Turning lavender lemonade into meals

For this sixth in as many years, Tilly Lundstrom — now a sixth-grader at Sequim Middle School — spent this summer hanging out at her lemonade stand at her parents’ lavender farm, selling fresh made lavender lemonade to visitors. Lundstrom raises funds for groups and organizations focusing on assisting youth her age to meet their goals and ambitions.

Pictured, from left are Mary Jendrucko, Andra Smith, Tilly Lundstrom, Jeff Lundstrom and Stephen Rosales.

This year, Tilly chose the weekend meals for youths program, administered by the Sequim Food Bank and supported by other local volunteer groups as the recipient of her sales during the 20th Sequim Lavender Festival & Farm Tours weekend.

The meals program provides more than 150 local children and teens with nourishing meals during the weekend when not in school during weekdays; $300 feeds a child for one year.

The Sequim Lavender Growers Association accepted Lundstrom’s challenge to match her sales revenue, and with the matching funds, the two combined to raise $816.

Tilly’s parents, Jeff and Amy Lundstrom, are co-owners of Nelson’s Duck Pond & Lavender Farm (located near Carlsborg off of Hooker Road), and are second-generation lavender growers.

“Tilly, her parents and grandparents, Gail Nelson and the late Harry Nelson, are senior members of SLGA,” association president Mary Jendrucko said.

“Tilly is a ‘chip’ off of her parents’ and grandparents’ blocks. They have always embodied providing assistance to their schools and community, and offering a free family experience to view lavender grown at its finest. We’re so proud of her generous spirit.”