Introductions 2022
Hello! After a few weeks of rest and restoration, it is time to get this ball rolling again! Let me start with my annual introduction-I’m Becca, Owner of Eleven Mile Farm. We’re a private, family-run farm located just outside of the Pittsburgh area, and over the past 6 years, we’ve evolved into a small business that focuses on growing specialty cut flowers.
The farm evolved from a passionate hobby in gardening and a strong desire to share the beauty of flowers with others. Over the past several years, I’ve been learning how to grow on a large scale and simultaneously starting the business of selling cut flowers. We share our flowers in a number of ways including wholesale flower sales, floral CSAs, arrangements, workshops and farm tours and presentations. More on that to follow!
My vision is the following: First, Eleven Mile Farm is part of the Slow Flower Movement where local and seasonal flowers are the main focus. Using sustainable growing practices, all flowers are started from seed and bulbs or tubers and nurtured with an ecologically sound approach. In contrast to the imported, conventional flowers found in the commercial floral trade, our flowers arrive to you picked fresh from the fields. In any bouquet, arrangement or other piece you get from my business, over 99% of the materials are home grown- something I am particularly proud of.
Second, I love growing unusual flowers that customers don’t typically find in bouquets or arrangements. After several years of growing, I am moving towards fine tuning the specialty items and focusing on those flowers. As this relates to my design style, I love incorporating unusual and unexpected elements that spark curiosity and excitement. I appreciate an organic, garden-style feel in my creations.
Third, I emphasize learning and education- both my own and my customers’. The flower industry is crazy, right now, and the majority of flowers in stores come from greenhouses where they are pumped full of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and preservatives to create the perfect bloom. These growers have the luxury of a controlled environment, which limits their losses. Flower farming is HARD- particularly in open fields where Mother Nature has her way each season. There are great failures to accompany the successes. Between Instagram, emails and blog entries, I try to share my story with the goal of a mutual learning and hopefully, inspiration. Support your local growers, folks!
Finally, I believe in the healing power of flowers and Nature. I am going to be emphasizing this more this season, and reminding folks why they feel so good seeing pictures of flowers, receiving flowers and simply standing in a field of wild flowers. Working with flowers is naturally mindful, and subsequently, healing.
I hope you will continue to join me on my journey this season, and I look forward to meeting you!
