So What's Next for Hickman Hollow Farms?
One of my favorite parts of our first U-Pick last weekend wasn't the flowers.
It was the conversations.
Over and over again, people would look out across the property and ask us some version of the same question:
"So what are your next plans?"
And honestly, I completely understand why.
Right now, our flower field occupies just a small corner of our nearly 20-acre property. If you've visited the farm or even driven by, you've probably noticed that while there are flowers blooming everywhere, there is still a whole lot of open space beyond them. I mean, just look at all that unused space on the right and close to the front. It’s a good 2 acres still to fill up, just in this pasture alone. We haven’t even begun to show you the other pastures that still have a purpose.
So naturally, people want to know.
Is there more coming?
The answer is a very enthusiastic YES!
The challenge is that Jamie and I are only two people… well, 3, including Landin, our weekend-warrior farmhand.
At the end of the day, we're just a husband and wife who love working outdoors, building things with our hands, and spending our time creating something meaningful together. Our dream has always been bigger than flowers. We want to create a place that brings people together, teaches traditional skills, encourages healthier living, supports local agriculture, and gives families a reason to slow down and reconnect with nature.
The vision is big. The workforce is small.
So things happen one project at a time.
And honestly, we're okay with that. So get ready….this is going to be a long post, but hopefully you will appreciate all we have been planning.
Where We Are Today
Looking across the flower fields today, it's hard to believe that just a few months ago this was simply open pasture.
The average flower farm in the United States is only about a quarter of an acre, but we've already expanded to roughly an acre of flowers and will continue adding new production space throughout the season.
Right now, we have approximately 45 to 50 flower beds in production, each measuring 50 feet long by 3 feet wide, and that number continues to grow as well as the 20×50 zinnia patch with a sitting bench. By the end of this year, we expect to have around 80 beds producing flowers for our community.
For a first-year farm, we're incredibly proud of what we've built already. And the best part is that we're nowhere near finished.
Active beds include:
6 beds of peonies
6 beds of dahlias
4 beds of gladiolus
3 beds of sunflowers
3 beds of wildflowers
2 beds of hydrangeas
2 beds of snapdragons
A 20 x 50 zinnia patch
And the rest of the beds are growing anything from yarrow, celosia, eucalyptus, rudbeckia, echinops, dusty miller, frosted explosion, cosmos, herbs, fillers, and foliage plants.
It sounds like a lot because it is a lot.
But it's also just the beginning.
The Flower Fields Are About to Grow
This fall we plan to add another 12 beds of peonies. Well, maybe more, that’s still a discussion between Jamie and I.
That will add approximately 192 new peony plants and bring our total close to 300 peony bushes.
Bowl of Cream Peony
Peonies are one of those crops that require patience, but they are absolutely worth it. Future springs at Hickman Hollow Farms are going to be incredible.
Then there are the dahlias.
Right now, we have around 1,200 dahlias growing across six beds. The funny thing about dahlias is that they multiply underground. Every season, a single tuber can become four, six, or even eight new tubers.
When we dig and divide them this fall, we could potentially be looking at 4,000 to 8,000 dahlias.
That means next year's dahlia field may occupy 25 to 40 beds all by itself.
Sometimes I think about that and get excited. Then I remember who has to dig, divide, and replant all those tubers.
Three Big Surprises
We also have three major flower projects in the works.
I don't want to spoil all the surprises because I happen to enjoy surprises and hope you do too.
But I can tell you they involve:
Sunflowers
Lavender
Wildflowers
If you've visited the farm, you've probably noticed how much empty pasture still surrounds the current flower field.
Well, our goal is simple. By next year, we intend to fill a whole lot more of it. And our focus on experiences is going to make this a very special project.
The U-Pick Herb Garden
One project I'm especially excited about is our future herb garden.
And when I say herb garden, I don't mean a few basil plants tucked behind the house.
We're creating a large U-Pick herb garden where visitors can harvest herbs just like they harvest flowers.
As someone who loves cooking, herbal teas, natural wellness, and creating body care products, this project is incredibly close to my heart.
We'll be growing culinary herbs, medicinal herbs, tea herbs, fragrant herbs, and plants that can be used in soaps, salves, oils, and other products. And almost all of the herbs have already been started from seed in my greenhouse.
