Love Lavender

Located just outside of New Plymouth, we have one hectare which looks south to Mount Egmont/Taranaki and north over the city of New Plymouth and towards the Tasman Sea. Of the 1 ha only half is developed for horticulture, with some 1300 metres of raised beds. A quarter of these raised beds are used each year, with about 15,000 garlic planted...thereby providing a four year rotational cycle for the garlic.

Currently the garlic [Allium sativum] is producing about 800 kilograms per annum, which is sold at the Farmers Markets Taranaki in New Plymouth.

The garlic is grown "spray free" which means that they are individually weeded throughout the growing season. Organic growing principles are used throughout, but we are not organically certified. No spray is used on the raised beds, however some sprays are used around the property for weed control.

Between each and all of the raised beds is planted lavender, to provide a windbreak for the garlic. There are 1400 lavender plants, half of them are Lavandula "Grosso" and the other half are Lavandula "Super". The lavender was planted in 2005.

I now have a new product; "lavender oil diffuser" this is sold with reeds and gives you home the aroma of lavender

A small crop of herbal teas is beding to be harvested and produced, which is also available on Sunday mornings at Farmers Market Taranaki from 9 - 12am. Along with spray-free strawberries when in season.