Mountainside Lavender Farms
A must-see stop on the Oregon Lavender Farm Tour.
During the warm summer days of June and July, Oregon's Willamette Valley draws thousands of visitors for the state's annual Lavender Festival. Farms from Portland to Medford open their gates to visitors from across the globe, who make the trek to explore the Pacific Northwest and witness the incredible harvest. As an Aromatherapy enthusiast, massage therapist and founder of a botanical beauty company, I have wanted to attend the festival for several years now. This year, I finally made the journey.
Oregon State is a pioneer in Lavender farming. Many farmers have been cultivating their fields for decades, but there are also newer farms springing up in the area and making name for themselves among the experts. I traveled to Oregon with the specific goal of researching essential oil production and distillation methods, and to pick up new, unique varieties of Lavender for my personal collection. I met with countless experts, was taken aback by the breathtaking beauty of the fields and learned more than I ever anticipated. In the end, though, it was the people not then the plants that made the entire trip worth it.
It all started with Mountainside Lavender, a family-run operation, founded by Bill and Lori Carlson. On the first day of my journey, I pointed to my map and randomly selected one farm from the long list I had compiled for research. I took Road 210 out to SW Hillsboro Highway where a winding country road led me to a sign welcoming me to Mountainside Lavender. When I pulled through the gate, I was immediately struck by the unforgettable beauty of hundreds of purple, blue, and silver bushes dancing in the wind. I followed the gravel road up to a grass parking lot, in awe of the lush fields that slope down to reveal stunning views of the snowcapped Mt. Hood. As I exited my car I took a moment to admire the carefully tended rows near the parking lot, and I wasn't the only one. The fields were full of fellow visitors taking pictures, picking bouquets, and dipping their heads to inhale the sweet, perfumed flowers.
After taking my fair share of pictures, I made my way towards a friendly looking barn on the crest of the hill. Pinterest-perfect chalkboard signs lined the way, advertising U-Pick prices, Lavender Lemonade, and other Mountainside Lavender's offerings. The barn really spoke for everything though, as it is as functional as it is whimsical. Chickens and alpaca nest on one side, while on the other, the Carlson's quaint shop sells everything from lavender shortbread, jam, and handcrafted cards, to distilled hydrosols and essential oils.
It's impossible to leave the Mountainside Lavender shop empty handed, as there is all manner of beautiful gifts and goodies. I came to Oregon for the distillation and essential oil production though, so I couldn't leave until I found out more. It was lucky for me that as the unusually hot summer day came to a pinnacle, the tourist traffic dropped off and I was able to borrow an hour of the Carlson's time. On a busy weekend day, when the farm is overflowing with visitors, I would not have had the opportunity to learn so much. I introduced myself to Bill Carlson first, a kind faced man sitting behind the register. Serendipitously, it turns out Bill and I went to the same high school in the Bay Area, and we had a laugh when he pulled out an old yearbook to prove it. As we talked, Bill introduced me to his wife, Lori and I got the chance to ask about their family farm, botanical theory, preferred lavender varieties and optimal distillation method.
The Carlsons kindly shared their story, explaining how they moved to Oregon to establish Mountainside Lavender several years ago. Their property, which boasts more than 2000 plants, represents more than 20 varieties of French and English Lavender, all of which are grown organically. The farm is comprised of two large fields, one lower one easily accessible to visitors and a second that extends above the Carlson family home and guest residence. In addition to growing and producing Lavender, maintaining an aquaponics greenhouse and running the farm, the Carlsons also rent out an idyllic guest house that overlooks the second field. The little guest residence is available for rental year round, and looks out onto long rows of Lavender varieties including Royal Velvet, Grosso, Edelweiss, Provence, and Hidcote Pink. Although the Carlson's grow countless varieties for picking and production, they prefer to distill only two types of Lavender to make their custom oils and hydrosols.
Bill has created his own metal distillation unit in order to processes all of Mountainside Lavender's essential oil and hydrosol products in-house. It is a large silver contraption, which stands proudly just outside the entrance to the barn. Another large chalkboard sign explains the process for visitors like me. I asked for more details and Bill kindly shared the specifics of his design. His still is made of stainless steel and has a copper lining, which works simultaneously to boil the plant matter and remove impurities from the essence. Copper is important for this process, as it removes any sulfides and ensures a final smooth, floral lavender essence. As the distillation finishes, a special separator near the end of the unit siphons the Lavender essential oil and hydrosol into two separate containers for bottling. Once they are labeled the bottles don't last long though, Mountainside's custom products fly off the shelves.
When I asked what makes Mountainside Lavender's essential oils and hydrosols uniquely special, Bill offered up his use of short distillations to maximize quality. He pointed out his finding that the rate of return on Lavender essence sharply diminishes after too many distillations. There can be no doubt that Bill and Lori know what they're doing either, as their hydrosols and essential oils are some of the most powerfully fragrant I've ever smelled. Mountainside Lavender's essential oil is completely free of camphor, very floral, light and lovely. At the same time, it is also powerfully grounding. It is a perfect essential oil to use as a sedative, as it has calming and relaxing elements for mental and emotional stress reduction. Mountainside Lavender's hydrosol is much the same. It would make a great sleepy time blend, and works well for spraying on a pillow, eye mask or skin. I can tell you from personal experience, the relaxation you feel from the hydrosol lasts for hours. I purchased a large bottle on my way out and gave myself a mist when I got back to my hotel. The subtle scent is unbelievably robust, and immediately pulls you out of work mode. It unplugs you and makes you almost blind to the daily stressors of life.
I took a moment to relax and process all that I had learned at Mountainside Lavender. I left with a wealth of knowledge and lots of recommendations for where to go next. Bill and Lori pointed me on to Robert Seidel, founder of the Essential Oil Company and other expert farmers in the region. I marked my map, and began planning for the next day, but only after taking a moment to savor the scent of my new lavender plants.
If you're interested in visiting Mountainside Lavender, you can find them at:
17805 SW Hillsboro Highway Hillsboro, OR 97123
Open Daily 9 am - 5 pm until August 5th
1 (503) 644-3465