When Kimberly and George Reeves first moved to Alloway in Salem County, they had no plans to start a lavender farm. While not from a farming background, the desire to have a home in the country and be in nature inspired their move from Glassboro.
Before Field & Flock Lavender Farm took shape, the couple boarded horses and cut and baled hay on their 19 acres. When nearby farms started offering cut flowers, the couple considered getting into lavender. “We began researching lavender and realized it has value beyond being a pretty plant,” George says. “You can dry it, distill it, and make multiple products.” Today, their land is abloom each summer with purple and blue plants.
“OUR FARM IS MORE THAN WHAT WE GROW. IT’S A PLACE WHERE NATURE, ART, AND PURPOSE COME TOGETHER.”
Florals, Fragrance, and Flavor
There are over 450 varieties of lavender. Through trial and error, the Reeveses learned which ones are hardier for their soil, such as Royal Velvet and SuperBlue, and invested in those. They planted their lavender in 2021 and opened their field and farm store to the public in 2022.
Lavender is a perennial shrub that blooms from mid-spring to late summer, depending on the variety. During harvest, the couple distills fresh lavender from varieties like Provence and Phenomenal to extract essential oil and hydrosol, a less commonly known but versatile product.
Hydrosol is the bulk of the distillation process, filling gallons compared to a small beaker for the essential oil. “Even though it’s all coming from the same plant, hydro-sol and essential oil smell completely different,” George explains. The oil has the herbaceous scent that lavender is known for, but hydrosol smells like honey.
Through research and conversations with a master distiller, George learned to use both to create various products, including soaps, bug spray, and lip balm, occasionally incorporating mint grown on the farm.
While all lavender is edible, English varieties are better suited for culinary use because they provide a sweet, floral flavor that lends well in the kitchen.
Field & Flock Lavender Farm’s culinary lavender has forged connections with local makers and chefs. Blueplate in Mullica Hill created a dining experience around their culinary lavender, Auburn Road Vineyards offers two infused wines, Lavender Vermouth & Elderberry Vermouth, and Inclusion Coffee Shop in Elmer uses Field & Flock’s lavender in a simple syrup.
Salem County jam maker Lisa White of That’s My Jam sources the Reeveses’ lavender in her bestselling Blueberry Lavender Jam. “You can taste the care Kim and George pour into their lavender—both the flavor and aroma are so vibrant, unlike anything you’d find on a warehouse shelf,” White says. She is collaborating with the couple on flavors like Lavender Lemon Curd and Lavender Peach Jam.
“YOU CAN TASTE THE CARE KIM AND GEORGE POUR INTO THEIR LAVENDER— BOTH THE FLAVOR AND AROMA ARE SO VIBRANT, UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU’D FIND ON A WAREHOUSE SHELF.”
‘Living the Dream’
The “Flock” in Field & Flock Lavender Farm is a tribute to Kim’s lifelong love of animals, which inspires the couple to care for a variety of pets, including an emu, horses, and goats. Their lovely dogs, Isabella and Tucker, run playfully through the lavender fields and greet visitors when they arrive.
When visitors comment that they’re living the dream, the couple laughs because they “never sit down,” as the two of them run everything. For questions about growing lavender, they offer consultation and workshops for hobbyists and aspiring lavender farmers. “We developed these classes so people can learn from our experiences and mistakes,” George says.
Field & Flock Lavender Farm is open on weekends starting in May. During the week, they host events such as Date Nights, Sunsets on the Farm, and multiple workshops. The farm store reopens in November for the holidays. “We are passionate about what we do,” says Kim. “The lavender, events, and connecting with visitors is part of the whole experience.”
Cultivation, Creativity, and Conservation
Not too far from Field & Flock Lavender Farm, you’ll find Copper Knoll Farms in Pittsgrove, headed by Kimberly and Chester English. Copper Knoll Farms is unique because the farm is 90% wooded, meaning it has significant wildlife. Instead of seeing this as a challenge, the family has embraced it.
Chester’s farming background inspired mushroom propagation in their woods, using the remaining fields for elderberries and lavender. “We decided to grow lavender because our farm’s deer population wouldn’t eat it,” Kimberly says. The farm focuses on specialty crops. “We are fascinated by the combination of lavender, elderberries, and log-grown mushrooms and how they can be used for wellness and flavor.”
Kimberly notes that every product they create is intentional: “We do everything in-house: growing, drying, processing, and eco-friendly packaging.” Among their bestselling items are elderberry and lavender syrups and teas. The syrups are sold as DIY kits, so each customer is part of the creation process.
Their culinary lavender is best represented in colorful blends such as their Mediterranean Lavender Spice, which is excellent on seafood, eggs, and pizza; or Melissa, a white lavender whose buds are used for their peppery notes and savory taste that complements vegetables and meat. Other lavender offerings include granola, teas, and wellness items like room sprays, wax melts, and sachets.
While growing and creating products is a focus, Copper Knoll Farms incorporates art and wildlife conservation into its agricultural foundation. Before owning the farm, Kimberly was a tenured art teacher interested in biology. She has nurtured this passion by offering opportunities for artists to connect on the farm through events like plein air painting, music nights, and workshops.
On the conservation side, Copper Knoll Farms is home to purple martins and bluebirds. On summer evenings, bluebirds dive near the lavender fields, eating bugs that can harm the plants. This harmonious relationship inspired the family to nurture the native species and create a Bluebird trail through the farm. “Kimberly and Chester have proved that if you are willing to work to create a safe environment, native birds will flourish, and each will benefit from the other,” says Bernadine Visalli, president of the New Jersey Bluebird Society.
Copper Knoll Farms invites people to slow down when visiting their lavender fields. “Our farm is more than what we grow,” Kimberly adds. “It’s a place where nature, art, and purpose come together.”
FIELD & FLOCK LAVENDER FARM
264 Williams Road, Woodstown
856.769.4406
fieldandflocklavenderfarm.com
COPPER KNOLL FARMS
Farm Store: 457 Willow Grove Road, Pittsgrove
856.521.1256
copperknollfarms.com
