2022 Year In Review
Before we get too deep into the New Year, I am taking some time to reflect on all that has happened during the previous year. It can be easy to just look ahead, but taking a moment to reflect on the past can help us to appreciate all that we have accomplished and set intentions for the future.
Last January looked much different than this January as we prepare to welcome our third baby. There was a greenhouse full of seedlings and a building renovation underway. We couldn't decide on the exterior of the building renovation, so I decided to do a test run by making an accent wall in the house. After some deliberation, we settled on a style of board and batten instead of horizontal boards.
Throughout February, we continued to sow seeds and even had flowers starting to blossom.
By March, early spring bulb gardens were taking off and dahlia orders were shipped across the nation. Spring is one of the busiest seasons for us, and we were running on adrenaline imaging all of the beauty that was ahead.
In order to keep pace with the building renovation, we spent nights and weekends checking tasks off the to-do list. The wood was milled by a local logger and my partner, Albert, designed and built the trusses.
April welcomed the first flush of events and an abundance of early spring blooms.
The trusses were set on the building and planting was well underway.
Mother's Day was especially busy, with a flood of blooms and subscriptions to members.
June was a significant milestone for our farm when we tapped into our well, a critical step forward in our farm infrastructure and access to water. I remember crying when water came out of the hose, as it brought back memories of the first season with our daughter, Mary, and the challenges of water supply when there was even any to be had at all.
The summer months were filled with a flush of blooms, weeding, and routine night-time checks of the dahlia field.
August brought a bumper crop of celosia and the first of the lisianthus.
September was a particularly busy month, with a successful dahlia season, the removal of a sea container, and new siding on the garage. Our self-serve shop was moved to the front of the building.
Bulbs arrived in October and we held our annual sale in person for the first time and shipped to gardeners across the nation.
In November we welcomed the chrysanthemums but said goodbye to the dahlias after a hard frost.
The first half of the month was spent digging, dividing, and moving the dahlia crop into storage. The later half was spent carving pumpkins for Thanksgiving and cutting armloads of chrysanthemums.
December began with Winter Workshops and lots of holiday decor. The end of the month brought a slower pace with time to reflect on next season and other projects.
We have spent the last 4 years working incredibly hard to build this farm, and I cannot believe how far we have come. When we started, the farm was considered a "negative environment" for pollinators and wildlife. Now it is a thriving ecosystem that benefits pollinators, wildlife, and the community alike.
As we begin to welcome our next child, I'm trying to navigate the next chapter as realistically and intentionally while staying true to my north star. I don't know exactly what that looks like, but I'm excited for what the future holds.
I'd love to hear how your year went and what you're looking forward to creating in 2023.
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