Lavender’s Green was established in 1999 from our home, Te Puhi, just outside the South Wairarapa village of Featherston, following on a dream to grow organic lavender.
We had planted hundreds of lavender plants in 1998 and they flourished, as did the weeds. As a mother of four children, aged then between two and 10 years-old, weeding was low on the list of jobs I could accomplish in a day and I soon realised that I would need to employ someone to grow the lavender properly. So, to provide an income, we started producing lemon cordial, beautifully presented in a blue glass bottle with a hand drawn label. We used lemons that grew organically on the farm and given to us by our Featherston neighbours.
The Lemon Cordial became a huge hit and Lavender’s Green developed into a business producing citrus cordials and condiments, including lemon curd and preserved lemons.
When we returned to New Zealand after living in Melbourne for eight years in 2015, we decided to change the nature of Lavender’s Green and focus on the beautiful environment here at the Te Puhi farm. We are now opening the property to guests at the Cook’s Loft as well as the Country Cooking School.
Participants of the Country Cooking School will forage through the vegetable gardens, the chook run, the farm and the creek, for ingredients that they will prepare, cook and eat over a long lunch, matched with local Wairarapa wines. It’s a delightful way to while away a day with a group of eight friends…
It has always been our desire to capture and celebrate the beauty and simplicity of country life and seasonal country provisions. A life lived with wholesome, natural, fresh and tasty food, full of goodness and integrity, is a life very well lived. And it is our great privilege and joy to share this bounty with you!