When people think about what you can farm in the Hill Country, a couple of things might pop out at you.
Most well known are the vineyards, which have developed a deep tie within the area over the last few decades.
Orchards are another notable farming institution that produce fresh fruit and vegetables.
But what about a plant that is not native in the United States, let alone Texas, and yet has such an iconic scent.
That light and crisp flora scent that is wafting over from the corner of the Wimberley Square is lavender from one of Wimberley’s newest shops Cypress Creek Lavender.
Owned by Amber Busboom, Cypress Creek Lavender is a one stop shop for all things lavender.
While Busboom may not be the first to grow her own lavender here in Wimberley, she did step in to fill in the spot after another lavender shop had closed.
“Back in 2015, me and my friends would buy bug spray at Market Days from Wimberley Lavender Farms,” Busboom said. “That year, the owner of the farm decided to move to California… They had a for sale sign on the booth and didn’t have that much inventory left… So I said, ‘Teach me how to make the products,’ which they said ‘If you buy the booth and we will teach you the recipes.’ I said, ‘OK.’” Literally starting from scratch, Busboom learned all the different ways lavender can be used before eventually growing lavender at her farm along with her husband and kids. Originating from the Mediterranean region of Europe, people have been using the properties of lavender for over 2,500 years from medicinal usage, to bathing and even mummification.
“Probably most well known is soap,” Busboom said. “The French word lavare which derives from lavender meaning ‘to wash.’ For many years people have been using lavender to wash things whether it was using it when bathing or when they do laundry as used as an additive or a fragrance.”
Though lavender gardens have been found throughout the world, here in the Hill Country challenges are still prevalent. That starts with the ground soil.
“Lavender is a little more finicky,” Busboom said. “It can be susceptible to root diseases, so depending on where you are at in Wimberley, you can end up with that black clay soil, which isn’t ideal compared to the sandy soil, which is well draining.”
As Busboom explains, it is all about finding the right type of lavender plant that fits best to a person’s area.
“There are over 40 varieties of lavender,” Busboom said. “Trying to figure out which one is best for your soil and climate is probably the trickiest part to be honest.”
Then there are the external factors to consider as well, which for Busboom has been the local wildlife.
“The deer have been my nemesis for the past two years,” Busboom said laughingly. “They end up nibbling on the young plants so getting them started is tricky.”
As of now, the lavender produced on the farm is used in a variety of different ways.
“At our farm, we are growing two types of lavender,” Busboom said. “One of them is a culinary lavender. When people come into the store, if they are not familiar with lavender already, they are surprised to see it used in food items…]It’s generally seen in a sweet flavor profile, but you can use it as a savory… Depending on which lavender you are using, you might have one better suited for savory or one for sweet.”
“Another type of lavender we are growing is known as French lavender,” Busboom said. “To me, it’s prettier and smells better and it goes well with popuria” From there, Busboom uses the lavender in a variety of ways to create soaps, bath bombs, bug spray, dog products, lotion, lip balm and candles which continues the tradition of using lavender in a variety of ways for the past 2,500 years.
To learn more about Cypress Creek Lavender, visit their website at www.cypresscreeklavender. com.
The lavender farm for Cypress Creek Lavender.
