March 18

Alright, I woke up a few times in the night worried that some people may have seen my post earlier in the week announcing we'd have the farmshed open 10-2 on Saturday and maybe didn't see my update that we decided to close.

Soooo...I filled the roadside farmstand with $30 mason jar bouquets. The gate and shed will be closed so if you come out for some basement grown tulips, just be careful backing out on the busy road. I know some of you are pros, but always like to remind people.

All prices already include Brush Prairie sales tax of 7.7% so mason jar bouquets are $27.85 + tax =$30

I hope you're enjoying this gorgeous sunny day!

#tulips #flowers #farmstand #clarkcountywa #hockinsonwa 

Giddy over this counter full of farm fresh flowers. Growing tulips in one's basement is time consuming and a little backbreaking (stairs!) but I'm thrilled to share these blooms with you today. They were a labour of love. For those wanting to prepare, we'll have arrangements priced $20-45 and we accept cash/check, Venmo, and Square. Details are in the shed at the checkout table.

The farmstand will be open from 12-5 today and I'll be restocking the kindness candles, cards, and matches for those who've asked. Lots of sweet gifty items and it's 20% off for subscribers all weekend.

Can't make it today? We'll be open 10-2 Saturday and Sunday as well, but I can't promise we'll still have flowers.

Hope your weekend is whatever you need it to be!

It's the first of the month! When my kids were in their tweens, I'd open their bedroom door on this special day and play the beginning of Bones Thugs-N-Harmony "wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, it's the first of the month!" They hated it. I loved it.

Lots of waking up going on around here. New shoots on the perennials are pushing through the snow, daffs are budding, experimental indoor tulips are doing their thing (see photo-eep!). It's exciting and a lil terrifying as I know I need to ramp up my energy levels to keep up. I've been gone a week and things are already beginning to outpace me. We had some sad setbacks as well, but we won't discuss those. 

So get up, get up, get up...

Will have the farmstand open 12-5 on Friday, 10-2 Saturday & Sun. 20% off gifty items (excluding flowers) for subscribers this weekend AND the potted muscari are gonna be 50% off because they barely survived while I was away. They just need some TLC and they'll be fine.

Maybe I'll see ya soon?

"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

This photo probably isn't IG worthy, but it doesn't matter. I'm just stopping in to say the farmshed is open from 1-6 today (Friday) and 10-4 tomorrow. It wasn't my plan to open again until we had a solid supply of freshcut flowers, but this cheerful little space enjoys the warmth of visitors. 

I love spending quiet time in here working and collecting my thoughts and I really needed it today. Yesterday I spent hours, I kid you not, hours sucked into a thread on social media about the passing of a local man who became well known in the community after more than a decade of living on the streets. Hundreds of comments came in throughout the day. People who had known him in his younger years shared pieces of his life, explaining he suffered from schizophrenia and didn't have family. Story after story of people offering him food, clothes, money.  Stories of his gentleness, kindess, and soft compassionate eyes. People who said they'd tried getting him help over the years and how he'd refused. How he never asked for anything. The post started with a photo of a happy, healthy, handsome teenager. It immediately caught my eye as it reminded of my own sons. I checked back in on that post off and on all day. Reading new comments, hoping to learn more about his life. In the hundreds of comments I read, I didn't read judgement, criticism, or fear. It was full of compassion and gratitude.

It once again restored my faith in humanity, but served as a painful reminder how quickly lives can change and how much suffering there is in this world. To be kind, to help alleviate suffering, to look for the good. That is where I want to stay focused. 

While it is may seem meager, we want to donate 30% of this weekend's farmstand sales to two local organizations who are tirelessly working to alleviate suffering. Nami SWWA (@namiswwa) and Council for the Homeless (@council_for_the_homeless). 15% to each organization in honor of Gentle Ben.

#bekind 

"Let me keep company always with those who say 

'Look!' and laugh in astonishment, and bow their heads." -Mary Oliver

Sending you all the best love today, friends. Thank you for following along on this floral adventure with me as I ride the waves of wonder. It's harder work than I ever imagined but the love that is woven through all of it, through the community that has grown, and the relationships that have developed is truly what keeps me going. Always in amazement. 

It's a snowy Valentine's day today and I'll have the farmshed open from 10-5 for last minute gifty items.

