The lavender growers participating in the tour this July are seeking sponsors of the event for the first time in the tour’s history.

The tour, which includes Fox Farm, Lavender Hill Farm and the Lavender Sister’s farm, is hoping to be greener and more accessible to the community this year by providing two buses to drive people to the three farms, which will decrease the number of cars on the road and use less energy.

Organizers are seeking sponsors to help cover the costs of the tour — buses, porta potties, insurance, tents, marketing and farm preparation specific to the festival so that they can give more money to the Vashon Youth Council, which the tour will support with its proceeds this year.

Vashon has seen tough youth issues come to the surface this year, and the farmers say they wish to support organizations such as the Vashon Youth Council, which gives Vashon youth a variety of opportunities.

In past years, the lavender growers have given $5,000 to the Vashon Community Care Center, $2,700 to the Interfaith Council on Homelessness, $1,500 to the land trust and $700 to the food bank.

For more information on becoming a sponsor, call Elsa Croonquist at 463-1616 or any of the growers: Cynthia Johnson, Catherine MacNeal, Katy Jo Steward, Dana Illo and Merrilee Runyan.