More Than Lavender: Creating a Place to Slow Down
There is something about walking through a lavender field that naturally makes you slow your pace.
Maybe it's the scent. Maybe it's the sound of honeybees moving from bloom to bloom. Maybe it's spotting a monarch resting on a lavender stem or finding a quiet place near the gazebo to sit for a while.
At Cherry Hill Lavender Farm in Northern Michigan, we've always loved growing lavender. But as the farm continues to grow, so does our vision for what this place can be.
We want Cherry Hill to be more than a place you visit when the lavender is blooming.
We want it to be a place where you can slow down, connect with nature, learn something new, create something with your hands, and simply enjoy being here.
Sometimes Wellness Looks Simple
Wellness doesn't always have to mean adding one more thing to your to-do list.
Sometimes it looks like spending an afternoon outside.
This summer, a group of women gathered at the farm to paint lavender notecards. Surrounded by the fields, they painted, talked and created together.
There was no rush and no complicated agenda — just creativity, conversation and time spent outdoors.
Those are the kinds of experiences we want to continue creating at Cherry Hill.
Our Date Nights and art classes gave us more opportunities to gather this season, and we're looking forward to bringing them back, along with new classes and experiences.
There's Always Something Happening in the Fields
Of course, we aren't the only ones who enjoy the lavender.
This summer brought an abundance of monarch butterflies to Cherry Hill. We watched them travel between the lavender, butterfly bushes and zinnias — often with Enzo enthusiastically following behind.
We also spotted other butterflies, hummingbird moths, praying mantises and, of course, plenty of honeybees.
Sleeping Bear Farms placed hives on the property this season, giving us an even closer look at the relationship between the plants we grow and the pollinators that visit them.
Want to learn more about why lavender is such a favorite with bees?
From the Field to Everyday Life
The experience of lavender doesn't end when the flowers are harvested.
Troy spent plenty of time distilling this summer, with some distillations producing approximately 100 mL of essential oil. Distillation also gives us another wonderful lavender product: hydrosol.
If you've ever wondered what lavender hydrosol is or how you can use it, we've already put together a guide for you.
And lavender finds its way beyond traditional aromatherapy and bath products, too.
Our collaboration with BrixStone Farms continued this season with Lavender Infused Maple Syrup, and we've loved seeing people discover just how versatile lavender can be in the kitchen.
We're Still Learning, Too
Part of growing Cherry Hill means never assuming we've learned everything there is to know about lavender.
We've added several more lavender varieties and created a test plot where we can continue learning what thrives here. We're experimenting with new products, exploring new ideas and continuing our education beyond our own fields.
This weekend, that learning continues at a lavender conference — another opportunity to bring home new knowledge and inspiration for Cherry Hill.
Because the more we learn, the more we can share.
Growing What's Next
As one season winds down, another chapter at Cherry Hill is beginning.
Our new farm store is complete, new products are being developed and trialed, and we're already thinking about future classes and experiences.
But underneath all those changes is something much simpler.
We want Cherry Hill to feel welcoming.
A place where you can walk outside. Notice what's blooming. Watch a butterfly. Learn how lavender becomes essential oil. Paint something. Sit with someone you love. Laugh. Create. Breathe.
That's the kind of place we're growing.
And we hope you'll grow with us.
Visit Cherry Hill Lavender Farm in Northern Michigan
Beginning October 7, our farm store will be open Wednesdays from 12–4 PM. Visits on other days are available by appointment.
Stop in to see what's new, browse Cherry Hill products — and, of course, say hello to Enzo.
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