Reflecting on 2021 growing season

The frost is threatening weekly, and while we have had an unusually long season for New Hampshire, The flowers are beginning to show just how hard they've worked all year long. As I walk our few rows every morning with our dog, Jemma, I can't help but think about how much good has happened this past year. I wanted to share a bit of it here, since the success of Mama B's has been entirely due to your support!

We set a financial goal to cover our last years expenses by half and to then buy bulbs for the future. I really wanted to try to use the income we made to purchase next years glory. And we did it! All the perennials we purchased, the bulbs, the spring blooms were all from this years earnings. While we'll use some of our own funding for the seeds and some various farm equipment for next year, as well as soil for the new beds, I feel pretty accomplished that we were able to invest so much back into the farm. 

I had a 'pay day' of my own by getting to attend a floral arranging workshop through Tarrnation Farms up north. It was an absolute life breather for me. Getting to walk alongside those who are just as crazy about flowers as I am was such a deep delight. 

Our zinnias grew past our heads! So did our Dahlias and Cosmos. While I knew this could be expected, the experience of running down a row filled with blooms above ones head was all sorts of magic. I can't wait to see how big the tubers underneath grew this year!

We succeeded at keeping bugs at bay! We had all sorts of infestations with Aphids and Stink Bugs, but we managed to keep them at bay by squishing or spraying with neem oil. There were a few times I thought my plants might be goners, but there were no casualties! This is a miracle for sure. 

We DID have crop failure with all of our pumpkins and zucchini. The soil was unusually wet where I planted several things and they suffered for it. There was a lot of loss-probably a good 50-75 dollars worth in seeds (not to mention what would have been profits) but overall a small cost in the scheme of things. 

I met several of my neighbors! And have several repeat customers that didn't start out as my friends! Ha! It feels exciting and lovely to have relationships with this community where our connection point is these flowers. 

These are just a few of the highlights of this past year. Next year, we hope to expand the season (TULIPS! DAFFODILS! and more!) We are planting perennials for the years ahead (over 40 peonies and I cannot wait!) and we hope to extend the season into the fall with our Dahlias (this past year we closed the stand at the 1st of September. Next year I hope to go a bit farther into the fall. 

In future years I hope to do a couple PYO events, and CSA's but for next year the goal is just to get good at what we're doing. It's been such a good year for learning and I can't wait to see what we get to accomplish next year. As always, thanks for you support and for growing alongside us. 

Love,

Mama B (Britt)