Why I’ve Been So Quiet

It's been a loooong time since you've heard from me. The blog has been quiet for almost two years, and I hadn’t sent out any emails for over a year.

The truth is, I've been thinking about what the farm would look like going forward. After I closed the u-pick, I wasn't sure exactly what would come next, and I stayed quiet until I figured it out.

Closing the u-pick was one of the hardest decisions I've made. My husband and I always planned to build a house right there on the farm and keep growing flowers on the same land. But building costs and interest rates skyrocketed right after we bought the property, and no matter how many ways we tried to make it work, building was just impossible for us. Around the same time, we found a house we loved. Bigger and nicer than anything we could have afforded to build, with a giant yard where I could keep growing flowers. So we made the decision: buy the house, sell the farm.

It was bittersweet.

Some days it still is, especially when I drive by the old farm and remember our dreams.

Even so, it was the right choice.

We're still in Yellow Springs, in a quiet neighborhood on almost an acre. Right now I've got 250 peonies planted there, with plans to add more. I'll share more about that soon.

The other big shift I want to mention: over the past few years, I fell in love with preserving flowers. Pressing and drying them, then turning them into long-lasting art that keeps you connected you to your most important memories.

I recently finished a commission for a client who asked me to preserve her mom's funeral flowers. She's so happy because not only is it beautiful, but it reminds her of her mom every time she sees it. It makes her feel close to her mom.

Flower preservation has become a focus for me, and I'm excited to be able to serve others through custom floral art.

So here's where things stand:

The pick-your-own chapter of The Village Flower Farm is over, but there's a new one starting. This new adventure is centered on floral art, pressed flowers, and eventually, peonies you can bring home again. I'd love for you to stick around for it.

Leave a comment and say hi. I'd love to hear what's been going on with you, and whether you grew a garden this year.

Warmly,

Laura