Park City & Mona Farm, Utah

We set off early morning from Midway to head back to Las Vegas. I was keeping my fingers really crossed that we could locate Young Living's Mona Farm. I wanted to include this stop very badly as part of an unusual educational tour for Xav.

I opted to go to Mona Farm on our own since we had our own transport and had also planned to drive back after the farm tour and return to Las Vegas by the evening. Along the way, we spotted breath-taking view of lakes, mountains,

the cliff walls and that was how far and clear Canon Power Shot SX530 HS could zoom in.

 different formation of the rocks

Though it was tiring, Don was totally enjoying his scenic drive. We chanced upon this beautiful spot and alighted to take some photos. Anywhere, any angle, the scenery was breath-taking and awesome !



Loved how the cotton-like clouds stretched across the blue backdrop.

Bid goodbye to this beautiful place ! We really hope to plan a trip back here again !

As we drove on, I thought we had missed the exit because despite having drove past the signage but the exit was nowhere to be seen. But my heart screamed in excitement when I spotted the plots of lavender fields ! Mona farm must be nearby !

Finally, we made it to Young Living's Mona Farm!

"I had a wish and hope it will come true ......" , yes it did for 2015 ! I visited Mona Farm and Young Living Headquarters (Lehi) in 2014 with the group of Young Living family from Singapore and Malaysia.

Mona Farm, Utah 2014

I told myself it will be great if my wish comes true, I would love to bring Xav to tour the distillery and a different kind of educational tour for him because I don't think we can find any essential oil distilleries in Singapore !

My hard work paid off, I made it to Silver rank and qualified for the #SilverRetreat2015. This time, I brought my family along! It was an eye-opener for Xav and he got a clearer picture of how the oils which he had been using, were being distilled. I hope this tour had been an eye-opening one for him.

The following procedure is being carried out when comes to distilling essential oils (What was on the board) :
- Before harvesting, Young Living experts test a plant's PH levels to ensure each crop is gathered at the exact right time.
- Once harvested and dried, plants are placed and compressed in the cookers.
- Purified steam then rises through the plants, releasing the essential oils into the vapour.
- Long tubes extending from the top of the cookers allow the vapour to condense back into oil-infused water.
- This water containing essential oils, collects into glass separating chambers where the essential oil floats upward.
- Once separated from the water, the oil sits undisturbed to allow any solids to settle.
- The oil is then filtered, poured into large, glass-lined containers, and shipped to Young Living's facilities in Spanish Fork.

Did you know that each cooker can contain up to 10,000 litres of plant material, which will yield 4-5 gallons of essential oil. It takes approximately 3/4 acre of crop to fill one cooker.

My reason for choosing Young Living is simply because of Young Living's promise to families - The Seed to Seal Quality Commitment and their sense of global stewardship. Read more about it here.

Beginning on the Seed-to-Seal Process

The dried plants are placed and compressed in the cookers.

Long tubes extending from the top of the cookers allow the vapour to condense back into oil-infused water.

The water containing essential oil, was collected into glass separating chambers where the essential oil floated upwards. The oils would then be sent to Young Living's internal lab as well as third party facilities to be tested and made sure that they meet the stringent specifications, exceeded international standards and contain the optimal levels of natural bioactive compounds.

The Seed to Seal process will be completed in Young Living's 107,000 square foot facility in Spanish Fork, Utah. Using state-of-the-art equipment, each essential oil is carefully bottled into protective amber glass bottles, before shipping out to members worldwide.

And what a surprise we had at the distillery, it was really a "STAR-STRUCK" moment! I had the opportunity to introduce Gary Young and the new CEO of Young Living, Mary Young to Xav and had a picture taken with them. Proudly, he went back and told his daddy excitedly that he got to meet Gary, the amazing man behind the awesome Young Living Essential Oils !

We made a quick tour around the rest of the farm via the wagon ride pulled by the handsome horses.

Do you know that there are Young Living owns 12 farms of their own around the globe ?

- YL Whispering Springs Farm (Mona, Utah, United States)
Nearly 1,600 acres, Mona, Utah Farm is home to the largest privately owned essential oil distillery in the world. Many plants are being harvested for both members and botanical research uses.

Types of plants : Lavender, Hyssop, Clary Sage, Peppermint, Golden-rod, German Chamomile etc.

- YL Highland Flats Tree Farm (Highland Flats, Idaho, United States)
The annual winter harvest is usually hosted at Highland Flats and allow members can join in the harvesting of plants like Balsam Fir. Members may also participate in the farm's annual spring reforestation sustainability project to replace the harvested trees.

Types of plants: Balsam Fir, Western Red Cedar, Pine and Idaho Blue Spruce

- YL St. Maries Farm (St. Maries, Idaho, United States)
In 1992, Young Living Founder, D. Gary Young purchased 200 acres of pristine farmland that had never been cultivated or subjected to chemicals, pesticides, or fertilizers of any kind. The pure soil makes St. Maries an ideal location for growing lavender, Melissa and Tansy.

