The Midfield Lavender Farm in Bulls Gap, TN is somewhere that I didn’t even know existed until I saw an article about them in the Farm Bureau magazine. It was their first year opening to the public, and on a whim, I decided to get a ticket. I’ve never seen lavender plants in person before, much less picked my own stems, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to try something new and support a local business. My time at the farm exceeded any expectations that I had from just seeing the pictures.
Driving onto the property, it looks like a regular farm, but when you get to the top of the hill you can start to see the beautiful lavender plants.
The owner, Jeanie Miller was there, greeting guests, handing out scissors and instructing people on the best way to snip the stems. You could hear her love for what she does coming through when she talked about the farm and the lavender plants.
As I got closer to the plants themselves, it was a total sensory experience.
Listening to the buzzing bees, feeling the warmth of the sun, and smelling the relaxing lavender scent.
I was really glad that I chose to go earlier in the day. It started getting hotter and more crowded as I was leaving. But my time there was very peaceful. Wandering between the rows of lavender plants.
At first, I was a little concerned about cutting too many stems off of one plant…a concern that I overheard several others sharing as well.
Jeanie explained though, that trimming the lavender plants, like we essentially were, actually helps them to grow more flowers. So I started snipping.
I still moved from plant to plant, just to take in the whole experience.
It was also interesting to learn that there is a difference between regular lavender, that is used to make sachets, eye pillows and things like that, and culinary lavender, which is used for cooking and making drinks.
If you’re thinking of visiting a lavender farm yourself, the one warning I’ll give you, is the same warning that Midfield Lavender Farm gave to all of its guests, “Be aware that bees are present and welcome. If you are allergic to bee stings, please take precautions.”
I’m allergic to bees, so my precaution was not getting too close to the culinary lavender. =) It didn’t make for great pictures, but it gave the bees space to do their thing and kept me from heading to the hospital.
I’m hoping to have lavender tea and lemonade, create bath bombs, and have some of the bundles hanging around.
So, when I got home, I separated out the lavender stems that I picked, clipped the leaves off, and hung them up to dry.
Just in case it doesn’t work out like I think it’s going to, I bought some of the dried culinary lavender they had there at the farm. That way too, I don’t have to wait until mine dries to start enjoying it.
This U-Pick event is something that they want to make a yearly thing.
So if you live anywhere near Bulls Gap, TN, be sure to put a reminder on your calendar for the first week in June. That’s when the lavender plants are in full bloom and ready to be picked. It’s also (as of this writing) the only time that the farm is open to the main public.
You can get in touch with Jeanie to talk about scheduling a visit outside of this time – midfieldlavenderfarm@gmail.com or call 423-292-9066. She does private tours occasionally for garden clubs and other organizations and groups, but I’m not sure if this is just during the growing season.
To see the items that she creates with the lavender from her farm, and learn more about the farm in general, visit her Facebook or Instagram.
On your way out, if you’re looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat, I would highly recommend Yoder’s Country Market (15275 W Andrew Johnson Hwy, Bulls Gap, TN).
Yoder’s is an Amish grocery store that has just about anything and everything you need food wise. But they also have a deli counter at the back of the store where you can order sandwiches and whatever their specials of the day are. The sandwiches are inexpensive and very filling. They also have chips, drinks, and all kinds of different desserts that you can add to your order as well.
To order, go to the back right hand corner, look at the menu board to see what you want, fill out a page on one of the little pads laying on the counter in front of the menu board, and hand your paper to one of the sweet people working behind the counter. It’s extremely quick, even when they are busy. And they are almost always busy.
Outside, they have picnic tables where you can sit and eat, then go back in and get whatever you need to take home. It’s somewhere that I generally stop anytime I’m in the area.