Raindrops on Lavender

Julie Andrews may not have sung about rain drops on lavender in the Sound of Music, but yesterday I witnessed the most beautiful rain shower at the lavender farm, and I couldn't help thinking that rain is becoming one of my favorite things. I love the way the rain makes me slow down and notice the sound of the wind and drops falling from the sky. I love the way it leaves nature looking clean, peaceful, and green when the storm ends. And I love the way it smells after it rains.

We're getting ready to plant lavender out in the fields within the next week or two (thank goodness it's finally warming up!). We will have some lavender plants available for purchase after the planting is completed, so if you're interested in buying lavender plants, come down to the farm during Farm Day (June 13) or Lavender Days (June 27-28), or call the Visitors Center to place an order.

Say Love with Lavender for Mother's Day

We saw thousands of moms, mothers-to-be, and grandmothers at the Women's Expo, and many found their way to our booth by following the scent of lavender. Several expo attendees asked these types of questions and made these statements:

"I love lavender! A friend gave me some of your essential oil and I've been using it ever since."

"I've heard of Lavender Days and I've always wanted to go. When is it this year?"

"How do you use lavender? I love the smell but didn't know you can use it."

We talked with thousands of women about the Young Living Lavender Farm, Lavender Days, and of course lavender essential oil. We explained that lavender is an herb that we grow at our farm, where it is carefully cultivated, harvested, and distilled into pure, therapeutic-grade essential oil. In celebration of the lavender harvest, we host Lavender Days from June 27-28,
which is one of the most spectacular festivals in Utah! We also shared many ways to use lavender essential oil, such as in massage, in bath salts to soak in the tub, to nourish and soothe burned skin, and for overall well-being.

The sweetest young mother stopped by with her two small children and mentioned to her father-in-law that she had always wanted lavender essential oil. This father-in-law couldn't resist and purchased a bottle for her, much to her excitement! She was so grateful to own a bottle of lavender essential oil--it was the perfect Mother's Day gift.

Moms of all ages love lavender, so remember to show her love on Mother's Day with a gift that will pamper her throughout the year--lavender essential oil.

Women Want Lavender!

Do you know what women want? Tricia and I may not be experts, but we are women, and we have discovered that one of the things women want most in their lives is balance. And as our readers know, a little lavender goes a long way in providing stress relief and balance.

We're excited to share all the wonderful benefits of Young Living's lavender essential oil with thousands of women this weekend at the Utah Valley Women's Expo. This local expo is all about what women want--from beauty tips to health and wellness.

What do I love most about expos? Watching people follow the scent of lavender to our booth and then seeing the delight in their faces as they experience our fantastic lavender products! Tomorrow I'll share some of my favorite conversations about lavender essential oil and our lavender farm with you from the expo.

Blue Agave Giveaway Winners

I am so excited that so many people plan on making the Lavender Lemonade recipe I posted. Please let us know how it turns out! We got a few questions about peeling the lemons and limes. I believe at the lavender farm they use a juicer that doesn't like peels, and that is why the recipe asks for the lemons and limes to be peeled. But if you plan on juicing them at home by hand (like me) you don't need to worry about peeling them. Also, there were some questions about other recipes or cookbooks. Young Living does have two cookbooks out right now. They have very healthy, very good recipes in them. Hum, sounds like they might be a good giveaway in the future!

On to the important stuff...the winners! The randomly chosen winners are lucky numbers 14 and 16! Namastehon and Daphne please e-mail your shipping address to webinfo[at]youngliving.com and we'll send out your prize. Congratulations!

This Farm Has a Soul

The Cowboy Way of Life
Driving down the road to the lavender farm today, I looked across the vast fields, still covered with snow, and wondered what it would have felt like to be a farmer and rancher in this area of the west one hundred years ago. I have the "cowboy way of life" on my mind since spending the weekend in Arizona with Tricia, visiting a western town. We enjoyed spending time in the great outdoors, hearing stories of cowboy adventures, eating around a campfire, and listening to some good ol' country music. (I was raised in Texas so it was music to my ears!)

Gary Young and Jacob Young hanging out at the western village on the Young Living Lavender Farm.

