Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie Schuhwerck.
Hi Marie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We started with the simple idea of trying to figure out a way to earn a living from our few acres of land. We planted the Lavender not knowing if it would survive a Minnesota winter and our efforts were rewarded! They have not only survived, but thrived and we were able to make our first harvest in 2021 of almost 15,000 stems! This year we added over 180 plants and have 12 different cultivars. We invite people to the farm for numerous events to be able to learn about and enjoy the lavender as much as we do. We have come to love Lavender and all the things it can do, not to mention all of the amazing people we have met along this journey. We look forward to all the paths this adventure will take us on as we continue to grow and expand!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The first winter we experimented with covering some plants and not covering other plants. We lost about half of the plants that were not covered, which taught us that we need to cover the plants each winter! But even with covering the plants, we had a brutal winter a few years ago with freezing rain and high winds, which caused another large loss of plants. We replaced the plants we lost, and have had successful winters since.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Lavender Barnyard?
I own a working lavender farm, the only I know of in Minnesota that is open to the public. I have over 400 lavender plants, with 12 different cultivars. I have a number of events that people come to on the farm, including picnics and yoga in the lavender, Kidsploration, photo sessions, a venue for small ceremonies and more, as well as a store on-site that I sell a number of my own lavender products in. I also take my products to different farmer’s markets around the metro. I am extremely proud of a business that I have built from the ground up, learning a lot along the way and becoming a person other’s seek out to be educated on lavender from. I have created a very calm and tranquil space for people to come to and be able to experience lavender in.
Any big plans?
I will be expanding my product development as well as becoming a venue for micro ceremonies on the farm. I want to continue to enjoy the ride and see where this adventure takes me!
Pricing:
- $5 per person for a Farm Tour
- $10 per person for U-pick
- Yoga varies
- Micro-ceremonies vary
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lavenderbarnyard.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_lavender_barnyard
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lavenderbarnyard
