Many locals may not be aware that there is a working lavender farm right here in Dillon County.
Known as Agape Farm South and operated by Alexandra Reid, the idea for a farm came about Pre-COVID when Reid started thinking about retirement, which was about five to eight years away at the time. Reid had lived in San Francisco and Manhattan before she was planted in Sanford, North Carolina, where she has lived for 27 years. With nearby Raleigh and the big city basically in her front yard and things becoming congested, she began looking for a couple of acres to farm to get away from it all.
She tested the idea with other family members, but never got anything going. Then COVID hit.
Eventually, she found 15 acres of property in Dillon County that was at the price point that she wanted and was the right fit.
Reid calls farming lavender “lazy farming.” It’s a pest-free crop, a perennial, so you plant it once and it can live up to 15 years. Lavender doesn’t like too much water and prefers sandy soil. She wants to conserve the land and said that the corn, soy, and cotton previously grown there depleted the soil, but that lavender doesn’t need those nutrients to grow and thrive. It looks like a perfect fit.
Reid spent her first year testing different varieties of lavender. She is currently expanding the fields to 2 and a half acres along with other herbs and flowers. She said lavender has multiple uses including culinary uses, medicinal uses, dried flowers, and live flowers.
Reid is also exploring multiple streams of revenue. She is interested in the agritourism aspect of the farm. Reid, a member of the Dillon County Palmetto Leadership Class, said she is looking into offering “a vibrant experiential farm experience for the community.” She would like to hold classes, hold “you pick” lavender days, and host private events. Beginning this March, the farm is open for private photography bookings, graduations, Easter, proms and such. You can book online today.
Agape Farms South already has a line of products that she has showcased at local Pop-Up Farmers Market events, the City of Dillon Visitor Center, and other events in the area. Each product has different benefits such as promoting sleep, relieving stress and anxiety, etc. She said there are a number of cultural and historical aspects to lavender and its products. One can see her products online and learn more about the farm at AgapeFarmSouth.com or at AgapeLavenderLab.com.
Pictured at top is Alexandra Reid and below are pictures of the farm.
