Sauvie Island Lavender Farm

This is the end my friend.

Oh my! What a great lavender season it has been for Sauvie Island Lavender Farm. It truly was the perfect last season for us at this location.In case you haven’t heard, we are relocating our lavender farm operations to the coast this year. This will give us some opportunities to grow in new directions that we are super excited about.

What does this mean for our current property on Sauvie Island? Well, it is up for sale and there is an Open House today (7/29) from 11am-1pm. Whoever becomes the next caretaker here will get 800 lavender plants to start their own lavender farm, or create a new dream here like we did 13 years ago.

The great news is we have been working hard over the past few years to sell lavender bouquets and lavender products all across the country with our website. This will continue and is growing like gangbusters. Click to see our website.

The mother of all harvests

This year we had a crew of eight working for five days to bring in our lavender crop that we dry and sell as our signature dried lavender bouquets. It was the best harvest ever and the three varieties harvested are now dried and we are filling orders as fast as we can. PLUS we will have our farm self serve up and running until we sell the property. It is stocked JUMBO DRIED LAVENDER BOUQUETS for $10. Just place your ten spot in the pay box. Yes, we do special orders all the time for weddings, florists, and special events.So contact us if you need one bouquet or 100. We are happy to help.

Freebies for youbies

We do not want to lose touch with you.We hope you feel the same way. So join our Free Lavender Lovers Club and we will keep you posted on what is happening with us, give you some amazing discounts, free tutorials and recipes and oh so much more. Click here to join the community.

We are social

Yup, social media has us!Please consider following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Psst:Join the free private Sauvie Island Lavender Farm Group on Facebook. I love chatting with folks and answering lavender questions and sharing with everyone there.

Until we meet again

Please come pick the last of the fresh lavender today. Have a fantastic rest of the summer everyone!

Julie & Pat

U-Pick Mulberries and Lavender

Mulberries

Our mulberry tree is ripe and ready for u-pick and will be producing these sweet black aggregate fruit through the month of July.Come early and pick a pint or two for $3.50 a pint.We provide the containers for you.

Lavender

OOOH! How I LOVE this time of year!All of our English varieties are open for u-cut and we just opened up two French lavender patches with more to come over the next week or two.My favorite time of day to pick is before noon to capture as much oil in the lavender as possible.We haven’t raised our prices in years.It’s still $6.00 per bundle of approximately 300 stems.We provide cutting tools and ties.

Bucket Prices

This is the FIRST TIME EVER I am opening up 5 gallon bucket prices early.Bucket prices will be for ENGLISH LAVENDER only this early in the season.Bucket prices start this weekend for all our English beauties.$20.00 per bucket.We provide the bucket to pick in but you will need to bring your own container to haul it home with.

Hours and Payment

Our staffed hours are Tuesday-Sunday from 10-5.When we are staffed we accept cards and cash for payment.You are welcome to visit the farm outside these times too.If you pick after hours we have a self-serve pay box to accept exact payments in cash only so bring $5’s and $1’s.

Lavender Lovers Club

The Lavender Lovers club is our national audience and we LOVE them.Join the farm Lavender Lovers Club for discount codes to use at our online farm store.We also share top secret sneak peeks and early bird shopping privileges of our newest product line before they are open to the public.You will also get VIP announcements of upcoming courses we are creating on Growing Lavender for Profit and How to Use Culinary Lavender in Your Meals. To join go to: JOIN HERE

Find Us

We are located at: 20230 NW Sauvie Island Rd Portland, OR97231.

sauvieislandlavenderfarm.com

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube

This is the time of year I love the most.  All my varieties of lavender are blooming and beautiful.  There is such joy in seeing the smile on my farm visitors faces as they take that deep breath as they walk into the field.  This is also the time of year my regular customers wait for - bucket prices!  Each year I reward my customers with the opportunity to u-cut a full 5-gallon bucket of lavender for a discounted price.  Ninety nine point nine percent of my Local Harvest customers are from out of state.  But I want to reward you too.  We are nearing the end of our 2017 harvest.  These are the ones we sell online as dried lavender bouquet.  For you, I will soon be adding another variety of lavender bouquet - Gros Bleu, in addition to our Grosso bouquets.  I only wish I could see the smile on your face when you open your lavender delivery and take that deep breath full of lavender. Julie, Sauvie Island Lavender Farm

Our Lavender Harvest

It is a wee bit late this year, but our harvest has begun!  It is an exciting time on the farm when we harvest.  Stop of by this weekend and you will get to see first hand how we harvest and dry our lavender. This year we expect to cut 3000 bundles of lavender.

