Summer bliss (not only)
for Uster

In cooperation with the Wagerenhof Foundation, farfalla cultivates aromatic plants near its headquarters in Uster. A liaison between sustainable cultivation and social commitment.

Lavender and peppermint

Aromatic plant: lavender, peppermint
Growing region: Uster, ZH Since 2020
Cultivation area: XXXX
Special features: Cooperation with the Wagerenhof Foundation

When the day's job begins in rubber boots or a sun hat, it's time for work in the field. That's when accounting and marketing, management and customer service meet early in the morning amidst organic lavender seedlings, a sea of ​​peppermint, and unwanted weeds.

When weeding begins in the Wagerenhof's aromatic plant fields, volunteers from farfalla headquarters are welcome and plentiful. After all, the aromatherapy pioneer's own aromatic plant fields, which farfalla operates together with the Wagerenhof Foundation, make work even more aromatic.

Since 2012, farfalla has been cultivating aromatic plants in remote Madagascar, and for about ten years, lavender, thyme, and other aromatic plants were also cultivated, harvested, and distilled in the organic village of Correns in France. However, when the local partner passed away, the decision was made to process aromatic plants from local fields and bring the distillation equipment closer. This would make the world of aromatic plants even more accessible not only for all "farfallas" at the headquarters in Uster, but also for participants in the farfalla Academy and all visitors.

Educational work and organic farming

At farfalla, we have long dreamed of producing our own essential oils locally in Switzerland. The Wagerenhof Foundation, a social institution for people with disabilities established in Uster 100 years ago, was the ideal partner for the local aromatic plant project. For over a century, the foundation has provided a loving home for people with intellectual disabilities and, as a nursing and educational facility, is an important social institution in Uster. This is exactly the kind of partner farfalla was looking for on the cultivation project – because at farfalla, sustainability is always a triad of ecological, economic, and social factors. The Wagerenhof employees take pride in cultivating the fragrant medicinal plants. A beautiful symbiosis: meaningful educational work for people with special needs combined with the pursuit of sustainable agriculture.

Start of growth 2020

In 2020, several thousand plants were planted in a test field for a practical test: lavender, peppermint, and bergamot mint were allowed to settle in and grow. Essential oils were distilled and analyzed for the first time in Uster using a small test still in 2021. Although the summer of 2021 was very wet and rainy, the analysis results were excellent – ​​the endurance test had been passed, and confidence was gained that the cultivation of aromatic plants and the extraction of top-quality essential oils is also promising in the canton of Zurich.
30,000 plants from an organic seed farm in France were planted in early summer 2022. Organic lavender and organic peppermint for distillation now grow in spacious fields on the northeastern outskirts of the village and on the Uster castle hill.

Harvest time

The fragrant harvest of the robust organic peppermint arrived in August 2023 at the large distillery, which sits high above the town and Lake Greifensee in Uster Castle and is just a few minutes' walk from farfalla. On a hot summer day, the farfalla founders and employees of the Wagerenhof worked hand in hand. While steam distillation produced essential oil and herbal water, clouds of peppermint aroma drifted down the castle hill.

The fact that farfalla was fortunate to find the Wagerenhof Foundation as a suitable agricultural and social partner is also reflected in the first product resulting from the collaboration. Using the extracted essential oil, farfalla created the Summer Bliss shower gel, the summer product of 2024. The result is a refreshing shower experience for everyone. The fresh scent of Uster peppermint and citrus fruits revives the spirits and puts you in a good mood. Just like the monthly fieldwork among lavender and peppermint – summer bliss in a bottle.