December 3, 2023

It's Small Business Saturday and Puppypants is here to say the tiniest lil shop on the block is open and ready to rock. It's a frosty one and we're flipping on the heat. 

We are so grateful for our community and for all of those supporting small businesses, not just today, but every day. Shopping local keeps money in our community, reduces the carbon footprint, and supports that good ol American dream. Forbes claims that small businesses donate 250% more than large companies to local nonprofits and community causes and I believe it! So thank you, thank you!

Looking for ways to shop small and support Barn Dog Flower Farm this season? Here our some of our offerings:

❄️Market bouquet certificates. Found in our online shop, the more you buy, the more you save.

❄️Bloom Bucks in $10 increments & used the dame as cash in the farmstand

❄️Peony Subscription (for Spring Blooms)

❄️Pop into the farmshed (open daily from 8-5ish) for gorgeous potted paperwhites, dried florals, cards, and all sorts of gifty items.

❄️Share, like and comment on our posts. Spread the cheer.

If buying online, please let us know if you'd like to pick up certificates in the farmstand or if you'd prefer them to be mailed. Some customers have messaged to order and then pay via Venmo or cash/check and that works great as well.

Some have asked about paperwhite availability and whether we're running out and have no fear, I am restocking almost daily and keeping it nice and full.

Thanks again for all the love over the years. We absolutely couldn't do any of this without your support. 

❤️

"Ten times a day something happens to me like this – some strengthening throb of amazement – some good sweet empathic ping and swell. This is the first, the wildest and the wisest thing I know: that the soul exists and is built entirely out of attentiveness.” -Mary Oliver 

I hope you all found little bits of amazement and peace this holiday. We know it can be complicated. I'm looking forward to some quiet time tending to tiny, tender things here soon. 

The farmstand is full of all sorts of goodies and will be open from 8-5. Oodles of paperwhites, everlasting bouquets, and more.

❤️

The early morning walk to open the shed is one of my favorite parts of the day. This week has been spectacular with the crisp sunny mornings and fall color. I know this time is fleeting as the rain is sure to come.

What's up in the shed this weekend? I've restocked the everlasting dried bouquets, the paperwhite indoor gardens are showing signs of growth and are ready for new homes (they make the perfect gift for holiday hosts), bath fizzies are restocked, hot cocoa is restocked, Dram is in the mini fridge, and we're ready to rock. Should be a lovely day! 

Keeping the farmstand going daily this fall and winter was something we briefly debated and I'm so glad we made the decision to keep it open. The support this fall has been so overwhelming and continues to fill my heart and give me purpose. Thank you to all!

Thanks also to those who've jumped in and purchased market bouquet bundles. I wasn't sure how well they'd be received as a replacement for our subscription model. We know it isn't quite the same, but we still wanted to offer our customers a way to receive a discount and still be farm members with perks in the farmshed. It's a trial run and so far we're happy with the feedback. We truly adore our subscribers and loved being able to offer that connection all these years but with my ever changing feelings about tulips and the decision to drop them from our grow list we needed to use this year to trial spring production sans the farm's reliance on that massive crop. I've been asked this week if I'm scaling back and the answer to that is "not at all!" Quite the opposite. We're shifting and increasing in the areas we love the most. I'm more excited than ever about this upcoming growing season and embracing a lighter footprint with an increased production that is best aligned and suited to our farm. 

So many words. Thanks for following along.

xo

#farmstand #saturday #flowers #farm #driedflowers #farmstand #locallygrown #pnwflowers #wagrown #seasonal #flowerfarm #november #clarkcountywa #vanwa #hockinson

The little farmshed is open 8-5 today.  I thought last weekend was the absolute end of the fresh cuts, we had more mums cranking out blooms. So this will be the last. I think.

The shed is open daily from 8-dark with cards, syrups, chocolate, bath fizzies, dried florals, and gifties.  We often have eggs, but our hens have slowed so I'm looking for an egg supplier. Preferrably eggs from hens raised on organic feed. PM me if interested or know someone who might be.

