Growing up on a small horse farm just outside Creemore, sisters Jessica Ridding and Emma Greasley felt a deep connection to the rolling hills and stunning vistas.

Both grew up and moved to Toronto where they worked in public relations, but they returned to Creemore as often as they could.

“It was still our place to come back to when we wanted to recharge and get away from the hustle – where we could have a sense of peace and calm,” said Ridding.

Driven by the desire to do something together and strong ties to the Creemore community, they eventually created Purple Hill Lavender Farm.

In 2015, inspired by a vacation in the Grasse region in the south of France, the sisters planted their first crop of lavender. At the time, there were only a few lavender farms in Canada – none in the immediate area – and they thought it would complement existing attractions and draw visitors to the village.

Their first harvest was in 2016, marking their launch into agritourism. They embarked on a journey to create a range of products like essential oils, dried bouquets and bath and body items in a space where others could come to experience the beauty of growing lavender.

Ridding and Greasley make their home at the farm, so while they love to share, they have deliberately kept things small scale.

They don’t host large weddings, in deference to their neighbours, and focus instead on events like a summerfest artisan market, pottery workshops, paint nights, an evening picnic series and yoga gatherings. A highlight for the past couple of seasons is the zinnia picnic in late August long after the lavender crop is past its peak splendour. “All in all it has turned into something bigger and better than we ever could have imagined,” said Ridding.

The sisters have just launched a coffee table book, Cultivating Nature’s Magic which chronicles their venture into lavender farming, published by The Monarch and Co.

It features stunning photography by Jessica Anderson, plenty of information about lavender, and personal anecdotes about their trial and error approach to farming. The book is available in the gift shop at the farm, online at www.purplehilllavender.com or in town at Heirloom 142. Retail price is $ 95.