The beginning of July marks the time for the lavender harvest. During this period, Ljubinjsko Polje comes to life with its plantations covering 10 hectares of aromatic purple flowers.
Lavender pickers, mostly locals, perform the task manually as in the past, using sickles. Jovanka Kisić from Vranje was brought to the rugged region of Herzegovina by love, and she says that life here is beautiful, but there is a lot of work.
“My husband is from Ljubinje. I fell in love, came here, got married, and stayed. This place is a paradise on earth, and lavender is a balm for the soul,” says Kisić.
This Mediterranean plant is not demanding. It thrives on rocky terrain and under strong sunlight. This year, it has produced an exceptional yield.
Lavender has a wide range of applications in cooking, medicine, and cosmetics. Most of the lavender from Ljubinjsko Polje is used to produce essential oils. Alongside lavender, other medicinal plants are grown, such as immortelle, sage, and heather.
If there were more fields of this aromatic plant, the path to the market would be certain, as its quality, medicinal, and therapeutic properties are widely known and valued.
Source: RTRS
