Iowa Lavender owners Jason and Jessica Mortvedt opened up their farm Sunday evening for a special “u-pick” event open to the public.
The three-hour-long event invited locals out to pick from their gardens, explore a petting zoo and learn more about lavender and its uses.
“We love having people out on the farm,” Jason Mortvedt said. “Any time we get the chance to host events, we do.”
The pair first started growing lavender in 2020 after seeing plants in Wisconsin Dells. According to Jessica Mortvedt, “if it can grow there, it will grow here.”
“I’ve always loved everything lavender,” Jessica Mortvedt said. “I discovered that it would grow in the area, and from there we discovered all the products you can make from it.”
A gift shop run by the Mortvedts sells everything from lavender-infused lemonade to skincare products, another thing that draws locals to the farm.
“Not everybody knows that some plants are edible,” the Mortvedts saids. “We love sharing what we do and showing what lavender does.”
A petting zoo attached to the garden offers locals a chance to interact with the animals that roam the property.
“Not everybody gets to see farm animals up close,” the Mordtvedts said. “We love giving people the opportunity to interact with them.”
Iowa Lavender hosts other u-pick events throughout the summer. More information can be found on their website or on Facebook.
