Hoshyla Farms, a five-generation farm in Manorville, is opening its grounds to the public this weekend for a two-day Lavender Festival.
“One of the biggest highlights of the event is that it's a you-pick farm, and they are to our knowledge, the only you-pick lavender farm on Long Island. And the farm itself makes a slew of products directly from the lavender they harvest,” said Monique Parsons, owner of event company Stay Salted Inc.
Parsons noted that lavender is used in a variety of products, including bath salts and simple syrup, all made with ingredients from the farm.
In addition to picking their own lavender, attendees will find about 60 handcrafted artisan vendors curated specifically for the event.
“They have some really cool stuff that will be for sale that's unique and not really seen anywhere else,” she said.
The festival also includes axe throwing, food trucks, and local craft beer and wine. For children, activities will include shell painting, glitter tattoos, henna, face painting and fairy hair tinsel.
The Lavender Festival takes place at Hoshyla Farms, 132 Ryerson Ave., on Saturday, June 28, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, June 29, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free for Manorville residents, children under 12 and active military members, and $5 for all others.
Lavender is not only central to the event—it’s also how the Hoshyla family plans to continue its farming tradition on 10 acres of the farm’s 55-acre property.
“We came up with the idea of lavender because lavender doesn't need a lot of care,” said Susie (Hoshyla) Asendorf. “It doesn't need a lot of water because when my grandfather retired, he sold all the equipment. So, we started with nothing, and this is our fourth season.”
Asendorf said her great-grandfather Dimytri and grandfather John moved from East Meadow and established the farm in 1954.
“We originally were a potato farm, and my grandfather and great-grandfather delivered potatoes all in New York City and New Jersey. They had a whole route,” she said.
For about 20 years, the family rented the land to grow crops such as corn and pumpkins. After that, the property remained dormant for nearly a decade.
Asendorf said when her father considered selling the land, she and her daughter, Nicole, proposed farming lavender. Today, the family works together to run the operation, including Asendorf’s 83-year-old father, Peter, who still drives the tractor.
For more information, visit https://www.hoshylafarms.com.