Despite the summer-long drought, our regenerative flower farm is abundant and boisterous with life and blooms. While it has been a challenging season, our life-filled soil has been supporting our crops. We’ve adopted a new method for irrigating called “pulse watering” that uses less water while providing the soil with more moisture. A regenerative flower farm is as much a massive science experiment as it is a farm while we tweak and test systems and methods to improve our ecosystem. I’ve begun re-reading Braiding Sweetgrass recently. This beautiful book is a near-annual read for me at this point in August when my farmer nerves are frayed. It’s a potent reminder of how the cycle of reciprocity should be the guiding light at any farm. Putting the needs of the entire ecosystem before all else means my regenerative flower farm will always have an abundance.
While our dahlias have struggled immensely this summer for lack of even a single drop of rain in the drawn out stretches of 90F+ heat, the other summer annuals have thrived. The cosmos in particular are tall, lush, and blooming their heads off. Zinnias have been a colorful delight, with a few new varieties proving themselves to be keepers: Uproar Rose, Uproar Yellow, Queen Lime Peach, and Magna Violet. We’ve never had such a beautiful stand of Celosia ‘Flamingo Feather’ as we do this year. Without the usual pummeling summer storms, these field crops have stood tall and thrived. Still, we’re hoping for rain soon at the farm.
A regenerative flower farm is a leap of faith. We do not spray pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. Not even organic ones. Rather than set out on a war path to kill, we favor introducing more life to the biome, in hopes of better balance. Because we operate on Nature’s timetable, it takes a few seasons for that balance to be struck. Happily, our farm is there now. And I am grateful to all the life that makes that possible. If you’re interested in stewarding a regenerative flower farm yourself, you should listen to the No-Till Flowers podcast.
Beautiful! Where do you buy your dahlias from and do you have a list of the 12 varieties you grow?
I just want to thank you for letting us know about regenerative gardening. I only garden for enjoyment, just flowers and perennials, with lots of natives and ones to cut. I love hearing about your farm! There’s so much I can use in my suburban garden and it’s so hope inspiring and deeply satisfying. Thank you so much for your efforts in sharing such an absorbing and thrilling way to garden!