Flower farming is my passion, but I’ve been making a little list of things I’d love to learn or pick up again: knitting, sewing, embroidery, upholstery, and piano for now 😂.

I’ve done knitting and sewing before, decades ago (yikes!).

My mom and I even took pattern making and sewing classes at FIT when I lived in Stuyvesant Town in Manhattan. Sewing will always remind me of those days with her.

Now, my daughter and I are starting our own tradition.

Vanessa Ewing of Cape May Fiber has been so generous with advice, and our goal is to work up to knitting with her beautiful yarn.

How about you?

Do you have a skill or hobby you’d love to start (or restart) this fall?

Farm & Flowers

This is one of my favorite times of year in the field: the in-between season when the days are still warm, the nights are cool, and the soil is soft enough to welcome new life.

As you know, I’ve been sowing lots of cold-hardy flowers that will be tucked into the beds this fall, where they’ll quietly put down roots all winter long.

Come spring, they’ll rise up tall and strong, ready to greet the season with armfuls of blooms.

Some of you have asked about overwintering flowers, and I love that curiosity.

While many varieties need to be started indoors with all the equipment and space that goes with it, there are a handful that actually prefer to be sown directly in the garden now.

They’re hardy little things that take the chill in stride.

👉 I put together a short PDF guide with my favorites + tips for sowing directly. [Click here to download] as well as a companion video on how plant these seeds posted on Instagram and YouTube accounts.

And in even more exciting news, our Cut Flower Seedling Kit is now open for preorder!

Think of it as your spring garden starter pack: healthy, farm-grown seedlings ready for you to plant so you can skip the trickier part of seed-starting and head straight for the fun …
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… watching your own flowers grow and fill vases next season.

Preorders are open through 10/31 (yes, there was an incorrect deadline in the farm’s previous email about the kit), and you can reserve your kit here.

Life with Well Water

Life on the farm isn’t just about flowers, it’s also about learning the quirks of living with well water and a septic system.

This is our first time without city services, and while I’m grateful for the “free” water that keeps our ¾-acre fields growing, it comes with its own challenges.

Right now, we’re staring down a leaking bladder tank that needs replacing, and the repair bill is a dizzying $2,000.

I keep reminding myself that it’s all part of this new chapter of farm life .. where beauty and blooms often come with a little behind-the-scenes grit.

Still, I can’t help but wonder: does that price sound right to you, or am I just completely out of touch?

Either way, I’m adding “water systems” to my list of unexpected farm lessons!

What’s Blooming Now

The dahlias are having their moment, thrilled with these crisp nights, they’re bursting into bloom with colors that seem richer by the day.

My heirloom mums are just beginning to unfurl, promising layers of soft petals that feel like autumn’s answer to spring roses.

Add in the silvery-green eucalyptus, and the bouquets carry that fresh, woodsy scent that makes you want to linger just a little longer with them on the table.

And if my experiment pans out, stock and snapdragons will sneak into the mix too, bringing a touch of softness and spice to the season’s arrangements.

And, all these beauties are always available at our flower stand which is open daily, from early morning to late evening.

And Since You Didn’t Ask …

Sometimes I just need a light, easy, braindead (lol) movie. My pick this week: “The Wrong Paris” on Netflix. Totally harmless fun. Have you seen it?