Martha O. Wilczynski, Owner Lavender Hill Farm, Niles, Michigan 

Hi, I'm Martha Otto Wilczynski.  With my husband Bill, I own and operate Lavender Hill Farm.  After years of living in different places, Bill and I bought my family's farm in 1998 and began the journey we are now on. In 2001 we planted our first 2000 lavender plants.  In subsequent years, we started distilling our lavender flowers to make our own fragrant lavender water and small quantities of essential oil.  We also joined with a beekeeper friend  to keep bees at our farm and produce our own deliciously fragrant lavender honey. And I started producing the soaps, balms, sachets and lotions that I now offer for sale in our shop and at the farmers markets I attend. 

I have incorporated our experience growing lavender into a powerpoint presentation titled "Growing Lavender in Michigan" that I have given to several Garden Clubs. As we learn and develop new techniques the presentation is continually updated.  Our farm is also a great place to have your garden club summer outing. 

During the lavender bloom time, from mid-June to mid-July we are open 6 days a week for U-pick lavender and to allow people to come out and wander through the field. Our farm shop is open at least one day a week from March through mid-December.

We hope you can come out to the the farm, visit our shop and experience the beautiful setting we enjoy every day.  Please check our event calendar on this website under the "our farm" pulldown menu to see our open hours. 

Education

Master of Landscape Architecture. Ball State University. 1996.

Master of Science, Botany & Plant Pathology. Michigan State University.  1987.

Bachelor of Science, Chemistry Concentratration in Biochemistry. University of Notre Dame. 1983.

Professional Experience

2001-Present:  Owner, Lavender Hill Farm, Niles, MI. Grows and processes several varieties of lavender.  Develops and produces products using lavender and sells at several farmers markets and bazaars.  Opened the Lavender Hill Shop, Fall 2008.

1993-2008, Project Manager, Wetland Biologist, JFNew & Associates, Walkerton, Indiana. Identified and delineated wetland areas using U.S. Army Corps of Engineers guidelines.  Prepared state and federal permit applications and wetland mitigation designs for various development projects.  Designed native landscaping and natural habitat areas as amenities for site development projects.  Prepared site erosion control plans required by state NPDES rules.

Recent Presentations:

2008: Niles Garden Club; Buchanan Garden Club; “Growing Lavender in Michigan”

2009: South Haven Garden Club; Elkhart Four Winds Garden Club; “Growing Lavender in Michigan”

We make a variety of fine lavender products on our farm.  Our products may be purchased at our farm work-shop or at the markets and shows we attend. Please see our events calendar for scheduled open hours, shows and markets.

Pictured below are some of our most popular items.

10-4-09 New Product Update:  We now have lavender-lemongrass shower gel! An 8 oz bottle is only $6.50. Get the great smell of our original lavender-lemongrass soap in a convenient gel!  If you love that smell as much as I do, you'll also want to try our lavender-lemongrass kitchen and bathroom spray. It's a counter and sink cleaner and air freshener in one!

Distilled Products:

	Lavender Essential Oil: Lavendin oil distilled from our own hybrid 'Super' lavendin flowers.    $7.50 per 6 ml dropper bottle
	Distilled Lavender Water: Fragrant water from distillation of  our own 'Super' lavendin flowers. $9 per 8 oz. spray bottle $4.50 per 2 oz spray bottle

Bath & Body Products:

	Lavender Honey Lip Balm: Very smooth and tasty! Contains: coconut oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil, beeswax,  glycerin, lavender essential oil.  $3.50 per 1/3 oz. tin
	Lovely Lavender Soap: Our original rich-lathering soap.  Contains: olive oil canola oil, coconut oil, essential oil of lavender, stearic acid (from palm oil). Other scents available include lavender-lemongrass, and other seasonal varieties. $3.75 per bar
	Lavender Shea Butter Lip Balm: Like our body balm in a tube!  Contains: coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, vitamin E, essential oil of lavender. $3 per 0.15 oz. tube
	Lavender Bath Tea: Great for aching muscles and soothing to the skin!  Contains: salts, oatmeal, glycerin, lavender flowers and essential oil of lavender. $3 per 2 bath tea bags.
	Lavender-Lemongrass  Body Balm: Softens and moisturizes the the whole body!  Contains: coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, vitamin E, essential oil of lavender. $5.50 per 1.7 oz. tin $9.50 per 3.5 oz. tin

 Sachets:

	Organza Lavender Sachet $1.50 small (approx. 1/3 cup) $3.00 medium (approx. 2/3 cup)
	Silk Lavender Sachets available seasonally or by order.
	Lavender-Filled Hankie Pillow This is something special for a dressing table - imagine your grandmother's pearl necklace resting on a lovely vintage lavender pillow... A unique gift, especially nice for wedding ring-bearer pillow! Made to order.
	Lavender Eye Pillow A very popular item for relaxation.  Contains flaxseed and lavender in just the right proportion for weight and scent. Dupioni silk case. $10 ea., various colors.
	Three Bags of Lavender A small, simple and durable sachet that may be used for many purposes: stuff in shoes, hang in closets & drawers, tie securely and use in the clothes dryer to scent your laundry.  $4.50 for bundle of 3 bags