It's On My Heart Today

This has been on my heart today.

This weekend, a flower farmer friend called me in tears.

After five years of pouring herself into her business, she made the incredibly difficult decision to close. And after she announced it, people showed up.

She was grateful. But through the tears she said something that has stayed with me:

“Where was everyone before?”

That hit me hard.

I know another flower farmer whose husband is dealing with a serious medical condition, and still, she continues to show up. To plant. To cut. To create. To keep her dream going.

The truth is, behind every small business is a whole life you don't always see.

We have families to take care of. Parents who are aging. Grown children who still need us. Grandchildren, spouses, appointments, celebrations, losses and all the everyday things that don't stop because we own a business.

And somewhere in the middle of all of that, we're trying to hold onto a dream.

For me, this journey started without really knowing where it would go. One flower stand. One bouquet. One customer at a time.

I post a lot because I am so proud of what we have built. But behind the pretty pictures are hours nobody sees.

I was out cutting early the other morning and late the other night, full speed ahead before the weekend rain, because I want to continue bringing beautiful flowers to the stand. We've spent long, hot summer days planting, weeding, cutting and creating. There are early mornings and very late nights.

And we do it because we love it.

That's why it hurts to watch small businesses disappear.

Supporting local doesn't have to mean spending a lot. Sometimes it's choosing the little farm stand instead of picking up flowers at the grocery store. It's stopping at the bakery down the road. Visiting the family-owned shop. Sharing someone's post. Telling a friend about a place you love.

And yes, even flower farmers sometimes need to source a few stems we can't grow ourselves. But every stem that comes through here is inspected. Every bouquet is made by someone's hands. We care about what leaves this farm because we care about the person taking it home.

Small businesses don't need everyone to show up after the goodbye announcement.

We need people to show up while we're still here.

While we're planting the seeds.

While we're getting up at 5 a.m.

While we're trying to balance our businesses with the people we love.

While we're still chasing the dream.

Because behind that little stand, farm, bakery, shop or family business is someone working incredibly hard and hoping they get to keep doing what they love for another season.

And to everyone who continues to show up for us — whether you buy a bouquet, attend a workshop, share a post, tell a friend or simply stop by — thank you.

Thank you for showing up. It means more than you probably know.