I registered with Homegrown, one of the original members, as a producer. I am a share cropper at Ten Spoon Winery in Missoula. There I am known as Lavender Lori. I have 1300 Grosso plants lining the 700 foot long entrance drive to the winery. Half of them are certified organic, the other half cannot be certified due to the adjacent neighbor who spot sprays his property. I am not certified as an organic handler of my Lavender but I assure you it is to the strictest standards. It is tricky, this organic stuff and joining Homegrown allows me the direct contact, and transparency my customers have come to trust.

I became a Lavender farmer after a visit to Sequim, WA lavender festival in 2000. I spent the winter researching varietal hardiness, soil and water requirements and in search of the perfect partner, namely one who had land and matching funds. Andy Sponseller and Connie Poten were enthusiastic about this project and just happened to have an area needing landscaping. They matched the funds, I did the work, they provide what little water the lavender requires and I pay them a yearly percentage for use of their land, much like a hay farmer would. It is a perfect arrangement and easily accessible to my home/office on the Northside of Missoula.

 I sell my handcrafted lavender products at Clark Fork River Market each year from May thru October beneath Higgin's Bridge as well as to Good Food, Meadowsweet, Rockin' Rudy's, Posh Chocolat, Biga etc. I particularly enjoy selling direct to folks who hear of me in lands far away, or areas of the country too wet to grow their own lavender. There is a link on Tenspoonwinery.com and you can watch a short video of me in my crop on Blip.tv - search for Missoula, then Lavender Lori. My husband Andy, and I also distill our own brand of Lavender and other essential oils called Purple Beacon essential oils.

do not have a website and enjoy staying small, direct and local. All of my products are available with a phone call or I can send you a catalog via pony express.

Each year the public is invited to attend our annual Lavender You Pick and Wine Taste. Always the last Wednesday evening in July, 6-9 pm. $20 entrance fee gets you a fresh cut bouquet and a sample of the latest vintages at the farm. See you there!

Rosalie Ranch is my official listing with Homegrown. It is 20 acres of heaven in the Mission Valley. I am currently growing Alfalfa and a plethora of weeds which could be utilized medicinally and for culinary use. Watercress, burdock, plantain, houndstongue, native matricaria, yellow dock, red clover, etc.

We have planted a small orchard; sour cherry, apricot, italian plum and have future plans to plant at least 2 acres (3,000) more grosso plants which will make it the most beautiful lavender farm in the world with the Mission Mountains as a backdrop. We plan one day to build our dream house there. 

I publish a small newsletter quarterly Earth Nurture, available for $15 year which will keep you up t date with my goings on. I look forward to hearing from you.