'Dream come true': Ontario couple moves to P.E.I. and sets up lavender farm

A couple from Ontario say they're living their dream, operating a lavender farm in Bonshaw, P.E.I.

Paul and Trish Tymstra had a small lavender operation in Sarnia, Ont.

Five years ago, they decided to relocate to P.E.I. and grow lavender here on the Island.

"We said, let's do it, let's just start this again because P.E.I. is beautiful," Paul said.

"The plants that we can buy will be hardy enough for this climate, let's get her going."

They call their farm Island Lavender Distillery and have added about 1,000 plants per year since they started four years ago.

"It's a plant that will grow steadily and it looks pretty, and of course the fragrance," he said.

"The blooms that you get off of it, it's just a really interesting plant."

It has taken four years to get the plants to the point where they could open up the farm to visitors.

They now have about 4,000 plants, with plans to add another 1,000 next year.

'Not booze'

Weather, Paul said, is one of the biggest challenges. 

"A few years ago it was quite cold and the plants ... were looking almost like they weren't going to come back," he said.

"But later on the season with the heat, most of them came back, there was maybe 20 per cent that didn't make it, but, I'm surprised, they made it and this year is a good harvest."

They take the plants and the cuttings and put them together in a copper distiller and take the essential oil out of it.

"We also distil it, hence Island Lavender Distillery," he said.

"The distillery is not booze as some people might think. Some people have showed up and actually said 'What do you make that's alcoholic?' Well it's not."

Open to visitors

Trish makes all of the lavender-based products, including soaps, lotions and a bug spray. 

"I love all the medicinal properties of it, the benefits," she said. "It tastes delicious with chocolate." 

They grow two varieties of English lavender, hidcote and munstead, and a French variety called phenomenal.

Four years after they started planting, the Tymstras opened the farm to visitors in July.

"Oh it's exciting, it's just beautiful to walk around and show them all the lavender," Trish said. "It's my dream come true."

Trish said they have already had visitors from around the world.

"With the busy world nowadays it's just nice to come here and relax, take the time out, just get refreshed," she said.

"People are so busy, they just don't take time and relax and a lavender field is a great way to do it."

Focus on lavender

When they moved to P.E.I., Paul also set up a flight school.  

Now he is selling the operation, so he can concentrate full time on lavender.

"I don't want to see it stop, I want to see Islanders still have a chance to learn flight training and pursue that passion," Paul said.

"So the intention is to sell it and carry on with them for a few months as the transition goes along."

There are other lavender farms on P.E.I., and Paul would like to see them someday work together on a lavender festival, something he's seen in other places across North America. 

"Personally I'd like to see more lavender farms," he said. 

"I'd like to see this Island have a lavender festival every year and welcome anybody who wants to start growing, that's good for all of us."

More P.E.I. news