by Amber Helsel
Beth Foose (right) runs her flower business, Little Bluestem Farm, with help from her daughter Mary Margaret Saulters (left). Photo by Stephen WIlson
During certain seasons, Jacksonians can find a colorful cart that brightens up Fondren Corner more than usual. Depending on the time of the year, people may find everything from succulents in the winter time to peonies in spring and summer.
Photo courtesy Little Bluestem Farm That flower cart is just a sample of what customers can get from Leake County-based Little Bluestem Farm.
Owner Beth Foose has always gardened and says that she wanted to produce something to sell but had not yet had the opportunity.
"We were on a road trip to Texas, and I just decided that I was going to try selling flowers," Foose told BOOM Jackson.
Owner Beth Foose has always gardened and says that she wanted to produce something to sell but had not yet had the opportunity.
"We were on a road trip to Texas, and I just decided that I was going to try selling flowers," Foose told BOOM Jackson.
Photo courtesy Little Bluestem Farm Mary Margaret Saulters, Foose's daughter who also assists with Little Bluestem's social media and wedding events, says that her mother told her family on the way back from Big Bend National Park in Texas.
"Since then, it's just become a family business. ... I had never imagined that it was going to grow into what it's grown into. We've been pretty overwhelmed with the support we got for the business, but I think we all kind of laughed it off on that road trip," Saulters says. "We were like, 'Yeah, right, Mom. We'll have a flower farm. OK.'"
"Since then, it's just become a family business. ... I had never imagined that it was going to grow into what it's grown into. We've been pretty overwhelmed with the support we got for the business, but I think we all kind of laughed it off on that road trip," Saulters says. "We were like, 'Yeah, right, Mom. We'll have a flower farm. OK.'"
Photo courtesy Little Bluestem Farm Foose began the business in 2016. In the first year, she says she planted zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos, celosia flowers and more into an old vegetable garden at their home. She also started a community-supported agriculture, or CSA, subscription service for flowers and started selling at the Mississippi Farmers Market.
"A CSA is a good business model for a small farmer because you have subscriptions, and people pay, and you really need the revenue to invest in seeds and prepare the ground and all of those kinds of things," she says.
"A CSA is a good business model for a small farmer because you have subscriptions, and people pay, and you really need the revenue to invest in seeds and prepare the ground and all of those kinds of things," she says.
Photo courtesy Little Bluestem Farm In the last year, the business has expanded the CSA program and started the flower cart in Fondren Corner in June 2017.
In growing flowers for Little Bluestem, Foose likes to keep the business focused on growing organically and sourcing locally.
"It's the right thing to do," she says. "We have a responsibility to ... not exploit the natural world."
In growing flowers for Little Bluestem, Foose likes to keep the business focused on growing organically and sourcing locally.
"It's the right thing to do," she says. "We have a responsibility to ... not exploit the natural world."
Photo courtesy Little Bluestem Farm In the future, Foose says she would like to expand the CSA program and the floral arrangements for events that Little Bluestem does, and also have more of a retail presence. This year, Foose plans to introduce bees to the farm.
For more information or to check availability, email littlebluestemfarmms@gmail.com or visit littlebluestemfarm.com.
For more information or to check availability, email littlebluestemfarmms@gmail.com or visit littlebluestemfarm.com.
RSS Feed