New Item Soon to Come

Within the next week we should have a link on our Local Harvest Store for you to purchase fresh lavender bouquets.  We even have a discount for bulk orders.  This is a short seasonal item that will be available through August if the weather cooperates. 

Our Shop is Open

This year we are selling lots of lavender plants and can even accommodate large orders with advanced notice.  Our most popular seller this week is Silver Frost lavender.  Also in our shop we have decorative lavender brooms, sachets of all sizes and colors, farm crafted lavender soaps, lavender wall swags, and more....  Please check out our Local Harvest Store if you can not make it to the farm.

How to Find Us

From Portland head west on HWY 30.  Turn onto the Sauvie Island Bridge and follow the yellow and purple lavender farm signs for 3.5 miles.  We are on the right side of the road. Our hours are Tues-Sun from 10am - 4pm.  After Hours U-Cut is available on the Honor System. The price is $6 per bundle.  Please bring exact change.

Sunday Sale at Sauvie Island Lavender Farm

The lavender is growing so fast!Our Folgate lavender (an early bloomer) has sprouted some gorgeous purple buds.We are only a week or so away from offering u-cut lavender to you.Here is what’s happening on the farm this week! 

Visit us this Sunday (June 7^th, 2009) and get 20 percent off your purchase of our beautiful china tea cup lavender soy candles.Regular price is $19.95.Discount price is $15.96.

Also on sale this Sunday are our popular curly willow bunches.These are great for any indoor or outdoor décor. Buy one and get a second one for half price.That is a $4.00 savings.

Our last item on sale this Sunday is our small bouquet of dried flowers.Each colorful bouquet has statis, salvia, and lavender.It will brighten any room in the house or make the perfect hostess gift.Sale price: $3.95

NEW AT THE FARM

We have created a superb new soap blend on the farm and it is available to purchase this weekend.It is a silky smooth glycerin soap with cinnamon spice, and essential oils from lavender and Clary sage.

What only eats Mulberry leaves, molts four times in it life, and provides the world with the finest of textiles?Silk worms of course.We raise several dozen each year.They are on display now at the farm.

Our NEW HWY 30 BLUE DIRECTIONAL SIGN was erected this week and is easy see when you are coming from Portland!Check it out.

HOURS

We are open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am-5pm

DIRECTIONS

After you cross the Sauvie Island Bridge just follow the yellow and purple LAVENDER FARM signs.We are 3.5 miles from the bridge on NW Sauvie Island Road.

See you at the Farm!

Julie

Visit the Farm Memorial Day Weekend
Here at Sauvie Island Lavender Farm, we are a few short weeks away from the lavender field blooming. Fortunately, the amazing lavender aroma is found in the entire plant and our field smells wonderful. So join us Memorial Day weekend at farm. We will be open Monday too!

Here is what's happening this weekend:
Purchase lavender tea or lemonade and shortbread for just $5.00 per person and find the perfect spot in the lavender field to sit back, relax and enjoy the view.

New lavender products this week:
Lavender soy candles poured inside antique tea cups.
Lavender bath salt made right here on the farm with our French lavender mix.
Lavender mint glycerin soap with lavender buds.
Lavender mint glycerin cherub guest soap.

Lavender Plants:
Looking for a lavender plant for your garden? Come see us. We have a great selection of French, English, and Spanish lavenders. Don't know the difference? We will be happy to explain. You will receive a free Lavender Growing Tip card with plant purchase. Buy 10 or more plants and receive 10 percent off your plant purchase.

