Debbie
Cook walks through lavender
fields with her grandson Caleb
on her Hillsboro farm,
Springbrook Meadows Lavender
Farm. The farm will hold its
annual field day June 24.
Lavender
fields forever Family
sows seeds of history, reaps flowers of
community
By
Nick Gonnella
Staff
Writer
Neal
and Debbie Cook will host their third annual
Lavender Field Day June 24 at their Springbrook
Meadows Lavender Farm cottage. They grow
lavender fields at their farm, eight miles east
of Hillsboro off U.S. Route 50.
The Cooks became interested in lavender after
visiting the state of Washington and the town of
Sequim (pronounced “s’kwim”), which is
west of Seattle, seven years ago.
In the late spring, 30,000 people converge on
the Sequim-Dungeness Valley, home to more than
100 lavender farms, for its annual lavender
festival. The Cooks visited the three-day
celebration in 1999 and, after returning with
two full suitcases of lavender, decided to host
their own lavender festival at the farm every
June. The couple were always interested in herbs
and plants, but when they realized there were
more than 500 different varieties of lavender,
they decided to grow some at their own farm.
“I just think it’s a wonderful plant,”
Debbie said.
The first year, they suffered a big loss of
plants. Neal said they had to decide what plants
could be grown in the area and what could not,
since some plants are less suited to humid
climates.
“We’ve been very successful, with more than
850 plants,” Debbie said of the fields on the
cottage’s Hillsboro side. They added more than
100 plants to the farm “just to keep up with
those who want to pick up lavender,” she said.
According to Neal, the Cooks grow lavender for
resale and to have in the field. He said the
cottage is an outlet for dried lavender as well
as plants they have made and distributed. They
also market such products as honey, candles and
skin care products that Debbie makes herself.
Neal said it can give off a “smooth, delicate
springy” scent that can be used to make fabric
softener.
The farm, purchased with a Revolutionary War
grant, has been in Neal’s family for 140
years. The southern land was given to the
Virginia Regiment for their service in the war,
and the northern land was given to the
Connecticut Regiment, according to Debbie.
“We’re very pleased to have the farm remain
in the family, and be supportive of
agriculture,” Neal said. He said the farm will
help agritourism flourish in southern Ohio.
“More and more people want to get back to the
ties of their agricultural roots, and this is an
opportunity,” he said.
The Springbrook Meadows Lavender Farm is located
at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
The Cooks hosted 1,000 visitors last year, but
expect that number to double this year to 2,000.
“It’s a wonderful day,” Debbie said of the
festival. “It a nice, lovely day with the
lavender all over.”
Starting at 10 a.m., the Rainsboro Church of
Christ will be serving meals such as lavender
chicken salad, lavender and blueberry cake, and
lavender lemonade. A donation will cover the
cost of the meal. Gene Aucker and family will
make their homemade lavender ice cream with an
old-fashioned, engine-driven ice cream maker.
Meals and ice cream will be served throughout
the day until 5 p.m. while events and classes
occur.
Mike Bick, a watercolor artist, potter and local
teacher, will teach a lavender watercolor class
from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Participants will each
go home with their own hand painted and framed
watercolor of lavender in bloom. Preregistration
is required and the cost is $25 per person.
Karen Ruebusch will lead a Hypertufa Workshop
class in making their own hypertufa from 10 a.m.
to 11:30 a.m. This has the appearance of stone,
reminiscent of old English troughs for watering
horses, but is actually hand cast and molded
into garden troughs, pots and other garden
treasures. Participants will make their own
plant container to take home, along with the
mold used in class. Preregistration is required
and the cost is $25 per person. To register,
call (937) 365-1632, or e-mail
springbrooklavender@hotmail.com.
Gardener and author Christine Moore, who lives
near Toronto, Canada, will be available from
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to sign her new book,
Growing Lavender in Cooler Climates. She will
give a talk from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m, and will also
be available throughout the day to sign the
book. Preregistering for the $10, size-limited
class is recommended. Call or send an e-mail to
the above contact information.
Self-taught harpist Lydia Weaver returns this
year to play a harp from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Weaver began her music career at age eight by
learning to play the piano using a book and
cassette program. She became interested in
playing the harp after hearing a harpist play at
a local mall. Visit her Web site at
www.lydiaweaver.com. She will also have CD’s
for sale.
Judy Lewis of Lewis Mountain Herbs will conduct
a Lavender Wreath Class from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30
p.m. She will demonstrate the methods that
professionals use to make fresh lavender wreaths
out of assorted greenery and lavender.
“It was so popular that we had her come back
again,” Debbie said of Lewis. “It’s always
fun to come home with a decorated wreath.”
Neal said Lewis has gained a lot of notoriety
through her herb-growing business.
Preregistration is recommended for the $15,
size-limited class.
Brenda Armstrong, owner of “Faded Memories,”
will teach the class how to make her very
popular vintage brooches from 1:30 p.m. to 2
p.m. Preregistration is recommended for the $10,
size-limited class.
A Lavender Tea event will allow participants to
experience an outdoor Lavender Tea from 2:30
p.m. until 3:30 p.m. To preregister, which is
recommended for the $15, size-limited event,
contact the above information.
Diane Vereide from Seattle, WA, will have
participants of the Lavender and Rose Teacup
class fashion an arrangement of lavender and
roses in a lavender teacup, from 2:30 until 3:30
p.m. Preregistration for the $25, size-limited
event is recommended.
“We are pleased that she is able to come visit
us from the Seattle area,” Neal said of
Vereide.
Avery Applegate, a Hillsboro High School art
teacher, will lead participants through the
construction of a versatile bookmaking project,
with pockets to fill with sprigs of lavender and
products they choose. Preregistration for the
$10, size-limited class is recommended.
The day will conclude at 5 p.m. The public is
welcome to visit Tuesdays through Saturdays from
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the rest of the growing
season for “cut-your-own” and lavender gifts
at the cottage.
The Cooks have been harvesting lavender this
year since the growing season began. Neal said
it will be an exceptional crop this year.
“The more you harvest, the more you’ll have
to harvest, and we usually harvest until
September,” Debbie said.
“We want to help people understand what the
lavender is,” Neal said, “and have been
encouraging (others) to grow and develop a
market.”
Article
Comment Submission Form
Please
feel free to comment on this article.
Reader comments are not posted immediately to
the Web site. Each submission must be approved
by the Web site editor, who may edit content for
appropriateness. There may be a delay of 24-48
hours for any submission while the web site
editor reviews and approves it.
Note: All information on this form is
required. Your telephone number is for our use
only, and will not be attached to your comment.
