Mt. Airy Lavender
Coatesville, Pennsylvania
October 2024
I recently stumbled upon this lovely hidden gem located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Mt. Airy Lavender is a lavender farm with over 1,500 lavender plants grown local and organic. They grow two species, Lavandula Angustifolia and Lavandula Intermedia and have many different varietals of each. Lavandula Angustifolia is commonly called English Lavender. It grows to be 10 to 12 inches tall and most varieties bloom throughout the summer. This lavender maintains its color after being dried and is great for culinary and crafts. Lavandula Intermedia is sometimes called French Lavender. It grows to be 36 to 48 inches tall and wide. With their strong fragrance they are widely used to make essential oil.
Mt. Airy Lavender makes and sells a wide variety of products that are made with lavender essential oil that they distill on the farm. They distill their lavender in a copper still imported from Portugal. Once, the lavender is fully in bloom, they harvest it into large bundles and hang it to dry in their barn. When they are ready to distill, they de-bud (remove each lavender flower) by rubbing the dried lavender on wire screens. The bottom of the still is filled with water and the buds (dried lavender flowers) are put into the column of the still without touching any water. They then put the still over a propane flame and heat the water to boiling. The steam travels up through the column and circulates all around the lavender buds releasing the essential oil into the steam. The steam is cooled, and the essential oil and lavender water is collected and used in their products. It takes over one pound of lavender buds (flowers) to make one ounce of lavender essential oil.
There are many benefits of lavender. Lavender calms, promotes relaxation, facilitates sleep, reduces stress and anxiety, relieves headaches, soothes aches and pains, relaxes sore muscles, enhances blood circulation, antioxidant protection, anti-inflammatory, cools, tones all skin types, improves acne, treats skin irritations, heals minor burns and wounds, soothes sunburns, stops insect bite itching, battles respiratory infections, antiseptic, and anti-bacterial. Lavender essential oil can be applied directly to the skin to heal, calm, and soothe.
The farm has lots of lavender products ranging from candles, cooking, home decor, gifts, plants, and wellness. In addition to shopping at the farm, you are allowed to walk around the grounds to view the plants up close and say hello to the horses and pony onsite. The farm also hosts events and workshops. It is a beautiful place to visit, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I made sure to get several of gifts for my loved ones and some for myself as well. The products are luxurious, and I enjoy shopping local. I think that I will find myself back at the farm again enjoying its peaceful atmosphere and shopping at its store.
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