A Hobby Farm Turned Small Business
Just outside of Byrdstown, TN is a delightful lavender farm and education center. Karl and Sue Lado have turned their small family farm into a prosperous agritourism site open to the public.
The Lados welcome school field trips, homeschool groups, families, and clubs to visit the farm and learn about lavender production and uses, honey bee cultivation, and local flora and fauna.
When you arrive at the farm, Karl or Sue will greet you at the gate and tell you which parking area to use. If you have pets, they will direct you to the barn where there is shade and water.
The Animals on the Farm
After stepping out of your vehicle, you’ll immediately meet a few of the farm’s residents. Gordy the cow and Winston the pot-bellied pig are the unofficial welcoming committee, and they love to be nosy and see who has arrived for a visit.
Part of the fun of visiting K & S Lavender Farm is interacting with the animals. In addition to Gordy the cow and the two chubby pigs, there are chickens, goats, and horses. All the animals at K&S Farm are rescues. When local agents learn about an endangered or abandoned farm animal, they call Sue, and her big heart doesn’t refuse any creature.
Local Honey Production at K&S Farm
Depending on the time of year you visit, Sue might show you their active bee apiary. The bees at K&S farm are bred to produce sweet, clear honey.
Sue is a wealth of knowledge about establishing a bee colony, maintaining your hives, and harvesting your own honey. If you are lucky, there will be a capped cell ready so you can see how the honey is extracted.
Sue can also tell you the best plants to grow in your bee garden. She knows which plants produce the most pollen and which varieties attract the bees. There is a beautiful bee garden planted at K&S farms that you can wander through and learn about the different plants.
The lavender at K&S Farm offers a feast for the eyes. Everywhere you look, hues of purple dot the landscape. The many varieties differ in height, color, and plant structure.
Low growing, woody Munstead lavender is quite fragrant and the stems are often dried and used in sachets and potpourri. These petite plants grow well in rock gardens and require little care.
The tall spikes of Lavendula lavender are the most recognized lavender plant and primarily what is sold at big box stores for home gardening. This spiky purple plant offers a culinary herb used to make tea, pastries, flavored drinks, and spice mixes to rub on meats.
The Lados grow several different types of lavender. They cultivate Phenomenal for their craft lavender, which is prized for its sweet, long-lasting smell. This French variety is an intermedia that is hardy in most zones of the United States. Not only is it cold hardy, but it can withstand extreme heat and drought conditions as well.
English lavender is better for culinary uses, and the Lados grow two varieties. Both Big Time Blue and Elegance are known for their long flower bunches, soothing scent, and hardy growth patterns. English lavender is hardy in most of the United States and grows well in well drained, rocky soil. These varieties are used for cooking and seasoning, as well as essential oils.
Other plants on the property include edible fruits and vegetables, a rose garden, and a butterfly garden. Sue’s knowledge of the different plants is informative for school children and adults.
The Antique Glass Greenhouse
One of the highlights of the farm is the greenhouse. This gorgeous building is constructed of antique glass windows in their original wooden frames. Several fragile plants are kept inside the greenhouse as well as newly propagated seedlings waiting to be planted outdoors.
Free Samples and Recipe Ideas
Of course a visit to the lavender farm wouldn’t be complete with a sample of how the aromatic blooms can be used. Sue served us some delicious lavender sugar cookies and lavender lemonade. These refreshing treats are just a few of the things that can be prepared with lavender.
Kaleb and Kasey- the Famous Clydesdales
The Lado’s massive Clydesdales, Kaleb and Kasey are intimidating to look at, but these gentle souls love visitors. Under supervision, guests of the farm can pet these beautiful horses. Kaleb and Kasey aren’t just farm residents though. They earn their living pulling the antique sleds and wagons Karl and Sue have amassed.
These carefully restored carriages are used for on-site weddings, festivals, and special events. The Lados have even pulled a sled through New York City for the Macy’s Day Parade. Locally, Santa arrives in Byrdstown every year on a horse-drawn wagon pulled by Kaleb and Kasey.
Be Sure to Visit the Gift Shop
Next to the carriage house is a small gift shop where Sue and Karl sell some of their lavender soaps, teas, and lotions. Many other handmade items and decorative elements fill the shelves and everything is reasonably priced. Of course, don’t forget to purchase a Gordy the Cow shirt or ornament.
contact Information
To schedule a tour of the farm contact:
Sue Lado
8554 Faix Rd
Byrdstown, TN 38549
(860)- 608-1536
[…] Christmas on the Square transforms the small town into a Victorian village and a parade brings Santa in on a wagon drawn by Kaleb and Kasey, the Clydesdales from K & S Lavender Farm. […]