-Wildwood chocolates, soaps, candles, For Bitter for Worse non-alcoholic cocktails, @meadowlandsyrup, @portlandsyrups, potted muscari, paper lanterns (swoon!), tshirts, hats, and stufffff. Oh-and DAHLIA SUBSCRIPTIONS. That's a bundle of dahlias each week for four weeks in September. It's such a treat. Each subscription comes with a card and details for gift giving. You can order online and since it's VDay today, I can have it ready for pickup in the shed for you.

Stay amazed and love each other.

What?!? It's Friday?! I've been pretty quiet about opening the shed because I'm not swimming in experimental tulips like I dreamed I'd be. BUT-the shed will be open with some potted sweet muscari for pops of spring color along with loads of gifty items (@wildwoodchocolate, @forbitterforworse, cards, hats, tshirts, @natyscandles , @kreationsbykiely, @flyingbirdbotanicals , paper lanterns, children's flower presses & gardening gloves, and more.

Friday 12-4

Sat 10-2

Sunday 10-2

Tues 10-5

Wishing you all the best this weekend. 

20% of all this weekend's farmstand sales and dahlia subscription sales (online) will be donated to help support the incredible work of the White Helmets. If you'd like to donate to them directly, you can find that info on their website:

ening the shed because I'm not swimming in experimental tulips like I dreamed I'd be. BUT-the shed will be open with some potted sweet muscari for pops of spring color along with loads of gifty items (@wildwoodchocolate, @forbitterforworse, cards, hats, tshirts, @natyscandles , @kreationsbykiely, @flyingbirdbotanicals , paper lanterns, children's flower presses & gardening gloves, and more.

Friday 12-4

Sat 10-2

Sunday 10-2

Tues 10-5

Wishing you all the best this weekend. 

20% of this weekend's farmstand sales and dahlia subscription sales (online) will be donated to the White Helmets to help support their incredible work. If you'd like to donate to them directly, you can do so through their website:

https://www.whitehelmets.org/en/ 

A pop of pink. It kind of blows my mind that these grew in our basement in January. Trying to keep my dreams in check for next season.

You can find these lil bundles in the farmshed from 10-4 tomorrow!

Check it out! Our indoor tulip grow seems to be blooming back at the farm. Grateful for the helpers who are managing all the things and who keep sending me teaser photos. I'm heading back very soon and can't wait to witness all the growth on the farm. I plan to have the shed open this Saturday from 10-4 and Sunday 10-1.

We'll have some new goodies in stock, but I won't know exactly what we'll have for blooms until later this week.

For those asking about 2023 flower subscriptions, we're selling out. We only have one spring subscription left, but still have dahlia subscriptions available. The dahlia bouquets are picked up once a week for four weeks in September and if gifting, they come with a card and subscription details. You can find all the info in our online shop.

I hope you're all well. I can't wait to get back to growing for you!

#tulips #farm #flowers #subscription #bouquetcsa #csa #communitysupportedagriculture #flowerfarm #giftideas #valentines #springflowers #dahlias #give #blooms #barndogflowerfarm

I hinted last week that we might have the farmstand open this Saturday, but it won't be happening because I ran away to Texas with our oldest. We're down here loving on the soulful, majestic, floofs at @greatpyreneesrescuesocietyinc . We are eternally grateful for the incredible work of Malise and GPRS. Their work is exhausting and endless. The amount of abuse and neglect they see is unimagineable. By the time the dogs make it up to the PNW to be fostered or adopted, they've already been screened for behavior or nursed back to health. Our job of fostering is a breeze compared to the work that goes in to the rescue here in Texas. This visit has been so good for our hearts. We're so grateful they've allowed us to visit and we'll forever be in their debt for saving our three sweet pups. 

I'll link a video in my stories explaining more about the rescue. It's an older video, but it's the one that hooked us nine years ago. These dogs are unlike any other. 🤍

#rescue #dogrescue #adoptdontshop #texas #gprs #pnw #greatpyrenees #courage #hope

Hey Friends! Just a quick peek at a couple things we're getting excited about. 

The first is a local seed swap right in the heart of our community. There's nothing we love more than seeds, so this gets our hearts pumping. The seed swap will be held on Sunday, Jan. 29 from 1-4pm in the Hockinson Community Center (15916 NE 182nd Av, Brush Prairie). And guess what?! We'll be giving away a spring flower subscription! That's four weeks of spring blooms for the lucky winner. No obligations to enter, just visit the seed swap and drop your name in the box for a chance to win.

We're excited!

