The sweet smell of success

We spent an exceptionally relaxed Sunday morning touring a delightful cottage industry a few kilometres from our Montaigu de Quercy office on the borders of Tarn-et-Garonne and Lot-et-Garonne in Midi Pyrénées, south west France..

Lavande en Quercy, Ferme de Lacontal had opened its doors for the weekend and whilst it would have been equally easy to sit by the pool, we ‘dragged’ ourselves out at the crack of 11 am!!

We were greeted at the farm gate by a delightful family who were happy and proud to share their knowledge and passion for a niche business.

Entry was free and we wandered happily through the fields stirring up clouds of butterflies and being ignored by massed bees.

We listened to brief talks about the history of the industry, and current production methods, had a peer in the still and took the sniff test to appreciate the difference between types of lavender.

There was the opportunity to buy products in a delightfully under-stated ‘shop’ in a corner of a barn.

I now know the difference between the lavender I have in my garden, and a bit about the commercial realities of producing lavender oil: it takes one hectare of land (2 1/2 acres) to produce 5 litres.

And who knew that valuable oil had so many uses?

A few drops added to baking - chocolate cake, sweets and mini-meringues all benefit!

Of course, a fragrant finish to your bed linen.

But what about dabbing the paws of your cats?

Acts as a constitutional aid, I’m told.

Dab the cat, cat licks paws, oil works wonders.

We’d have had to travel further to be entertained by a large shopping mall or a theme park.

I guess it all depends on what you want from your precious Sunday...

 Relaxing video here.