon emissions – and fewer carbon emissions mean a healthier Earth. Finally, it’s a fun way to get outdoors with family or friends.
Lavender picking tips & tricks
- Consider bringing bug spray. If you’re like me and prone to bug bites, it will come in handy if you visit a field in the evening.
- Bring a basket. This isn’t necessary, but it is helpful. We brought our own wicker baskets for holding the lavender and scissors so we weren’t fumbling around. Plus, it helps that the baskets are cute!
- Wear SPF! Always wear SPF. Lavender fields are in full sun, so make sure you lather up to avoid a sunburn.
- Wear shoes that you wouldn’t mind getting a little dirty. You never know when you might step into mud.
- Bring a hat for more sun protection. Bonus points if it’s a cute sun hat.
- Bring cash! Most farms prefer to receive cash, and some don’t accept credit/debit cards at all. Always double check.
- Follow the farm on social media or call ahead. Things in the field can change very quickly. The crops might not be ready or the field might have been picked over already – leading to slim pickings (puns intended).
- Bring scissors. I brought my own scissors to the lavender field because I wasn’t sure how many loaners they would have. They ended up having plenty, but just something to think about!
- Go early in the morning if you can. The weather is much cooler in the morning, and there is a better chance that the field hasn’t been picked over yet.
How to find farms near you
- Pick Your Own is a great website where you can search for U-pick farms in your state. Plus, they have helpful tips.
- Check the Farmer’s Almanac to see what is in season.
What to do with fresh lavender
- My personal favorite: Lavender French 75 cocktails.
- Lavender simple syrup for coffee, cocktails, or any recipe that calls for a simple syrup.
- Dry your lavender to use as decoration. Here is a good guide that I used to start drying mine.
- Make an aromatic arrangement in a vase of water. Make sure to change the water frequently!
- Lavender-infused water is so refreshing and easy to make.
- Lavender tea is calming – perfect for winding down before bed.
- Bake with it! Here is a good list of ideas for baking with lavender.
Thanks so much for reading my lavender picking guide! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Hopefully, this post inspires you to get out to a lavender field this summer. If you have any tips for lavender picking or ideas on what to do with fresh lavender, please let me know!
xoxo,
Kyndal
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