What else? Some have been asking about Valentine's Day. We seem to mix it up every year depending on mood and what we have growing. This year I plan to have at least two pop-ups similar to how we did it in December. Currently, we're planning on Saturday, Feb 4 and Feb 11 from 10-4pm but are toying around Jan 28 and Feb 13 as well. Stay tuned for those tentative dates. 

Wishing you all a great rest of the week. We have quite the to-do list and I'm excited to cross a few things off!

https://facebook.com/events/s/seed-swap-and-giveaway-2023/453124253600914/

Happy Friday! It's a beautiful morning on the farm. Took a walk with the dogs, watched the sun rise, found our Christmas tree on the edge of the dahlia patch and am about to decorate the farmstand door and get busy setting up right after I sit here in the stock tank and try to muster up some creativity. 

The farmstand will be open tomorrow (Dec 3) from 10-4. We're so excited to have it all set up as a holiday micro shop. Here's a peak at some of the goodies you'll find inside:

-Teas by Altar & Leaf (Camas)

-Flying Bird Botanical tea and cocoa (Bellingham)

-Goat soap and bath bombs by Kreations by Kiely (Hockinson)

-Naty’s Candles (Hockinson)

-Pottery from Sip N Spin Pottery

-Honey from our neighbors Chappelle Farms

- 4” mini cakes from Zayka Cooks (Vancouver)

- Sacred Heart Ice Cream (Vancouver)

-BKind knit hats made with love by our friend and subscriber, Denise

-Chocolates by Missionary Chocolate in Portland

-Katie Daisy goods (puzzle, notebook, calendars, cards)

-Meadowland syrups (Bend) -so yummy in sparkling water, tea, or cocktails

-The Bitter Housewife Bitters (PDX)

-Moon Valley Organics (Deming, WA) Organic skincare: Lotion bars, shampoo bars, lip balm sets, muscle rub

We’ll also have farm fresh evergreen and eucalyptus bundles, dried flower ornaments, and some green arrangements. And of course Barn Dog Flower Farm hats and tshirts.

Hope you have a wonderful day and perhaps I'll see some of you in the farmshed tomorrow. I'll be popping in and out all day.

Did you hear our peony lovers bought up all available subscriptions almost immediately when I opened sales last month? However, we still have some Spring and Dahlia subscriptions available for 2023. In October we offered 15% for combining all three subscriptions and have decided we will go ahead and offer the same special when buying the Spring and Dahlia subscriptions through December. This year we're offering a delivery option and the discount will apply to that as well.

What is a subscription? It means that for four weeks this spring (most likely April) and four weeks in September, you'll receive one wrapped bouquet a week for pickup in our farmstand or delivered to your home or office. Specific pickup days will be determined as the season nears.

Subscriptions make perfect gifts and subscribers receive 20% in the farmstand during their subscription months along with 20% during our three open days in December.

If you plan to gift a subscription please leave your address when checking out so we can send you cards for gifting.

For the 15% off, use code: barndog15 at checkout.

Really looking forward to opening the farmshed on Dec 3, 10, 17 from 10-4(ish) with all sorts of holiday gift ideas. 

Hope you're staying cozy.

#farm #csa #flowers #subscribe #flowerfarm #communitysupportedagriculture #supportsmallbusiness #supportsmallfarms #family #farmstand #giftideas #clarkcountywa #vanwa #vancouverwa #hockinsonwaphotographer #barndogflowerfarm

We've never truly seen the dahlia patch in full bloom as we sell just about every stem and harvest for conditioning before they've fully opened. I haven't harvested in almost five days and it feels delightfully gluttonous.

However, it's starting to feel uncomfortable keeping these to myself for so long soooo I'm going to have flowers available in the farmstand Friday and Saturday. Most likely $20 mixed bundles, $15 dahlia bunches, marigolds, and some arrangements. Farmshed open 10-4 both days. How does that sound?

Yesterday we lost a beautiful light in our community. A kind, gentle, fierce soul. A uniter. We really connected over flowers a few years ago and she became one of my biggest supporters. While quietly battling cancer she poured herself into working for our little community and loving on her people. She had a huge heart for the marginalized. The hole she left in so many of our hearts is huge, but she set a standard for kindness in this community that I hope is followed.

I am really grateful for her devoted husband who took amazing care of her and for his generousity in letting so many of us women descend upon the house to spend time with her over the past couple months. I will miss her wit, her tenacity, her smile, and her voice in this community. I could go on and on about all she was but I am so tired and sad.

So this is my reminder to you. Love your people. Tell them. Show them. Don't waste time.

