by Jan Abernethy | 15 Sep 2026 | Lavender farm happenings, Uncategorised
Signs of Spring Isn’t it lovely to hear and see the tūī’s feeding among the flowering kōwhai? They have also been visiting the proteas, even though the blooms are now past their best. We have seen many more kererū in our area this winter, too. We usually spot...
by Jan Abernethy | 27 Aug 2026 | Lavender farm happenings, Uncategorised
August is a slow month on the farm: the lavender is still sleeping, the grass has slowed and doesn’t need as much mowing, and the weeds haven’t popped up yet. It is a quiet pause before product making begins and the busy lavender season gathers pace. We lambed early...
by Jan Abernethy | 6 Jul 2026 | Uncategorised
How we prepare our Culinary Lavender Following on from last month’s newsletter, let’s take you behind the scenes and share how we prepare our Culinary Lavender for tea, baking, cooking, desserts, and cocktails. To ensure the best flavour and quality, we harvest the...
by Jan Abernethy | 9 Jun 2026 | Uncategorised
After a long pause, the Lavender Abbey newsletters are returning and I’m excited to share fresh updates and stories from the farm that I hope you will enjoy. Our first feature focuses on Culinary Lavender. As many of you know, in December 2025 we received MPI...
by Jan Abernethy | 1 Sep 2022 | Lavender farm happenings
It definitely rained every day in July, I saw it, and I’m sure it has rained 90% of August as well. We, and many others throughout New Zealand, are totally over the rain and mud. We can’t complain when we look at what has happened to houses and properties...
by Jan Abernethy | 7 Jul 2022 | Lavender farm happenings
Where did June go, WELCOME July! July on the farm is the start of lambing, babies are due today, however at this stage only five ewes look on time. The others are a couple of weeks away, the ram has obviously been a bit lazy this season. The winter in Carterton...
by Jan Abernethy | 1 Jun 2022 | Uncategorised
Wow it’s the 1st of June, where have those six months gone? I can’t believe I haven’t written since December, sorry but I’m here now and hope to update you monthly with what’s happening on the farm. Thank you all for visiting us during the lavender season...
by Jan Abernethy | 3 Nov 2021 | Uncategorised
Hasn’t it been another crazy year in New Zealand and around the World? The feeling of uncertainty disrupts our lives and like you all, we have felt unsettled and a little concerned with what’s happening. With so many of our markets cancelled this season we wonder...
by Jan Abernethy | 28 Jun 2021 | Uncategorised
There are many lavender farms in New Zealand and more and more people are deciding to grow this beautiful purple flower. Most of the growers belong to the NZ Lavender Growers Assn but there are others that do not. Belonging to the association is a place of support,...
by Jan Abernethy | 2 Oct 2020 | Uncategorised
Lavender filled organza bags When the lavender starts flowering, our first job is to cut the flowers and make bunches to hang and dry in the shed. Once dried, after a couple of weeks in the warmth of the shed, we rub the bunches so all the flowerets fall into a...
