Lavender Uses and Preparation

I have been growing lavender for a couple of years in my garden and planter beds and have some good sized plants now. My goal was to learn how to use it for various things around the house... not a food product but more of a comfort item. I have heard many people will make tea, powders and oil out of it with various uses such as blending into homemade soap. Some people have suggested you can use it in your pillow to help go to sleep and so on. Are you using it and if so, how are you preparing it. Just getting ready to start and looking for ideas and how-to do's since the plants are now mature and ready to use.

A couple of links for reference:
10 Uses for Lavender - Healthy Home - Mother Earth Living
20 Reasons to use Lavender Essential Oil - Remedy for Health Problems

 

Here is another link to dive into:
Video: Lavender Uses | eHow

 

This is where we picked ours up on a day get away to Whidbey Island....beautiful area looking out over the straight.
Lavender Wind Farm

Here is a link to some info on the different types. Deffinately talk with your nursery to see what will do best in your area for the culinary variety.
The Herb Gardener: Understand the Different Types of Lavender