Distilling Organically Grown Lavandin and Lavender in Oregon

Robert Seidel, President of The Essential Oil Company. Robert has been traveling the State of Oregon and setting up his distiller on farms throughout the state.

The first stop was a Lavender Festival at Mountainside Lavender in Scholls, Oregon. The distiller was set up to demonstrate to the many visitors during the festival how Lavender and Lavandin are distilled in order to extract the essential oil. Mountainside Lavender is a small family-run farm nestled in the hillside of Chehalem Mountain in the community of Scholls, Oregon. With over 1200 lavender plants representing 13 varieties of both French and English lavenders in several colors (white, pink and shades of purple). Mountainside Lavender offers U-pick during the season.

The next stop was Sandy, Oregon to the Art Farm of JD Higdon. JD has grown Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) from seed. His rows are filled with "population lavender". This type of growth is rich with genetic diversity, resulting in an exquisite essential oil. Aside from growing Lavender, JD is a metal artist and inventor, creating unusual and functional machinery from recycled components.

After leaving JD's Lavender Art Farm.. Robert headed south to Lavender Hill Farm, Oregon's largest Organic (uncertified) Lavender Estate, located in the mountains just north of the California border. Surrounded by National Forest, Lavender Hill Farm is a beautiful and peaceful setting for growing and distilling Lavandin. The thick rows of Lavandin are arranged on a gentle slope, the arrangement is designed for erosion control and water conservation. It's southern exposure insures the Lavandin will get full sunlight during the growing season. Organic growing techniques are employed.

After a few very hot days in southern Oregon, the Guerilla Distiller headed north to Hood River. Hood River Lavender is located in the shadow of Mt Hood, in the Hood River Valley. Known for its Apples, Peaches and Pears the valley is now home to a well groomed lavender farm, complete with Lavender products and U-pick. Robert distilled for a week on a hillside just above the Hood River.

We have limited quantities of our Lavandin oil to offer. Distilled by The Essential Oil Company from organically grown (uncertified) Oregon Lavandin. Sold in quantities of 16 ounces or less only.

Inquiries from those interested in having their own Trailer Distiller are welcome. Contact Robert Seidel at The Essential Oil Company 800-729-5912 or email Robert. . Each distiller is custom manufactured. Stationary distiller are also available.

Click on any image to enlarge it

Our distiller is set up and ready to go at Lavender Hill Farm

Lavender Hill is a beautiful farm in southern Oregon

All of the lavandin grown here is grown organically and harvested by hand

The rows of Lavandin are thick and attractively laid out on a gentle slope

Long stalks are cut with a hedge trimmer and gathered up by the hard working crew

A nice bundle of freshly cut Grosso Long stems and large flower heads

The lavandin is piled into a pickup truck to be taken to the distiller

Our Trailer Distiller is easily towed by a Ford Explorer

Mt Hood towers above the countryside of the Hood River Valley and Hood River Lavender

Our distiller set up is an occasionally shady spot. Quite welcome during the hot days of July

Hood River Lavender has an acre of Lavandin, nourished by the waters of the Hood River

The lavandin is arranged in neat rows with adequate distance between plants to permit exceptional growth.

Distilling Lavender at JD Higdon's Lavender Art Farm

JD is a metal artist and inventor

JD's Lavender is "population lavender", grown from seed with lots of genetic diversity

JD designed his Lavender harvester from recycled components

JD lines up his Lavender cutter

Chuck and JD get ready to cut a row

Each fifty foot row takes about 2 minutes to cut

Lavender flowers are fed into the cutter

The rows before and after cutting

The cut Lavender is brought to the distiller

Making certain the height of the cutting blade is properly set

It's quite a contraption and works like a charm

JD is proud of his efforts and the contraption he's designed.

Lavender flowers being loaded into the distiller

Once the Lavender flowers are inside the distiller, it must be packed tightly

After distillation the spent plant material is removed from the distiller

It's steamy work on a hot day, but worth it

The distiller holds about 200 pounds of raw material per batch

Empty and waiting to be reloaded

Prototype copper separator undergoing testing before production.

The Essencier is Now Available. This beautiful essential oil separator can be used with almost any distillation apparatus.