The Tipp City Garden Club traveled to Cedar Ridge Trails Farm in Miamisburg for its first side trip. This mini carpool trip was organized in addition to the regular Club programs scheduled for the first Tuesday of each month.
Twelve members visited the 80-acre family run farm where 700-800 lavender plants are grown. The family considers it a hobby farm where they can share the “connect to nature” experience with the community and offer a beautiful escape.
Cedar’s Sara Mantia addressed the group covering the growing, harvesting, and distilling of the 20 varieties of lavender grown on the farm.
The short stemmed plants are best as culinary ingredients. The farm makes culinary lavender into simple syrup to add to lemonade, hot or iced coffees/teas, cocktails, or pancakes. The farm also offers lavender repellent, lavender-infused sugar, and Herbs de Provence.
Long stem plants are primarily found in bouquets and sachets or are used for their fragrance in oils when producing soap, lotions, and more. Every part of the lavender plant contributes to the processing. Cedar Ridge enjoys a collaboration with Tipp City’s Living Simply Soap.
After Sara’s instructions on how to pick, members with clippers in hand surprisingly found u-pick on the hillside. Being amongst so many bees made it a harmonious session. The bees appeared oblivious to the pickers and readily shared their domain.
Cooking, art, and yoga classes are on the farm’s summer schedule. A wildflower field is available for u-picking in mid to late summer. Their website: https://www.cedarridgetrails.com
The Garden Club will be attending the Miami County in Bloom Garden Tour by carpool on Saturday, July 20. For additional member information email e.stefkovich@gmail.com.