Debbie McDowell kneels behind a blooming lavender plant. According to McDowell, the plants will be ready for cutting at the end of August.
--Staff photo by Rost
Success blooms at lavender farm
By CAROLYN ROST, Country World Staff Writer
August 28, 2008 - Despite the hot and dry weather keeping their lavender crop from blooming on time, it did not keep Debbie and Jim McDowell, owners of Chappell Hill Lavender Farm, from offering an abundance of activities at their recent Lavender Fest. According to Debbie, around 1,200 people attended this year's event.
"You never know what to expect with the economy and the price of gas.We were very pleased. The vendors seemed to do well and the bluegrass music was great."
Their event, she said, is a "smaller affair" and they like it that way.
"It's laid back and less hectic, kind of like the old time county fairs," she said. "It gives us the opportunity to have more interaction with the visitors and vendors.We like growth, but we don't want it to get too large."
This year marked the third year the McDowell's have held a festival to showcase all things made with lavender - from bath and body products to lavender wands and even culinary items such as baked cookies, sweet bread and lemonade. This year's event also included stops at four area locations including the Bluebonnet House Gift Shop, Chappell Hill Museum, Lillian Farms Country Estates and The Monastery of St. Clare Miniature Horse Farm.
The story behind the lavender farm and festival began in 2001 when the McDowell's moved away from the "hustle and bustle of metropolitan living" in Houston, to a quieter life near the town of Chappell Hill.
"We didn't know exactly what we wanted to do with our land, but we knew its charm and appeal were qualities that we wanted to capture and share with others," Debbie said.
After numerous hours of research, the couple came across the mediterranean plant. After further research, they discovered that several people were successfully growing the plant in the hill country. After meeting and talking with several growers, they decided to "test the waters" themselves.
"We started planting in little groups of 500 and here we are now," Debbie said.
Today, Chappell Hill Lavender Farm has close to 3,000 plants consisting of two varieties - Sweet and Provence. During the blooming season, which usually runs from August through November, plants can produce from 100 to 400 blooms per plant. This year, the McDowells are in the process of replanting.
"We only get 4 to 5 years out of our plants before we have to replant and that's because of the humidity and the rainfall," Debbie said. "Normally, you can get probably 7 or 8 years but we are getting, on an average, about four years out of our plants."
When it comes to growing lavender, the couple agree it's labor intensive and not for everyone.
"It's not all fun and games," Jim said. "The maintenance and manual labor alone has been overwhelming, and we have had our ups and downs with weather conditions and rain. Overall though, it's been a pleasure watching our plants mature and produce the beautiful long lavender spikes."
With the harvested lavender blooms, the couple has introduced a variety of handmade lavender products which are all sold in their gift shop: The Lavender Patch.
According to Debbie, lavender is a herb that can be used in many different ways.
"We like to cook with it because it does give a very nice, interesting flavor to different dishes," she said. "If you grind the lavender, you can mix it with other things like sugar or salts and peppers and use it as a rub or on different vegetables. Or you can take the whole lavender buds and boil them like you would a tea."
By doing this, she said, "you are infusing that flavor in water and then that water can be used in jams and jellies. We use it in our lemonade and that's what turns our lemonade pink. It is really delicious."
As well as being a "culinary delight," Debbie said the oil content in the lavendar blooms is very good and lasts for several years. Once the lavender is cut and left to dry, the crumbled blooms can be used in items such as sachets for scenting clothes. Lavender wands, which are made by encasing fresh lavender heads in their own stalks then weaving them with ribbons, can be placed in linen cupboards. In addition to having a pleasing scent, lavender also has a moth-chasing property.
"Bugs don't like lavender," she said.
For those interested in cutting their own lavender, Debbie said this year's crop will be ready for cutting at the end of August. The farm supplies the necessary tools.
"We give them cutters and baskets and they go out there and they can cut a bunch. A bunch is $5 and they can cut as much as they like."
The Chappell Hill Lavender Farm and gift shop are open to the public on weekends from March through November. Tour groups are welcome on weekdays by appointment and there is no admission to visit the farm. For more information visit www.chappellhilllavender.com .
