The start of Dalmatia Aromatic Farm and Distillery
Croatia’s Dalmatia region is home to a rich history and breathtaking views, as well as to the highly specific conditions required to grow helichrysum. Helichrysum is one of those rare plants that takes its nutrients from the calcium carbonate found in rocks, not from the soil. The Dalmatia Aromatic Farm and Distillery grows and cultivates a variety of aromatic plants, protecting helichrysum and other plants growing in the wild.
Before the Dalmatia Aromatic farm in Split, Croatia, was established, helichrysum was harvested only as a wild plant, with no information available on how to cultivate it domestically. However, helichrysum was in such high demand that it became endangered. Understanding the urgency to protect the species, Young Living’s late founder, D. Gary Young, began pursuing the goal of cultivating and preserving the endangered plant. In October 2014, the Dalmatia farm team met with Gary and agreed to partner with him to keep helichrysum thriving.
Domagoj Bekavac was part of the farm team that first met with Gary. Prior to meeting him, Domagoj had heard about Gary and was fascinated by his exceptional knowledge and experience with aromatic plants. Under Gary’s mentorship, Domagoj learned how to put into practice Young Living’s Seed to Seal® quality commitment. As the farm manager of the Dalmatia Aromatic Farm and Distillery, Domagoj ensures that the highest standards of farming are met to produce the highest quality essential oils available.
Before the Dalmatia Aromatic farm in Split, Croatia, was established, helichrysum was harvested only as a wild plant, with no information available on how to cultivate it domestically. However, helichrysum was in such high demand that it became endangered. Understanding the urgency to protect the species, Young Living’s late founder, D. Gary Young, began pursuing the goal of cultivating and preserving the endangered plant. In October 2014, the Dalmatia farm team met with Gary and agreed to partner with him to keep helichrysum thriving.
Domagoj Bekavac was part of the farm team that first met with Gary. Prior to meeting him, Domagoj had heard about Gary and was fascinated by his exceptional knowledge and experience with aromatic plants. Under Gary’s mentorship, Domagoj learned how to put into practice Young Living’s Seed to Seal® quality commitment. As the farm manager of the Dalmatia Aromatic Farm and Distillery, Domagoj ensures that the highest standards of farming are met to produce the highest quality essential oils available.
Seed to Seal® quality commitment
Gary Young personally designed the stainless steel steam distiller used at the Dalmatia farm, which adapts to use for a variety of different plants and plant parts. For example, it’s made to handle both bay laurel trees, which must be pre-cut, and Dalmatia juniper, which must be ground because of the toughness of its branches.
Once the oil is distilled and separated, it’s stored in stainless steel barrels. The barrels are placed in a cold, dark storage room for two weeks to allow the oil to rest at a stable temperature. It is then filtered, at which point it is ready for the next steps in Young Living’s rigorous Seed to Seal process.
Once the oil is distilled and separated, it’s stored in stainless steel barrels. The barrels are placed in a cold, dark storage room for two weeks to allow the oil to rest at a stable temperature. It is then filtered, at which point it is ready for the next steps in Young Living’s rigorous Seed to Seal process.
Oil highlight
Helichrysum is a native of coastal landscapes such as France, Italy, and Croatia, where it requires a particular set of environmental conditions to grow. To cultivate this precious wild plant, Young Living transplanted rocks to the farm to replicate the natural growing conditions that helichrysum requires.
"Because of the volume of oils that Gary wanted to supply Young Living's needs, this introduced a problem with the capacity of manufacturing. Gary asked me how long it would take to build a distillery of the size we needed, and I told him six months. Gary said we'd do it in one month, and I told him he was completely crazy! But it was operational in just 19 days!"
–Domagoj Bekavac, Farm Manager
Did you know?
The Dalmatia Aromatic Farm and Distillery is located in the beautiful Mediterranean region of Croatia, where the sea, fresh air, and rocky meadows create the perfect environment for more than 100 aromatic plants to thrive.
Spread over 1 million square meters, the Dalmatia Aromatic Farm and Distillery is the world’s largest helichrysum farm.
Helichrysum is known as the “everlasting flower” because even after being harvested, the plant continues to bloom until it produces a seed.
Our focus on conservation
Implementing sustainability projects. The farm team built their own greenhouse, allowing them to produce about 700–1,000 seedlings twice a year. The farm team has also begun humus production, mixing distilled biomass with manure and other organic compounds from worms to improve the soil quality and sustain the land.
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