Lavender Farming with Friends!

Sequim is often (in these parts) referred to as 'The Blue Hole'. The Olympic Mountains pull the wet weather coming in off the ocean down south, leaving a nice patch of sunshine in this heart of the rain shadow. About 30-40 years ago this region used to be the bread belt of the Peninsula, and there was a solid dairy farming industry. Dairy farming slowly gave way and the ground went fallow. Residents had the local extension office of the university come and conduct a study of what would grow well in this climate, as people didn't want to abandon farming in favor of development. Studies showed that lavender would fare well here, and thus began a new era of lavender farming.

The town celebrates this era with an annual Lavender Festival (July 18-20th this year). In anticipation of this event, I explored a local lavender farm run by my friend Zion Hilliker and his family. They informed me that soon the lavender will bloom and the sound of bees humming in the fields will be a delight for the senses—I can't wait!