In the past we have talked about alternative crops for the Southeast as a way of diversifying, taking advantage of new markets, and adapting to changes in climate over time. I was interested to read an article in (NACAA) at file.ashx (nacaa.com) discussing the cultivation of lavender as a commercial crop that has potential for agritourism. You may have seen pictures of lavender fields in France that are popular tourist attractions. According to the article, it grows best in cooler climates such as the mountainous areas of northeast Georgia, although it is better suited to drier areas. The article describes how to grow it, what cultivars work best, and what you can use the lavender for.
