At 73, Victoria Lavender owner Alan Mayfield thinks itB次元官网网址檚 finally time to retire. For years, his lavender farm has been open to the public, but as of September 2, it will be closed permanently to the public.
B次元官网网址淔unnily enough, I find it more difficult to work 12-hour days, seven days a week,B次元官网网址� said Mayfield. B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 had a vacation in 10 years.B次元官网网址�
To prepare, he is selling his plants and products at 25 per cent off starting on Flavour Trail Weekend (Fri. Aug. 18 at 10 a.m.). He is even removing his sign on the highway as well as his website.
However, Victoria Lavender wonB次元官网网址檛 go away entirely. The shop on Beacon Ave. will remain open and the employees retained. Lavender is a perennial crop, with most processing done in the summer, so as long as his lavender grows, the shop will stay open.
As for the popular goat yoga program that has run for the past two summers, Mayfield has not made a final decision (thatB次元官网网址檚 for next March or April) but he will continue it B次元官网网址渋f the demand is there.B次元官网网址�
The farm raised 26 kids this year, and he said they have all now been committed or sold. The females are going to dairy herds due to the demand for goat milk and cheese, and the males will be farm pets on small family farms. He will keep his other animals on the farm as well, since they are his pets.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been one of the most amazing things of my life. If youB次元官网网址檇 have asked me two years ago, B次元官网网址楧o I really think that otherwise sane people would come out to my farm, roll around in the goat paddock doing yoga and pay for the honour of doing that,B次元官网网址� I would have said you were nuts, but itB次元官网网址檚 been amazingly popular.B次元官网网址�
He said heB次元官网网址檚 had 2,500 participants over the past two years, with mainly younger participants but a few in their 80s.
Though the store is opening and he will still employ seasonal workers to harvest lavender, he says he intends to have a proper retirement and spend less time working in the field himself because his stamina is not what it used to be.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 natural, it comes with age. I have to respect that. Sometimes my body says, B次元官网网址榃hy the hell are you doing this, Alan?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
His vacation plans are not yet set in stone, but he does want to visit his family in England, whom he has not seen in 10 years.
Mayfield said he is grateful for the communityB次元官网网址檚 support, which has B次元官网网址渕ade this experience for me one of the most rewarding ones of my life.B次元官网网址� He will spend more time along the Sidney seafront with his dogs.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not going to disappear, thatB次元官网网址檚 for sure.B次元官网网址�
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
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