A day on the farm🪻
Running a lavender farm is no small feat—it’s hands-on, busy, and full of tasks that keep the farm running smoothly. For Mei and Tony at Waihi Lavender Farm, every day is a mix of hard work, planning, and making the most of what the land has to offer.
6:30 AM - Wake Up & Morning Excercise
The day starts early, with no time to waste. A quick stretch and a moment to gather their thoughts, and it’s time to get moving. Before tackling the day, we fit in a bit of exercise—whether it’s a brisk walk or some stretching. Keeping active is essential when the rest of the day involves being on our feet.
8:00 AM - Breakfast
Breakfast is simple, hearty, and straight from the farm. Recently we’ve been loving a bowl of overnight oats that we soak with fresh apple juice, we top it with our own lavender honey 🍯 —a small taste of the farm’s hard work and whatever fruit we have.
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Morning Work
The morning is all about preparation and upkeep. Mei spends this time getting the store and café ready, organizing the shelves with handmade lavender products and prepping for the day’s visitors.
Out in the fields, Tony focuses on maintenance. He’s mowing the lawns, tackling the weeds, and ensuring the lavender rows and surrounding grounds look their best for guests. Keeping a farm tidy is constant work, but it’s all worth it when visitors enjoy the view.
12:00 PM - Lunch
Lunchtime is a quick but satisfying break. Today’s meal? Gua bao (Taiwanese steamed buns filled with pork and vegetables) or a slice of pizza, cooked using wood from the farm’s own trees in the pizza oven.
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Afternoon Tasks
Afternoons are split between different priorities:
Foraging: The last few weeks, we are developing a new tea blend (watch this space!). Mei heads out to gather kawakawa, lemon balm, and chamomile, all of which are key ingredients for the farm’s herbal teas. She starts the teabag-making process back in the workshop, preparing fresh stock for the store.
Chopping Wood: Tony focuses on chopping wood to keep the pizza oven stocked and ready. He also takes another walk around the farm, keeping an eye out for more weeds or anything that needs attention.
It’s these small, daily jobs that keep everything running smoothly.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Wrapping Up
By late afternoon, it’s time to pack up. Tools are put away, the café and store are tidied, and the day’s work comes to an end.
The Reality of Farm Life
Being a lavender farmer isn’t about endless relaxing walks through fields—it’s early mornings, physical work, and constant care. But for us, every task, big or small, is rewarding. Whether it’s tending the plants, creating products, or sharing our space with visitors, the farm is a reflection of our hard work and dedication.
So, if you’re stopping by Waihi Lavender Farm, know that every bloom, product, and moment you enjoy is the result of a full day’s effort—and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