Thanks, friends!

We plan to be open daily from 8-5 unless posted.

So many things I looove in the farmstand today. Narcissus bulbs, ranunculus & anemone corms, everlasting bouquets, a few fresh cuts, bath fizzies, chocolate, cocoa, pretty art cards, free books and more!

If you want fancy narcissus bulbs, this weekend is the time to grab them as we most likely won't be offering them next week. The self-serve farmstand is open 8-6 all weekend.

Much love to ya!

#daffodils #narcissus #ranunculus #anemone #fallplanting #springflowers #fall #spring #garden #farm #flowers #flowerfarm #clarkcountywa #vanwa

It's Friday and ranunculus and anemone corms are landing in the stand for all you adventurous local gardeners. Fancy narcissus bulbs haven't quite arrived yet, but when they do, we'll be offering some of those as well. 

The farmstand will be open until 6pm all weekend and we'll keep is stocked with fresh & dried florals as well as oodles of gifties.

And guess what? There are only 11 days left to order Barn Dog hoodies and tshirts. Lots of you are asking and this is your chance. Orders will ship directly to you or to the farm for free for pickup in mid-November.

I know there's more I'm forgetting to share, but that's plenty of info for now. Wishing you a beautiful day and weekend. It's been really fun seeing so many new faces at the farmstand. Thank you to all who've swung by this week. 

The farmstand is stocked with love and beauty and the door will be open until dark.

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” —Desmond Tutu

Seriously. Dried bundles are trickier for me to hold than the juicy fresh stems. Can you see the struggle? But they are magical and worth the challenge.

These ones went to the farmstand at 8:30 this morning. Thanks to all of you who swooped in yesterday afternoon after I'd announced we'd be closed and then spontaneously opened at noon. Still trying to figure out the rhythm for this season. As fresh flowers wind down I assumed we should just close the stand but I'm leaning toward keeping it open during daylight hours because so many of you pop in for cards, honey, gifties, dried florals, free books in the community corner, etc. It feels like a cozy little hub and I personally like having the space available. Thoughts?

Sooo-let's be open all week from 8-6ish. And for those of you who've become hooked on Chappelle Farms' honey, good news! As of yesterday afternoon, it's fully restocked!

I feel like there are some other updates I'm forgetting. Hopefully they'll come to mind soon.

Wishing you a cozy day!

Filling the farmstand with everlasting bouquets! Everlasting! Come buy them up so my husband can stop mentioning how many dried florals I'm hoarding in the house. Just kidding. He looooooves them! Loves them! 

They truly are like soul medicine for the cool dark days and I can never have enough. I use them in all our winter celebrations.

I decided to open the shed at noon today. Added dried florals and some farm fresh eggs. I know many of you have been asking for honey, I'll check with our beekeeper. Stay cozy out there, friends!

Oh-and for those of you who bought a Tuffy Toy as part of our fundraiser to support the Great Pyrenees Rescue Society, it you post a photo of your dog with the toy and tag us, we'll enter you in a drawing to win a market bouquet certificate! If you didn't grab a Tuffy Toy but want one, there are only a few left in the farmstand. $22 each. Built tuff, of course!

"Don't work too hard!" Bwahaha! I hear this all the time. There was a period in my life when I cried every morning before I drove off to work. Where the work was painful in a drowning, soul sucking way. I slammed the door to that era of my life and have worked my rear off to build this farm and this business and I am grateful every single morning for this hard, beautiful work. Yes, I have cried in the barn at 11pm after a long August day, but it is worth it. There is nothing wrong with hard work if it is satisfying and brings you joy. I take so much pride in my job and it brings immense joy.

