Rows of Beauty

See 2,400 plants in bloom at a massive Missouri lavender farm

Battlefield Lavender is serving up a little slice of France right in central Missouri. Picture row after row of manicured plants bursting with purple blossoms and soothing scents. Butterflies and bees dance across the 3-acre field while children giggle and bask in the tranquility of nature. Sure, it may not be Provence, but a visit to Katie and Jason Lockwood’s Centralia farm should still earn a spot on your summer bucket list.

Early in June, the 2,400 plants at Battlefield Lavender put on a showstopping performance. As you enter the massive lavender field, the rows look perfectly synchronized. But upon closer inspection, you’ll see the 16 varieties on display vary in color, size and fragrance.

“People love this crop so much,” says Katie. “There are not enough places of quiet solitude like this where people can just be in nature.”

The Lockwoods have been hobby farmers most of their lives. After moving to Centralia in 2010, they wanted to lay down some roots — figuratively and physically. By 2016 the couple and their three children, Joe, Nick and Shaelyn, started researching lavender as a crop option.

“It was a process of elimination,” Katie says. “We don’t have a big field. So, we needed a gourmet crop we could do on small acreage. We analyzed the soil, and it was a good match for lavender.”

They consulted experts at the University of Missouri Extension and in May 2018 established 324 tiny lavender plants. Despite a harsh winter and excessive spring rains, some of the varieties thrived and the family harvested their first crop in June 2019.

“We learned from those for two years,” Katie says. “By 2020, we were able to offer a small U-pick experience for customers. That was our son’s recommendation because he was tired of being in the field picking lavender.”

Little did they know that U-pick option would become the backbone of their farm’s business model. Today customers flock to the field each June to harvest their very own lavender bundles. This year, the lavender bloom is forecasted for May 31 to June 17. Customers receive snippers and a gauge to help them select around 100 stems for their $15 bundle.

Even though late-May through mid-June is when the flowers are at peak bloom, Katie and Jason have made Battlefield Lavender a year-round destination. Guests can sign up for tours of the farm to learn all about lavender. They can shop for plants and other lavender goodies such as artisanal soaps, candles, aromatherapy, lavender ice cream and more. Inside the barn, you can also see and smell thousands of bundles of lavender. During winter months, the Lockwoods distill lavender oil in the shop, and throughout the year, they offer classes and events that span wreath making, goat yoga and poetry discussion.

“We have found that your customers will tell you exactly what they want — and that’s a good thing,” Jason says. “If you lean in the direction of what the customer wants, things just naturally grow.”

Beyond the aesthetic and aromatherapy elements of lavender, Katie says she was surprised to learn about the many culinary aspects of the crop. “We knew you could use it in tea, but over time we learned about all the special fragrance notes and taste profiles in the different varieties,” she says. “Now so many coffee shops use lavender and, of course, lavender makes really great ice cream. I really cannot think of a crop as versatile as lavender — it’s beautiful for landscaping, you can keep it in your home dried forever, it can be used for bath and body products. It’s just wonderful in so many ways.”

The Lockwoods are focused on working with nature as they expand their farm. They consulted their cooperative, Consolidated Electric Cooperative, to install a 14-kilowatt solar grid-tie system on one of their buildings. It generates enough power to offset the electricity use of the business. They avoid using pesticides or herbicides on the farm, since lavender is naturally pest resistant. They also planted native wildflowers and grasses along the edges of the lavender field.

While many customers visit the Centralia farm, you can also find the Battlefield Lavender team at the Columbia Farmers Market on Saturdays. “That is a big part of our business,” Jason says. “We’re huge fans of the Columbia Farmers Market because they do a great job and we’re proud to be part of that. We also carry a number of our products from the other vendors in our store.”

The lavender farm has been the perfect creative outlet for Katie and Jason, who both work for the University of Missouri System’s IT department. They are honored to share their little slice of purple heaven with customers from across the state, country and world. They chose the name of their farm in honor of the nearby Centralia Battlefield Historical Site, which honors those who died on Sept. 27, 1864, during a battle between the Union army and Confederate guerrillas.

“Jason was a Marine and our fathers and grandfathers all served in wartime,” Katie says. “I think it’s important we don’t forget our history. What we want to do here is grow a sense of community. We wanted to make our farm a place where people can come to escape.”

To plan a visit to Battlefield Lavender, find more information or see event details, visit www.battlefieldlavender.com. Admission is free. It is one of 600 companies in the Buy Missouri initiative overseen by Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe. To find more Missouri-made products, visit www.BuyMissouri.net.