Begin Here

One of the most notable events leading me to flower farming was the decision to buy a farm.  I never intended to become a flower farmer, yet I believe this incredible land was a key element in the manifestation of my journey. 

I have always been fascinated by farms. The vision of bucolic spaces of verdant green, old trees, and open pastures speaks to me deeply.  It is meditative to take road trips through the countryside and look at barns and farmhouses (old and new), cow-filled pastures, and sprawling fields. The history lays quietly before me hiding mysteries of past lives.  My mother was born in Kentucky, and as a child, I loved visiting my Aunt Milly’s farm. Life on the farm differed from what I knew living in a suburb, and I welcomed the freedom and adventure I discovered there.

As my husband and I approached a major milestone in our lives, we started looking for land that we could become stewards of.  We wanted simultaneously to protect the land and work with it by growing flowers and vegetables.  And we wanted to raise our children with an appreciation of these things.  Here is where our journey with Eleven Mile Farm begins. 

We spent several years looking for this farm, and when we found it, we knew immediately that we were home.  Existing buildings on the property included an old bank barn, which is still in good condition, a summer kitchen and garage, and an old farmhouse.   The original part of the farmhouse was a log cabin that has been traced back to 1840 and was called “Eleven Mile House”.  We suspect it was named this as it is eleven miles from downtown Pittsburgh.      

There are clues throughout the farm of what lay before. Old fence posts suggest some strategy for containing sheep.  A rectangular plot of land marked with mostly sunken cement blocks hints at a garden of sorts (or a burial plot as was suggested to me by a visitor). The original log house has features indicating it was likely a tavern.  Letters from the grandchildren who grew up on the farm tell of Clydesdale horses, collie dogs, and cherry trees throughout the fields.

Discovering the history of the farm is almost as exciting as creating the next chapter.  As we work on restoring the farm and taming some of the wildness, the next iteration has become flower farming.  Eleven Mile Farm embodies the Slow Flower Movement meaning we prioritize local seasonal flowers grown using sustainable methods.  Each year, the fields take shape a little more so, and I am learning to work with them to produce beautiful blooms that inspire so much.  I am learning to forage the woods and collect specimens that complement the field grown flowers. Ultimately, I hope to create a piece of history of this farm that will be remembered for generations.

I hope you will continue to share this journey with me.

From the Fields- Becca