Nebraska Passport Bonus Stop Our Lavender Co. Begins Search for Cure

Stephanie Anderson founded Our Lavender Co. in 2019 with her sister Nicole Palser and her mother Peggy Palser.

After the birth of her second child, Anderson suffered from severe post-natal depression. She always wanted to start a garden and with the help of her family, they converted an old trailer into a greenhouse.

“That little trailer, growing plants and putting my hands in the soil was where I found healing,” Anderson said. “And God used farming – this thing I was so desperate to escape in western Nebraska – to save my life.”

When Anderson was visiting Minneapolis a few years ago, her mother-in-law told her about an article about a lavender farm in Sequim, Washington. After doing more research on lavender, Anderson, her mother and her sister decided to fly to Sequim and learn about lavender farming.

“It was fun working together and just getting together with my girls and dreaming,” said Peggy Palser.

The farm – located on a 5-acre property of a generational corn farm – features 18 varieties of lavender and is home to 7,500 lavender plants.

They offer tours of the farm with knowledgeable lavender guides who explain the care and harvesting of the plant, as well as all the uses of lavender. During peak season, people can pick their own lavender and garden flowers to make bouquets.

They also have a small shop with lavender products and gifts, most of which are made right on the farm. From personal care products to soaps to gardening tools, there is something for everyone. Products can also be shipped nationwide through their online store at ourlavenderco.com.

So far they have had visitors from all 50 states and nine countries and are excited about the future.

“We haven’t had a lavender festival yet, but it’s something we want to have on the farm,” Peggy Palser said.

They also hope to raise awareness about lavender cultivation in Nebraska and shed more light on agricultural research on the plant.

“There are a lot of people who make lavender products for personal care. And there are people who run lavender farms, sort of as a hobby,” Anderson said. “Our goal is to fill that agricultural gap by demonstrating the scalability of lavender cultivation and connecting lavender farmers with lavender users.”

This month is the best time to see the field in full bloom. Summer hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; visits at other times are available by reservation. They also partner with Harvest Hosts to give RV campers the opportunity to stay overnight on the farm.

“The story of how we started a farm during the darkest time of my life, that connection of hope in a dark place, is something that touches a lot of people,” Anderson said. “And knowing that one in seven women has experienced that, yet I still felt so alone, is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”

After Anderson started the lavender farm, Nicole Palser encouraged her to share her story with visitors and on her website.

“It wasn’t until I started telling the story of how it all began that we really started to gain a lot of traction as a company,” Anderson said. “But that reverberation of hope from a dark place, beauty from the ashes – that inspires. It’s inspiring, and I feel like dreams inspire dreams. Hope inspires hope.”