Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura And Kate Weiner.
Hi Laura and Kate, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
We initially started the flower farm to attract pollinators. We began to notice a diminishing population of bees and butterflies. Shrubs that would be swarmed every summer so much so that you couldn’t get near them, suddenly weren’t anymore. When Covid arrived, it presented an opportunity for us to stay at our place in the country for longer than just the weekend, a place that had been in our family for 40 years. We wanted to start a creative endeavor together that would be a mother-daughter collaboration, and this seemed like the perfect time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Field growing is never a smooth road, especially not as of late. Flowers have growing cycles and 90 degree temperatures when it’s only supposed to be 70 degrees sets up a difficult dynamic for growing. It’s a challenge to determine expected flower quantities when the weather is so erratic with heat, rain and humidity which slows things down. We also found that doing it all (germinating from seed, planting, growing, and harvesting) left little time for marketing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We bring different strengths to our growing endeavor. Kate works in NYC in the fashion industry as an art director and is trained in communications design. She handles brand identity, marketing, design and social media (and some heavy lifting when needed). Laura transitioned from her interior design practice in 2019 when the idea for the flower farm took shape, and designs the garden, makes the seed selections for each season with attention to a cohesive palette, and manages it’s growth.
Our aesthetic is a bit different. We’re known for more naturalistic arrangements as we take our cues from the fields and woods around us. We’ll add foraged elements for interest and sometimes a little whimsy. We’re still experimenting and lately have been focusing on personal flowers for wedding events. One goal is to reach out to other local growers to form a collective. We’re strong believers in community and hope to bring a fund raising event together with other growers to benefit those who struggle with food insecurity,in Pennsylvania, “Turning Flowers Into Food”. We’ve done this in New Jersey and Brooklyn with great results.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
We learned about growing flowers from Floret Flower Farm in Washington State. They are a generous source of information and after taking a few free mini courses we enrolled in their Annual Floret Intensive Course. Course takers have access to a community of growers and that’s been a valuable tool as well. And of course, Instagram provides inspiration from time to time. We also both subscribe to Insight Timer, an app used for mediation and mindfulness as a way to stay grounded.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.highhopesflowerfarm.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highhopesflowerfarm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highhopesflowerfarm/
Image Credits
Giovanni Cardenas
