Home Grown Lavender: Creative Ways to Utilize It

Few sights can rival the enchanting beauty of a blooming lavender field. At Osmia, we hold this remarkable purple plant in high regard, harvesting our founder’s personal crop each year to incorporate its essence into various products. Join us on an immersive journey through a day in the life of a stunning lavender bud, as we delve into its transformation from plant to harvest, culminating in the creation of luxuriously infused oil that captivates the senses.

DISCOVER THE OPTIMAL TIME TO HARVEST LAVENDER

To ensure the highest quality in your lavender harvest, you should aim to gather the flowers when the blossoms at the base of the stem have just begun to open, while those at the top remain closed. This timing is crucial for capturing the vibrant purple hue and the delightful, soft aroma that lavender is known for. It’s advisable to harvest early in the morning, especially on a dry day. Moisture can lead to mold growth in your drying flowers, compromising their quality. Additionally, avoid harvesting in the late afternoon when the sun’s heat can diminish both the color and potency of the essential oils in the buds. So, prepare your favorite morning beverage, let the sounds of nature inspire you, and get ready for an enriching harvesting experience.

MASTER THE ART OF HARVESTING LAVENDER

Required tools: a sickle and a generous supply of rubber bands!

With your sickle in hand, step into your garden ready to harvest. Lavender is a robust plant, so take a handful and cut it with your sickle, ensuring to leave several inches of stem intact. Be extremely cautious to keep your fingers clear as you make a swift cut. If the stems are loosely packed, twist the bunch gently before cutting to create a denser bundle, making the process easier. While you harvest, consider leaving some lavender uncut for the bees, as they play a vital role in pollination. Once you’ve gathered a substantial amount of flowers, use the flat edge of the sickle to level the cut ends for a tidy finish, then prepare to bundle your harvest! If you’re working with potted lavender, a sharp pair of scissors will serve you better in this task.

EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES FOR BUNDLING LAVENDER

Essential tools: your freshly cut lavender bundle and rubber bands.

To preserve the integrity of your lavender, take each neat handful of stems and secure them tightly with two or three rubber bands right after cutting. As lavender dries, it will lose moisture and volume, making rubber bands more effective than string since they can contract along with the stems. Always use multiple rubber bands for each bundle to ensure that if one fails during the drying process, you have backups ready to maintain your harvest.

Pro Tip: Avoid the temptation to harvest all the lavender before bundling. Securing each bundle as you go significantly simplifies the entire process!

PROVEN METHODS TO HANG AND DRY LAVENDER

Necessary tools: twine and a sturdy wall or rafters.

Once your lavender bundles are prepared, thread twine through the rubber bands to create a secure knot. Our founder, Dr. Sarah Villafranco, still employs the medical knots she learned while working in the ER, but feel free to use a simple, sturdy knot that works for you. A creative method she favors involves tying a bundle at each end of a long piece of twine and hanging it from a hook or nail, similar to hanging fish on a line. Always hang the bundles with the flowers facing down to allow the essential oils to concentrate in the buds as they dry. Keep your lavender bundles in a cool, protected area for at least 10 to 14 days to ensure complete drying.

SIMPLIFIED TECHNIQUES FOR REMOVING DRIED LAVENDER FLOWERS FROM THE STEM

This step is incredibly straightforward and highly efficient! All you need is a pair of clean rubber gloves and a sanitized bucket. We recommend using a bucket that has been sprayed with alcohol and dried, particularly since our lavender is destined for your skincare creations!

Grasp a bunch of dried lavender flowers with the buds pointed downward into the bucket, ensuring the bunch is a few inches below the rim. Gently roll the bunch back and forth between your hands, encouraging the flowers to fall into the bucket. Continue this gentle motion until only the stems remain in your grasp. After you have processed all the bundles, remove the rubber bands and compost the stems if you have the facilities to do so.

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO INFUSING LAVENDER INTO OIL

Start by selecting the type of oil you wish to infuse. For nourishing lip balms, we often recommend organic olive oil or castor oil. If you’re making body oils, consider using jojoba or sunflower oil for their beneficial properties. In a clean, dry jar, combine one tablespoon of lavender buds for every cup of oil, secure the lid tightly, and place the jar in a location where you’ll remember to shake it at least once daily. Allow the oil to infuse for three weeks before straining it through cheesecloth to remove the lavender flowers, leaving behind a beautifully scented oil ready for use.

SIMPLE DIY RECIPE FOR LAVENDER HEALING BALM

Here’s an incredibly easy recipe from our production manager, Monika. It’s perfect for soothing bumps, bruises, insect bites, and minor cuts!

1 tablespoon *lavender infused olive oil

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 tablespoon beeswax (either pellets or grated)

15 drops lavender essential oil

Combine all ingredients in a small, heatproof measuring cup.

Heat the mixture in a double boiler, ensuring the measuring cup sits in the upper pot of water, which should only have about an inch of water.

Once the beeswax has melted completely, carefully pour the liquid into a jar with a lid and allow it to cool and solidify.

Afterward, wipe your measuring cup with a paper towel while it’s still warm, then clean it in the dishwasher for easy maintenance.

We cherish this delightful flower and hope you will consider growing and harvesting your own lavender one day. While you prepare, discover more about the magic of lavender in skincare, its ability to relieve anxiety, and its effectiveness in alleviating the sting from bug bites.