Today from 7am-12pm, any flowers in the roadside stand will be my gift to you. My only request is that you take them to a friend. After noon, I will restock and we can go back to Venmo and all that stuff. 

Please send your thoughts and loving kindness to her family. She leaves behind two amazing teenage daughters, a devoted husband, and a loving father.

Love.your.people.

It's Sunday in the farmstand and we have $15 straight dahlia bunches, $10 straight marigold bunches (they're unbelievably large blooms), and $20 market bouquets. Flowers went out at 7am and will be restocked throughout the day. Expect arrangements in glass out by 11. We'll have the shed and extra parking open 10-2.

Have a beautiful day! 😘

Flowers will be in the stand by 7:30 this morning. I'll continue adding twenty dollar market bouquets throughout the day along with straight marigold bunches and a few arrangements. As always, if you're looking for something in particular, feel free to send me a message.

Shed and parking open 10-4. Shed has $15 tshirts, $20 hats, cards, soaps by @kreationsbykiely, @moonvalleyorganics lotion bars, shampoo bars, gift sets and more. Remember those who have purchased the bundle of three 2023 subscriptions get 20% off in the farmstand in October. For those still interesed, our early bird subscription deal runs until the end of the month. Subscriptions make excellent gifts!

In a season where the pumpkins start stealing the show, the dahlias just want you to know they're still here. Look at these vivacious fall beauties! They're in the bus shelter now  eagerly waiting to be taken to your cozy homes and offices to share a table with your pumpkin spice bevvies. 

Planning to have $10 and $20 bundles along with some mixed market bouquets today. We'll have the shed open from 10-4 for all the other goodies. Oh! Children's books flew out the door so if you have any extras to share in the community cupboard, our young friends would love it.

The best Tuesday wishes to y'all!

As I worked in the dahlias early this morning I couldn't help but reflect on this past season. It's sort of the theme right now, eh? Reflection. Anyway, I found myself dizzy with all sorts of feelings. What are the words? Flabbergasted, honored, mind-blown, humbled? I just kept coming back to  gratitude. I know I border on overuse of the word but every year as I reflect on our losses, struggles, joys, successes, fears, and everything in between, gratitude is the common denominator. It roots and humbles me, it lifts and inspires me, it refocuses me, and it allows me clarity in my vision. 

Yesterday, for the first time ever, we rolled out our annual subscriptions way in advance, offered a peony subscription for the first time, offered an early bird special, and a bundle deal when purchasing all three (Spring, Peony, and Dahlia subscriptions). I wasn't sure how it would go and guess what?!? People showed up! As soon as the website opened, people started ordering. It probably doesn't matter how many years I do this, I will always be humbled and exhilarated by how eager y'all are for local fresh-cut flowers, and how committed you are to supporting small family farms. Crap, my eyes are filling just typing this.

I realize and understand that many, if not most people cannot afford to buy three seasons of flowers months in advance. It's ok, you are still supporting farms in myriad ways. A word of encouragement, a post like, a purchase here and there. It all helps and I am so grateful. 

Anyway, the dahlias are really starting to show up and I'm doing my best to take it all in while they last. I plan to take Monday/Tuesday off this week and have the farmstand open Wed-Sunday. After that, we'll take it day by day as I want to allow the field to bloom out before the frosts. 

For today (Sunday 10/2), flowers are in the roadside stand and the shed will be open 10-3. Please use that time to come through the gate and park in our gravel area. 

Thanks so much and have a great rest of the weekend!

#floral #farm #slowflowers #supportsmallfarms #clarkcountywa #vanwa #vancouverwa #brushprairiewa #hockinsonwa #barndogflowerfarm #dahlia #fall #flowers #local #localflowers #pnw 

Alrighty! It's 2pm and the farmstand is restocked. I'll continue restocking throughout the day. 

Along with it being absolutely gorgeous weather, it has already been one of those magical days of connecting with people. I've enjoyed a few long conversations with customers, had so many fun interactions AND we've already had a customer purchase all three subscriptions online this morning and then, since it's October, they swung in and used their 20% off discount. Soo awesome!

Y'all know I'm an introvert, but that doesnt mean I don't love connecting with people. Lots of good, real, human conversations and that's what nourishes me. Thank you!!

OH! And today has been so fun, I've decided to have the farmstand open tomorrow despite toying around with the idea of taking the day off. This weather is glorious and you better believe the Macklemore song runs through my head every time I'm standing in the dahlias right now. Glorious!