Hereward Farms is located in East Garafraxa. The Hamlet of Hereward came about in the late l860s. The Burnett family has been farming here for over five generations.
Hereward Farms got its name from the nobleman and leader of local resistance, Hereward the Wake, in England.
Although Stephen Burnett is active in other ventures, now, he never completely left the family’s farming of corn, soybeans, and wheat on a piece of the original generational farm. Julie and Stephen have enjoyed living here with their children.
On a whim, in 2019, Julie Thurgood Burnett planted forty lavender plants in a corner of their family garden. From the lavender harvested from that little plot, Julie made naturally infused oils that sold out quickly to friends and neighbours. From that “whim” grew a beautiful new and organic business. Now there are over 6,000 lavender plants.
Awareness of the many benefits of lavender is ever growing. Hereward Farms feature English and French lavender, which have different properties from each other. Most of us understand the benefits of slumber and relaxation, but there are so many more properties of these beautiful plants. Julie makes so many amazing and all-natural products; all in sustainable packaging. We won’t describe all of them in this article, but we encourage you to visit the Hereward Farms website to learn about all the wonderful scents and sensations, the Boutique offers. These products are described as Truly Farm-to-Skin. Should you not have the time for a personal visit, the website at https://www.herewardfarm.com or contact hello@herewardfarm.com will tempt you to indulge. It is important to note that they offer a refill program as well.
Julie invites you to come and enjoy a relaxing interlude in the Lounge, where you may sit a spell and enjoy some lavender tea or lavender lemonade and then visit the Boutique, full of heavenly handmade lavender products. Many of the Hereward events are held in the Lounge and it is available to hold private parties and events. Please contact the farm for further information to make your plans.
Hereward Farms is proud of their commitment to sustainable and organic farming and have now included a field of 400,000 sunflowers for visitors to enjoy. They strongly believe in giving back to the community and welcome contributions to the “Field of Lavender Dreams Initiative,” as well as the “Hereward Farms School Fundraiser Program.”
Julie believes in Empowering Women to Bloom and proudly supports women entrepreneurs. She has done her very best to create a relaxing and nurturing environment for all to enjoy Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
You are encouraged to visit their beautiful and informative website to appreciate all the Farm has to offer and their events. The images on the site are breathtaking.
The Wind Phone at Hereward Farms
Not many people have any idea what a Wind Phone is. The Wind Phone is quite an ingenious idea originating in Japan and bringing with it global recognition.
A Wind Phone is a simple rotary phone that is not connected to any network. This phone offers an avenue of connecting to a loved one who has passed. One simply picks up the phone receiver and speaks from the heart with a loved one. These messages then travel on the wind to the departed soul. Thus, the name “Wind Phone.”
Heidi Vanderhorst, of the grief and bereavement working group, within the Hills of Headwaters Collaborative Ontario Health Team, approached Julie Thurgood-Burnett with the idea of placing a Wind Phone within the Hereward Farms lavender blooms.
Julie jumped at the chance to incorporate a Wind Phone into their serene lavender fields. She believes the phone truly enhances the relaxation and tranquility of Hereward Farms’ landscape and surroundings.
In their Press Release of May 6, 2024, Hereward Farms stated that the Wind Phone is, “A Symbolic Haven for Grieving Hearts, Uniting Community in Healing Journey.” This statement is significant to anyone who is missing a loved one.
The Hereward Farms Wind Phone is housed in a handsome black telephone booth. It has been placed in a secluded spot by the wooden fence at the end of the rows of lavender. Just the magnificent lavender colour promotes relaxation and then breathing in the scent brings a blissful feeling and enables you to unburden yourself of some worries and be open to share thoughts with those who have passed. Julie says that although you are talking to nothing, you know that they are listening.
There is no extra charge to visit the Wind Phone. In a phone conversation with Julie, I asked if the phone has line ups or is very busy at any given time. She told me that she couldn’t really put a number on how many people visit the Wind Phone because she is usually busy in the fields, but when she does lift her head from time to time, there is usually someone in the phone box.
It seems as though visitors come away from the Wind Phone in a more peaceful state of mind. One example of this, Julie told me that she met a lady arriving for a visit to the lavender fields and Boutique. Julie suggested this lady should visit the Wind Phone. When this same lady returned from the fields and met Julie in the Boutique, she asked why Julie would have specifically urged her to take time in the Wind Phone box. Julie responded that she didn’t know why. The lady then acknowledged that sadly, she had recently lost her son, and how much the Wind Phone had brought her such peace. She was very thankful. It is stories like this that makes the Wind Phone create inspiring moments in an already peaceful haven.
Hereward Farms invites you, your family, and friends to visit East Garafraxa, Ontario to indulge in the relaxation of the fields of Lavender and Sunflowers. Come connect with nature and peace. Feel free to commune with a loved one who has passed, on the Wind Phone. The Hereward Wind Phone may help to soothe your soul.
As they say on the Hereward Farms website, stroll through their natural beauty. Then a visit to the Boutique is a must to take some of the experience home with you. Plan to make it a full day and take in the sights and everything the area offers.
You can visit Hereward Farms and the Wind Phone at: 141051, 15 Side Road, East Garafraxa, Ontario.
WRITTEN BY: MARILYN LEGGETT | PHOTOS & RESOURCES: HEREWARD FARMS,
EAST GARAFRAXA
