Pelindaba Lavender is nestled in a quiet valley on San Juan Island. The vision of owner, Stephen Robins, the farm is a tourist destination, an Open-Space Preservation Project, and a business that is now the largest on-farm producer of handcrafted lavender products in the country.  Robins has done all this without sacrificing the values he set for the project.

"I had twenty acres that I wanted to turn into a place people could enjoy with the twist that it needed income to pay the property tax," said Robins.  A farm made the most sense and he came up with the criteria for what crop to grow. The crop needed to be different from anything else grown on the island so he wouldn't compete with island farmers. The crop must require little water, no fertilizer, and be economically viable on 20 acres. He decided on lavender.  "It is a desert plant that grows in poor soils and with no fertilizer. More things are done with lavender than any other plant over two thousand years," he added.

Pelindaba is a zulu word which means "Place of Great Gatherings." It was chosen to represent the great gathering of crops and the great gathering of people.  There is no charge to visit the Pelindaba Lavender Farm. Over the years it has grown into a destination and fulfilled Robins' vision of a place people can enjoy.  The lavender peaks into a mass of purple color in July and August, but the farm can be visited year-round. During your visit, stroll the fields, and during the summer you may have the opportunity to take a farm tour led by Robins.  There is a demonstration garden and you can visit the distillery and see exhibits all about lavender. Picnic facilities are available as well as plenty of parking.

Before you leave, make sure you stop in the Gatehouse Farm Store where you can purchase some of the more than 200 lavender products handcrafted at the farm. A historic island cottage was moved to the site and restored to serve as a store and visitors' center. Make sure you check out the organic lavender hydrosol. According to Robins, hydrosol is a floral water that remains after distilling the essential oil from the lavender. "It is a perfect household cleaner and disinfectant.  It doesn't stain and it is an oil solvent which dissolves grease.  You can also spray it in closets to get rid of spiders and ants," he said.

During the quiet season, although the facilities are closed, you can still visit the farm.  Walk through the fields, enjoy the artwork, and make sure you close the field gate behind you when you leave. During this time of year, there is a peaceful quiet without the summer visitors. The brown mounds of lavender plants hint at the purple display to come. For lavender products, the Friday Harbor Store is open year-round.

Pelindaba Lavender Farm Visitors' Center, May-September, daily, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., varies the rest of the year, 45 Hawthorne Ln., Friday Harbor, 360.378.4248

Friday Harbor Store, daily, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 150 First St., Friday Harbor Center, Friday Harbor, 866.819.1911