Judging by the conversations we had during the U-Pick, many of you are just as excited about this idea as I am.
It's Finally Time for Animals
One question we get constantly is:
"When are the animals coming?"
The truth is that we've intentionally waited.
We wanted to be sure we had enough time to care for them properly before bringing them home. Between building flower fields, remodeling the house, and launching the farm, we simply weren't ready.
But that's beginning to change.
We now have some extra help around the farm, the busiest part of flower season is starting to slow down, and we're finally ready to begin building the animal side of Hickman Hollow Farms.
The Chicken Coop Project
This week we're beginning construction on our chicken coop.
If you've visited the farm already, you know we have an enormous horse barn with 18 stalls.
Since we only have three horses that certainly don’t need 18 stalls, we're converting the first stall inside the barn into a dedicated chicken coop.
Jamie and Landin have already started cleaning, planning, and designing the space, and construction begins this weekend.
If you come to the U-Pick this Saturday, there's a good chance you'll see them working.
Our goal is to have a flock of beautiful hens that visitors can enjoy seeing while also providing fresh farm eggs for the farm store.
Meet Our Newest Family Members
We did gain three new additions recently.
The first is Storm, our gray kitten.
We rescued him from the parking lot at Lowe's after hearing tiny cries coming from underneath a truck. He was only a few weeks old when we found him, and very scared. He had major heat exhaustion and just wanted to stay in my arms for the first few days.
After some kitten formula, a vet visit, and lots of love, I am happy to report he is doing fantastic. He's healthy, spoiled, and rapidly growing into what we hope will eventually become an excellent barn cat.
Then there are Rose and Little, our two Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dogs.
At the moment, they have decided that Jamie and I are the livestock they need to guard, and they very much enjoy exploring the flower field.
Pulling weeds in the field has become a challenge because Rose is especially fond of staying under me at all times, while Little just wants to splash in the pond. These giant fluffy marshmallows follow us everywhere while we work on putting together the actual livestock plan.
And that plan starts with sheep.
Sheep Are Coming
I've been talking about sheep for months.
Sheep fit beautifully into our long-term goals. They help improve soil fertility, support regenerative farming practices, and provide milk that can eventually be incorporated into some of our body care products.
The current plan is to add three to four Katahdin or St. Croix ewes in the near future. Eventually, a ram as well, since we can’t get milk without lambs being born.
They're a big piece of the puzzle and I can't wait.
The Rabbit Village
Another project we've been dreaming about is rabbits.
Like the chicken coop, it simply hasn't been built yet.
But when we do it, we're not interested in rows of tiny cages.
We want to create a large rabbit habitat with grass, flowers, tunnels, hiding places, and room to explore. We would also like it to be large enough that our littlest visitors can go in and interact with them. I’m currently drawing the habitat out on paper, putting in every idea and space measurement I need to account for, and I hope to be putting it into action as soon as the chicken coop is finished.
The rabbits will help provide fertilizer for the farm, and in return, we'll do everything we can to give them healthy, happy lives.
What About Vegetables?
We haven't forgotten about produce.
This first year was intentionally focused on flowers.
Sure, we've grown vegetables for ourselves and will have a few things available in the farm store this summer, but building a true market garden is a project for next season.
And yes, you probably already know where this is heading.
It will be a U-Pick too.
Our future market garden will feature seasonal vegetables, leafy greens, beans, tomatoes, herbs, watermelons, and much more.
We want families to experience harvesting their own food the same way they currently experience harvesting their own flowers.
The Orchard's Future
This year we planted:
Apples
Pears
Peaches
Plums
Figs
Mulberries
Fruit trees require patience.
Most won't produce meaningful harvests for another two to three years.
That means there aren't any immediate plans for orchard events.
But by 2028, we hope the orchard will be producing enough fruit that we can invite the community out for seasonal U-Pick fruit harvests.
And Then There Are the Berries
Strawberries.
Blueberries.
Blackberries.
Raspberries.
We're planning to get them all planted this fall.
If everything goes according to plan, berry picking should become part of the farm experience next year.
The Farm Store Is Just Getting Started
One thing I love about our barn is that it gives us a place to display the various value-added products that we create ourselves from some of the items you find on the farm.
Right now, all we really have set up is our U-Pick check-in area and a display of nature-inspired artwork. While that was enough to get us through opening day, I can assure you that what you saw this weekend is only a tiny glimpse of what we have planned.
