Little Farmhouse Lavender invites the community to join their fun-filled Third Annual Lavender Festival, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, July 18, located at 368 Pike Hill Road in Plymouth. The cost is $10 admission and includes a free lavender bunch. Kids under 12 are free. (Submitted photo)

PLYMOUTH — Little Farmhouse Lavender invites the community to join their fun-filled third annual Lavender Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, July 18, at 368 Pike Hill Road in Plymouth.

The festival will be packed with vendors, music, food, crafts, photography and fun. The cost is $10 admission and includes a free lavender bunch. Kids under 12 are free.

Little Farmhouse Lavender owners Sally and John O’Malley are excited to share their lavender farm and hope all local residents can make it out to enjoy the event.

Ticket registration can be found at their website at www.littlefarmhouselavender.com. After registering, keep the email receipt, as this is the ticket needed for entry.

Sally said there will be about 30 vendors with a variety of products from maple syrup to jewelry, to baked goods, jams, lavender, and more.

Food trucks available will include Kandi’s Kitchen, Brake from the Grind, Taco Kat, Rose Rig, Sweet Confections by Dawn, and more.

The Future Farmers of America Sherburne Chapter has been busily making fresh flower bouquets to sell during the event and there will be free face painting for the kids.

Local musician Joe Carney will provide live music and Get Lost with Ash photography will offer one free photo per family and mini sessions in the lavender field.

“Since we’ve added bees to our property, we’ll also have Master Beekeeper Lindsay join us to talk all about bees,” Sally added. “Plus, we’ll have a bee display.”

Celebrating their third lavender event, the O’Malley’s look back to 2016, when they first purchased the Plymouth property in hopes to grow some lavender.

Sally explained although she and John had retired, they still wanted to start a lavender farm because they love to garden and while visiting a lavender farm on the east end of Long Island, where they are from, they took an interest in it.

They did some research, looked at many farms and locations, and then fell in love with the property in Plymouth.

She noted there were challenges along the way, but they dug in and learned about the many varieties of lavender that would easily grow in the local area.

She said lavender isn’t particular about the soil it’s grown in and doesn’t need fertilizer, although they’re not an organic farm, they do use organic practices, with no chemicals.

Over the years, the O’Malley’s have increased the size of their lavender field to approximately 6,000 plants with 12 different varieties that include Melissa, Royal Velvet, Hidcote, Grosso, Melissa Lilac, Phenomenal, Purple Bouquet, Twickel Purple, Folgate, Edlewise, Buena Vista, and Elegance.

“Everything lavender,” Sally quipped. “It’s all lavender, lavender and more lavender.”

Sally said their lavender is used in making small batches of their products such as hand lotions, pillow mists, and soaps.

“We’ve also added about 25 beehives to our field to support our growing business,” she said. “We take pride in our farm, bees, and products.”

Recently they built a 24×30 farm store on the property where they will hold a variety of classes in the fall. She said she has some ideas for a jewelry making class and future sip and paint classes.

The store will also showcase their handmade products, offering visitors a variety of lavender goods to purchase. The hours are still to be determined.

When the O’Malleys aren’t on the farm, they are participating in markets all over New York, including Chenango County’s Saturday in the Park with Chobani.

For more Little Farmhouse Lavender information, visit their website at www.littlefarmhouselavender.com or their facebook page at Little Farmhouse Lavender.