How to Find Us:
Sauvie Island Lavender farm is located 3.5 miles from the Sauvie Island Bridge. Just follow the yellow and purple Lavender Farm signs.

Sauvie Island Lavender Farm
20230 NW Sauvie Island Road
Portland, OR 97231
503-577-6565

Sauvie Island Lavender Farm is open for the season!Our hours have expanded too.We are now open May – Oct, Tues - Sun, from 10am – 5pm.This weekend let us treat you to free mini lemon lavender muffins to nibble on while you shop.

Now is the perfect time to plant lavender.We have hundreds of plants to choose from.Come a pick our brains about how to plant and care for lavender!Our best value is the 4 inch container at $3.50 each.Buy ten or more plants and we will give you a 10 percent discount on your plant purchase.

Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift?We can help you create a custom lavender gift basket just for Mom. You purchase what lovely lavender products you know will tickle Mom purple and we will supply the basket and put it all together for you at no additional cost.

Here’s a list of new and interesting items we have in stock this weekend.Lavender Powder – a culinary delight! A limited supply of curly willow branches in generous bundles (most around 5 ft tall) at just $8.00 a bundle.We also have blackberry lavender honey, and our fun all cotton lavender eye masks complete with matching sachets.

You’ll want to visit often because we are always adding new products.Coming soon…..our very popular lavender soy candles, lavender bath bombs, lavender bath salts, lavender bath oil, lavender travel kit with one ounce bottles of lotion, body splash, and bubble bath.Also coming soon: lavender chocolate and lavender sugar cookie mixes.

To find us just head to Sauvie Island and once you cross the bridge follow the yellow and purple LAVENDER FARM signs.When you come to the fork in the road – stay to the left.We are about 1.5 miles past this intersection.

See you soon!

Julie

Sauvie Island Lavender Farm

20230 NW Sauvie Island Rd

Portland, OR 97231

503-577-6565

www.sauvieislandlavenderfarm.com

Sauvie Island Lavender Farm

Exquisite Lavender Products & Plants Especially for You

It is time to begin thinking about what needs to be done in the garden and flower beds in just a few short weeks.Here are a few tips for what you can do with lavender this spring.

Trimming Lavender

Lavender needs a good cut at least once a year.I prefer to trim 1/3 to 2/3 of the lavender foliage back in the fall and shape into a nice mound.If you have lavender in your garden and didn’t get around to it last fall don’t worry.Do it in the early spring when the threat of frost is past us.

Planting Lavender

Spring is also a great time to get new lavender plants in the ground.Be sure you plant lavender in an area that gets full sun and has good drainage.Lavender is a desert plant and cannot tolerate persistently wet roots.Soil pH should be in the 6.5 to 7.5 range.

Where to Buy Lavender

At Sauvie Island Lavender Farm of course!We will be open for the season May 1^st.Just give Julie a call you would like to buy plants in March or April.Special orders are welcome and weekend pickups can be scheduled.

New Hours at Sauvie Island Lavender Farm

Due to an increase in demand we will be open an extra month this year and extra days in the spring and fall. So when you come out to get your fall produce and pumpkins from the island’s farm markets, stop by the lavender farm too.Our new hours are:May through October from 10am-5pm Tuesday thorough Sunday.

Julie

Sauvie Island Lavender Farm

Greetings from Sauvie Island Lavender Farm.

Your year round source for all things lavender.

This time of year can be a bit overwhelming for a small farm like ours.It is the time of year when we must dust off our work boots, sharpen the pruning loppers, throw on the raingear, and tend to the grapes and fruit trees at the farm.

Besides lovely lavender, we grown Shiro Yellow Plums, Mulberries, New Century and Hosui Asian Pears, Bartlett Pears, Apples, Figs, Chardonnay Grapes, Cherries, and Kiwi.Some fruit trees we just have one or two of, but when you add them altogether, there is a whole bunch of pruning to be done.

So imagine my surprise when I pulled into my driveway after a morning of running errands to find all 150 feet of grapes had been pruned and all the vines hauled away!I immediately knew who our pruning savior was - our neighbor.

