March 20-26
We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Aux Arc Botanicals lavender farm. We were greeted by the hospitable and warm farmer, Karen, and a delicious, warm meal of chicken, veggies, and barley upon our arrival. It was too early in the season to do anything in the lavender field, but we still had the opportunity to learn and work.
Eliza and I (Erin) stayed behind at the farm while the boys went diamond hunting. We attended the farmer’s market with Karen to sell the products she’d made from the previous season’s lavender: sachets, sprays, some soap, and transplants of other herbs grown in her greenhouse.
We got to establish two hugelkultur beds, which are started with a pile of partially rotted logs, sticks, and leaves, covered in compost and soil. The end result is a mounded bed that is packed with nutrients, microbial activity, and is excellent at retaining moisture. We also spent some time in the greenhouse transplanting herbs and on the front porch processing last year’s lavender. By rolling the stems back and forth in our hands, the buds drop into a bin and the stems are saved to be thrown into chicken bedding to help deter insect pests. We then sifted out the stems that slipped in with the buds. The next step was filling up the sachet bags. Karen gave each of us a sachet that we keep with our clothes in the camper.
We were so blessed by our time on this farm: pitching in with the work, sharing the evening meal, and learning about the history, land, and people of this region. This special piece of northern Arkansas is stored up in our memories. It was so nice to feel connected to people and a place for a brief time in contrast to the majority of our travel where we’re functioning more like a Hernick island, rather isolated and transient.
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