I'm back after a much needed vacation with my husband to see our oldest kiddo in Houston. It was just what my heart needed and we loved every second with him. Now I'm in the barn with these juicy friends and feeling the floral buzz and elation as I drift into the farm flow. I was made for this life and this work and I will never take it for granted.

You can find these bunches in the farmstand starting at 8:30. Will keep the farmshed open until 7pm today. 

Big hugs to you all. We all need them right now.

Well, friends, tomorrow's Friday and there have been a lot of inquiries about flowers for the weekend. This was the first week in long time that I've really been uncertain. This cold wet weather hasn't been super friendly to those blooms that have been trying to wind down (like the zinnias). So, I can't promise big mixed market bouquets, but how about some dahlia bunches? 

I'll plan on opening the shed at 7am. 

Thanks so much for your patience and understanding as we take it day by day this time of year.

"The year is getting to feel rich, for his golden fruits are ripening fast, and he has a large balance in the barns, which are his banks. The members of his family have found out that he is well to do in the world. September is dressing herself in show of dahlias and splendid marigolds and starry zinnias. October, the extravagant sister, has ordered an immense amount of the most gorgeous forest tapestry for her grand reception."

-Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

We'll have market bouqs in the shed today but I can't promise we'll have them tomorrow. We picked the fields clean yesterday and brought everything in to dry. With the cool temps and rain this week, I'm not sure we'll have much blooming. Stay tuned!

Ten years ago, I came downstairs to find a 35lb turkey standing in our living room. No big deal. That was our life in a nutshell. Oddly enough, I found myself looking at offerings at a hatchery again last night. Yikes. Good thing I woke up this morning with a clear head.

Anyway, the farmstand is open bright and early at 7am and we'll keep it stocked until 7pm.

We're having lots of new customers reaching out wondering how the stand works. It's easy peasy. 

1. Pull through gate and park on gravel by little brown farmshed

2. Go into shed and shop

3. Add up your total (don't forget to peek at free book corner)

4. Pay with cash/check, Venmo, Square, or Paypal (details are on wall above the little checkout table). 7.7% tax is already included in the price to keep the math simple. No need to make a bunch of loose change.

5. Go home with your fresh flowers and goodies and have a great day!

Updates!

Tonight I made the decision to wrap up our farmers market season for 2023. Four weeks early! It's pulling at my heartstrings because I love the farmers market, the amazing customers, and the time spent with the other vendors. It's been one of the highlights of the year. However, I'm still struggling with some daily health issues (let's not get into that again) and with teenage helping hands back in school and sports, dahlias subscriptions this month, and the farmstand, I just can't quite pull it off. While it does feel disappointing, it opens up a space for our sweet friends Melissa and Mike of Sweet Bloom Farm to slide into our booth spot and the timing is just perfect as their gorgeous dahlias are hitting their stride. 

For us, we will continue with our twice weekly dahlia subscriptions and deliveries through the end of September as well as the daily farmstand blooms.

Farmstand will be closed on Sunday as I have a family commitment.

I will miss our farmers market customers but will look forward to seeing you all next season and you're always welcome at the farmstand.

Thank you all so much for your support this season and for your understanding!

#changeofplans #farmersmarket #farm #flowers #farmstand #vanwa

Just a reminder that I won't be at the farmers market today, but these bundles and more will be available in the farmshed.

Thursday dahlia subscribers-today is the day. All dahlia bundles on the green metal table are reserved for you. 

Thanks so much for your amazing support and kindness!

Market bouquets in cozy fall colors went to the farmstand at 11am along with sweet little pint bouquets that are perfect for the first day of school.

Thinking of all the littles and bigs as they set off on a new year of school adventures, challenges, and opportunities for growth and self-discovery. With so many different learning styles and multiple intelligences, we can only hope for vibrant classrooms full of  understanding for the individual and respect for the learning community as a whole. Sending you all big hugs!

"Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives. The need for imagination, a sense of truth, and a feeling of responsibility—these three forces are the very nerve of education."

Rudolf Steiner