FAQ

The healing properties of lavender have been thoroughly documented and researched for hundreds of years. It has been demonstrated to have a sedative effect on human nervous system via fragrance and ingestion, that is, it can assist our responses to negative stress and anxiety but not affect our essential brain functions. It is known to uplift and revive the spirits of someone feeling emotionally depleted and depressed. It has excellent antiseptic action for the topical treatment of external wounds, burns, sprains and abrasions as well as being an excellent insect repellent and will reduce the itching of insect bites. It is also the first choice in the treatment of insomnia and can help in the management of migraines and headaches.

Our commercial lavender varieties flower late spring and early summer (November/December) before we have to harvest for buds and essential oil distillation.

We are planning to open to visitors from Friday 6 December 2024 during the peak lavender flowering period until we have to harvest late December. We are a working farm that opens only seasonally and not every day of the year. We offer a relaxing visit to view and photograph the lavender when it is in full purple flower, talks about growing lavender, demonstrations of distilling lavender for essential oil, refreshments and farm-made creamy lavender ice cream. Please note we do not have an on-site cafe. Keep an eye on this website and our social media Instagram and Facebook for dates and details about farm visits.

Our products are stocked at multiple retail outlets throughout the Blue Mountains, we are thankful for the support of: + Echo Point Tourist Information Office and Glenbrook Tourist Information Office, Prince Henry Cliff Walk, Katoomba and GWH, Glenbrook; + Scenic World, Cliff Drive Katoomba NSW 2785 World's Steepest Railway, Iconic Skyway & Aerial Cablecar, Rainforest Walk & Shop; + Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, City Art Gallery, shop and cafe, Katoomba; + Moontree, 157 Leura Mall, Leura a retail shop featuring fragrant candles, gifts and homewares; + Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens, Bells Line of Road, Mt Tomah, breathtaking mountain gardens and shop; + Twig Blackheath and Lithgow, Great Western Hwy, Blackheath & Main St, Lithgow Stylish fashion and homeware shops; + Foothills Eco, 1a Ross Street, Glenbrook NSW 2773, Quality local made goods and artisan wares.

Cooking with lavender is just as easy as with any other herb however Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender) is the only variety of lavender to use in cooking. Generally, only the flower buds are used (dried or fresh), because they contain the essential oil of lavender which is where the flavour and goodness lie. The easiest way to incorporate lavender in your recipes is to INFUSE the buds into any liquid that requires heating, for instance, when you melt butter for cakes or slices, add a few spoonfuls of buds and let the flavour infuse for around half an hour before straining out the soggy buds (squeeze all the flavour from them) and using the liquid as normal. We make a 2:2:1 ratio water:sugar:lavender syrup which we use in our home-made ice cream with an added drop or two of L. angustifolia essential oil to give it a lavender kick. Bruce’s own lavender recipe had many visitors declaring it the best ice cream they had ever tasted! I particularly love using lavender everyday to service my tea addiction, herbal, minty and fresh combined with lemonbalm in the morning or paired with Earl Grey or English Breakfast black tea for a mid afternoon boost. I am looking forward to winter when I can finish my day with a soothing cup of lavender hot chocolate too. Lavender can also be substituted in savoury dishes instead of rosemary, the floral citrus notes cut through fatty meats like lamb but are delicate enough to enhance fish and chicken. Dried lavender stores well and retains its aroma and flavour (like any woody herb) for many months in an airtight jar kept away from sunlight. Try these ideas or use them to spark creativity in the kitchen: * To create lavender infused sugar, seal two teaspoons of dried buds into several cups of sugar in an airtight container for a week. Use this sugar to sweeten beverages or cookies. * Create lavender honey by adding four teaspoons of chopped lavender blossoms to one cup of warmed honey. Add one tablespoon of lime or lemon juice. Steep for one hour, then reheat and strain to remove blooms. * Use lavender buds in marinades and meat rubs, or toss whole lavender stems on the grill to infuse meat with a complex, herbal smoke flavour. I hope this has given you some ideas to incorporate this versatile herb into your everyday kitchen and benefit from the wonderful fragrance and medicinal properties that lavender offers!

Yes, we often set up our stall at local Blue Mountains markets. Currently we are regularly at Leura Produce & Artisan Markets at the Fairmont Resort, Leura on the first Saturday each month and at the Lawson Magpie Upstyle Markets on the second Sunday each month. We also sometimes have a stall at Highfield Gardens in Little Hartley during spring, this year it is Saturday and Sunday, 19 & 20 October 2024. Search Hartley Valley Garden Festival for more information.

Yes, we will regularly attend The Rocks Markets in Circular Quay, Sydney. Check our socials for posts about which day of the weekend we will be there.