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Whidbey Xtra! WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015 | Vol. 1, No. 12 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | FREE
Artisans celebrate all things lavender this weekend By KATE DANIEL Staff Reporter
The fields are alive with the scent of lavender as farmers and artisans prepare for the 12th annual Lavender Wind Festival. This year’s free celebration of all things lavender will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 25 and 26, at Lavender Wind Farm, 2530 Darst Road, Coupeville. On-site parking is available. Attendees will have the opportunity to stroll through the grounds to enjoy the fields of fragrant lavender, listen to live music, imbibe in the wine garden, purchase goods and watch demonstrations of lavender distilling and crafts. There will also be children’s activities for younger lavender-lovers. As in years past, oils and flowers will be available for purchase along with a variety of pieces from local artisans. Artisans include jewelers, mixed media artists, watercolor painters, makers of garden decor, potters and woodworkers of various stylistic inclinations. A new feature of this year’s festival is a seven-foot-tall copper still, imported from Portugal, with which farm workers will demonstrate the production of lavender oil. Sarah Richards, owner of Lavender Wind Farm, noted that the still is quite impressive in its size and capabilities. The oil is the farm’s primary product, she said, and is used in various capacities from perfume to aromatherapy. Richards noted that essential lavender oil has been used to ease depression and anxiety, as a sleep aid and as a salve for minor cuts and burns.
2014 File photo
Coupeville woodworker Mike Dessert discusses the art of wood carving at his booth during the 2014 Lavender Wind Festival. Another new addition to this year’s festival is a wine garden. Proceeds from wine sales benefit the Pacific Northwest Art School. Richards said that, based on previous years, she expects a couple thousand visi-
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tors to make their way to the festival. “It’s just a fantastic weekend…very family oriented,” said M.J. Durand, main sales representative at the Lavender Wind retail shop. “It’s a beautiful day outside in the lavender fields.”
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“It’s just incredibly, stunningly beautiful to see fields of purple and to smell the aroma,” said Richards. For more information on the Lavender Wind Festival or Lavender Wind Farm, visit www.lavenderwind.com