News Monday, March 12, 2007
Lavender Project connects with residents
By KATHRYN ROSS/Wellsville Daily Reporter
Published: Monday, March 12, 2007 3:07 PM CDT
ANGELICA - The color of success this past Saturday was lavender
according to those who attended the first Project Lavender seminar.
There may be few places in New York state where lavender is being grown for commercial purposes, but Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticultural Educator Erica Fleischman believes Allegany County can do it.
More than 100 people gathered at the Methodist Church on Park Circle in Angelica Saturday to listen to “experts” expound upon the benefits and the uses of lavender. It was the first seminar hosted by the Lavender Bunch, a small group of women in Angelica who feel strongly that lavender can promote agri-tourism in the county and bring much needed outside dollars into the economy.
According to Fleischman, the Mediterranean flower can be successfully grown here, as it is in the state of Washington, providing growers do their homework.
“Let's find out what will work here,” she told the gardeners while showing slides of fields of lavender in France and Italy. “We want to grow it and we want to grow it well,” she said, advising that with proper attention to soil and lighting lavender can be a viable crop.
Fleurette Pelletier, one of the founders of the Lavender Bunch which is organizing Project Lavender, said the group was very pleased with Saturday's turnout.
“They're from all over the county, and that's what we were looking for,” she said. “I'm ecstatic. There's a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of people who are willing to get involved.”
“I think it's a viable project,” said Fleischman, “but time will tell. I think it's a win, win situation for everyone, if we can get lavender to grow locally on a large scale,” said Fleischman.
She added that she believes Cornell University researchers will be interested in collecting data about lavender growing procedures.
Should that happen, Project Lavender proponents say the many products that can be made from lavender buds and flowers can be marketed as a cottage industry, and at a farmer's market which will start in June. The group also plans to host a Lavender Festival in 2008.
“This is our experimental year,” said Sharon Rader, who grows lavender at her home on Basswood Hill Farm along with other culinary herbs and flowers.
Also a member of the Lavender Bunch, she said she believes that fields of lavender can draw tourists to the county.
She's helping those who are interested in purchasing lavender plants and plugs.
Pat Kaake, also a founding member of the Lavender Bunch, helped sign-in people attending the seminar and said those attending came from Fillmore, Cuba, Andover and Alfred and from other communities across the county.
Dianne Chandler and Tina Wightman - who has grown lavender for many years - were also part of the seminar.
Both Whiteman and Chandler have cooked with lavender and Wightman makes pillows and other items using the aromatic flower such as soaps, powders and sachets.
Lavender is a small, shrub used in the fragrance, specialty food, alternative medicine industries and for decoration and entertainment. It has few insect pests, it is an inset repellent and distasteful to deer. While it is not native to this area, Fleischman said it is not an evasive specie, and will not take over other plants.