Nebraska Passport bonus stop Our Lavender Co. embrace the search for healing

Stephanie Anderson, along with her sister Nicole Palser and her mother Peggy Palser, created Our Lavender Co. in 2019.

After the birth of her second child, Anderson suffered from severe postpartum depression. She had always wanted to start a garden, and with the help of her family, they converted an old trailer into a greenhouse.

“This little trailer, growing plants and putting my hands in the ground was where I found healing,” Anderson said. “And God used farming — this thing I was so desperate to escape from in western Nebraska — to save my life.”

A few years ago, when Anderson was visiting Minneapolis, her mother-in-law told her about an article about a lavender farm in Sequim, Washington. After doing more research on lavender, Anderson and her mother and sister decided to fly to Sequim and learn about growing lavender.

“It was fun to collaborate or get together with my girls and dream,” Peggy Palser said.

The farm – which sits on 5 acres of their multi-generational corn farm – boasts 18 varieties of lavender and is home to 7,500 lavender plants.

They offer tours of the farm with knowledgeable lavender guides who explain about the care and harvesting of the plant and all the uses of lavender. During peak season, people can pick their own lavender and garden flowers to create bouquets.

They also have a small shop with lavender products and gifts, most of which are made directly from the farm. From personal care products to soaps to gardening tools, there’s something for everyone. Products can also be shipped nationwide through the online store at ourlavenderco.com.

So far, they’ve visited people from all 50 states and nine countries, and they’re excited about the future.

“We haven’t had a lavender festival yet, but this is something we want to have at the farm,” Peggy Palser said.

They also hope to raise awareness about growing lavender in Nebraska and shed more light on agricultural research on the plant.

“There are a lot of people making lavender products for self-care. And there are people growing, almost hobby lavender farms,” Anderson said. “Our goal is to bridge this agricultural gap by showing the scalability of lavender cultivation and connecting lavender growers with lavender users.”

This month is the best time to see the field in full bloom. Their summer hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; visiting at other times is possible with a reservation. They also partner with Harvest Hosts to offer RVers the opportunity to stay overnight at the farm.

“The story of how I started a farm out of the darkest season of my life, that bond of hope in a dark place, is something that resonates with a lot of people,” Anderson said. “And to know that one in seven women experienced this, but still felt so alone, that’s something I don’t wish on anyone.”

After Anderson started the lavender farm, Nicole Palser encouraged her to share her story with visitors and on their website.

“It wasn’t until I started sharing the story of where it all started that we started to actually see a lot of traction as a business,” Anderson said. “But that resonance of hope from a dark place, beauty from ashes – inspires. It’s inspiring and I feel like dreams inspire dreams. Hope inspires hope.”