Flint Hills Lavender Farm
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New selling location!

3/10/2021

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We are excited to be offering our products at Kanvas Gifts located in the same building as TipToz Dance Company!
Perfect place to pick up a sachet for dancer's stinky shoes. This location is special because it is 1. where Mary teaches and 2. a local small business owned by Mary's sister Anneliese. The shop features other locally made products as well as  accessories, activewear, and other goodies.
For hours check their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Kanvasgifts)
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On-Farm Trials (and tribulations)

2/24/2020

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In 2018 we decided to a test new area and new techniques, as well as reduce costs by building a greenhouse to start our own plants.

Harry and Aaron after concrete is poured.
Frame is going up
Finished!
On-Farm Trial: Perhaps our biggest struggle, we have discovered has been time management. It has at times been challenging to manage weeds in our fields because of such constraints. In order to address possible solutions to this, we implemented a trial to evaluate several management practices spring 2018 with the financial assistance of the Farmer-Rancher grant program administered by the USDA-NCR SARE program.

In the trial, four varieties (Grosso, Phenomenal, Croxton’s Wild, and Munstead) were planted in three ‘management’ systems:
  • Bareground/cultivated
  • Black landscape fabric (Dewitt, 3.2 oz)
  • White landscape fabric
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​Data collected:
  • Soil moisture content measured for scheduling irrigation-monitored water usage for each mgmt treatment
    • Drip irrigation (in-line, 30” centers)
  • Plant Survival- previous experience led us to assume some plant losses initially:
    • Coldest April on record followed by warmest May
  • Plant Vigor, Height and Diameter
    • Measured late summer
  • Yield Bundles, bud weights from 10 aggregated ‘sample’ plants in 2nd year
  • Also track labor hours spent in each management treatment
The following charts and graphs display data collecting during 2018:
Fall of 2018 looked great. Winter temperatures greatly fluxuated and spring brought so much rain we had flooding in the field. Result was extreme plant loss.
Fall 2018
Spring 2019
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Summer 2019
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So while we could not continue the experiment as originally planned we still gathered some valuable information.
  • Install drip tape above fabric
    • Much easier to repair and install
    • Could make fabric installation much less expensive as well
    • Concern with precipitate clogging emitters…
  • Bury the edges, don’t just staple in place
    • Freeze thaw heaving
  • 24 plants that survived all but 1 were ‘phenomenal’; none were in very good shape
  • White fabric- not suitable for field production (won’t block out light sufficiently)

Possible ideas for further study:
  • Winter injury management
    • Soil moisture management during fall/winter
    • Protective covering/wind barrier
  • Continue with variety testing:
    • Replication: making data more robust
      • Replicate within farm (soil types, management, etc.)
      • Replicate across farms (regional factors)
      • Keeping data consistent (what measured and how)
  • Planting methods
    • Spring vs. fall
    • Fertilization
Good news is we continue to diversify our operation with other herb crops and the selling of live plants. We also have the exciting news of purchasing a farm of our own! Over the next few years we will continue the business while transitioning it from my parent’s farm over to our new homestead. Special thanks goes to NCR-SARE for funding the on-farm project. On with the adventure!


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New Additions!

3/12/2018

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We added this bundle of joy to our family in early January and he has been keeping us busy! ​ We are planning to expand our farm with new plants this Spring as well as explore new markets. Our greenhouse continues to develop. With warmer weather, we are getting excited to spend more time outside and see how the lavender has survived the winter.

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Two New Towns!

12/9/2017

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Prairie Harvest in Newton, KS and On the Wildside in Manhattan, KS are now carrying FHLF products! These are two unique Kansas stores definitely worth visiting!

​Find them at:
Prairie Harvest Market & Deli 
601 N. Main, Newton, Kansas 67114
https://prairieharvestks.com/

On the Wildside
1128 Moro St, Manhattan, KS 66502
https://www.onthewildside.net/
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Growing, growing, growing!

9/22/2017

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We have started selling  at Grove Gardens in Council Grove, KS! They are open 7 days a week and located right on Main Street. Besides plants, pottery, and produce they sell local goods like honey, soap, apple cider, LAVENDER and more! For inspiration, delicious produce, and groovy local products; we definitely recommend you stop by (they are open through October)!
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SIDE NOTE: We have fire starters available for sale now and we continue to improve our wreath making skills!

​*Click below to check out more about these on our products page*
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PRODUCTS
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NEW PRODUCTS!

8/18/2017

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We have been busy expanding and perfecting our product line! With experimentation and research we've discovered the best recipes for ROOM & BODY MIST and LAVENDER LOTION to share with our customers.

Our newest batch of FIRE STICKS is made with only lavender stems. All parts of the lavender plant hold oil but the oil content increases as it gets closer to the buds. What this means is more lavender aroma and flavor!

We plan to have smaller travel sizes of the lotion available soon and before the year is done we will have gift boxes available for sale!

Let us know what you think of our products -- we love hearing from our customers and any feedback is welcome!
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EXPLORING AND EXPANDING!

8/18/2017

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We are excited to announce we are now selling a few of our products at The Bank Art Space in Matfield Green, KS! It is a delightful little art gallery with historic charm.  This gem is located on beautiful Highway 177 and just a short distance to Cottonwood Falls and Strong City. They are closed during the winter months so now is a great time to check them out! Find out more details about them at  http://matfieldgreen.org/thebank/
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Amazing K-State Opportunity!

7/16/2017

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In June, we had the honor of participating in Launch A Business Program through K-State college of business. The program is designed to help start up businesses get the tools they need to succeed. It certainly has helped us jumpstart the business side of our farm! With the program we were able to take classes and workshops from university professors and experienced business men, we met with mentors, we had a student team that helped do business research for us, and countless networking opportunities. Here is a Link with details of the Launch a Business Program at K-State and a description of all the other amazing entrepreneurs that were accepted into the program: http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/2017-05/labclass51717.html

The program ended with a Launch Party showcasing the eleven diverse businesses that participated in the program. The event was open to the public. Each business had a table display (our's is pictured below), gave their pitch to attendees, and answered any questions guest might have.  Prizes were awarded to each business at the end of the evening. We hope to use the money we were awarded toward buying plants and funding our greenhouse project.
​The LAB program has been helpful in educating us about business terminologies, strategies, and methods from finances to business planning. We had an amazing student to work with named Elizabeth Gibisch. She helped us explore the market potential in the Manhattan area as well as analyze financial data for us. The research Elizabeth did for us was one of the most beneficial parts of the LAB program and showed us the tools and methods for how we can move forward. Getting advice from the mentors provided insight into the wide world of business.

What an amazing opportunity it was to be accepting into such a generous program! We feel so lucky and grateful to have been a part of it! It has truly given us the focus and inspiration we needed to move our business forward.

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    Author

    Mary is co-owner of Flint Hills Lavender Farm, a stay at home mom, and a dance teacher. She loves to be creative, help plants grow, cook with herbs, and explore the magic of essential oils. 

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