7 Creative Ways to Use Fresh Lavender from Your Garden

Looking for creative ways to use fresh lavender from your garden? Whether you are looking for culinary uses or for crafting, let’s explore the possibilities together. This year, I’ve got thirteen lavender plants in my garden. The purple fragrant buds are ready to harvest and I am looking forward to using each part of this bountiful harvest. Let me take you along with what we try!

7 Creative Ways to Use Fresh Lavender from Your Garden

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1. Make a Wreath

The first creative way to use fresh lavender is to make a wreath. Using lavender bunches, place them around a grapevine wreath, or a wire wreath for a scented summery decor piece that you can add to your home. The best part is, a lavender wreath with look and smell great when its fresh and also when it dries.

We made one and hung it on our blanket ladder.

2. Try Lavender Infused Honey

Gently warm a cup of raw honey on the low heat over the stove. Once the honey is thin and liquified, add a handful of clean, fresh, lavender buds. Stir together then remove from the pan from the heat and let sit at room temp for 1-2 days. Then warm up the honey again and strain out the lavender pieces using a sieve. Fill a jar with the lavender infused honey and store in the fridge for up to 6 months.

You can use this honey in tea, over biscuits, stirred into yogurt, drizzled over fruit, or paired with a delicious snack of crackers and goat cheese.

3. Sell Lavender Bundles at Your Local Farmer’s Market

Put your lavender harvest into packaged bundles and sell at your local farmer’s market. People love to buy fresh lavender and it gives you a way to make a little income on the side. (Check out these other money-making hobbies for stay-at-home moms.)

4. Make Lavender Lemonade

Lavender lemonade is made from melting sugar into water on the stove then adding lavender buds to the hot sugar water and letting it steep for a few minutes. Once the syrup portion is made, you remove from the heat, strain the lavender buds, add fresh lemon juice and extra water then place in the fridge to cool.

This is fun drink to make for the family or to serve at an outdoor picnic or party.

5. Bake Using Lavender

Did you know you can add lavender to your baking? The light flowery taste of lavender pairs nicely with simple backed goods. Here are a few recipes to try:

• Lemon Lavender Shortbread Cookies
• Blackberry Lavender Cake
• Lemon Lavender Tart (Gluten Free)
• Lavender Lemon Bread
• Lavender Scones

6. Give Fresh Lavender as a gift

If you have extra fresh lavender, why not gift if to someone as a bouquet? You could arrange it nicely in a vase or simply wrap it in brown paper and tie it with jute string. Not everyone can grow fresh lavender or even buy it at the store. When you gift it to someone who enjoys herbs and flowers you know it will be enjoyed and used to its full potential.

7. Dry the Buds, Then Make Lavender-Scented Sachets

Dry your lavender buds and then make lavender-scented sachets. You could sew little pillow shapes full of buds, or you could simply fill small draw-string sachet bags and place them in drawers or cabinets to keep your linens smelling fresh or in closed spaces to keep them from getting musty.

Lavender is pretty versatile when it comes to uses. From drinks and crafts, to baked goods and gifts there are lots of creative uses for lavender. I hope these ideas inspire you to try something new while using your lavender harvest to the highest potential. Happy Gardening!

Ways to Use Fresh Lavender Q & A

1. When should I harvest lavender from my garden?

The best time to harvest lavender is in the morning after the dew has dried, when the buds are purple but haven’t opened into flowers yet. This is when they will have a highest concentration of smell and oils.

2. What DIY beauty products can I make with fresh lavender?

You can make lots of beauty products using fresh lavender. Some of these DIY ideas include: soaps, infused body oils, bath salts, facial toners, lip balms, lotions. Lavender will add a light, flowery scent as well as, soothing properties to your homemade products.

3. Can I use fresh lavender in my tea?

You can easily add fresh lavender flowers to your tea, steep for a few minutes, strain, and then enjoy. Lavender herbal tea has a flowery taste and is said to have a calm relaxing affect.

4. How do you harvest lavender from the garden?

To harvest lavender, cut the lavender stems a couple inches above the woody part of the plant using sharp gardening shears.