Hi. Iโm Monica. Washington’s Methow Valley has been a special place for our family since the 1990s when we began vacationing here at our family’s cabins along the Methow River. By the late 1990s, my parents relocated to the Valley.
My husband, Mark, and I, our children, and my siblings and their families have created so many wonderful memories here. Weโve celebrated birthdays, a 50th Anniversary, holidays, neighborhood parties, and dinners around Mom and Dad’s table. Most memorably, we celebrated a beautiful wedding along the river, just down from our lavender field. Even on regular evenings, when we sit and watch the deer forage or the quail scurry about with their many babies, it feels like something special is always going on here, thanks to the beauty of nature.
We have lived in different parts of the country and traveled all over the world, but the Methow Valley has always been our anchor. The place we call home. The place where weโve always come to reset, connect, and celebrate.
It is our great privilege to share some of the lavender-infused Methow Valley with you.
Our affinity for lavender farming began with my Grandma Sylvia, in Kingston, Washington, in the early 2000s. A self-taught gardener and natural green thumb,ย she successfully grew, harvested, and hand-processed lavender products to sell at farmerโs markets and to other farmers. Today, she is our chief consultant and has a pivotal role in all of our plant selection and farming methods. With my Grandmotherโs expertise and guidance, we hope to grow our business and share a piece of the Valley with you.
Four generations of our family โ from grandmother to the youngest toddlers โ have tended to our plants.
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Lavender & an MG?
We think it makes sense. Like our farm, it has a story. My Dad lovingly restored his 1953 MG to its current beauty many years ago, and this little treasure holds many endearing memories for our family. It has an impressive rรฉsumรฉ of car shows and parades, but its biggest accolade is when my Dad walked (or in this case, drove) my sister down the aisle on her wedding day. We think this sweet ride deserves to be in the limelight again, this time as part of Methow Valley Lavender, parked next to a field of purple lavender.
Monica and Mark Shallow, bouquets of lavender, and Dad's MG
Our vision is to help others experience the Methow Valley by embracing tranquility and elevating well-being through the timeless beauty and therapeutic essence of high-quality lavender products made in the Methow Valley.
Our Belief
We believe in cultivating moments of peace and serenity through the subtle sweetness of lavender.
Our Values
At Methow Valley Lavender, sustainability isn’t a finish lineโit’s an ongoing commitment to making thoughtful choices for our land, our community, and the future.
Sustainable Growing โย Lavender is naturally well suited to our dry climate, and we work with the land rather than against it. We use thoughtful farming practices that conserve water, protect soil health, and minimize our environmental impact wherever possible.
Stewardship โย Caring for the land is at the heart of what we do. We believe farming comes with a responsibility to nurture the soil, use resources thoughtfully, support the ecosystem around us, and leave this beautiful place healthier for generations to come.
Pollinator-Friendly Farming โ Our fields are alive with bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects โ and we want to keep it that way. We strive to create a healthy, welcoming habitat for the pollinators that are so important to our farm and the larger Methow Valley ecosystem.
Clean & Thoughtful Practices โ We believe what we put into the land matters just as much as what we harvest from it. From the way we grow our lavender to the materials we choose for our products and packaging, we make conscientious choices with the health of our customers, our farm, and our environment in mind.
Creativity & Curiosity โ We love the creative side of farming. Whether we’re experimenting with lavender varieties, developing a new product, or finding a better way to do something, curiosity and creativity are part of what keeps our work growing.
With reverence, we acknowledge that the Methow Valley is the traditional homeland of the original Methow (mษtxสทu) who have continuously lived here for more than 13,000 years. Our land also has a rich farming history โ as an apple orchard, then a hay field, and now a lavender field. Evidence of the orchard can still be seen in the wooden water troughs that line the hillside. Still today, many deer, turkeys, quail, and an occasional bear forage in the hills and drink from the river. To learn more, please visit the Methow Valley Interpretive Center.
Little by little, weโre getting closer to having an actual barn! And when I say little by little, I meanโฆ VERY little by little. ๐
This process has definitely taken longer than we anticipated. Between building plan revisions, water testing, literally TONS of dirt to move and reshape, building codes, mixed-use residential + commercial regulations, temporary electrical for the construction crew, and about a million other details we never knew existedโฆ itโs been quite the adventure!
But every time we see a little more progress, we get excited all over again. ๐
Weโre keeping our fingers crossed that soon all the pieces will finally come together and this barn weโve been dreaming about will become a reality.
One load of dirt, one permit, and one step at a time. ๐ฟ๐๐ก
๐ Itโs a beautiful day in the neighborhood! ๐
And today, our neighborhood happens to be Lake Stevens! ๐กโจ
Come say hi, check out our newest lavender goodies, and visit all of the wonderful neighboring businesses while youโre here!
Hereโs a little full-circle fun: back in 1994, we bought our very first home right here in Lake Stevensโjust a short walk from @dwellersdrinkery, where we are today. ๐ฅน
Who couldโve guessed all those years ago that weโd one day be back in the neighborhood, promoting our lavender farm in Carlton, WA? ๐๐ฟ
And because apparently the universe loves a good coincidenceโฆ two of our sons now work here at Dwellers! โค๏ธ
So much nostalgia. So many memories. And somehow, weโve come full circle.
So grateful for this group of hard, hard workers. It takes grit and determination to pull this off in extreme heat warnings and wildfire smoke. Friends and family have supported us through it all - harvesting, distilling, keeping us fed, teaching, encouraging. Feeling loved. ๐ฅฐ
Weโve reached the harvesting by moonlight stage (because weโre tired and want to get it done). It is quiet, peaceful, and quite beautiful. ๐๐
Week 3 at the Chelan Evening Farmers Market! Iโve had the best help each week. Today Iโm here with my niece. She did our product setup and itโs beautiful - she has such an artistic eye! But the best part is time with her and the memories weโre making today.
๐ฟ Wondering when itโs time to harvest your lavender?
For most varieties, the sweet spot is when about 25% of the flower buds have opened and the rest are still in bud. At this stage, the color is beautiful, the fragrance is strong, and the stems will dry exceptionally well.
Open post by methow_valley_lavender with ID 18107093192141786