Cowboy Supper Show at Lavender Days
If you're eager to spend time in the great outdoors witnessing the cowboy way of life, be sure to join us at Lavender Days for our Cowboy Supper Show! The pioneering and adventurous spirit of the Wild West is very much alive at the Young Living Lavender Farm, where Gary Young, a farmer and rancher himself, created a western village that will delight the entire family. What better place to experience the spirit of the west than on the very land that was once a successful cattle ranch known as the Starr Ranch.

A Brief History of the Young Living Lavender Farm
Gary Young purchased this farm, rich in fertile soil, in 1996. A farmer and rancher from Idaho, Gary very much appreciates the spirit of the West and has a love of the great outdoors. But even more importantly, he is a steward of the land, carefully tending to the soil, plants, and environment to provide pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils for the world. It would seem to many quite a coincidence that the very land he purchased for planting, harvesting, and distilling herbs had been used for the same purpose one hundred years earlier!

Back in 1871, Howard and Martha Coray, with their eight children, homesteaded this same area. Howard farmed and raised livestock on the land, while Martha grew herbs, distilled them, and made liniments and medicines for neighbors and visitors. Today, thousands of people enjoy the health benefits of Young Living essential oils that are produced at the Young Living Lavender Farms. As history shows, and as local historian Jeneil Deuel put it, this farm has a soul.

Here's to Health & Wellness!

Renae, Tricia, Tricia, and Suzette manning the lavender farm's booth at the Health and Wellness Expo last weekend.

How often do we take time to really focus on our health and wellness? From nutrition and exercise, to balance and harmony, it's important that we take time to evaluate where we are and where we want to be in each of these areas. Caring for our mind and body is key to living well.


To show support for all whose new year's resolutions include making changes for a healthier lifestyle, the Young Living Lavender Farm recently participated as one of several exhibitors at a local Health & Wellness Expo this past Saturday, where we shared information regarding our purpose, our farms, our premium essential oils, and our popular special events.


The soothing scent of lavender made its way through the expo center, which brought the crowds to our booth to learn more about this wonderful plant and the many benefits of therapeutic-grade essential oils. Many people had heard about our lavender farm, or had already visited and are planning to return for Lavender Days 2008 (June 27-28). People's faces lit up when they recalled their visits to the lavender farm. It was as if every visitor felt the same way about this beautiful farm--that this spot on earth has its own life, harmony, and joy.

One such visitor was a lovely British woman who stopped by our booth because she followed the scent of lavender to our expo! She had been attending the expo next door, when she smelled lavender and decided to see where her nose led her. As a young girl in England, she had been surrounded by the beauty and aroma of lavender plants, which she missed so much since moving to the U.S. Imagine her delight to find out that the largest lavender farm in North America for the distillation of essential oils is right here in Utah!

What is it about lavender that delights and soothes the soul? Lavender's many properties and benefits appeal to so many people throughout the world, and when they experience pure, potent Young Living lavender essential oil, they totally understand and know the difference between premium, therapeutic-grade quality and adulterated, synthetic essential oils.

Are there ways you plan to use lavender essential oil to renew yourself this year? Do you need more relaxation to achieve more harmony in your life?

Use the comment section to tell us about your favorite use of Young Living's lavender essential oil, or share a recipe using our gourmet lavender honey (which was our top-selling product at the expo!) by Saturday, February 2nd, and you may be one of 3 random winners who will receive our lavender bath salts!

(And remember, we can't award prizes to anonymous posters, so use your name or nickname so that we can identify you as a winner!).

Winter Health Tips

Comfort and Joy
The winter months should be a time of comfort and joy, but oftentimes due to germs and viruses, they're a time of sniffling and sneezing. If you're feeling under the weather, or just want to be prepared with a winter first-aid kit, check out Martha Stewart's Web site for some natural remedies to help you get through the cold and flu season. Type the key words "essential oils" and you'll have access to excellent articles, tips, and recipes.

Martha Stewart featured Young Living's Director of Science and Education, along with respected fashion designer Donna Karan (from Donna Karan New York or DKNY) on The Martha Stewart Show on May 24, 2007, where they discussed the benefits of essential oils, how they can be incorporated into daily activities and routines, and the health advantages essential oils provide. Her Web site and magazine, Body+Soul, are excellent resources.

