ESSENTIAL EDGE
THE
NEWS OF THE WORLD LEADER IN ESSENTIAL OILS
Volume 4.7 July 2014
The Royal Return
Founder’s Message WE FEEL GREATLY blessed and are thrilled for the spectacular success of our 20th-anniversary International Grand Convention. Looking back at our simple beginnings and seeing what we have now become is a mixture of humility and rejoicing. It has been the most amazing journey of discovery, adventure, and determination. Everyone on the corporate side, together with thousands of members, has been greatly rewarded for being part of this joyous event. The memories of where we started and the vision of where we are going create a feeling of gratitude and a fire of anticipation for what lies ahead. Now is the time to hold onto the tail of the comet as we go into warp speed! At one time we thought we were introducing too many products, but we didn’t know what to leave out because they are all so timely. Enjoy them as you experiment to discover the benefits for you and your family—and remember to let us in on your discoveries. This is a great time of wellness and abundance for Young Living, and we are thrilled for your success in so many ways. Go forward and build your business; you will touch the lives of thousands more who will join with us to express joy and thanksgiving to our Creator for what He has given us to share with the world. We love you all and appreciate your great support. To all of you who made the sacrifice to be with us to celebrate our 20 years of growing together, we ask that you take the excitement you felt and what you learned home with you to those anxiously waiting to hear your stories and all the news. We look forward to being together again and sharing in the excitement of all of your success. Sincerely, Gary and Mary Young
In 2011 D. Gary Young, with the help of Jean-Noël Landel, Benoît Cassan, and Jean-Marie Blanc, bridged two continents and three decades in a realization of the beginning of an audacious undertaking: bringing a thriving, healthy Lavandula angustifolia— true lavender—from St. Maries, Idaho, back to its origin at the Young Living Lavender Farm in the Simiane Valley in southern France to save lavender in the region. The following is from an interview with Gary in France in June 2014:
“
What is really amazing is that this is the
A Perilous Past only time I’ve seen true lavender with such TWENTY YEARS AGO we saw things changing in the true a life force in it. Nobody can believe it. lavender fields in France. I watched it closely then, and it wasn’t long after when lavender started dying off. The true lavender that Gary brought with When I went back to France in 1985, ’87, ’88, ’89, and ’91, him from St. Maries hasn’t grown here for when I started working with Jean-Noël, I kept taking seed over 15 years. It disappeared, but the way back home and planting it. In 1991 I started expanding my fields until I had enough true lavender to plant 45 acres at it looks now is very promising. the St. Maries farm from 1992-94. – Jean-Noël Landel As I went back to France over the years, we watched the lavender slowly die out. We watched the farmers working and working to get it back and to find out why this was happening. Part of it was an unknown virus that came through the region. Also, some of the fields developed a fungus, which I believe had something to do with the weakened immunity of the plants after years and years of growing and being fertilized. The lavender just wasn’t resistant to some of the bugs and fungus any longer. A severe, extended drought also took its toll. An Exciting New Beginning What is so exciting is that I talked to Jean-Noël several years ago and said that I had a feeling that maybe one day St. Maries lavender would reestablish lavender back in France and create a rebirthing of true lavender. As we talked about it, there were some laughs; but three years ago, Gary leased the French lavender farm in 1993. I brought seed back to France from the St. Maries farm. We decided to experiment and just see what it would do. So we planted it in the nursery and started growing starts. Two years ago, we moved the lavender from the nursery and planted it in the field. What’s amazing to me is that this lavender originally came from France, and then we brought it back after 20 years in the U.S. and reestablished it. And, now, our lavender field was in full bloom 10 days before any other lavender in all of Provence. Benoît Cassan, president of the French Lavender Growers Association, said, “This St. Maries lavender looks exactly like our true lavender fields did 50 years ago.” This really brought a lump up in my throat. It’s beautiful and magnificent true lavender. It’s coming in multiple colors from white to deep, deep purple. It’s lush with a lot of stems and heavy flowers on them. You just couldn’t ask for a more beautiful true lavender than what’s here now. The other part that thrills me is that this lavender will produce seed. Jean-Noël and Jean-Marie will gather seed and start propagating new starts for next year to reestablish a strong immunity within the plants. This is so exciting! France has given so much to me, and I feel honored and humbled that I can give back to France after all these years. It’s a real joy. We are excited! Come and be part of this amazing Young Living true lavender farm in France—the largest true lavender farm in the world today!
A Field Full of Melissa
FROM JUNE 9–12, the Young Living farm team planted 120,000 melissa plants at the St. Maries farm! During the next few weeks, an additional 100,000 melissa plants will be put in the ground, making 15 flourishing acres of beautiful melissa. These plants will be ready for our members to harvest in 2–3 years! The Essential Edge
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