Bill MacElroy transitioned from a 35-year career as a research scientist to general manager of Monte-Bellaria, the largest lavender farm in Northern California. His scientific background provided a unique perspective on agriculture, emphasizing test and measurement similar to research. He began the farm with an experimental patch and tested various lavender varieties to identify the most suitable for the local conditions. Inspired by the Tuscan mountains, MacElroy designed the farm to reflect that aesthetic, currently comprising 9.5 acres with 35,000 lavender plants, olive trees, and beehives. The operations integrate olive oil, lavender oil, and bee products.
As a research scientist, your life is involved with test and measurement. And so is agriculture -- seeing what's going to grow, see what takes, what doesn't.
The farm began as an experimental patch, where MacElroy tested seven different lavender varieties to determine which would thrive best in their specific conditions.
The Tuscan countryside, with its abundant lavender fields, olive groves, and thriving bee populations, became the blueprint for what would become Monte-Bellaria.
Almost everything that we produce here is made of some combination of olive oil, essential oil of lavender, and bee products, so wax.
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