Bayfield Lavender Farm

When Gemma James Smith and her ever-growing family moved to the little hobby farm on Porter’s Hill Line in 2017 she discovered an overgrown, but producing, quarter-acre of lavender that she lovingly refers to as the “Mama Patch”. As she harvested the lavender to dry that first year, little did she know that the patch would become a passion project.

The project began with researching how to propagate and grow lavender. She has since gradually developed that small patch to almost an acre growing approximately 2,000 plants, with more on the horizon. The need to rehabilitate the soil, and some further research led to the small farm adding goats, chickens and ducks. 

She began selling products under the label Bayfield Lavender Farm in 2018 and now provides a wide range of products, including fresh bunches, dried bunches, dried buds, linen body spray, soap, sachets, body scrubs and eye pillows. 

Bayfield Lavender Farm would go on to be a fixture at area Christmas and farmers’ markets in 2018 and 2019, but James Smith added a wee daughter to her family late last year making the markets impractical. (She also has a four-year-old daughter and two teenage step-sons to help her in the lavender patch!) She has been focusing on online orders in the meantime, and is developing a small retail network.

The current plan is to eventually open the farm to the public during the bloom (mid-July to the first week in August) and add a small retail space at some point in the future.

In the meantime, Bayfield Lavender Farm’s products can be ordered by e-mail at bayfieldlavender@gmail.com or by following on instagram.com/bayfieldlavender for delivery. Products can also be purchased at local stores such as Shopbike Coffee Roasters in Bayfield and The Little Shed Flower Company in Varna.