Thursday, April 19, 2007

Viva Livada Lavanda

back in croatia after a great trip home for passover, and a ridiculous paganello (placing 10 with slovenia's frizmi, very good finish), i spent the weekend planting lavender with ogi livada and marina piria, two great friends. (i was their best man!!) lots of people came out to the small farm, about 45 minutes from the city. we feasted and bonfired at night and camped. beautiful. here's a shot at sunset, when it was finally cool out.
they have even more land though not much capital or mechanization (yet). they are interested in other crops but at this point are starting with one thing.

when harvest comes, they can either sell to a wholesaler (fixed price), to a small business who make lavender products (a little bit more volatile pricing but higher on the high side), or they could start making products themselves and potentially sell at a market (quite a risky venture at this point). this is ogi, toiling away:


there was plenty of water, beer, wine. extraordinary quantities of domestic food, like beans and sausages, bread and cheese, quantities of peanuts you wouldn't believe. now back in zagreb i have planted a few lavender plants on my balcony of the apartment, so i have my own to tend to. picked up some cilantro, basil and mint, and going to grow those too. almost grill season too...