January 2021 Newsletter

Greetings and Happy 2021 to all!

As most of you experienced, 2020 was an unexpected and challenging year. As a small family flower farm, we would like to express our gratitude to all those who supported small local businesses such as ours. From the many individuals who ordered a custom arrangement to the brides who selected us to provide their wedding florals, we thank you. Our farm also took a step toward season extension with the addition of 3 caterpillar tunnels. This time of the year gives us the opportunity to take a moment to reflect on all that we experienced over the past year and begin planning out the upcoming season. We hope you enjoy this update from our farm and our current offerings.

~STILL WATERS FARM AND GARDENS

Update on Caterpillar Tunnels

An adage commonly shared among seasoned farmers (especially flower farmers) is the phrase “Everything grows better in a tunnel”. In the first 2 months of using the tunnels, we have discovered how warm the inside of a closed tunnel can be during the day. So one of our daily chores is to ensure the sides are properly open/vented by the time the air temperature reaches above 40 degrees F, especially on a sunny day. Then we must remember to close the tunnels in the evening if the night temperatures drop below freezing. Growing in the tunnels are varieties of Ranunculus and Anemones as well as Campanula. The plants are doing well in the controlled environment of the tunnels. We are eagerly awaiting their first blooms in late winter.

Barn Repair - Phase 1

At the end of October, the remnants of Hurricane Zeta swept through our region and brought some unexpected high winds. These winds took down several large trees and peeled back part of our barn roof. As we inspected the old barn (which appears to be at least 80 years old), there was more attention needed than just fixing the roof, so we kicked off operation “Save the Old Barn”. With this operation impacting multiple parts of the barn (the stalls, hay loft and roof), we decided to attack the repairs in phases. In December, we began Phase 1 – the Structural Repair. We started by removing rotted siding to expose the sill plate and wall studs. Once the bad wood was replaced with new treated lumber, we moved to repairing the floor joists and floor boards of the second level loft. On a side note, we had a challenge trying to find lumber to match the existing flooring (rough cut lumber which may have been milled from trees on our property at the time the barn was built). Fortunately we found a lumber company not too far away that offered the same kind of rough cut lumber. By the end of January, our plan is to have the structure repairs completed and ready for Phase 2 – Installing the New Roof.

Current Offerings – Dried Flowers and Bouquet Subscription

For January, we are offering the following products for sale: 

• Dried Flowers – Ammobium, Blackberry Lily, Larkspur, Nigella Pods and Mixed Bouquets

• Fresh Foliages/Branches – Curly Willow and Pussy Willow

• Local Honey - Harvested from our Farm’s Honeybees

If you are looking for a special and charming gift this year, you may want to consider a 2021 Bouquet Subscription. Our Bouquet Subscription features a weekly bouquet filled with locally grown specialty cut flowers from our farm. Click here to learn more.

Also, if you have an upcoming Special Event/Birthday/Shower or you are searching for a garden inspired source for Wedding Flowers, we offer Custom Floral Design Services as well as DIY Buckets of Blooms and Greenery.

For more information about any of these items, please visit our online shop at www.stillwatersfarmandgardens.com or send us an email at stillwatersfarm@centurylink.net.

Our Story

STILL WATERS FARM AND GARDENS is a family run flower farm and floral design studio situated in the Mountain View community of Catawba County. Our farm offers seasonal specialty cut flowers 🌼, foliages 🌾 and edibles 🌿 to florists, restaurants and supermarkets. We also offer lovely garden style bouquets and arrangements using flowers and greenery carefully selected and harvested fresh from our fields. Our products are available for purchase at our seasonal roadside Farm Stand and online* at www.stillwatersfarmandgardens.com. Though we are growing all year round, our flowers and arrangements are offered beginning in late Winter and ending in late Fall. 

Whether you are looking for a custom arrangement or several buckets of flowers, we look forward to serving your floral needs.

* – Available for delivery in Hickory, NC and surrounding areas