Really, has it been a month since I last posted? Wowza. Well, now that I've finally finished uploading SOME of the photos I want to share to capture the last month, I'll write a little. Starting with the bad news. 

We lost a few sunnies, and ended up with some curly stems due to 40-50 MPH winds a week or so ago. Super bummer. What a sinking feeling to drive out to our field knowing the time and money that has gone into a certain crop, and see the whole of it laying on the ground, after 10 minutes of wind. 

On to all of the good news. 

What a WONDERFUL feeling to book it back from a meeting in La Crosse the next day and see this Gardens of Eagan crew out in said field picking up those sunflower plants and staking them in place. I cried.

We bought an awesome little van. Its name is Clifford. Earl's idea, and I like to support his ideas. I call it Shorty for short. It's a great runner so far, and fits so many flowers!

See?!

We went to the Birchwood Cafe for a meet and greet. It was very fun, and we saw new and old friends.

We had a couple of weddings. I'm loving the weddings this year. I feel more comfortable designing flowers, and am just loving that feeling, and the artistic expression. LOVE my job!

These ladies and I are getting really efficient at whipping together some beautiful bouquets. Emily has been the harvest queen, and Amanda adds the je ne sais quoi. I'm also loving our bouquets, now that we finally have flowers, because they're functional, but also artistic and beautiful. Nothing cookie cutter or boring around here. And, I'm so so happy to have such a great team to work with! 

And then there's this...a new baby cousin. My sister gave birth to Gabriel Andrew on June 20th. A little earlier than expected but healthy and happy mama and baby. He's so beautiful. We just love him.

And then...

I got a job. I'll be working for MOSES, the organic farming organization educating and supporting farmers. I'm so excited. I'll be part-time this summer, and start in the office full-time on September 1st. In the office in Spring Valley, Wisconsin! That's right, dear friends, we're moving to Wisconsin! Yee-ikes! We've gotten a pre-approval for an USDA Farm Service Agency beginning farmer loan to buy the beautiful farm in Plum City in the photos below.

We love it so, and are alternately excited and terrified to make this leap. So many doors have opened, and so many kind, knowledgeable folks have helped us. We're so grateful.

We have some steps to take before it's a done deal, but we're hoping all goes well. We'll be here in Northfield, delivering flowers through mid-September, and Mike will continue to work for Gardens of Eagan through October 15th. After that we'll be working towards going to other side of the river. Next season we will grow flowers and food on our new, hopefully partially certified organic land to continue delivering to the Twin Cities. 

And we hope to do this for many years to come.

Take out soybeans, insert flowers!

Can't you see us here on the front porch rocking in a swing and sipping lemonade when we retire? :)

Phew, no wonder we're tired! So many things to be grateful for. Hope you and yours have a fun, relaxing weekend! We're going to catch up on laundry and make delicious food to eat. And get some work done, of course.

xoxo

J,M+E 

Hello, dear friends! It's been a great week of scramble to the harvest starting line. Last minute things like shoring up packaging and buying a delivery vehicle (stay tuned for the Mystery Machine:). Okay, these shouldn't really be last minute-ers, but we've been a little busy figuring out next year too. Anyway, we have a few UPS trips coming to our little farm in the next week, and we'll go up to King Cargo to pick up the van in the next few days. We're on the brink of flowers, flowers, flowers, everywhere!  

 We've harvested a few snaps and pops out of the hoop house for delivery to the Birchwood, Seward and Wedge Co-ops this week. Whole Foods, CSA members and others, next. Yeehaw!

The field flowers are finding their roots and the sun and rain of these days will serve them well as they begin to take off.

The celosia kind of hated the 36 and 38 degree nights in the field, but most of them toughed it out and they're rallying.

Oooh the bells of ireland! So beautiful.

Perennial phlox next to the road. Love it.

Cover crop rye in the field.

GOE's sweet corn is just peeking its delicious little heads out of the rich soil.

Sunnies to harvest in the next couple of weeks.

Hope you're enjoying the firsts of June. We are savoring these beautiful crisp mornings and light days. I love the beginning of summer with its light spring greens and tender leaves. Each part has its own charm, but beginnings of things are so new and sweet. There's so much anticipation in the possibilities.

Be well, take deep breaths and pauses, and look for flowers all around in the next couple of weeks. :)

xo

J,M+E

Hello, dear HPF friends! Sometime in the next few days I will circle the farm with our camera to show you all the beautiful exciting growth around here. We're about a week away from harvesting flowers! Eeeyikes! It's early, but so exciting! Especially after the light, steady rain all day yesterday, and the warmth and sun today, the plants are exploding with growth.

For now, we'll share these beautiful children and their parents who joined us for our Flower Children's Garden Planting Day. It was so fun, and we had a lovely day. 

Our blank canvas

Presenting: the Flower Children's Garden!

Earl and I ran through the sprinkler a bit afterward while we admired the finished work. Can't wait until July. It'll be so beautiful.

Thanks to the parents and children, and Emily. It was a lovely day.

xo

J,M+E