The farm store has always been an important part of our vision for Hickman Hollow Farms.
Over the coming months and years, we plan to fill the shelves with products made right here on the farm. That includes herbal teas, botanical facial steamers, herbal oil infusions, handmade soaps, body butters, salves, bath products, dried flowers, fresh bouquets, culinary herbs, produce, eggs, jams, jellies, baked goods, and all sorts of seasonal creations inspired by what we're growing.
Many of these products tie directly back to our mission of helping families reduce toxins in their homes while reconnecting with simple, traditional skills that have been used for generations.
My dream is for visitors to walk into the farm store and discover something new every time they visit. Maybe it's a tea blend made from herbs growing just outside the door. Maybe it's a handmade soap scented with flowers harvested from the fields. Maybe it's a fresh loaf of bread or a basket of produce picked that morning.
The farm store will grow alongside the farm itself, one shelf at a time, and we're excited to share that journey with you.
A Special Place Just for Kids
One of the things we noticed during our first U-Pick was how many parents brought young children. And honestly, I loved it. Seeing them here made it that much more special, and I want to tell you about the plans we have just for them.
We want to create a dedicated Children's Garden.
This space will be designed specifically with younger visitors in mind. While the main flower fields will always be open for family picking, the Children's Garden will be a place where kids can experience the joy of harvesting flowers in a space created just for them.
We're imagining colorful flowers planted at kid-friendly heights, winding pathways, whimsical surprises (we have a whole fairy thing happening on the farm), and plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning and exploration.
Many of our animal friends will also call this area home, creating opportunities for children to interact with animals while learning where food, flowers, and farm products come from.
As the space develops, we hope it becomes a gathering place for birthday parties, tea parties, homeschool groups, educational activities, and family events throughout the year.
More than anything, we want children to leave the farm with dirty hands, happy hearts, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them.
Some of my favorite childhood memories happened outdoors, and I would love for Hickman Hollow Farms to help create those kinds of memories for the next generation.
Why Is Everything U-Pick?
This is probably one of the easiest questions to answer.
Yes, we'll have products available in the farm store. We'll have bouquets, herbs, vegetables, eggs, and handmade goods available for purchase.
But Hickman Hollow Farms was never planned to be about just selling products.
It's about creating experiences. We have high expectations for our farm because we want to accomplish a lot.
We want people to know where their food comes from.
We want families to know they can place a bouquet of flowers on their table that didn’t have to be sprayed with toxic chemicals just to pass customs because it came from another country.
We want children to see vegetables growing in the ground instead of only seeing them in a grocery store.
We want families to spend time outdoors together.
We want people to reconnect with the land, appreciate the work that goes into growing food, and understand the incredible blessing of creation.
There is something miraculous about planting a tiny seed and watching it become something that can nourish a family.
We never want to lose sight of that.
And let’s be honest…can you see two people harvesting all of that by ourselves? Absolutely not. U-pick is the best way to go to meet all of our goals and still be able to hold our heads above water.
Don't Forget the Pond
And then there's the pond.
Our three-acre stocked pond behind the barn has huge potential but is incredibly overgrown, low water causing a steep incline to get down to it, and just overall not appealing.
This summer, we'll be working on making the area more accessible, safer, and more enjoyable for visitors, including the addition of several docks around the pond.
Once that's complete, we're looking forward to hosting fishing events and creating opportunities for families to spend peaceful mornings by the water.
More Than a Farm
Ultimately, our goal isn't for you to simply stop by and shop.
We want you to spend time here.
We want you to slow down.
Put away the phone.
Walk barefoot in the grass.
Pick flowers.
Catch a fish.
Watch butterflies.
Learn something new.
Take a deep breath.
Nature has a way of reminding us what really matters, and we hope Hickman Hollow Farms becomes a place where people can reconnect with that.
We're incredibly grateful that you've chosen to be part of this journey.
The farm you see today is only the first chapter.
There is so much more coming.
If you'd like to follow along as these projects take shape, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media. We'll continue sharing the wins, the challenges, and all the behind-the-scenes moments as we build Hickman Hollow Farms one project at a time.
And as always, we'd love to hear your ideas and feedback.
After all, this farm isn't just being built for our family.
It's being built for our community.
