Wait you work on a Lavender Farm?

For the past two summers now I have spent the majority of my time in one of my favorite places. I intern at Destiny Hill Farm; a lavender/ cut flower farm outside of Pittsburgh. The farm offers 137 acres of lavender, cut flowers, and berries. Also hosting events in the barn like corporate picnics and weddings makes my internship even more exciting. Most people look at me weird when I say I work at a lavender farm so here is my best explanation...

Giving the new pony a bath!

My job title as well as everyone else's on the farm is "whatever needs done". Usually during the week I am busy managing flowers in the field or hoop house, harvesting lavender, or our favorite... pulling weeds.The barn and stable barn are cleaned every week before the event which is usually held on
Saturdays. The farm staff helps set up and prepare for the events. Sometimes I help with flowers for weddings or events as part of the farm's floral design team. During the weekends my job title changes again and I along with the other farm staff valet cars for events. The farm is also home to four horses and a new pony which usually stays in the surrounding fields while we use their homes for events. This year we also raised about 30 baby chicks which are now free range in the field.

Every Thursday I get to take some of the flowers we grow to the Main Street Farmers Market. This has been a huge learning experience for me this year. Finding a niche and a way to market to those in one's specific community can be a challenge. It also takes planning at the farm to make sure I don't use flowers that are needed for an upcoming event. I enjoy working the farmers market, connecting with the local community and making flower bouquets. Gentleman your ladies love flowers. Find more information about the farmers market here and come visit me!

Farmers Market flowers!

The farm holds a lavender festival annually in July. This is a truly awesome event that has lavender everything! At the festival members of the community can make lavender wands, pick their own lavender, attend workshops,  shop different venders, and even enjoy lavender in their meal. Being completely into horticulture and now obsessed with lavender I get the job of manning the lavender plants we have for sale and educating the buyers with everything they need to know about the plant. It's more complicated then you might think; there isn't just one type of lavender. We have 15 different varieties on the farm and sold five options at the festival. People have questions and I do my best to answer them! This year I even got to teach a workshop along side the owner of the farm about lavender. I was very excited to have a packed tent full of interested people both times I gave the workshop.

Well I hope this gives you a little more insight to my summer internship aka the best job ever! Not only is it never a boring day on the farm but I usually go home smelling like lavender. So the next time someone asks me about my summer internship I think I can tell them in a nut shell I am a farm manager, part of the floral design team, farmers market representative, lavender festival speaker, and event valet.

Learn more about the farm at destinyhill.com