FAQs
Just a few things we would like to share...
We want to share with you as much information as possible about our lavender and honey. We feel the more you know, the better you can determine if visiting or making a purchase from Petite Provence Farm is right for you.
If you have a question we haven't answered here, please feel free to contact us.
How many lavender plants make up your lavender farm?
We are quite small from a lavender farming perspective; we began with about 200 plants in 2021 making up our lavender labyrinth. We are constantly on the lookout for new varieties that can survive our sometimes-harsh Indiana winters, while also being desirable by friends like you.
After losing nearly 50% of our labyrinth plants in the winter of 2022, we set up another larger test plot of 156 plants in the spring of 2023. So far, they are doing just fine, and the bees love it!
How many bees do you have at Petite Provence Farm?
We launched our first hive in 2019 with just 3,000 bees. After losing bees to "spring splitting" behavior in 2020 and 2021, we were finally able to catch our bees and expand to 3 full hives and a nuc (a starter colony) in the 2023 season. We now have 5 hives and estimate that Petite Provence Farm is home to over 250,000 bees.
Do you sell your lavender or honey?
Sales of our lavender and honey are limited to appearances at the local farmer's market (June/July lavender), roadside honey and dried lavender product sales (July-November), and corporate/custom gift sales year round.
What lavender products do you sell?
Beginning in late May or early June (weather depending), we begin to harvest and sell fresh lavender. At that time bundles of lavender suitable for weddings, bouquets, wreath making, drying, or crafting are readily available. This includes traditional x intermedia varieties (also called lavandin) with purple blooms like Sensational and Phenomenal, or the lessor known/rare white lavender (Edelweiss). We also harvest a limited crop of angustifolia lavender (Munstead & Big Time Blue) for culinary purposes.
Late June and into November holiday shopping season, the plants blooming season ends. During this "quiet" time for the lavender, we offer only dried lavender items (sachets, aromatherapy pods), home/personal care items (linen and pet spritzers) and specialty cooking and tea blends.
Why is pesticide free handling and care of bees so important to you at Petite Provence Farm?
While there are established handling procedures for pesticide use in and around bee hives we believe the use of natural options is always better for the bees, the environment and for those of us who love honey. We NEVER use pesticides in the care and tending of our bees. We also monitor local agricultural application taking steps to protect our hives against field application/drift.
What is creamed honey and how is it different from "regular" or raw honey?
Creamed honey is “regular” raw honey that has been put through an extra process of warming and gentle mixing with crystalized honey. If you have never tasted creamed honey, you are in for a treat! It is NOT just honey that has been whipped, rather the crystalline structure is altered in a naturally occurring way that makes the honey smooth, velvety and luscious. You have to try it to believe it!
Does honey need refrigeration (Aka: does it spoil?)
The low moisture content of honey in combination with its natural antimicrobial properties keep bacteria from surviving. Honey should always be stored in an airtight glass container, kept away from heat sources. Honey may naturally darken or crystalize over time. Crystalized honey can be heated on low heat to return to liquid form.
How is your honey collected and processed?
Our honey is harvested using safe, bee friendly practices. The honey is strained with a commercial kitchen grade stainless steel screen to remove wax bits left behind from the honeycomb, but our honey is NEVER filtered to remove the naturally beneficial pollens. The honey is then immediately packed into sterilized glass jars with 2-part lids and labeled. All processing occurs in a carefully cleaned and prepared space. It should be noted that pursuant to Indiana Code 16-42-5-29, the product is home processed and the production area has not been inspected by the State Department of Health. We encourage everyone to visit our "Honey Bin", where we process and sell our honey from.
Am I hurting the bees by buying/taking their honey?
No you are not. A healthy hive needs approx. 40lbs. of honey to keep them fed through the cold days of winter. During the summer, our bees will store nearly 100lbs of honey. We always leave more than 40lbs for our bees each winter, just to be safe. We also monitor our bees through the early spring and supplement their food supply if necessary to make sure they get off to a great start for summer. We want healthy hives and happy bees – we only harvest enough to signal to the bees there is room in their hive so they should stay living with us on the farm, and not fly off to start a new hive.
Why do you grow lavender with your bees?
Just like all of us, bees benefit from having a diverse and healthy eco system around them. At Petite Provence Farm, our lavender labyrinth located near the bees, helps to support them over the summer season. It also offers people (including us!) a space to meditate, pray and refocus – something we think we could all use a bit more of. The bees love the lavender, and so do we. The relaxation benefits of essential oils from lavender are well documented, so the pairing of bees and lavender just seems fitting!
Why is your honey more expensive then what I can find in the store?
Honey found in stores is sourced from a wide variety of suppliers, using a wide variety of commercial bee keeping practices. We encourage you to support your local beekeepers, and purchase honey from any local provider who adheres to safe beekeeping practices.
Practices from unknown brands, unless expressly shared, may involve the use of pesticides or commercial handling of the bees, which is extremely stressful to them. Some items in the market are flavored or cleverly labeled “honey food”, which is NOT honey, but a combination of sweeteners, thickeners and food coloring! Honey sold commercially is frequently packaged in plastic which is not only detrimental to the long-term storage of honey, but whose containers are bad for our planet.
Petite Provence Farm only sells honey in glass containers which can be reused, repurposed or recycled.
Petite Provence Farm also offers a limited supply of honey from three individual harvests - this makes us different. The bees collect different pollens from different plants throughout the summer. By collecting and keeping each harvest separate, you are able to see, taste and benefit from the different floral/fauna effects on the honey. Our carefully tended to bees are cared for with all sales proceeds put back into the operation to care for the bees, hives, and the eco-system that supports them. Visiting the farm to purchase honey and lavender will allow you to see and learn all about our bees and lavender. When you purchase from Petite Provence Farm, you are investing in local bee health, and the ecosystems that sustain them.