PLENTY Magazine Summer 2021 | Page 16

similarities end there .

I started Hidden Ridge Farm Flowers and Herbs as a sort of easing-intoretirement second career .

The flower farming part

I had been an avid — some

was a success ; the semi-

would say fanatic — week-

retirement part didn ’ t work

end , hobby flower gar-

out so well . Having grown

dener for 25 years , so I

hay for horses and cattle

thought transitioning to es-

on our 50-acre farm in the

tablish a commercial flower

heart of the Ag Reserve

farm business would be a

for 15 years , my husband ,

natural , seamless “ scaling

Tom and I carved out about

up ” process . I could not have been more wrong .

a quarter acre for flowers ten years ago . Boosted by

Melane Kinney Hoffmann

Gardening and flower farming both involve flowers , require good soil , weed management , and planting the right plant in the right place at the right time . The

the demand for “ all things local ,” I expanded over the years , and now have about three acres in production of about 75 varieties of flowering shrubs , annuals ,

perennials and foliage , and four part-time employees whose hard work make it all possible . My passion for flowers and flower arranging motivated me , but my

hours , and other factors . But fortunately , increasing demand for local flowers made it all worthwhile , and supportive feedback from happy clients and custom-

career in business , market-

ers is what keeps us going .

ing and strategic planning ,

After honing and refin-

which included experience

ing our business model for

in complex project man-

a decade , we have now

agement , is what made

settled on a few offerings :

the business work . I

our signature mixed bou-

could never have

quets at independently-

anticipated the in-

owned grocery stores and

vestment needed

farm stores , a subscription

in infrastructure

( CSA ) bouquet series , fun

like agricultural

on-farm flower workshops ,

irrigation , sup-

and wholesale to florists .

port netting to

One constant we have

make flowers

learned over the years ,

grow straight

however : flowers spread

and protect

happiness , connect us to

from wind ,

nature , and brighten up

massive amounts

any day ! They express love ,

of organic fertil-

affection , thanks , concern ,

izers and compost ,

and thoughtfulness . Their

and more . Another

variety in color , texture ,

complication is that

height , shape , size , and life

each flower is its own

cycle reflects the beauty of

unique crop requiring

diversity in all things .

varied water , soil nutrients ,

soil texture , sun / shade