Conversations with Lindsey Lochner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Lochner

Hi Lindsey , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hello my name is Lindsey Lochner and my husband Clem and I decided to start our lavender farm as soon as we got back to the U.S. and found farmland! My husband retired from the U.S. Military and we had been living overseas for the last 5 years (2 in South Korea and 3 in Stuttgart, Germany). We started planning while living abroad. We have four children ages 23 years to 8 years old. Our farming adventures are very much a family affair, as everyone pitches in and helps.
We wanted to start farming as we have always had a passion for being outdoors and working in the soil. With my husband retiring from the military and us being able to be stable in one location, we wanted to give back to our community and provide a place where, not only our family, but many families could come and enjoy “the farm life.”
We moved back to the states in the Spring of 2021 and rented until we moved to the farm in January of 2022. We have actually never lived in this area before until buying the farm, but feel in love with North Carolina from previous assignments where we got stationed at Fort Bragg.
Our main crop on the farm is growing the lavender plants. We currently have 12 varieties and around 1,000 plants. There are hundreds of lavender varieties to choose from. It depends on your region and which varieties grow the best for your zone. It also matters what you plan to use the lavender for, which will depend on what variety to grow. We have Spanish, English, and French as they are known by their common names growing on our farm. The end goal is to be able to grow enough lavender to harvest the plants and distill the oil. We would love to have classes and workshops on distillation and farming in general.
We also have honeybee, sheep, and chicken.
We have a store located in the front of our 1910 farmhouse where we sell our dried lavender bundles, and other goods such as lotion, soaps, bath salts, tea towels, candles, honey, etc. The store is open during our u-pick sessions and also by appointment or you can buy online.
Most people don’t realize how even when the lavender stems are dried it is extremely aromatic. Dried lavender bundles will last a good 12 months or longer if not put in direct sunlight. It is a natural perfume for your house. As the buds fall off the plant you can take the buds and put them in a sachet bag and stick in your linen drawers as it keeps the moths away from your sweaters, or I put one in my car and it smells my car up. When you are left with nothing but the stems you can take the bundle and throw it in your firepit and it will naturally repel the mosquitoes as you sit around your fire pit. We are big on utilizing every bit of the plant and no part goes to waste.
Lavender is also deer and rabbit resistant. It is a perennial plant meaning it comes back every year. It only blooms once though. Depending on the variety it will be in bloom anywhere from early through late summer.
We would like people to know that we schedule private tea parties and events such as bridal or baby showers, or school field trips. We plan on starting our public high tea’s in the Spring and will be open for u-pick lavender starting in April.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are always challenges starting a new business. It takes a lot of marketing and putting yourself out there when in reality I would like to be outside gardening more than on the computer marketing.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I tell people first and foremost we are farmers, second we host the fancy tea parties everyone loves. I pay a lot of attention to detail and cleanliness and I think people appreciate that.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
We get common questions on the farm that I will address:
1. We live here and I home school the kids so we are home a lot. Unless you have made an appointment with me or see online that we are open the farm is closed.
2. We decided on our name, “Lazy Fox Lavender Farm” because it is cute and playful. Moore County, the county our farm is in, use to be known for fox hunting. Although they do not do it anymore we wanted to keep with the history. Also everyone knows a fox is not “lazy” except when it’s in a lavender field because lavender has been proven to be a relaxant.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lazyfoxlavenderfarm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lazyfoxlavenderfarm/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lazyfoxlavenderfarm/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LazyFoxLavenderFarm