In Search of a Farm

As we came back from a long walk on Sunday, I had noticed a sign about a farm which made essential oils just 3.5 kilometers away. Today we headed off on our bikes to try to discover La Ferme de Gerbaud.

After almost 3 kilometers of steadily climbing uphill, the road turned to rocks and we decided to lock the bikes to a tree and continue on foot. When we finally approached the farm, we were greeted by a pitbull who was sizing us up (for his next meal?) After coming this far, I was not about to just walk away. I told David not to run or make any sudden movements as I started talking quietly to the dog in whatever language I could muster.


Eventually he became less ferocious and we gingerly walked up toward the main house, where his owner greeted us and assured us he was tres gentil. She offered to open her showroom for us, where we found an array of local products, including essential oils and honey and lavendar and soap.


Paula proceeded to tell us all the beneficial uses of essential oils and it became obvious that this was more than just a business to her. We made our purchases and then sat down for a snack, with the dog (Daro) literally eating out of our hands.

The other animals on the farm included...


Perhaps the best find of the afternoon was a house with a large pool down the road which Paula rents for about half of what we are paying in the town of Lourmarin. It is surrounded by the 62 acres of the farm which supplies her business. Can you imagine living in the middle of lavendar fields?



The real joke was that Daro liked us so much that he tried to follow us home. When we hit the paved road and he was still leading the way, we called Paula on our phone and she sent her son down to get the prodigal dog.

I’m getting better at the biking. I managed the climb to La Ferme de Gerbaud without any real difficulty. And I must say the trip home completely downhill was a breeze.

Tonight we are eating out at a local country restaurant called Auberge La Feniere. We’ll see how this meal stacks up against our daube! It’s nice to let someone else do the cooking…