The Young Living Lavender Farm's herbs and plants produce the highest-quality essential oils, which can be the healthiest way to restore and revitalize your health. Here's a great recipe for easing congestion and coughing: Add five to eight drops of Young Living eucalyptus essential oil to a small pot of near-boiling water, drape a towel over your head to create a tent, and breathe in the steam for three to five minutes. The deep breaths will fill your lungs with the wonderful scent of eucalyptus, while easing congestion and coughing.

Let It Snow
After our first big snowstorm last week, a friend mentioned that while driving down the mountain during the storm, she had been gripping the steering wheel so tightly that the following morning her neck muscles were extremely sore. Eucalyptus essential oil is also great for easing muscle tension in your neck:

1. Add one to two drops of Young Living eucalyptus essential oil in your palm
2. Add one to two drops of Young Living peppermint essential oil in your palm
3. Rub your palms together, then massage the back of your neck with upward strokes.

I love the smell of eucalyptus and peppermint blended together!

It's a Boo-tiful Time of Year!

From pretty princesses to playful pirates, the Young Living Lavender Farm was full of costumed characters at our first-ever Fall Festival, which took place on Saturday, October 27th. Trick-or-treaters were excited and delighted as they strolled through our Western Town getting plenty of treats (including toothbrushes donated by a local dentist, Dr. Trapnell).

Everyone had a boo-tiful time enjoying outdoor activities such as paddleboat rides, climbing the rock wall, pony rides, a wagon tour, and lawn games that included a giant Twister game, parachute game, and much more!

For those who stayed later in the evening, the campfires kept us warm while a local folk band, Brushfire, kept us well entertained. It was absolutely heartwarming to see so many families enjoying the many outdoor activities, delicious food, and entertainment.

What was your favorite thing to do at the Fall Festival on the Farm? Post a comment and let us know!

Fall Festival on the Farm

Fall at the Young Living Lavender Farm means cooler weather and a change of colors—blue, to be exact. You see, although the leaves may be changing from green to red, and Young Living still proudly waves its purple flag, the farm gets painted blue with Brigham Young University students. (Go Cougars!)

Each semester, a few extremely talented students from Dr. Doug Nelson’s Recreation Management class have the opportunity to plan an outdoor event at the Young Living Lavender Farm in Mona, Utah. Through this joint venture between BYU and Young Living, students learn about Young Living’s natural farming practices and its production of premium essential oils, as well as how to host an outdoor community event.


The students have planned a Fall Festival on the Farm, which will take place on Saturday, October 27, 2007. Click here for more details about this event. This fun-filled event will bring families together from around the community to enjoy outdoor activities and fabulous food.

Young Living’s Founder and President, Gary Young, encourages all to visit Young Living’s beautiful farms. “The Young Living Lavender Farm is a place where families can be strengthened through meaningful recreational time together, a place where individuals can step outside of their busy lives and reconnect with nature, and a place where families can learn about the wonderful gifts nature has provided us with—essential oils.”

St. Maries in September

Have you ever spent time at a place where you were surrounded by nature and were far away from the cares of the world? A place that begged you to slow down, relax, and enjoy the beauty? That's exactly how I felt on a recent visit to the Young Living Lavender Farm in St. Maries, Idaho. As soon as I arrived, I began to feel renewed. Evergreen forests shelter this small farm in northern Idaho, where lavender, melissa, and other herbs are grown for the production of therapeutic-grade essential oils.

St. Maries lavender essential oil and melissa essential oil are many people's favorites, so it was exciting to walk around the farm and see where these aromatic plants are grown. The land here is truly pure and pristine, which makes for perfect growing conditions.

Every year, a few Young Living distributors have the opportunity to spend time with Gary and Mary Young at the St. Maries Lavender Farm. Each year's event is exceptional! While here, distributors receive hands-on instruction on plants, distillation, and uses of essential oils, participate in cooking and gardening classes, and enjoy outdoor recreational activities such as rafting down the St. Joe River. What an amazing experience!

If you're ever in the area, the staff at the St. Maries Lavender Farm will give you a warm welcome and a grand tour. Marcie and Luis were such excellent hosts that it was hard to leave the farm and its splendid setting and calming influence. Fortunately, I have a bottle of both St. Maries lavender essential oil and melissa essential oil to remind me of that pristine valley and its peacefulness!