Lavender production growing across Ontario
Cathy Kirk presides over her beautiful purple fields near Teeswater, Ont.
“It’s absolutely gorgeous, and if I had to compare raising pigs to growing lavender, I’m going to pick lavender every time,” said Kirk.
Kirk and her husband moved to this rolling property from Cambridge in 2012. They knew they wanted to grow something and decided their sandy soil best suited lavender.
“It’s deer and rabbit resistant, which we have a lot of out here, it’s a perennial so we don’t have to plant it every year, and it’s a super versatile plant. It can be used for so many different things,” she said.
Along with tours of her purple fields, Kirk uses the lavender’s natural essential oils to make soaps, lotions, balms, bug spray and even deodorant, which she sells from her on-farm gift shop.
“Lavender farms in Ontario range in size from people with 100 plants to the largest, which I think is pushing 50,000. Huge difference. Everyone has a different emphasis on what they want to use it for and why they do it,” said Kirk.
‘Essentially Lavender’ has 7,000 lavender plants, making them a small to medium-sized operation in the quickly growing industry.
“When we first joined the Ontario Lavender Association, I think there were 33 members. Now, we’re between 80 and 90 members. It is definitely a growing industry in Ontario,” Kirk added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.