Tom Lucks, co-owner of Oasis Botanica, takes a break in the shade. Photo by Lynn Lickers.
Oasis Botanica is nestled between the Mack post office and the railroad tracks. It seems an unlikely location for pots and plots of fragrant herbs and colorful flowers.
“When my wife Barbara and I bought the place nine years ago, it was a horse pasture and midnight dump site,” said Oasis co-owner Tom Lucks. Since then, the Lucks have put in about 5,000 square feet of raised beds filled with dozens of varieties of herbs and flowers that they sell at the Oasis and around the valley.
“Right now we have about nine kinds of mint alone, including chocolate, apple and lime. We grow culinary herbs like basil and thyme of course, and medicinal herbs like echinacea, yarrow and valerian,” said Lucks. “And the lavender is always popular. We have four different binomials.”
The grounds of Oasis Botanica include a children’s demonstration area and a greenhouse. “I’m always experimenting. I’m in the greenhouse by January or February, with my space heater. This year I tried upside tomato plants. We’re already picking and eating those.”
Oasis Botanica was opened to the public as a gathering spot in 2007. Shady nooks provide peaceful spots for people to come and relax. “We’ve held small business meetings and birthday parties here,” said Lucks.
Oasis Botanica will host the Fruita Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business get-together on July 24 at 6 pm, called Sip, Sniff and Snip. Women members can relax in the gardens, sip wine and snip herbs and flowers. Cost to attend is $10 and reservations can be made through the chamber at 858-3894.
In addition to spending time tending the gardens, Lucks plies his trade as a certified aromatherapist. “My wife is a registered aromatherapist. I’m more the nuts-and-bolts guy. I handle the buying, blending and bottling,” he explained, referring to the bottles of essential oils for sale in their cozy store front.
The Lucks’ focus on the therapeutic use of essential oils. He explained that each blend is for a specific purpose and can aid in the prevention, treatment and healing process of various conditions. One of the more popular products is Crudbuster, a blend of eucalyptus, tea tree, thyme and lavender oils used to prevent or minimize colds. “I won’t get on an airplane without my inhaler of Crudbuster,” chuckled Lucks.
Some of the lesser-known uses for their essential oils include Roman chamomile to soothe teething babies and helichrysum italicum for cellular healing and treatment of bruises and scars. What’s not available in their store can be purchased on their Web site, www.oasisbotanica.com.
Along with the herbs, the Lucks grow and sell flowers at their location and at the farmer’s market in Fruita on Saturday mornings. Oasis Botanica is open Saturday from 7 am to 1 pm or by appointment at 858-9565.
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