How I Became a Flower Farmer
/I get asked this question a lot: "How did you become a flower farmer?" It has taken me a couple of years to articulate my story, but I finally received the structure and encouragement to sit down and start writing - so I did. I can't pretend that this story is just about me however. William, my husband, best friend, love of my life and partner in all things is the real reason that I had the courage to follow this dream.
I grew up on the coast of South Carolina and some of my earliest memories are of climbing the giant magnolia trees outside of my dad's office and picking flowers from my mom’s garden. My parents are both plant-loving and growing people, so I suppose growing plants is in my DNA. My mom taught me at a young age the joy of picking lettuce from the garden to make salad for dinner. I spent hours every summer watering trees at my dad's plant nursery and landscaping company, and I wanted to be just like him when I grew up. Family vacations were spent camping in the same mountains that I now call home. So its no wonder that my heart led me to be growing plants here in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
I spent my 20's living and adventuring in the Western states while leading outdoor adventure trips for teens. I spent my time backpacking across British Columbia, mountaineering in Washington and rock climbing in Northern California. I would save all my money in order to travel and do the same activities, but without the company of teenagers, in places like Nepal, Peru and Costa Rica. I apprenticed on an organic farm in Georgia and fell in love with farming. I eventually became the director of an outdoor program (Adventure Treks). But after about 10 years of traveling, I started to crave a home. I bought a house in the heart of Asheville, adopted a dog, a cat, some chickens and built a huge garden. I reconnected with a college friend who had recently moved to Asheville and after a few months of renewed friendship, we fell in love. I married that sweet friend (its William by the way), added we another dog to our family and built an even bigger garden. But I started to feel restless in my professional life. I loved working with kids and wanted a new challenge, so I joined an incredible team of folks who were starting a K-8 charter school. It was a wonderful experience, but my heart was still restless and being drawn even more strongly towards farming.
I knew deep down that I wanted to be growing plants, but vegetables didn't feel right. Plus, we are so lucky in this area to have many incredible farmers of food already. One day while trail running, I had an intense vision that I needed to be growing flowers. I could see it so clearly in my mind: fields full of flowers and me tending them. Throughout my life, I've carried along my parents' love of flowering plants - drooling over dahlias at Pike's Place Market in Seattle, always having vases of fresh flowers in the house and designing the flowers for our wedding. I tentatively approached William - who by now was well aware of my professional restlessness and wild dreams - and told him that I wanted to become a flower farmer. I started reading everything that I could get my hands on, researching endlessly, writing a business plan and creating a financial projections. I spent every spare moment developing this dream. The biggest obstacle was that I couldn't imagine building a new business and really giving it 100% while working a full time job off the farm. When I set my mind to do something, I go all in. I wanted to be successful. I wanted to quit my job and become a full time flower farmer. William was nothing short of heroic as he encouraged me to pursue this dream.
So we made a plan: we depleted our savings, I tearfully left my job at the school and we found some beautiful land to lease. I was absolutely terrified. Leaving behind a steady paycheck, health insurance, set hours for work and the camaraderie of coworkers felt like such a huge risk. But I knew that in order to make this dream happen, I would have to be organized, focused and work my ass off.
We humans crave beauty in our lives. Flowers truly feed the soul and are such a unique expression of caring. Seeing the look on someone's face as they hold a bouquet of fresh-picked flowers that I grew is unlike anything I've ever experienced. I love telling people the romantic names of varieties on the farm and feeling proud that when someone sticks their nose into my flowers, they'll inhale fragrance instead of chemicals. With each seed sown, weed pulled and bridal bouquet created, I am literally building our future and living my dream.
Following your dreams is never easy - its hard work, sore muscles, fear of failure, loneliness, mistakes and lots of dirty laundry. But having the courage to step out of my comfort zone and explore that restlessness, with the unfailing support of William, led me to start this little flower business. Its the best risk I've ever taken.
