In 2001 I had the distinct pleasure of participating in the Japanese Fulbright Memorial Master Teacher Program.   My colleague Brian and I were able to experience Japanese education up close.  While on the Northern island of Hokkaido, on a train trip, I saw a field of lavender.  Lavender in Northern Japan?  I was intrigued.  The Tomita Lavender Farm is a beautiful experience.  From that first exposure to a field of lavender, I thought if Mr. Tomita can grow lavender in a climate similar to where I live in the states, so can I.  I had one problem, I had no land to grow lavender.
One day I proposed to Brian, the teacher I traveled with in Japan and friend, the thought of trying a test plot of lavender on part of his five acres in the heart of the Finger Lakes region of New York.  Before Brian could respond his lovely wife Kate said “Brian wouldn’t that be wonderful a field of lavender in our backyard?”  A partnership was born.  In 2007 we planted our test plot of 200 plants and learned so much on what to do and what not to do to bring this special plant to maturity.  That year I found a person to share that dream of a lavender farm and Shari was added to the partnership lending her emotional and back support to this endeavor as well.

The four of us, Brian with his land and tiller, Kate with her bees to make lavender honey and help to pollinate our plants, Shari with her unwavering support and belief in the realization of this farm and myself as resident lavender guy have expanded our dream into reality with over 400 plants growing with more than seven varieties including pink, white, deep purple and every shade of purple you can imagine.  We have lavender for aromatic uses, culinary uses, and dried flower displays.

Please visit again in the future to see how our farm progresses and for information on our future harvest production and lavender products.

Help support the dream, check out our Purple Dog Lavender apparel at


http://www.cafepress.com/pdlavender



Contact:  Doug Schmidt  dkschmidt@purpledoglavender.com
                        or
                 Brian Burley bdburl@frontiernet.net