After working 32 years in the U.S. diplomatic corps, Tom and Madeline Wajda were looking to retire, but instead bought a farm in southern Pennsylvania and found a new business in the field of purple.
Lavender, that is — and lots of it. So much that the couple created a festival in 2001 to celebrate the crop. Back then, a few hundred people showed up, but this year's Pennsylvania Lavender Festival, which begins Friday, is expected to draw 3,000 visitors for lectures, tours and weed walks.
The Wajdas purchased Willow Pond Farm, just outside Gettysburg, in 1995. Although it began as an apple orchard, by the time the Wajdas came to it, the farm was 30 empty acres waiting to be filled. They chose to sow acres of fragrant lavender, more often identified with Provence, France, than Fairfield, Pa., because of its versatility.
"What I'd like is to have every variety of lavender in the world," said Tom Wajda, 69. "We have 110 varieties now, and I'm guessing there are 500 varieties of lavender."
Lavender has a long history of use in items including laundry detergents, insect repellents and aphrodisiacs. The Pilgrims are believed to have brought the plant to North America, but its uses date back to ancient Egypt and Arabia, where it was used for mummification and perfumes.
The Wajdas grow certified organic lavender, avoiding chemicals and choosing to handpick or till any weeds. In addition, they have developed three types of lavender at the farm.
"I love its fragrance, its color and its utility for crafting or decoration or eating," Wajda said.
The festival features workshops and a pick-your-own lavender section, as well as tours of the farm and gardens.
The farm's gardens house herbs other than lavender. Pansies, sage and thyme can all be found in the edible flowers garden, while elderberry, chamomile and wormwood are featured in the medicinal garden. The farm also features a silver "moon" garden, a shade garden, a butterfly garden and a 250-foot-long perennial border.
"We don't practice medicine here, but in the good old days, wormwood was used as a spring tonic to help treat parasites," said Wajda.
The pick-your-own section is a favorite among visitors, according to Wajda. Guests can select bunches of the organic certified lavender that Willow Pond Farm is known for and pay just $5 or less, depending on the amount.
For those interested in the variety of uses for the plants, the weed walks are a must. James A. Duke, the featured speaker at the festival, will be leading the walks daily. Duke is known for his book,"The Green Pharmacy," and is a former chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Medicinal Plant Laboratory.
"He tells us why a weed, which you see as an obnoxious beast, does what it does," said Wajda.
Duke will be joined by other participants and herbal lecturers, including Linda Guise, a floral designer who will be leading a workshop on lavender crafts.
Another popular workshop offers culinary tips and uses for lavender. Madeline Wajda, 68, hosts the workshop, where she creates dishes from the farm's various types of lavender and other herbs.
"Cooking with herbs is one of her great joys," said Wajda of his wife, who has studied cuisine in Paris and is known for her herbal jellies, vinegar and honey. "She's quite happy to be cooking at 9 at night when I'd rather be sleeping."
If you go
Pennsylvania Lavender Festival, Willow Pond Farm, 145 Tract Road, Fairfield, Pa. The festival is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 20. Admission is $5. Children age 12 and younger are free. For more information and a festival schedule, visit palavenderfestival.com.