Under the Stars Farm, a lavender farm specializing in you-pick agritourism and events, recently opened in Gloucester. The farm also just announced that it has partnered with Harvest Returns’ Sustainable Agriculture Opportunity Zone Fund for an equity capital raise.

The funds raised will help the Under the Stars Farm team expand lavender production to approximately seven to eight million lavender stems per year by 2021. C.J. McDonald, who owns the farm with her husband, Bill, said the farm is committed to growing organic lavender without the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, sprays or products.

According to McDonald, the couple came to Virginia after a surgeon’s life-altering mistake took the use of her husband’s right dominant hand. “We had to make some life shifts,” she said. 

They came across the property at Harcum and purchased it in 2016 with a vision to create a property to support and bring joy to the community.

When they initially purc...