As an almost graduated high school senior I was given the opportunity to intern with an organization of my choice, doing anything I could think of for the last three weeks of my high school experience. I wrestled with what I should do. I explored dietetic internships, and other organizations in an office setting, but nothing fell into place. With very little time left, Florence, the owner of Flo's Blossoms and Herbs, came to my rescue. She suggested I help her with her blossoming business. After some thought, I jumped on the idea, excited about doing something hands on and interactive. There were aspects of the internship that seemed familiar since I have been working at a local flower shop since my sophomore year of high school, and yet, as the first week of the internship has come to a close, I am realizing that starting a small buisness from the ground up is nothing like anything I have ever experienced before. Here is a short list of my impressions and surprises of horticulture and starting a business so far:

1. The Ability to be Flexible is Essential
After just one week of helping at the farm and brainstorming ideas for how Flo's Blossoms and Herbs should operate, I have already realized the importance of flexibility. For example, if a plant isn't doing well in its current location, then heck, why not move it and see if it does better in another place! There is nothing wrong with trial and error and without it we'd be stuck in our tracks not knowing the best way to proceed successfully. For instance, with it being the first year of Flo's Blossoms and Herbs operating as a Pick-Your-Own flower farm, we don't know the best way to operate when it comes to actually picking your own flowers. How will people know where to go? Will the instructions be clear? How should people pay? All of these questions are things we are thinking through and trying to plan for but in reality, our process may have to change after opening day. We don't know how everything will work, and that's okay. A flexible mindset will aid in the process. 

2. Set Boundaries or Prepare for Longggg Days...
There is always something that can be done on the farm. Whether is be pulling up those pesky weeds that seem to grow by the second, planting new plants and replanting old ones, mowing the lawn (whew! shoutout to Florence), thinking up new business strategies, or anything in between--there is always one more thing that can be accomplished before you call it quits for the day! The never-ending list can become a trap if you're not careful. A trap that could lead to dehydration, sunburn, and a growling tummy. I've embraced Florence's philosophy of calling it quits when the sun gets too hot (around 1pm), or else my first impressions of horticulture may look a little different...

3. Prepare for Failure
Going back to the importance of flexibility and trail and error, failure is a given. In both agriculture and starting a buisness, you will fail and it is important to know that going in. I have been impressed by the way Florence takes everything with a grain of salt and realizes that it takes time to get the hang of things. Not everything will bloom and grow the way you hoped, but that is expected and can be seen as a learning experience to help you for next year's planting. 

4. Quiet is a Blessing
I have found that driving 45 minutes to Warrenton is actually really enjoyable. There is something about driving alone with the windows rolled down and country music playing that is calming and peaceful. The Warrenton property itself is beautiful and such a treat in contrast to the noisy, crowded neighborhoods of Northern Virginia. The highlights of my first week were when I took a few minutes to stop working and break from from what I was doing, stop, and take in the sights, smells, and sounds around me. The farm is so still and life somehow seems slower there than life in the city. Upon reflecting, the small moments I took to realize these things have been a blessing.

Overall, my first week of my internship has been a positive experience. I haven't loved every task I have performed but I can say that I am very happy that I chose to help Florence with Flo's Flowers and Herbs my "Senior Experience" internship. I am looking forward to what the next two weeks has to bring!  

My dream has always been to live in the country, so here I am. So what does one do with 22 acres of land? Not knowing or having a plan - 2 years ago, I reached out to the local extension office. They had a great idea, build a Cut Your Own Flower Farm. 
 
Agritourism or agrotourism, as it is defined most broadly, involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch. 

During our first year we planned and did research. The second year we started planting; our Zinnias, Cosmos and Dahlias grow great. Every week I cut buckets of flowers to give away to friends and neighbors.  Some of the other plants did not grow as well and we learned which plants the deer loved to eat.
 
Our goal is to "let nature do its thing". Try to recycle leaves and pine needles for mulch, chip fallen trees for ground covering. Spread seeds directly onto the ground. Rely on our natural weather patterns. Just like farmers before us sometimes things grow, sometimes they don’t. I imagine it will take us many years to evolve and to learn from our mistakes and successes. We will need to rearrange our beds and plantings till we get it right.

So here we are, this is our third year on this farming adventure, will it be a success or failure only time will tell.
 
Our interns have been working hard to help us prepare to open soon. I am asking all of our interns to contribute there thoughts, photos and observations to this blog. I expect some will enjoy their time in the country others may not. 

Check our website weekly for updates on when we our open and our availability.