There’s not a lot on this world that may high the great thing about a lavender subject. At Osmia, we reward this incredible purple plant, and we harvest our founder’s crop yearly to be used in a few of our merchandise. Be part of us as we discover a day within the lifetime of a lovely lavender bud, and watch the journey from plant to reap to luxuriously infused oil.

WHEN TO HARVEST LAVENDER

Lavender needs to be harvested once you discover the flowers on the base of the stem have barely began to open, however the flowers on the high are nonetheless closed—that is the height time for the sensible purple hue and tender aroma. Harvesting very first thing within the morning is greatest, and provided that the climate is dry. You do not need moisture within the vegetation at harvest, or mould spores can get caught within the drying flowers. And harvesting late within the day is just not very best, as a result of an excessive amount of time within the solar can bake the plant, and lower the colour and the important oil within the buds, making them dry and fewer potent. So seize your cup of espresso or tea, and take heed to the early birds as you collect your self for the harvest.

HOW TO HARVEST LAVENDER

Instruments wanted: a sickle and a giant pile of rubber bands!

Seize your sickle fastidiously, and head out to your backyard. Lavender is a sturdy plant, so seize a bundle, and use your sickle to chop it, leaving a number of inches of stem on the backside. Be extraordinarily cautious that your fingers and thumb are fully out of the best way as you make a swift reduce with the sickle. If the stems aren’t densely packed (some varietals are extra dense than others), you’ll be able to gently twist the bunch earlier than you narrow, making a tighter group of stems which is able to make it simpler to chop. As you harvest, contemplate leaving some uncut lavender for the bees to get pleasure from. After you have a pleasant, fats handful of purple flowers, use the flat aspect of the sickle to faucet the reduce ends so they’re all even, and put together to bundle! If you happen to’re slicing from potted vegetation, a pair of fine scissors is a greater instrument. 

HOW TO BUNDLE LAVENDER

Instruments wanted: the bundle of lavender and rubber bands.

Take every tidy handful of lavender stems and safe them with two or three rubber bands instantly after slicing them. The stems will lose water, and due to this fact quantity, as they dry, so a rubber band is healthier than a string—it would contract with the drying stems. Additionally, be sure you use multiple rubber band on every bunch, in order that if one breaks throughout drying, you’ve got received a backup system in place.

Tip: Don’t attempt to harvest all of the lavender and bundle it later. It is vastly simpler to rubber band the bundles as you go!

HOW TO HANG AND DRY LAVENDER 

Instruments wanted: twine and a wall or rafters.

After you have your bundles prepared, thread your twine by way of the rubber band, making a knot. Our founder, Dr. Sarah Villafranco, nonetheless makes use of the medical knots she tied whereas stitching her sufferers within the ER! No have to get that technical, only a sturdy knot will do the trick. Her favourite solution to safe them is by tying a bundle on every finish of a chunk of twine, then hanging the twine on a hook or a nail, like fish on a fishing line. The bundles ought to all the time dangle flowers-down, so the important oil of the vegetation can focus within the buds as they dry. The bundles ought to dangle in a cool, protected place for a minumum of 10-14 days to make sure they’re fully dry. 

HOW TO REMOVE DRIED LAVENDER FLOWERS FROM THE STEM

That is so easy, and so efficient! All you want is a pair of fresh rubber gloves and a clear bucket. We choose to make use of a sanitized bucket that has been sprayed with alcohol and allowed to dry, however that is as a result of our lavender goes into your skincare merchandise! 

Holding a bunch of dried lavender flowers with the buds going through down into the bucket, and some inches beneath the rim, gently roll the bunch backwards and forwards between your palms, permitting the flowers to fall into the bucket. Maintain rolling gently till you’ve gotten solely stems left in your hand. If you’re executed with all of the bunches, you’ll be able to take away the rubber bands and compost the stems when you’ve got composting obtainable the place you’re.

HOW TO INFUSE LAVENDER INTO OIL

First, decide the oil you’d wish to infuse. For lip balms, we love natural olive or castor oil. For physique oils, attempt jojoba or sunflower oil. In a clear, dry jar, add one tablespoon of lavender buds per cup of oil, safe the lid tightly, and place within the container someplace you will keep in mind to shake it a minimum of as soon as a day. Enable the oil to infuse for 3 weeks, then pressure by way of cheesecloth to take away the flowers.

DIY LAVENDER HEALING BALM RECIPE

Here is an excellent easy recipe from our manufacturing supervisor, Monika. Apply it to bumps, bruises, bites, and small cuts! 

1 tablespoon *lavender infused olive oil

1 tablespoon coconut oil  

1 tablespoon beeswax (pellets or grated) 

 15 drops lavender important oil

Mix substances in a small, heatproof measuring cup.

Warmth in a double boiler, with the measuring cup sitting within the higher pot of water, which solely wants an inch or so of water.

As soon as the beeswax melts, pour the liquid right into a jar with a lid and permit to chill.

Wipe your measuring cup with a paper towel whereas nonetheless heat, and clear within the dishwasher. 

We love this aromatic flower and hope you will attempting rising and harvesting your personal someday. Within the meantime, be taught extra in regards to the magic of lavender in skincare, relieving anxiousness, and taking the sting out of a bug chew.