Young Livings St. Maries, Idaho Farm

In July of this year, 2009, I was fortunate to go to our Young Living Essential Oil Farm in St. Maries, Idaho to help with harvesting of our Lavender plants.  This is my third year going and each year is a new experience.  Every trip is priceless. Driving up to the farm absolutely takes my breath away.  From the beauty of the purple and lavender hues of the Lavender plants to the lush greens of the Melissa plants and all the surrounding trees.  Ahhh, the scent of lavender and the clean mountain air is like being in Heaven.

At the farm is where I truly became aware of how precious Young Living Therapeutic Grade (YLTG) essential oils are and why the purity is very genuine.  From the location and altitude, to the lush, rich soil and the fact that NEVER are chemicals sprayed on ANY of our crops on ANY of our four farms (Idaho—Mona, Utah— Simiane-La-Rotonde, France—Guayaquil, Ecuador—Over 4,000 acres of farmland.)  The amazing loving knowledge from seed to crop;  The plants must be cut when the time is right.  How?  “Refractometer/bricks” readings are done to assure they are at the right “bricks level” to harvest.  The plants must also be dry.  If they have been rained on, they will have to dry for a day or so, until dry.  Then the harvested plants are taken to the distillery and lay’s for many hours (24 hours or more) and is turned by pitchfork during that time. Again a “bricks” reading is taken.  Once again the “bricks level” has to be just right.  If not, the quality of the oil is not where it should be according to our standards.  Next, the Lavender gets put into the “cooker-distiller”.  The next important step is the temperature and the amount of time for “cooking”. VERY IMPORTANT!  For Lavender, it is distilled for at least 1 ½ hours.

Before our oils are ready for purchase they are tested at an independent lab and must pass strict standards  to be assured of their purity and therapeutic value.   AFNOR (Association French Normalization Organization Regulation) or ISO certification (International Standards Organization) has guidelines that must be strictly adhered to.  A set of standards that outlines the chemical profile and principal constituents that a quality essential oil should have.  These guidelines help buyers differentiate between a therapeutic grade essential oil and lower grade oil with a similar chemical makeup and fragrance.  All of Young Living Essential Oils are graded according to AFNOR standards.  Gary Young actually takes our testing a step beyond AFNOR, the Young Living Standard.  If Gary does not feel the oil meets his standards, he declines it.

It is SO important for people to understand the major differences of essential oils and the qualities that are available to purchase.  This is a good way to think about it; “All essential oils are NOT created equally”.  Like when comparing apples to oranges, they don’t compare.

This time at the farm, the Lavender was not quite ready to be harvested. However the Melissa was!!  Oh my, what a treat to be included in this splendid time of harvest.  I learned so much about Melissa.  Melissa is a female plant; she is particular, fragile, finicky, loving, warm and gentle.  The plant loves to be sung to and hugged. The first time I heard the workers singing in the fields was a sweet surprise and now I understand why they whistle and sing while working.  Melissa will actually wilt if she feels or hears your anger.  Our Idaho farm is one of our best farms for growing Melissa. Specifically because of the climate and altitude.   Oh and by the way, Young Living is the ONLY commercial grower of Melissa in the world!!  To me why would anyone choose to purchase pure essential oils elsewhere, when right here with Young Living Essential Oils, you have the best and assurity of purity!!

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Article by Jonell Elder, Reiki Master, Raindrop Technique Practitioner

Young Living Essential Oil Distributor.

Weekly essential oil gatherings in the greater Seattle area, Everett, WA.  Contact me for more information.

Other articles by Jonell Elder

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