A Soothing corner of the Dexter Farmers Market

Windy Hill Lavender - Karen Allerio

Karen has sold her products at the Dexter Farmers Market for the past two years but she has been growing lavender for ten. She recently got her Small Growers License from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and is now growing various types of lavender plants that consumers can purchase to plant in their own gardens.  Karen's selling season is short as it is dependent on the lavender growing season. She usually has a booth from early July through mid September - she will only be at the market this Saturday and September 14th.
Karen's products are intensely fragrant.  She really KNOWS lavender and matches type to product. For instance, she makes delicate little lavender wreaths from a type of lavender that retains its deep purple color after it has dried. At the Windy Hill Lavender booth you will find soothing eye pillows that are filled with fragrant lavender and flax seed.  These may be heated or cooled - the flax retains the temperature. Karen sells lavender dryer bags. Throw this little bag in with your clothes to be dried and they will dry with a lovely lavender smell. After you have used the bag six times, remove it from the dryer, open it and sprinkle the contents onto the carpet. When you vacuum, your vaccum bag with fill with lavender fragrance. Other products available at Karen's booth are bag and wand sachets to put in clothing drawers and tied bunches of dried lavender to hang in your home or your car.
I have to confess that I'm struggling to describe the Windy Hill Lavender booth because you have to experience it rather than read about it. The purple hues are beautiful, the fragrance of lavender is rich and soothing, each product is elegant and delicate. I encourage you to shop Karen's booth to learn more about her products and to breathe in the fragrance of lavender. Take a rest during your busy Saturday.

M'Ladys Organics - Cynthia High

Cynthia's booth is at the far north end of the Dexter Farmers Market, closest to the Dexter Library. This is also a booth that should be experienced rather than read about.
Cynthia makes and sells all natural soaps, body oils and body balms. You might think "nice hobby" or "how sweet" but you would be wrong. Each product sold at M'Ladys Organics has been carefully and thoroughly researched, tested and refined by Cynthia herself. The products at Cynthia's booth are beautiful, smell wonderful and most are made for the purpose of alleviating skin and body discomforts.
Cynthia was seven years old when she first learned to make soap from her grandmother - that was 47 years ago. About 20 years ago, Cynthia started to search for soaps and lotions that would not irritate her skin and in fact might actually alleviate some of the challenges she was facing. Her search led to a resolve to do her own research and manufacturing and thus M'Ladys Organics came into being.
You need to shop M'Ladys Organics to get a full description of each product. I'll attempt here a brief explanation: some products hydrate the skin, some soothe the senses; some products alleviate the discomfort of acne, exzema and psoriasis; some of cold sores; some soaps and oils improve circulation while still others ease the pain of arthritis and sore muscles. Some products control dandruff and others alleviate the discomfort of wounds, rashes and burns.
Cynthia's products are sold in eight retail stores in our area and at the Ann Arbor Artisan's Market Sundays in Kerrytown. To really understand Cynthia's commitment and passion, to really know her products, you need to shop her booth. Ask Cynthia and her husband Bill questions and buy.

Windy Hill Lavender and M'Ladys Organics sit next to each other at the market.  They provide a fragrant and quiet oasis among the riot of squash, tomatoes and fresh corn. Go there and breathe in and out and smile.