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Twenty-five years ago, Marie and Steve Voorhees had a hay field and a dream. Today, visitors flock to their 25-acre farm in Skillman every weekend. What has replaced the once hay-strewn field to draw guests from far and wide? Fields of lavender and a herd of alpacas.
These two unrelated attractions have proven a boon for the couple. Now, at Hidden Spring Lavender Farm, the Voorheeses walk the property introducing guests to their woolly, fleece-bearing alpacas, the nearby fields of lavender, and their shop with a wide range of lavender-based products.
“People have no idea what they’re coming into,” Marie says. “We get a lot of city kids, and they don’t know what it’s like to pet an animal like an alpaca or walk through a field of blooming lavender. To watch their expressions is so satisfying. It just gives me pleasure.”
Photo: Arron Andrews
Though the farm now boasts roughly 5,000 lavender plants, Hidden Spring started as a blank slate. The original hay farm was complete with cattle and even a big red barn, but the hay field was far from picturesque during the off-season in the eyes of the Voorheeses. They wanted a product that was not only pleasing to the eye, but also resistant to the large deer population in the area.
In 2012, they decided to give lavender cultivation a shot, and while their expectations were low, the end results were fruitful. The perennial plant—which is often used in aromatherapy for its calming and soothing properties—quickly became the farm’s signature product. Marie got to work, and the initial 1,000 plants soon began to multiply. Fifteen varieties are now grown at the farm and harvested from mid-June to mid-July. The old barn was repurposed as a farm shop with everything lavender: oils, bouquets, soaps, home-freshening products, neck pillows, lavender-stuffed teddy bears and more.
Photo: Arron Andrews
But something was still missing—until a furry piece of the puzzle fell into place.
When boarding horses became too labor intensive, the couple sought a new animal to give a home. With a longtime love of alpacas, Marie thought the farm’s visitors might also share this affection. “I just wanted something that would benefit the experience of coming here,” she says.
Photo: Arron Andrews
Starting with just four alpacas in 2018, the fluffy farm animals were a hit with visitors. The herd has since burgeoned to 22, with more on the way. In addition to alpaca walks, where guests can get up close and friendly with the animals, they host special events; the couple even dresses the alpacas in festive hats for holidays like Christmas. “They just put a smile on your face,” Marie says. “You can’t help it. It’s just the way they are.”
Photo: Arron Andrews
There’s even more to these exotic animals than meets the eye; some of the alpacas are specially bred to produce award-winning fibers. The couple brought two females to compete in the Eastern Alpaca Jamboree in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, this April, where they were judged on fleece quality and presentation. The alpacas have gotten numerous first-place wins over the years. Hidden Spring’s on-site shop sells goods like blankets, socks and yarn made from alpaca fleece.
For all the feel-good fun Hidden Spring offers, running the farm hasn’t come without its challenges. The farm was formerly a wedding and events venue. With difficulties in recent years keeping up with state regulations, fees for township permits and liability insurance, the couple decided to nix those services altogether.
Predictably, the pandemic also threw a wrench in the farm’s operations. Providing mostly outdoor services, the farm was able to stay open, but saw much less traffic. This pushed Marie to think outside the box; she designed and sold thousands of face masks.
“With business, you have to continuously reinvent yourself. Every so often, you have to bump it up a notch,” she says.
Photo: Arron Andrews
Through it all, the Voorheeses have had only a few minor price increases in more than a decade. On non-event days, Hidden Spring is free to visit, and no reservations are required. The couple also donates gift baskets and other products to organizations across New Jersey, such as the New Jersey Agricultural Society and the Woodland Wildlife Refuge in Pittstown. The owners take pride in the consistency of their products and the accessibility of the alpacas. “It’s strictly a labor of love,” Marie says.
Hidden Spring Lavender Farm, 890 Route 601, Skillman; 609-558-7034.
Want to visit a lavender farm in another town? Pleasant Valley Lavender in Morganville is a pet-friendly spot where guests can pick their own lavender, shop and book photo sessions. Princeton Lavender in Princeton boasts alpacas and ponies, and also hosts events. At Field & Flock Lavender Farm in Woodstown, visitors can take classes and learn about the lavender-distillation process; the farm also hosts small events. And Orchard View Lavender Farm in Port Murray hosts events and sells bath/body products and teas; check the website for information on visiting.
