Accountant to Flower Farmer
I’m Sara, or Sara Jean as my mom liked to say in her best country accent. I have always had a love for gardening. I recall a field trip as a kid, fascinated by compost and earthworms. Even back then I always had some type of experiment or garden. At 18, I ran a landscaping crew for a few years, probably one of my favorite jobs ever. I love being outside, in nature, and making things pretty.
I never considered a “career” in farming or agriculture. I needed a “normal” sensible job that made good money, right? I got my Accounting Degree and that is where I spent the next 20 years. I lived for my nights and weekends, dreading the next workday. I enjoyed it for a lot of years, and think it was supposed to be part of my journey. I found I was not fulfilled by my work. It became monotonous, I had no creative outlet, and no passion for what I was doing.
Now to the good part! In 2015 I left my cubicle life behind. I started working from home and found I had so much more time. There was less rushing and more family time. I was able to enjoy accounting again by helping my small business clients, but on my schedule. I also had time to take up my old hobby, gardening.
2015- My first little veggie plot
I tilled up a small patch of dead lawn and started a vegetable garden. I love fresh vegetables and hoped to grow organic food for our family. I had some success, green beans, cucumbers, pineapples and a few flowers. I by no means was actually “feeding” anyone. The little patch kept growing. I hand tilled with a shovel and formed beds. It was very labor intensive, with little to show. I quickly realized I would have to get serious to produce a decent harvest. I watched every Curtis Stone video I could find, along with any Netflix show or YouTube video having to do with vermicomposting, soil health, vegetable gardening.
I planted some Sunflowers, Cosmos, and Hollyhocks. I had even better luck with them! I took flowers to family members in little jars, along with a few veggies and fresh eggs (oh yeah, We got chickens!). I joined Instagram and stumbled across Floret Flowers. I thought is this even real. Absolutely dreamy images of huge Dahlias, ( I didn’t even know what a Dahlia was!). A cute little truck bed loaded down with buckets of flowers. I had never seen anything like this. I read everything I could about Flower Farming. I found there is a whole movement in the USA to grow Locally, Sustainable Cut Flowers. Organizations like the ASCFG, Slower Flowers, and American Grown Flowers are educating and connecting consumers with Locally Grown Flowers.
2016 First Zinnias
In January 2017 I decided to go for it! My neighbor made quick work of tilling the rest of my backyard with his tractor. I was off to the races to see if I could actually grow enough high quality flowers to sell. By May, just in time for Mother’s Day, I had buckets full of flowers. I came home from selling those first few bunches with a couple bucks and a few juicy tomatoes. I have been hooked ever since. Bringing smiles to faces, while nurturing my own soul. This was the passion I was searching for.
I’ll be posting all about the process- making beds, seed starting, timing, tools of the trade and all the flowers, veggies and herbs. Thanks for stopping by!
Photo: Andrew’s Homestead 2017
2020- The backyard plot