Types of plants : Lavender, Melissa and Tansy

- YL Northern Lights Farm (Fort Nelson, British Columbia,, Canada)
After extensive scouting and research for the best possible location, Northern Light Farm was purchased by Young Living in 2014, making it the major source of Black Spruce essential oil, an important oil in many of their popular blends.

Types of plants : Black Spruce, Ledum and more

- YL Guayaquil Farm (Guayaquil, Equador)
Since 2005, Ecuador Farm has cultivated and distilled Eucalyptus Blue, Dorado Azul, Zaragosa, Lemongrass, Rosa morta, Oregano, Ylang Ylang, Basil, and many unique botanicals. It's state-of-the-art distillery is one of the largest in South East Asia.

Types of plants : Eucalyptus Blue, Dorado Azul, Ylang Ylang, Ocotea and more.

- YL Simiane-La-Rotonde Farm (Simiane, France)
Known for the rolling hills and farms of fragrant lavender in the Provence region of France. This is the only American-owned lavender farm in the country.

Types of plants : Lavender, Lavandin, Rosemary & Clary Sage

- YL Salalah Farm (Salalah, Oman)
It's a partnership between Young Living and local Omani harvesters to obtain and secure supply of Sacred Frankincense resin. Young Living is the first and only company in the world to obtain permission to distill and export this precious essential oil and bring it to the western world.

Types of plants : Sacred Frankincense (Boswellia Sacra)

- YL Croatia Farm (Split, Croatia)
This place is home to a wide variety of aromatic plants. An ideal location for growing Helicrysum as well as many other crops that will be processed at this newest distillery. The facility will be a fully functioning distillery, as well as a manufacturing plant and distribution center.

Types of plants : Helicrysum

- YL Israel Cooperative Farm (Israel)
A 25 minute drive from Jerusalem, the Young Living Israel Cooperative Farm is where Gary Young met entrepreneur Guy Erlich,, who cultivates 8000 balm of Gilead (Commiphora gileadensis) trees. This farm is the first large scale commercial plantation site in the world for this historical aromatic treasure.

Types of plants : Balm of Gilead

- YL Taiwan Cooperative Farm (Taiwan)
This was in 2011, when Gary Young flew to Taiwan to explore it's native plants. Together with an acclaimed agriculturist, Gin S. Lee and his son, they distilled exotic Hong Kuai and Xiang Mao botanicals, which was features in the 2013 Exotic Oil Collection, as well as Jade lemon which was featured in the 2014 kit.

Types of plants : Xiang Mao, Hong Kuai and Jade Lemon

- YL Australia Partner Farm (Darwin, Australia)
This was established in 1994 and located in Australia's North Territory on the northern coast. Darwin farm is Young Living's oldest cooperative farm. They have worked closely with farm owner Vince Collins for nearly 15 years to harvest and distill the distinctive Blue Cypress essential oil.

Types of plants : Blue Cypress

- Partner / Co-op Farms ( Young Living/ Dubai and Somaliland and Cooperative Farms)
Owned by Farmer Hassan Saleh, the farm provides Young Living Crucial Boswellia  Caterii and Boswellia Frereana. at Somaliland farm, Frankincense Resin is collected and sent to Dubai Farm to be distilled. Exclusively for Young Living, the Dubai Farm has rebuilt their distillery to fully meet Young Living's Seed to Seal standards.

Types of plants : Frankincense (Boswellia  Caterii and Boswellia Frereana)

Mona Farm 

Lavender Field 

We were so reluctant to leave the farm, totally in love with the plants and beautiful flowers which surrounded us.

 

Goodbye Mona Farm, till the next visit. Mona Farm is open to the members of the public. If you have been a user of the oils and happens to be going to the States, do drop by the beautiful farm !

Drove past some cattle companies and spotted the cows grazing at the fields.

By the evening, hello again to the city that never sleeps.

 

And our stop for the night is at TRUMP Hotel.

A little further away from the bustling streets. But the room and facility was the most awesome among all the hotels we had stayed during the entire trip, minus Zermatt Spa and Resort. I shall leave it to the next post for Las Vegas.

If you have missed out on our previous posts, here are the links to bring you back :
Pre Trip Preparation : Our Travel Essentials
Day 1 - Disneyland Theme Park in Anaheim, California
Day 2 - Alcatraz Island - The Rock
Day 3 - San Francisco
Day 4 - Las Vegas (To be blog later)
Day 5 & 6 - Park City, Utah (Zermatt Resort and Spa) & Salt Lake City

Thank you for reading and if you would like to stay tune for future updates, do follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram !

Linking up with Bumble Bee Mum's