Science behind the scent
![Morena
The science behind the scent of lavender has always been challenging. Many people can outline the benefits of lavender to them, but independently proving them can be challenging. Later in this blog we highlight some new research that provides proof of the calming effects of lavender scent.
We are now in maintenance mode as winter approaches. The tasks ahead include: finishing […] Read more…](https://www.akaroaorganics.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220422_072410-scaled-750x1000.jpg "Science behind the scent")
Morena The science behind the scent of lavender has always been challenging. Many people can outline the benefits of lavender to them, but independently proving them can be challenging. Later in this blog we highlight some new research that provides proof of the calming effects of lavender scent. We are now in maintenance mode as winter approaches. The tasks ahead include: finishing […]
Read more…Summers blue
Morena: summers blue is bursting into flower in the lavender fields. Pacific Blue startling deep violet shades are spreading across our fields. Every year this cloak of colour reminds us that Christmas is just around the corner. Oringally from France, Pacific Blue, was later developed and named by Peter Smale from Crop and Food Research in Nelson. In one of his last […]
Read more…The beginning of Spring
Morena It must be the beginning of Spring. We thought we caught the faint sound of the first pipiwharauroa (shining cuckoo) somewhere deep in the native bush that surrounds the farm. Despite some heavy frosts, our Grosso and Pacific Blue plants have come through winter well and rapidly showcasing some of their future beauty. We have been busy planting after growing on over […]
Read more…A summer of lavender mist
Morena This month we have a look at lavender hydrosol or lavender mist. Hydrosols are the by-product of the making of essential oil. Hydrosols are also known as floral water. They contain about 1% essential oil with the remainder being infused lavender water. We always look for great data that support the effectiveness of lavender products. One recent studyhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40415-019-00518-1 looked at the […]
Read more…a Spring shiver
![Morena
It’s a Spring shiver kind of week; 19C to 5C and thick snow all around the tops!
We know its spring, and there’s plenty of evidence in the new growth on our Pacific Blue. Apart from some ornamental lavender around the house, Pacific Blue is always the first to lead us into summer.
Because you should know many of the ‘true’ lavenders […] Read more…](https://www.akaroaorganics.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Spring-growth-663x1175.jpg "Spring growth")
Morena It’s a Spring shiver kind of week; 19C to 5C and thick snow all around the tops! We know its spring, and there’s plenty of evidence in the new growth on our Pacific Blue. Apart from some ornamental lavender around the house, Pacific Blue is always the first to lead us into summer. Because you should know many of the ‘true’ lavenders […]
Read more…the mists of time
![If we turn back the mists of time we begin to understand that lavender mist is produced at the same time as the production of essential oils. A part of the distillation process, essential oils float to the top where they are removed, leaving behind a watery distillation.
We call this lavender mist. Typically this diluted essential oil is less than […] Read more…](https://www.akaroaorganics.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Standardheader-750x94.jpg "the mists of time")
If we turn back the mists of time we begin to understand that lavender mist is produced at the same time as the production of essential oils. A part of the distillation process, essential oils float to the top where they are removed, leaving behind a watery distillation. We call this lavender mist. Typically this diluted essential oil is less than […]
Read more…of this and that (a brief history of lavender)
![This months blog outlines a brief history of lavender. Winter suddenly arrived on Banks Peninsula this week with 120km hour winds, snow on the tops and a wind chill of 3C. It’s a great time to sit in front of the fire and reflect on this and that.
In ancient times lavender was used for mummification and perfume by the Egyptians, […] Read more…](https://www.akaroaorganics.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/guarantee1-663x568.jpg "remembering summer")
This months blog outlines a brief history of lavender. Winter suddenly arrived on Banks Peninsula this week with 120km hour winds, snow on the tops and a wind chill of 3C. It’s a great time to sit in front of the fire and reflect on this and that. In ancient times lavender was used for mummification and perfume by the Egyptians, […]
Read more…the (lavender) flow of life
The flow of life, at least in terms of our lavender, just turned another corner. Thanks to some great helpers and the cooperation of Tāwhirimātea (Maori god of weather), all our new seasons lavender oil is now safely in amber bottles and stored in the fridge. Read more… Our Pacific Blue is always an early harvest and this year the hot weather […]
Read more…Beginnings – the early days
![In this post we thought we’d take you back to the early days of our lavender journey.
We first planted lavender on the steepest and driest paddock on the property. This paddock which contained over 1,000 plants has now, some seventeen years later, been allowed to revert back to native bush.
Seven years ago we started developing a new area for lavender. […] Read more…](https://www.akaroaorganics.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/IMAG0019-663x497.jpg "IMAG0019")
In this post we thought we’d take you back to the early days of our lavender journey. We first planted lavender on the steepest and driest paddock on the property. This paddock which contained over 1,000 plants has now, some seventeen years later, been allowed to revert back to native bush. Seven years ago we started developing a new area for lavender. […]
Read more…Winter snows lavender highs
![The first of the winters snows have settled on the volcanic peaks that surround our lavender fields and Akaroa harbour. Its a great time to leave the lavender for a while and focus on finishing the harvesting of figs and quince – that means time in the kitchen! Wet winter days also allow us to reflect on some recent […] Read more…](https://www.akaroaorganics.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/DSC_0003-2-663x373.jpg "snow on a volcano and lavender!!")
The first of the winters snows have settled on the volcanic peaks that surround our lavender fields and Akaroa harbour. Its a great time to leave the lavender for a while and focus on finishing the harvesting of figs and quince – that means time in the kitchen! Wet winter days also allow us to reflect on some recent […]
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