Local: Enjoyed the Maine Lavender Festival

Every year in July, the Lavender Hill Tree Farm in Berwick, Maine hosts a Lavender Festival, so we checked it out this year!  The fields were amazing to see and there were things like a sheep shearing demonstration, lavender-flavored food items, lots of vendors, and a great view of nearby Mount Agamenticus!  You'll also learn what the topographical term "monadnock" means in terms of the mountain. 

(Photo: Pausing for a picture in front of a lavender field)

HERE'S MY VIDEO SWEEP OF THE LAVENDER FIELDS!

(Video: My video sweep of one of the fields at the Lavender festival, Berwick, ME July 19, 2025. Credit: R.G.)  VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_0YgQyKLLI

ABOUT LAVENDER HILL FARM - At Lavender Hill Farm, they grow three main crops: Christmas trees, lavender, and sheep. Their actions are guided by sustainable and regenerative principles. This keeps them focused on the real meaning of their work - to steward this land for our children and future generations. They are a small family farm  open to visitors a few times throughout the year. 

(Photo: The LavYrinth. Credit: Lavender Hill Farm)

There is also a professional, licensed massage therapist who has an office on the farm!   Sounds like something else to try: https://www.lh-farm.com/massage 

Learn more about what they do, when to visit, and more about their story by further exploring this website: https://www.lh-farm.com/ 

LABYRINTH OF LAVENDER -   "The LavYrinth” is a a triple spiral labyrinth of Lavender on a hill on the farm. The lavender maze was planted in early 2025, and it consists of a set of pathways that wind through each other, lined with lavender plants.

 

LAVENDER FLAVORED FOOD - There was Lavender Iced Tea, Lemonade and Iced Coffee. There was also Lavender flavored ice cream available. 

(Picture: A giant field of lavender at the back of the farm.) 

 

SHEEP SHEARING - The farm actively maintains and cares for sheep, so there was a sheep shearing exhibition. Those poor sheep must be sweltering in the summer before being sheared. 

The amount of wool the shearer took off one sheep while we were there, was just amazing!  

ABOUT THE FARMERS - Both James and Silas grew up on and around farms in Newmarket, NH. James comes from a family that moved to rural Newmarket to get out of the city. His grandparents bought a homestead, raised West Highland White Terriers, and this is where he and his brothers were raised in their own family home. Silas comes from a 30+ year family history of Christmas tree farming, and extended family of Vermont dairy farmers. His parents moved to Newmarket, NH and began planting Christmas trees in their yard for Choose-and-Cut operations and began Archambault Tree Farm. Silas and his siblings have many memories in tree plantations.

WHAT IS A MONADNOCK? - In order to know what Mount Agamenticus is, you need to know what a "monadnock" means. A monadnock (/məˈnædnɒk/ mə-NAD-nok) is an isolated rock hill, knob, ridge, or small mountain that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain.

(Photo: View from the summit of Mount Agamenticus in July from the Lavender Hill Farm! Credit: R.G.)

WHAT AND WHERE IS MOUNT AGAMENTICUS? - According to Wikipedia, Mount Agamenticus is a 692 ft (211 meter) high monadnock in the town of York, Maine. The area surrounding the summit is a park reservation which provides habitat for wildlife and a venue for recreation. The greater Agamenticus region covers nearly 30,000 acres (12,000 ha) in the southern Maine towns of Eliot, Ogunquit, South Berwick, Wells and York. Mount Agamenticus was historically a noted landmark for sailors. Mount Agamenticus is also affectionately known by older locals as "Big A," the nickname of a ski slope that once operated on its northeast flank, remnants of which can be seen both near the summit and along the trails.

VENDORS GALORE! There were a lot of vendors set up on one pathway. All were local to southern Maine or southern New Hampshire, and there was some beautiful stuff!

We bought a bunch of beautiful cards from Sheepjunkie LLC ~ commercially-spun, hand-spun and art yarns, needle felted items, notecards, dryer balls, and more! https://www.facebook.com/Sheepjunkie

And I enjoyed talking with the owner of Grey Wolf Studios LLC ~ who sells handmade jewelry, crystals, smudging items, evil eye /protection items & more! - holistic and metaphysical products. She's sensitive, and has an amazing array of things. She had smudge bundles, which I need for paranormal investigations, so I bought some. She's fascinating to talk with and you should check out her store on line. https://www.facebook.com/greywolfstudiosllc

HERE'S A FULL LIST OF LOCAL VENDORS

WITH LINKS TO THEIR WEBSITES (Click name)

Lavender Hill Farm ~ lavender inspired jellies, syrup, sachets, essential oil, room mist, dried lavender bouquets and festival merchandise! LOTS of cool stuff here!!

Kaylie Reads ~ handmade unique pressed floral bookmarks and floral art

Found Sisters Creations ~ magnetic frame art, bookmarks, greeting cards, framed paintings, canvas pieces, and more!

Brisingamen Botanicals ~ small batch tea blends

Crafty Badass Stitch ~ embroidered items, kits, accessories and notions

Wonderfully Whimsical Cakes ~ cupcakes, cake tins, sugar cookies, brownies, cake sandwiches

Lilli Elle Handmade Jewelry ~ jewelry

Rustic Roots Crafts & Cocktails ~ cocktail infusion kits, resin kitchen and barwares, natural art (primarily framed shell and floral pieces)

Tatnic Woods Pottery ~ pottery

Daily Botanicals ~ therapy rice bags, herbal eye pillows, dream pillows, boo boo bags, solid lotion, bath and body products

The Panicked Possum ~ stickers, keychains, magnets, bags, and shirts

Print3D & Paper ~ small creatures, fidget toys and other objects, as well as layered paper designs, bookmarks and cards

The Pumpkin Pouch ~ crocheted and sewn plushies, clay charms, felted items

philputneyprints ~ photography

Made by Jenn ~ pottery

whee made! ~ hand-painted laser-cut wood earrings and home decor, handmade felted wool and handmade leather goods

This & That Felting ~ felted animals and felted pictures

Naples Crafted ~ handmade jewelry, mini resin jars, homemade soaps and chapstick, miniature canvas artwork

BoHAWK Creations & King's Castle Crafters ~ handmade crafts, paintings & prints on canvas, painted bottles, signs, crochet animals

Golden Swan Sweets ~ homemade baked goods

S&E Dairy Goats LLC ~ natural goat milk soaps and skin care

Wildcrafted LLC  ~ sustainably grown and sourced crafts including floral infused oils, skin care products, and sea sponges

Berwick Flower Studio ~ floral art

Mellifera Modern ~ cyanotype art specializing in clothing and accessories including jackets, shirts, overalls, bandanas, patches & more!

New Moon ~ women’s resale boutique

Makes U Wonder ~ wool needle felted paintings, pin cushions, 3D gnomes

Beaded by Chloe ~ beaded bracelets and rings - young entrepreneur!

Pretty Nest ~ candles, small bags, scrunchies