If you’re looking to relax during these crazy times, the Quiet Hills Lavender Farm may be just what the doctor ordered. The 35-acre Palmerton property that used to be a site for religious retreats was purchased by Chris and Sheri Anthony five years ago.

“It was my wife’s idea to grow lavender here,” said Anthony, who is co-owner and manager of the Country Harvest store in Palmerton.

They planted a test plot to evaluate the growing rate on the Southern face of their hillside. Anthony’s research said that lavender needs eight to ten hours of sun a day and good drainage, so the selected area was his choice for the optimum location. Since the flower has a low germination rate and tends to crossbreed, he planted cuttings instead of seeds.

“We have a lot of clay in our soil so we planted the flowers in raised beds. This also helps with drainage and cuts down on root fungus,” he explained.

Lavender is a Mediterranean plant that is plentiful in the soils of Sicily. Anthony said that in the climate zone of Northeast Pennsylvania, the plants turn a silvery color in the winter. They keep their foliage and begin to turn green in March and April. Flowers bloom from the end of June until the end of July. Over the winter, the plants are cultivated and propagated indoors.

“It began as a hobby, but now we have an emerging business,” Anthony said. “We harvest the flowers in July. Some we hang upside down for drying, and this process preserves the oil.”

Besides dried flowers, a gift shop on site sells sachets and soaps and other lavender ingredient products.

Lavender oil has anti-bacterial properties and it’s often added to cleaning supplies. It may be best known for creating a sense of calmness and is often used to spray on pillows and bed sheets to induce a good night’s sleep.

Lavender is also known to have anti-inflammatory qualities and has been used to promote respiratory health and treat anxiety, insomnia and depression.

On the Quiet Hills Farm, the plants have had no insect enemies, and during the summer months, the 2-acre lavender field of some 4,000 plants attracts hundreds of honey and bumblebees.

Growing lavender on the farm, however, has not been without problems.

“The plants do not like ice storms,” Anthony said. “When snow turns to sleet and then to rain is when plants can die. Three years ago we lost half of our plants, so we’re still learning how to not have that happen again.”

The farm grows both English and French lavender. The English variety is smaller in size, but is better at tolerating cold winters. A hybrid of English and Portuguese plants tolerates hot weather better than the cold. English lavender has a sweet scent while the French flower smells cleaner and is more popular, especially because the bright purple flowers are “more showier” according to Anthony.

Other than some social media marketing from their daughter, Lydia, Anthony admits that the farm is just beginning to become known around the area and has no competition for business with other lavender farms as far away as Pottsville and Lansdale.

“We are planning to expand our business and add another 1,500 plants, so we might wholesale to retailers,” he said. “We also think our farm with its flowers and beautiful views of the countryside would be a great place for weddings and even yoga events in the fields.”

The Anthonys find time from their busy workweek to enjoy the farm as much as they can.

“I love to be outside,” said Sheri, who says she’s the dreamer and her husband is the doer. “To see the blue sky, the green fields, the birds and the butterflies, I find it serene and a great escape from our hectic lives.”

Her husband is a former chemistry teacher at the Carbon Career & Technical Institute and is now a Penn State Cooperative certified master gardener. He describes the hard work he does on the farm “a labor of love” and believes it is therapeutic.

“It’s so relaxing to me and quite soothing. My blood pressure drops as soon as I begin to work the fields.”

The beautiful view we have is quite humbling,” he said. “I feel very fortunate every day I’m here.”

Quiet Hills Lavender Farm is open on Saturdays and Sundays. Visitors should check their Facebook page as their opening and closing hours are flexible. The farm is also open on weekdays by appointment only.