Sandra Shuff is a trained Aromatherapist and Distiller. As Positively Aromatic she distills 48 different botanicals including those provided by her certified organic forest for steam distillation of Douglas Fir, Ponderosa Pine, White Spruce, and Yarrow. Hydrosol is distilled as a primary product in her distillery on Copper Alembic Stills. This low temperature, the slow process allows the larger molecules to release and come through the distillation process to produce a high-quality Artisan Hydrosol and Essential Oils.
As owner and operator of a 50-acre, largest USDA ‘Certified Organic’ farm and forest she has a unique opportunity to grow, harvest and distill multiple aromatics in one location. Her farm Evening Light Lavender Farm grows approximately 18,000 lavender in 41 varieties, a field of rose geranium and various herbs for distillation. The farm successfully hosts thousands from the community at the annual U-pick Lavender Festival.
Sandra’s commitment to her passion also has her serving and giving back. Therefore, she is a Regional Director for the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists (NAHA). She is a Regional Director for the United States Lavender Growers Association (USLGA) and on the Board of the Washington Lavender Association (WLA).
As an educator, she is a speaker at USLGA national conferences, holds workshops on distillation, the business of lavender, Agritourism, Essential Oil Safety, Hydrosols and other classes at her farm. She is regularly invited to speak at various garden clubs, schools, and other groups. Her internship program for college students was launched this year. Additionally, she has given back is her service on teams to Guatemala, South Africa, Morocco and Mozambique since 2005.
Lavender oil is one of the most popular of essential oils. In this podcast, Sandra and Elizabeth discuss what it takes to create the perfect lavender oil, and the trials and tribulations of running the largest organic lavender farm in the United States.