Lavender Bee Farm is a family-owned honey and lavender farm established in 2001 on the outskirts of Petaluma in Sonoma County, California. The farm produces all-natural, raw, never-heated honey from wild Sonoma County bee swarms that forage on over 5,000 lavender plants, with no pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or sugar feeding. Products are sold online and through a farm store open by appointment.

The Beekeeper's Story

The Lavender Bee Farm was established in 2001 on a family property on Chapman Lane, Petaluma, that JoAnn Wallenstein's parents, Jim and Evelyn Veronda, purchased in 1947. JoAnn and her husband Richard inherited the farm in 2000 and, looking for something to beautify the land, discovered that lavender was drought-tolerant and gopher-resistant. They planted lavender and Richard took up beekeeping — the bees thrived on the lavender and produced a rich, creamy honey with a slight floral and caramel finish. What began as 500 lavender plants has grown to around 3,000, with multiple bee hives across the property. The farm is entirely chemical-free, harvests lavender by hand each July, and only takes 40% of the honey the bees produce to keep the colonies healthy and stress-free. Beyond honey, the farm offers lavender bouquets, sachets, culinary lavender, essential oils, beeswax candles, and goat's milk soaps, and has hosted tours, events, and wedding ceremonies on its scenic three-acre lavender fields.