We use lavender in many of our products, and find it wonderful that lavender is so versatile around the house. Lavender attracts bees and butterflies, and it’s just about the only plant material on the farm that the deer do not bother.
Each June, the lavender crop at Chesterhaven Beach Farm is in full beautiful bloom. We harvest and dry each crop for our products throughout the year. Our main purpose for growing lavender fields is however to provide food to the bees.
Did you know that lavender does all of this?
1. Bug Repellent
Lavender is an effective bug repellent. Crush fresh flowers and rub the bud “oil” on your legs and arms to help repel flies and mosquitoes while outside this summer. It certainly smells better than traditional bug repellent!
If however you do get attacked by a mosquito, lavender is a good remedy for bug bites and itching because it is anti-inflammatory.
2. Moth Repellant
Fresh or dried bunches lavender around your home and in closets to repel moths, mosquitoes, and flies. They are repelled by the scent. The bonus is living in a home with natural fragrance from plants, rather than man made fragrance.
3. Aches and Pains
If you feel achy from too much gardening, hiking, or canoeing, massage lavender essential oil into your joints and muscles to aid pain relief. For headaches, smelling lavender and peppermint oils or rubbing lavender oil into the temples often helps.
4. Burn Relief
Lavender helps to soothe sunburns, too. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a spray-bottle of cool water. Apply to red skin to cool and relieve the pain.
You can also brew dried lavender as a tea, let the mixture chill completely, and apply to the skin. Store in a dark glass container in your refrigerator, the cold provides added relief.
Real lavender essential oil is plant-derived. There are products on the market that contain lavender fragrance that is manmade. The pure lavender essential oil in our Peace of Mind Body Butter calms sunburnt skin and the the other plant-oils help restore moisture.
5. In food
Dried lavender along with other dried plants make for soothing teas for relaxation. Sip on lavender and chamomile tea, don’t forget the honey.
Edible lavender buds when sprinkled in salads enhance the flavor.
Treat yourself to a delicious dessert. Stir crumbled fresh, edible organic lavender buds and a pinch of cinnamon into vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt. Drizzle some Spring Honey on top. Enjoy!
