A new enterprise is growing at Cedarbrook Lavender & Herb Farm.

For the first time, owners Gary and Marcella Stachurski are opening and operating the farm’s caf� rather than renting the facility. Cedarbrook Garden Caf�, previously occupied by Petals and Caf� Provence, will celebrate its grand opening June 7.

"There’s been a disconnection between the gift shop, the farm and the restaurant and it needs to all flow as one," Marcella Stachurski explained. "This is something I would have loved to do three years ago."

The Stachurski family bought Cedarbrook Lavender & Herb Farm – on South Sequim Avenue – three years ago and they are entering their third season. Marcella is a retired teacher and Gary is a network analyst.

Owning a flower and gift shop is a longtime dream for Marcella but choosing a lavender farm was an unexpected twist of fate. She was reading through a Better Homes and Gardens magazine and spotted an article on the lavender farm Jardin du Soleil in Sequim. Later, during one of the couple’s regular trips to Sol Duc Hot Springs, they investigated to see if any lavender farms were for sale in the Sequim-Dungeness area. Cedarbrook, celebrating its 41st anniversary this year, was on the market. The Stachurskis made an offer and the rest is history.

"My driving force for the farm is to make it a walk in heaven for people," Marcella told the

Sequim Gazette during a February 2007 interview. "For me, history and family are very important. Buying Cedarbrook was not a business transaction, it was an emotional takeover."

Cedarbrook Garden Caf� will serve organic coffee and espresso and a lunch menu from 10 a.m.-

4 p.m. daily. By July, at the latest, Friday and Saturday dinner hours will be added.

Lunch and dinner menu items will be similar to the food served when the caf� was Petals, Marcella said, with beer batter fish and chips, salmon salad, vegetarian dishes, homemade soup and other family favorites using Sequim-Dungeness grown produce, spices and herbs.

The family owned and operated caf� may not be open year-round, Marcella advised. "We are considering closing after Labor Day weekend and reopening Memorial Day weekend and having the facility be available for rent during the off season."

Cooking classes, holiday meals, a fall wine tasting event and possibly a community tea are scheduled during the off-season.

The Stachurskis are requesting feedback from the community about breakfast and lunch items to serve, ideas of a relaxing garden environment and times of day most popular for lunch and coffee breaks.

"I think the community needs to buy into this," Marcella said figuratively. "If people feel like they’ve given input, maybe they will feel more comfortable, like this is their caf�."

For more information or to make a suggestion, call 683-4541 or e-mail cedarbrookgardencafe@olypen.com.

Lavender, herbs and gifts for loved ones

Cedarbrook Lavender & Herb Farm and its Bell House Gift Shop are located at 1345 S. Sequim Ave. The farm is open year-round and the gift shop is open February-December. Farm and gift shop business hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-

5 p.m. Sunday. Cedarbrook Garden Caf�, grand opening June 7, will be open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. For more information, go online to www.cedarbrooklavender.com or call 683-7733.