Bohemian Lavender Farm Helps Neighboring Cattle Farmers Recover From Tragic Barn Fire

The Shimek family of Bohemian Lavender Farm is hosting a Stein/Olsen family farm benefit this week in their lavender fields, with 100 percent of proceeds from U-Pick bundles going directly to the family after their barn fire on the morning of June 16. 

The Steins were able to evacuate the cattle safely, however the cattle and hay storage barn was a total loss.

In a Facebook post announcing the benefit, Bohemian Lavender Farm owners Mike and Mary Shimek shared, “As many farmers know, the insurance policy on a large old barn won’t be nearly enough to cover the cost to rebuild or clean up the mess left behind. We would like to provide an opportunity to help offset their costs.”

Through Saturday July 3, the Shimeks will donate 100 percent of U-Pick lavender proceeds, during the farm’s regular hours of 10am to 4pm.

In addition to thousands of plants and the July and August U-Pick, the Shimeks have a shop with a number of farm-made lavender products in their own 120-year-old barn. They allow picnics on the property, invite guests to stroll the grounds and area artists to paint the fields. 

Bill Olsen, his daughter Rachel Stein and her husband Travis Stein raise beef cattle on their small family-owned farm at Ryant and Bohemian Roads, and they have another farm that abuts the Shimeks’ property. “The farm has been there since the 1930s, I believe. We are really close neighbors and good friends,” says Mike Shimek, whose own family has farmed that part of Leelanau County since the early 1890s.

Mike and Mary’s son Sam Shimek and and daughter-in-law Ashley Shimek live next door and also pitch in at the lavender farm. “It was Sam’s idea to do the fundraiser,” says Mike. “The goal is to help another famer out…it’s a bad situation and we all want to be good neighbors.”

He adds, “They have sold some of the cattle off and they have cattle pastured nearby; cleanup is in progress. We will write a check on Saturday and they can use it for whatever they need.”

Find Bohemian Lavender Farm at 8181 S. Shimek Road, Maple City. With increased traffic due to the benefit this week, the Shimeks ask for caution on Shimek Road and the winding trail down to the barn.