Heidi Skagen is the owner of Synnøve Lavender Farm in Kent, Washington, where she cultivates various herbal products, including essential oils derived from her beloved lavender. A long-time resident of the Northwest, Heidi's love for the outdoors comes from generations of her family connected with nature. From grandparents who had their own private greenhouse to nurture the plants they cherished, to Montana farmers and ranchers on the other side of her family, Heidi’s appreciation for the beauty and function of the earth is deeply rooted.
With a degree in landscape design and certification as an ornamental horticulturalist, Heidi applies her expertise to her farm. She is also a proud mother of five adult children and is married to David Skagen, and together they enjoy life at their farm in Kent, WA.
“Being in the garden has always been my place of serenity, inspiration, hard work, reflection, and hospitality. I love encouraging people to be outside and take in the beauty this world has to offer; to find a sanctuary in a very busy society.” - Heidi Skagen
Photo courtesy of Travis Thurber
A good garden is best appreciated by foot and through the eyes and heart."
- from “The Inward Garden” by Julie Moir Messervy
In the early 1990s, Heidi and her husband visited their first lavender farm in Sequim, WA. This visit sparked a dream to someday own land for a lavender and herb farm where they could escape city life .
Years went by. Their family grew. The dream lived on.
Then in 2006 tragedy struck the family. The husband was driving behind a pick-up truck on the freeway when it lost its load. The resulting accident took his life. Heidi was expecting their fifth child.
Over the next fifteen years Heidi worked hard to raise and support her family. She went back to school and got a degree in landscape design and started her own business that she loved. The dream of a lavender herb farm had died.
In 2020, she met David Skagen and fell in love. The following year, they married, and she moved from Lake Forest Park to the 10 acres in Kent, WA, where David lived.
One day, as Heidi gazed out the large picture windows of her new home she noticed a rainbow that went from one side of the property to the other, perfectly arching over the expansive open field behind the house. At that moment, a dream that she had thought was long dead, began to rise again in her heart. She asked David if she could do something with that field. He looked at her with deep love and said, of course.
Over the next year, Heidi designed, prepped, and implemented the lavender labyrinth and began work on the Potager Garden. After testing the waters one weekend in 2024 with a successful opening, she decided to open the farm every weekend in the summer of 2025, from the end of June to mid-August.
The joy she experienced from meeting neighbors, locals, and visitors from other states and nations filled her heart. She knew her dream had come to fruition and was overflowing.
Heidi and David plan to have the farm open on Fridays and Saturdays during the summers, with aspirations to grow the farm each year by adding more events, classes, and gardens. Their hope is that every person who visits will feel the deep peace and joy that this exceptional place has brought to them.
Welcome to Synnøve Lavender Farm.
Heidi Skagen has been fascinated with quilts for decades. On her travels around the United States she saw many barns displaying large quilt blocks and enjoyed watching for them as the miles sped by. It was not surprising that the Synnøve barn would would soon be likewise adorned. The pattern on the Synnøve barn is the Shoo Fly quilt block. Heidi loves this pattern because tradition has it that it was displayed outside homes along the Underground Railroad to let travelers know that place was a safe haven and the people there could be trusted - which is just how she hopes every visitor to Synnøve Lavender Farm feels as well.
Our field has 8 different lavender varieties that vary in size and color.
A labyrinth is different from a maze in that it has a single, continuous path leading to the center and back, offering a meditative journey without the challenge of getting lost.
As you walk through the labyrinth, stop and close your eyes. Listen to the humm of the happy bees.
A variety of wildlife frequently visit our farm.
This visitor showed up often when we were installing the lavender field.
The meadow
In our back meadow honey bees are busy at work.