Monica & Mark Shallow
Nestled in Washington’s scenic Methow Valley, a new lavender farm is blossoming and bringing the dreams of its owners to life. Operated by Monica and Mark Shallow, Methow Valley Lavender was born from Monica’s lifelong love of the fragrant herb passed down from her grandmother Sylvia’s lavender farming days in the early 2000s.
Outside of launching their new agricultural endeavor, Monica and Mark have full careers and family. Monica is a Clinical Social Worker and Children’s Play Therapist with a private practice. Mark has built an extensive aerospace engineering career and currently works as a Certification Engineer on the Tanker Project for Boeing and represents the FAA.
“With our kids grown, we finally had time for this new adventure,” said Monica. After purchasing their 5-acre property years ago, the couple searched for the perfect crop to cultivate the land. In 2022, their long-awaited lavender dream got its test crop with over 100 plants finally planted, transforming the once idle land into rows of aromatic foliage.
The lavender varieties grown include: L. angustifolia ‘Sachet’, ‘Royal Velvet’, ‘Melissa’, ‘Hidcote’, ‘Folgate’, and L. x intermedia ‘Grosso’. As first-time lavender farmers, Monica and Mark started small but already have big plans to expand. “We hope to increase to 1,000 plants next year,” Monica shared.
For now, their young plants produce enough to create aromatic sachets sold through their website which also hosts a carefully curated line of beautiful products from other growers.
When asked her best advice for aspiring lavender farmers, Monica leaned in eagerly, “Give yourself permission to experiment!” For instance, the results of her pruning method improved extraordinarily after realizing her plants could handle a much more aggressive cutting back than she initially tried. She learned that lavender is pretty tough, and, in her case, she learned how to prune better through experimentation.
Methow Valley Lavender has also undertaken robust marketing efforts including social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok), Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and email campaigns to subscribers on their website, and blogs. The Shallows also participated in the Supernova Business Launch Competition through the North Central Washington Economic Development District, a program dedicated to empower small businesses through business education. Through this program, they participated in a meet and greet opportunity at the farmer’s market, and created a few YouTube videos, radio ads and interviews with the local radio stations as a continuous effort to get their farm name out in the community.
As Monica and Mark nurture their new farm, their appreciation for the Methow Valley community and fellow lavender farmers continues to grow. They’ve really enjoyed meeting other lavender farmers through Lavender Northwest, and are thankful for all the support and generosity. With family legacy, passion for lavender, and commitment to their valley, the Shallows have all the ingredients for success. As their farm takes root and blossoms, they look forward to becoming a vibrant part of the fabric of the Methow Valley for many years to come.
Website address: MethowValleyLavender.com
· Instagram: @methow_valley_lavender
· Facebook: Methow Valley Lavender
· Pinterest: Methow Valley Lavender
· TikTok: mvlavender
· Telephone: 618-979-6112
Email: [email protected]
Contributed by
Mike & Sandra Mitchell
Willamette Valley Lavender
Edited & formatted by
Michael Lemmers
RavenCroft
