With the lavender bloom season peaking in late June and early July, Treva Hoffman says she just steps outside and is swept away by the fragrance— “calming, restorative, and soothing to the senses” as one of her company mottos describes the power of lavender. Treva and her husband Phil breathe and live lavender every day of the year at Hoffman Hills Lavender Farm in The Dalles, Oregon. Hoffman Hills supplies many of Organic Style’s lavender products –wreaths, bunches, and bouquets!

We asked Treva a few questions about what it’s like to live in lavender land:

Lavender is a sun-loving Mediterranean perennial that evokes a Tuscan villa or the Provence chateau. How does it do for you in Oregon? Our farm is in the Columbia River Gorge, wind-surfing heaven, and the sunny dry summer, with most days in the 80s at least, is perfect for lavender.

What got you into lavender growing in the first place? I was a licensed esthetician, giving people organic facials, and first-hand learned the value of lavender oil. I thought: Why not grow lavender? We put our first plants in the ground in 2002 and now have more than 2,000 of them.

Can people visit your farm? We welcome visitors. Just call to schedule a tour or make reservations at our guest cottage, filled with lavender: (541) 296-4433.

What’s your favorite thing to do with lavender? I love the wreaths. Hang one in the kitchen or bathroom and it will last for several years. As the buds dry & break off, you can gather them and make a fragrant potpourri, or fill a sachet to add fragrance to your sock drawer or place under your pillow for a soothing scent.

Check out our Lavender Collection to see Hoffman Hills’ Summer Lavender Wreath and other products from their farm, as well as lavender roses, caramels and gift baskets sourced from other partner farms.

Ceago’s Camp Masut 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon shares all the attributes of California’s other renowned cabernets—and then some. It has a beautiful black cherry and spice aroma, wonderful undertones of vanilla and cinnamon, and a velvety, well-balanced finish. Savor a few sips and we think you may start to sense its terroir (the qualities endowed by the location) as well as the special growing method that went into the growing of the grapes. The grapes used were 100% estate-grown in Ceago’s biodynamic vineyard. Biodynamic practices, founded by Rudolf Steiner, make use of compost, manure, herbal preparations, and crop rotation to keep soil at its best. No synthetic chemicals are permitted. Only 1,200 cases of the wine were produced. Ceago is a family-run business owned by Jim Fetzer, a pioneer of organic growing in California’s wine country.

Click here to get the Camp Masut 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon.

To learn more about Ceago, read this article in the Spring issue of Organic Magazine.

Hear what people are saying about Organic Style and what we have been up to recently.

•	Listen to a podcast of Organic Style’s CEO Gerald Prolman discussing the beauty and significance of organic flowers—and all things organic.
•	How green was your dad on his day? The word spread about giving an earth-friendly Father’s Day gift—such as a bonsai wine grape or patio-size olive tree.
•	Want to get greener this summer? Here are easy ways—from choosing an eco-friendly sunscreen to making your air conditioner more efficient.

The organization Women for Women International is dedicated to helping women in war-torn countries rebuild their lives. At Organic Style we’re grateful to support them by offering their beautiful handcrafted products, including scarves, aprons, necklaces, bracelets, and other one-of-a-kind items. Women for Women International has distributed nearly $42 million to female war survivors in nine countries around the world (DR Congo, Afghanistan, Rwanda and elsewhere). It also pairs survivors with sponsors who contribute $27 each month and correspond with regular letters. Their stories are truly heart-warming and filled with hope.

Click here to see our line of handmade products from Women for Women International.

To read more about Women for Women International, see the Winter issue of Organic Style Magazine and the organization’s web site.