A family picking flowers in the rain reminded me just how much this first season at Hickman Hollow has meant. As we prepare for garlic, a new spring flower garden, and 400 lavender plants, I'm finding that the most beautiful thing we've grown this year are the friendships that have blossomed along the way.

As the summer flower season begins to wind down, we are already dreaming about new flowers, fresh vegetables, and the seasons still to come. From tiny packets of flower seeds to plans for growing more food, this week's letter is a reminder that some of the most important things we grow begin long before anything blooms.

A field of misunderstood goldenrod, sunflowers blooming in autumn colors and one tiny sheep finally brave enough to eat from the Gardener's hand all offered the same lesson this week. Sometimes the most beautiful things in the Hollow have been there all along, waiting for us to look a little closer.

September seems to have decided that Hickman Hollow needs more animals. This week the Gardener is learning what baby ducks, dirty pond water, fall planting and four new sheep have in common, while the Keeper quietly insists that some things make more sense when given time.

Four St. Croix sheep have finally found their way into the pastures at Hickman Hollow, including one tiny June lamb who is slowly learning that the Gardener comes bearing treats. Their arrival has brought plenty of happiness, one spectacular escape by Rose, and the beginning of an entirely new chapter for the Hollow.

While the summer flowers begin to tire, tiny zinnias, stretching sunflowers, budding dahlias, and rows of green cosmos are quietly preparing for another turn in the fields. The Gardener is learning that the Hollow keeps a calendar of its own, and perhaps the Keeper understands the timing better than she does.

Gardener’s Letter No. 01 finds us moving more than 700 pieces of stone and watching the herb garden finally take shape. Meanwhile, the late summer flowers are changing, our first bottles of After the Garden have left the farm, and a verse from Ezekiel has me thinking about the beautiful and useful things God has given us to grow.

August at Hickman Hollow Farms has been a month of changing seasons. The summer flowers are beginning to slow down, much needed rain finally arrived, and we're already sowing and planning for the flowers that will fill the fields next spring.

Welcome to The Gardener’s Letter, a new weekly note from Hickman Hollow Farms. I hope it becomes a little invitation to slow down, notice what is growing around you, and feel like you are part of what is growing here too.

July at Hickman Hollow Farms was the month we found our rhythm. From daily U-Picks and fields bursting with gladiolus to building a chicken coop, digging a duck pond, and beginning our journey into herbal living, this month's update shares the moments that made the farm feel more alive than ever.

June at Hickman Hollow Farms was the month everything came together. After months of planting, planning, and dreaming, we welcomed our very first visitors to the flower fields and watched our little farm become everything we had hoped it could be.

Read more about what goes into growing flowers the natural way and why buying local might be the best thing you can put on your dining room table.

One of the most common questions we heard during our recent U-Pick was, "What's next for Hickman Hollow Farms?" From expanding flower fields and a future U-Pick herb garden to sheep, chickens, berries, orchards, fishing events, and more, we're sharing the vision that's slowly taking shape across our 20 acres.

May felt like the month everything came to life. The rain finally arrived, the flower fields began to fill with color, and for the first time we could truly see the farm becoming what we always imagined it could be.

April didn’t bring the rain we were hoping for, but it still brought growth in ways we didn’t expect. This month’s update shares the challenges, small victories, and first real signs of the farm coming to life.

March at Hickman Hollow Farms was the month everything woke up at once, shifting from slow winter days into full planting season. This update shares the lessons, long days, and first real signs of a farm coming to life.

Happy National Plant a Flower Day!

January at Hickman Hollow Farms was a month of waiting, quiet preparation, and learning to be still in the middle of winter. This month’s blog shares the slower pace, small signs of growth, and steady faith carrying us toward the promise of spring.

December at Hickman Hollow Farms was a month of firsts, from building our first greenhouse to planting the very first flowers and fruit trees on the farm. This behind-the-scenes update shares the real, messy, and meaningful work of learning to build a farm one project at a time.