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A Guide to Lavender Fields in New Jersey
There's nothing quite like the luscious scent of blooming lavender radiating throughout the home. Essex County isn't exactly known for its lavender farming, but that doesn't mean that a day trip to the lavender fields is out of reach. The lavender season kicks off in June, and the flowering season is fleeting. It only lasts about three to four weeks, so you'll want to get to a field as soon as they start blooming. Keep reading to discover nearby lavender fields to visit this summer in New Jersey.
The Benefits of Lavender
Lavender has myriad health benefits. It can be used to treat anxiety, mood swings, and of course, sleep issues. Inhaling some delicious-smelling lavender has been known to help people get to sleep faster and keep them from waking up throughout the night. But lavender isn't just beneficial to our beauty rest. It can also fight fungal infections, repair hair loss, and treat wounds, too.
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And that's just the cosmetic stuff. Aside from being an essential part of your beauty routine (hair, skin, you name it), consuming lavender is also beneficial. It can alleviate digestive issues such as vomiting, nausea, intestinal gas, bloating, and more. Anecdotal evidence also suggests lavender can cure headaches and relieve pain from injuries like sprains and even toothaches.
Speaking of consuming lavender, you can also cook with culinary lavender. It can go in just about any recipe — from lavender lemon bars to tea and morning lattes. In many bread recipes, lavender can be substituted for rosemary. You can also add it to your honey (and drizzle it on toast), make lemonade, ice cream, and more. Lavender is a beautiful (and delicious) garnish in salads, desserts, and baked goods, and can even be used to top off your Sunday brunch champagne.
Of course, if you're going to ingest lavender, you need to make sure it's fresh. You should never eat lavender that's not categorized as culinary. If it's from a florist, nursery, or garden center, it's likely been treated with pesticides — AKA not culinary-grade. Lavender, however, found and sourced from organic lavender fields, is A-OK to eat.
Lavender Farms in New Jersey
Now that we've established the many benefits of lavender, here's where you can visit fresh lavender farms near Essex County this summer.
Hidden Spring Lavender + Alpaca Farm | 890 Belle Mead-Blawenburg Road, Skillman
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Just about an hour away from Northern New Jersey, Hidden Spring is aptly named, tucked away in Skillman, New Jersey. Hidden Spring is a wedding venue as well, and features a horse barn and trails for patrons to ride. With 25 acres of farmland, you can take pictures in the fields, buy some lavender-themed trinkets at the gift shop, take a horse for a ride, and even pet an alpaca. Kids can get up close and personal with the alpacas in their pen, petting them and even feeding them. Guests can also book ahead of time to walk an alpaca on weekends for a $20 fee. Hidden Springs is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 10AM-4PM, and no reservations are needed unless there is a special event.
Mad Lavender Farm | 452 County Road 579, Milford
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Farmers Adrienne + Don decided to turn their raspberry farm into a lavender one, and are sharing their love of sustainable living with the community. Located in Milford, New Jersey, Mad Lavender has pick-your-own lavender from mid-June to early July. Since planting the first lavender crop in 2013, the farm now has seven different varieties of lavender. The farm also has goat yoga and allows rentals for anyone looking to plan an event or even a wedding. Mad Lavender also sells its own homemade products. For those interested in a pick-your-own lavender visit, guests can schedule a 30-minute period to pick all the lavender they want during bloom in the first three weeks of June. Mad Lavender is only open for workshops, so see the website to plan your visit.
Orchard View Lavender Farm | 101 Karrville Road, Port Murray
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Orchard View is a pesticide- and herbicide-free lavender farm. Established in Warren County in May 2015, Orchard View is committed to purely organic methods of growing. Like Pleasant Valley, Orchard View guests are invited to cut their lavender during the harvest season. It also functions as a wedding and event venue and frequently gets bookings for artists and photographers. You can pack a picnic basket, bring a blanket, or sit in the on-site gazebo to enjoy some of the very purple sights Orchard View has to offer. Orchard View has many items for purchase: bath and body gifts, household and culinary, teas and tea accessories, aromatherapy jewelry, essential oils, and garden décor + gifts. This farm is only open during ticketed special events and pop-up openings, so be sure to check out the website to plan a visit.
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Pleasant Valley Lavender Farm | 288 Pleasant Valley Road, Morganville
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The Morganville Farm has over 2,000 plants — from French to English lavender. Here, visitors can explore the fields and even cut lavender bundles. Alternatively, visitors can grab some already-harvested bundles in the Pleasant Valley shop. With ten acres of fragrant fields, Pleasant Valley sells fresh lavender by the bundle, dried lavender, loose buds, sachets, assortments of soaps, candles, and lavender honey made on-site from Pleasant Valley's bees. Guests can also go home with lavender plants to reap some of the benefits of lavender at home. The farm is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10AM-5PM and daily come June 18th.
