Windblume Farms didn't begin with a business plan or market research. It began with dahlias. I fell in love with them while helping my mom start her own flower farm. There's something about dahlias- their layers, their uniqueness, their unapologetic beauty- that just pulled me in. Each bloom felt like it had its own personality, and before I knew it, I was completely captivated.
That passion took us all the way to upstate New York, where we visited a dahlia farm we'd followed online for years. They've built something truly special, selling tubers to small backyard growers and large-scale flower farms all across the country. It was one of those rare moments where you not only feel inspired, but also begin to see what's possible.
But the real lightbulb moment? It happened when we came across something unexpected: a vegetable U-pick.
For years, when I heard "U-pick", I thought of fruit- blueberries, apples, cherries. But here we were, standing in a vegetable field in New York, watching families harvest their own food. And it just hit me: This is it. This is what I want to build.
It wasn't just about growing food- it was about connection. With all of the issues we've had in our food supply over the last handful of years, this idea just made sense. We already planned to move back home eventually. We already planned to prep our land for a family garden. My husband even joked that he wouldn't move back unless there was a tractor waiting in the driveway upon our arrival.
So we asked ourselves: Why not prep the land on a larger scale? Why not grow fresh food not just for ourselves, but for our community? Why not give people the chance to pick their own food.. and teach their kids where it comes from while they're at it?
As a homeschooling family, we naturally find lessons in everyday life. Cooking turns into chemistry. Nature walks become science class. So the idea of making Windblume Farms not just a farm, but a learning experience felt like a perfect fit. We want families to come here and leave with full baskets and full hearts- knowing more about how their food grows and why that matters.
Once the idea took root, we couldn't stop. We filled notebooks with sketches and ideas. We pulled from every farm we've stayed at during our full-time travels, taking our favorite parts and molding them into something that feels uniquely ours.
Windblume Farms won't be built overnight. We've never done this before and we're not third generation farmers. It's going to take years of sweat, trial, and probably more than a few faceplants. But we believe this is needed- especially in a rural area where grocery store options are few and food prices are high. We're building a farm, yes. But we're also building access. Opportunity. And maybe a little magic, too.