But we have no ordinary neighbor.In fact, our neighbor is a nursery whose headquarters are located a half a nation away in Minnesota.Bailey Nursery, Inc. has been in business for over 100 years.It is still a family owned business with family values and superb employees.

On Sauvie Island, Bailey has about 2000 acres in nursery stock and they surround two sides of my lavender farm.They have been tremendously supportive of my farm.When it came time to plant my lavender a few years back, my husband fell down the stairs and dislocated his shoulder.Bailey came to the rescue by hooking me up with several of their employees to help me plant our first 800 lavenders.When I first opened to the public, it was Bailey who came to buy lavender plants to enhance their office landscaping.And when I was working on a fundraiser to aid a family with a gravely ill child, Bailey called to offer nursery stock to help the cause.

Well a simple thank you just didn’t seem enough for all that Bailey has done for us, so I spent day baking two hundred plus cookies for the entire crew to enjoy.And I am letting you know of their generosity.If anyone from Bailey Nursery in Minnesota happens to read this blog – please pass on to the Bailey family how wonderful their nursery crew is out here on Sauvie Island.

Julie

Sauvie Island Lavender Farm

Have you ever wondered what farmers do in the winter.Well here is a taste of what we have been up to at Sauvie Island Lavender Farm.With the lavender plants still snug in their winter dormancy, there is very little daily farm work to be done other than feed and water the farm animals.So our attention has shifted to the “business” of farming.This includes revamping our marketing plan and ensuring our farm business plan is on track.

This is also a great time to network with other farmers.On that note, we went to a farm association meeting recently.This particular group is made up of about 60 farms in our local tri-county area.The farmers are a mix of young and old, big agriculture, small farms and farm stands.The association’s objective is to collectively market our farms through an annually printed produce guide that is distributed for free throughout our collective communities.But this bunch of farmer’s are attempting a feat that has some farmers jumping with joy and others are quaking in their boots.They are shifting their marketing outreach from solely print to include the internet.Yes, the Tri County Farm Fresh Association is now on Face Book and MySpace.It was a sight to see the younger farmers explaining how to send emails and define a blog to the group.

One networking opportunity we like to participate each year is a farm tour sponsored by another farm marketing association whose members are from Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.This year’s farm tour will take us on three days of touring farms in Olympia, Washington.It is a great way to learn from other farmers and hopefully build upon their successes.

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Well, here is a quick little recipe I just love and it is oh so easy to do.

Lavender Pepper

Add one tablespoon of culinary lavender buds to ½ cup on coarse ground black pepper.Place in a container with a lid and let the flavors infuse for about one week.Enjoy.

Lavender pepper is great on EVERYTHING - salads, soups, eggs, meats, and more.Just use your imagination.

FYI – I like to lightly grind the lavender before I add it to the pepper.

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For those of you new to Sauvie Island Lavender Farm, we are located on one of the largest 

inland islands in the USA.  Sauvie Island is only a few minutes from Portland, Oregon.  

We are a mix of farm lands, nursery lands and protected fish and wildlife lands.  

Sauvie Island receives around two million visitors a year.  That's more than Yosemite 

National Park.  Folks like to visit for a number of reasons.  Favorite activities are 

visiting our sandy beaches, birding, hunting, boating, and visiting the wonderful farms 

and farm markets for fresh picked produce and of course, lavender.  In the dead of winter 

is when we get creative here on the farm.  This is when we head up to the workshop and 

create our wonderful lavender products.  This week, we are working on sewing eye masks 

and matching sachets to sell here at Local Harvest and stock up for our season when the 

farm is open to the public.  Next week we will be busy creating lavender bath salts for 

our customers.  Then it's on to lotions, soaps, massage and bath oils and more!  

RECIPE

Here is a quick and easy lavender recipe that is perfect for a Sunday brunch or tea.

1 Lemon Blueberry Muffin Mix prepared according to directions.

1 Tablespoon dried culinary lavender (any angustifolia or Provence) lightly ground.

Just add the lavender into the batter and bake according to the muffin mix directions.

Enjoy!