Blooms and Balance: Navigating Business, Family, and Self-Care in Flower Farming
Farming has always been near and dear to Rechelle, as her mother and father’s families have been farming for decades, and the spectrum has been broad (strawberries, potatoes, watermelons, alfalfa, corn, wheat, peaches, cherries, apples, pears, and the list goes on).
Growing up, Rechelle’s jobs on the farm ranged from taking soil samples, picking weeds, and swathing hay to driving a ten-wheeler potato truck. At the time, these experiences made Rechelle run towards something different, but she soon came to realize her time on the farm would become the foundation for everything she would do moving forward.
After leaving the farm and going on to college, Rechelle’s path led her to pursue a career in health care. Despite having a completely different career path than farming, it always found a way back into her life. Rechelle’s time off of work would involve growing flowers and vegetables and going back home to help when she could. The farm soon became a special place for her, and she knew somehow she would go back to agriculture one day. In college, Rechelle met her husband, who had a family history of farming as well – Christmas Trees. So when they got married, Rechelle became a farmer again.
While experimenting with her own yard, Rechelle would reminisce about the memories she shared in the garden with her mother and Grandma Kahler and her interest in how different flowers grew. As each season passed, Rechelle’s little garden squeezed in between Christmas Trees, becoming larger and larger. She soon became interested in all the different plants, and her free time (although small) was filled with learning more about the various flowers she could grow. Each season she would try to grow something new and share her harvest with friends and family. When COVID-19 flipped their worlds upside down, Rechelle found the greatest peace in her garden, pulling weeds and cultivating beauty through flowers. It was the moment that she decided she needed to share this beauty and happiness with others, and thus Freckled Bloom Flower Farm was born!
There are those who will say – flowers die in a vase, why waste your money? Think of it this way…. everything has a beginning and an end, and it’s the in-between that really matters. It is the joy one discovers when designing their own bouquet or how receiving a beautiful arrangement can turn a moment into one that is truly remembered! The joy starts with the person planting the seed, babying that seedling until it can go into the garden, and caring for it until it reaches its last owner. Flowers give hope, happiness, and beauty.
THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY:
The Advancing Women Conference is celebrating its 10th year anniversary of bringing women in ag together to listen, learn, network and grow. The next conference will be held on November 19, 20, 21, 2023 at the Sheraton Fallsview in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Join us to hear over 25 expert speakers and role models from the ag and food sector that will provide you with inspiration, motivation and new tools to help you succeed in your personal life, in your operation or career.
For more information or to register, visit our website here or call Iris at 403-686-8407 or email imeck@farmmedia.com.
Women listening to The Rural Woman Podcast can register at a discounted registration fee of $625 + tax, a saving of over $70 per person using the promo code AWCESPL23.
Join the AWC East Conference
Invest in yourself and network with others passionate about agriculture. If you are a student, farmer, entrepreneur in ag and food, member of a grower association, or a representative of corporate agri-business – celebrate with us for our 10 year anniversary of Advancing Women Conferences!
Join us to hear role models tell their story – their challenges, obstacles, successes and lessons learned and more:
– Invest in yourself. Take this time away from your job, operation, family to reflect, learn and get rejuvenated and inspired and feel refreshed to dive back into work.
– Meet women who are just like you.
– Build your support system here.
– Meet the role models in the industry.
– Find mentors and coaches ready to help you.
– Find ways to balance your life
– Build your resilience and mental well -being.
– Hone your soft skills in leadership and career building. Get empowered.
– Network and build connections with women from across the country and sector.
– Share ideas, and different perspectives.
– Speak with like-minded individuals.
– Practice new skills in multiple workshops.
– Listen, Learn, Network, and Grow!
Join producers, students, entrepreneurs, representatives of Grower Associations and Corporate Agri-business. In 10 years, over 8000 women in ag and food from across Canada have attended AWC and have been inspired by leaders in and outside of our industry.
Are you looking for a change, looking for ways to better your life and your health, need some inspiration and motivation to reach the goals you have ahead of you? Advancing Women Conference is where you want to be in November 2023! Register today!
Here’s What People are Saying About AWC
“AWC was the perfect pick-me-up – especially with a busy life of working in the industry, farming with my husband and his family and having a family. The connections, the sharing of experiences and ideas energized me.”
~Karlene, Hairy Hill, AB
“What a way to be surrounded by empowering women in a safe place.”
~Danika, Alexandria, ON
“Felt more empowered and not alone as a woman in the industry.”
~Mitze, Midstead, SK
“ The feeling of this conference is unlike any other conference I’ve every been to. The sense of community is strong and being surrounded by amazing women has been healing in ways I never knew I needed!”
~Holly, Listowel, ON
“As a first time attendee, I truly enjoyed listening to the speakers who covered a wide diversity of subjects. From starting their own business to succession planning as well as mental health to menopause, many topics were covered. Informative sessions, very well organized event and I am looking forward to see what’s in store for next year! If a you are a women farmer, I truly encourage you to attend this event!”
~Alexandra, Girouxville, AB
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GReat Show Katelyn, loved hearing Rechelle’s story. it put a smile on my face when i heard that her father put her into a 10-WHEELER. that is the way on THE FARM! we all had that kind of experience on the farm when we were young.
i love that you cover women from outside of Canada Katelyn, and find these great leaders who farm in different ways.this really opens up our mind in learning from other farmers.
thank you again Katelyn for all you do to enrich our lives. and thank you for your partnership through AWC.