Coldstream couple opens new lavender farm to the public
A couple in Coldstream just opened their new lavender farm to the public.
Benita and Egon Warkentin moved from Fort Langley in 2021 to start a new farming life, something neither had done before. Benita left her employment cleaning houses and Egon brought his handyman business with him, which he continues to do on the side.
“It’s probably similar to a lot of people, the pandemic made us think about where we were in our lives and what we wanted to do with it,” Benita said. “It was time to have a change. It was a healthy choice moving from the lower mainland to the Okanagan where everyone spends more time outdoors.”
The couple had visited lavender farms in Washington over the years and Benita liked “the sanctuary of them.” They moved to the three-acre property in Coldstream and the following spring planted an acre of lavender and started Sunrise Lavender Farm.
The new farmers have been learning about the trade as they go.
“We had to figure out the irrigation and take soil samples to be tested to make sure we had good draining soil,” Benita said. “I had to learn about watering, lavender is a desert plant and can’t be watered every day. My husband has been making oil using a distiller.”
Over the winter, the pair were “thrown a huge curve-ball,” that cost them roughly 500 plants.
“The constant melting and freezing that happened killed all of one variety of lavender,” Benita said. “We went without frost cloth but have heard good and bad things about using it, like it can create rot under it, so we’re not sure if we’ll use it. Climate change doesn’t do farmers any favours.”
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The couple replaced the lost plants but the field doesn’t look exactly like they’d hoped it would this summer.
As of July 1, the public can access the farm on weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to pick lavender, take photos in the fields and learn about distilling. There is a little shop onsite for customers to buy lavender products and Benita makes lavender infused lemonade for refreshments.
“I have a love of growing and sharing that joy with others,” Benita said. “We are still learning and welcome feedback from people of what we can change, offer or do to make it better.”
Sunrise Lavender Farm is located at 5770 Learmouth Road . Visits to the farm must be booked in advance through the company website here.
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