Marie Mayor and Sharon Harris: Lavender Ladies Make Stuff Smell Good
Regular visitors to the Rehoboth and Lewes Farmers’ Markets can tell you—without even looking—exactly where the Lavender Fields Farm booth is located. A delicate floral cloud beckons you to seek out (and sniff up-close) their selection of lavender-laced goodies.
Before partners Marie Mayor and Sharon Harris purchased the Milton-based Lavender Fields Farm in 2002, both women lived just outside Baltimore in Catonsville. Sharon was born in Indianapolis, where her father worked for General Motors. In keeping with the region’s automotive theme, she proudly describes herself as a “Speedway Spark Plug”; a proud alumnus of Speedway High School.
Marie was born in Louisiana and migrated north in 1966 when she transferred from LSU to the University of Maryland. She served on the College Park City Council and was active in Prince George’s County and Howard County politics.
After graduating from Purdue University, Sharon joined the Marines as an officer. In spite of her family’s born-again evangelical proclivities, Sharon describes herself as “always gay,” and she suspects that her interest in the Marines was sparked (at least in part) by a recruiter whom she will always remember: Captain Wunderlick.
While in the service, Sharon fell in love with a woman and eventually followed her to Baltimore. She landed a position as a psychiatric social worker for the Veterans’ Administration, eventually retiring from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Baltimore. It was during that time that Sharon and her girlfriend founded the Coalition of Gay Sisters in Columbia, Maryland. (Bonnie Quesenberry, a local friend that many of us share, was also a member of that group.)
Never one to surrender to boredom, Sharon enrolled in law school and earned her J.D. In the meantime, Marie was working to promote gender equality. Her organizational duties included helping women choose courses and educational paths that would lead to profitable employment.
Sharon wanted to become a domestic issues lawyer, but after advising a few too many of her clients to “JUST GET OVER IT!” she chose to concentrate instead on her management skills. Everyone (including the clients) agreed enthusiastically.
A self-described “serial monogamist,” she was living with a woman when friends told her about Marie. A pot-luck dinner was arranged (imagine that), and Sharon was instantly charmed by Marie’s upbeat personality and infectious laugh. She manipulated circumstances in such a way that they would meet again, but Marie still had some trepidation.
Never a fan of taking no for an answer, Sharon invited Marie to go to the movies. Marie graciously accepted, bringing 15 friends along with her. Well, you never know when you might need a buffer….
Sharon’s therapist urged her to end the pursuit of Marie, so the next time she and Marie met, Sharon acted on the therapist’s advice by blurting out, “I have a crush on you!” They finally got together in the summer of ‘98.
Sharon and Marie purchased a restored Victorian in Milton, but Marie continued to commute back and forth to the Department of Education in Washington, D.C. where she wrote regulations and enforcement guidelines for the Office of Special Education.
The women had made friends with Pauline Pettit, aka Milton’s “Lavender Lady,” and the original owner of Lavender Fields. When they heard that Pauline was selling the place, they hopped in the car to say goodbye and maybe pick up some lavender-scented provisions. As luck would have it, Pauline ruefully informed them that the sale had just fallen through. Sharon and Marie looked at one another, and they both, quite literally, bought the farm.
Marie reveals, “Neither of us were entrepreneurs, and neither of us were farmers. In fact, Sharon is allergic to animals!” They called their friend Mary Ann Etu who agreed to join them as a business partner. With her help, they’ve expanded their range of products, and even attract local chefs who stock up on lavender sugar, Herbs de Provence, fruit preserves with lavender, French sea salt with lavender, lavender honey (from their own hives there on the farm), teas, lavender chocolate, and more—including their signature lavender wine jelly made with chardonnay.
One unusual feature of Lavender Fields Farm is the stone labyrinth. Some consider it to be a mystical tool symbolic of a spiritual path to the center of oneself. Marie says that their late-night relaxation is occasionally interrupted by moonlit visitors slowly walking the elaborate pathways, awash in the soothing fragrance of lavender.
They’ve come a long way from not being entrepreneurs or farmers! The thriving business enjoys a perpetual presence in the agricultural and culinary communities here in Delaware. Marie sums it up best: “We feel like we live in a garden.”
Bob Yesbek is a Rehoboth Beach resident. Email Bob Yesbek