"The air was fragrant with a thousand trodden aromatic herbs, with fields of lavender, and with the brightest roses blushing in tufts all over the meadows." ~ William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878)

To the neophyte, the romantic image of a lavender harvest is that of young, beautiful women in flowing white dresses, with baskets, into which each sprig of lavender is placed.

Reality, again, differs greatly from the dream.  Mediterranean climates are harsh, rocky, and hot, which is why lavender thrives in such climates.  So, the flowing white dress would be perfect, right?  Wrong, for so many reasons, newbie.  Bees love lavender.  They cannot get enough of it.  Would that romantic white dress have short sleeves?  If so, think, bee stings.  The neophyte might respond, "Perhaps a longer sleeved dress."  Just not practical.  One must climb into the lavender to cut it, bundle it, and tie it.  A lavender harvester must first start with sunscreen and bug repellant, as a first layer.

Other fauna that enjoy the Mediterranean climate also enjoy the lavender.  Fauna such as lizards and snakes.  Wait, go back.  Snakes, you say?  Yes, and not just any snakes, rattlesnakes.  Not sounding so romantic now, is it?  If one is keeping track, the ensemble now includes sunscreen, bug repellant, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, boots, and a gun.  One must use a long stick to inspect the area around each lavender bush to ensure that a snake has not crawled into said plant, and after being inspected, someone must stand watch to ensure that a snake does not enter the area while a worker is working there.  Another factor, which causes concern is the sun, which is just blazing at the time of lavender harvest, so add a hat to the attire.

This brings us to the reason lavender products cost so much.  It is because of the amount of work that accompanies a lavender harvest.  The lavender must be hand cut in the early morning.  The bunches must be of uniform size and must be bundled and tied, then hung to dry.  Depending upon your location, the time could vary.  In our area, it could take from two hours to a week.  In England, it may take months.  The lavender is then debudded using highly sophisticated equipment, which shall remain a proprietary secret.  Then, the lavender buds must be cleaned, which could be the most work-intensive part of the process.  This year, the rancho will be employing a new device, which has hopes very high that the cleaning of the lavender could be reduced from months of work to one day.  One very dusty, dirty day.  Add dust masks to that ensemble -- OSHA regulations, and all that.

What, then, is done with all this lavender?  Soap is made (add goggles, a more complex mask, rubber gloves -- that outfit just keeps getting better and better, eh?).  Sachets of all different types are designed, made, and filled.  Bath salts are made and put into tins, labeled, and shrink-sealed.  They also fill beautiful antique bottles discovered throughout each year, while loping.  Neck pillows are made.  The list is endless and as limitless as one's imagination. 

The trick is to get all of this done in time for Lavender Festival in July.  Wait a minute, that's in July, four weeks.  Plenty of time!


Happy Lavender Harvest! 





 

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