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Sandy Messori

Sandy is the owner and operator of Rivendell Aromatics, growing thirty-eight varieties of Lavender on a farm in the Casitas Pass Valley, harvesting the Lavender flowers at the peak of aromatic perfection to sell in everything from wreaths and bundles, to sachets, vegetale soaps, beeswax candles and True Essential Oil products.

More on Sandy and Roland, the farm and the operations from the Rivendell website:

Our Lavender plants grow in rich soil on a west facing hillside, bathed in sunshine while cooled by the soft ocean breezes. This is an ideal growing system for healthy vigorous Lavender plants with very fragrant flowers. We harvest the Lavender flowers at the peak of aromatic perfection to sell in a number of different products, everything from wreaths and bundles, to sachets, comfort pillows, vegetale soaps, beeswax candles and True Essential Oil products.

Rivendell Aromatics resides among 3000 Hass Avocado Trees in the lovely Casitas Pass Valley, near Santa Barbara, California. We grow 38 varieties of Lavender, Helichrysum italicum (Immortelle), Lemon verbena and various other herbs for aromatic products. Most of the commercial planting is Lavandula intermedia 'Grosso', many varieties of Lavandula angustifolia and the Helichrysum. On the farm we also grow several unusual varieties of avocados, cherimoya, stone fruit, apples, pears, citrus, persimmons, figs, heirloom tomatoes and olives.

The farm is owned by the Messori family and operated by Roland and Sandy Messori. Sandy and Roland are graduates of Cal Poly University, California - Sandy in Ornamental Horticulture, Roland in Agricultural Engineering/ Fruit Industries. Roland has managed the Avocado Ranch for the past 25 years, along with various jobs. Sandy worked in Landscape Management at Ojai Valley Inn, a resort in Ojai, California, for 12 years, developed the landscape with herbs, designed a large herb garden (with labyrinth meditation walk) especially for their renowned Spa and taught herbal classes at the Spa. Now, she sells fruits of the farm and Rivendell Aromatics products at Certified Farmer's Markets in the area and at special events such as Ojai Lavender Festival. She also teaches and speaks to groups about Lavender and Aromatic Herbs.

"About 18 years ago I decided that I would like to learn some of the crafts that our grandmothers did in their everyday lives. I began making soaps for my family after introduction to quality handmade soaps at an herb seminar. I learned about the True Essential Oils I used in the pure soaps, then studied Aromatherapy with some excellent teachers like Jeanne Rose, Julia Meadows and Gillian Alexander. I visited the Lavender fields of Provence, France and discovered my true passion. I want to grow Lavender and other herbs for Fine Quality Essential Oils and Hydrosols." - Sandy Messori

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