making change

Dear Readers,

I recently heard someone describe entrepreneurship as an exploration of self. But in addition to growing up inside, entrepreneurs manifest personal change outside of ourselves, in the form of our creative projects, for all the world to see.

The farm is expanding in many directions. As I become ready for bigger risks and challenges, the farm reflects my growth. 

We're building a heated greenhouse for winter growing, which will one day provide work for a full-time employee and allow us to grow flowers for Valentine's Day (a long held dream of mine). We're planting evergreen and magnolia trees, so that when Thanksgiving and Christmas roll around, we'll be busy cutting branches for wreaths. 

Peter Sparklin (native Baltimorean, experienced farmer, and all-around wonderful person) will join our team full time as Crops Manager. Nancy Bjornard (native South Dakotan, long-time flower farmer, and bad-ass mom) will join the crew part time. We've also got some farmer trainees through the Beginning Farmer Training Program at Future Harvest CASA, which will make Thursdays the most fun day of the week.

The biggest team we've ever had means we can do a lot more. We're doubling our annual production, putting in raspberries and blueberries for cutting, making new delivery routes to Annapolis and Frederick, adding classes at the farm... what are we not doing?!

Being a business doesn't mean we're only about profit. One of my favorite business owners (Ellen Frost, I'm talking about you) taught me that for-profit businesses can be focused on making the world a better place. I've been thinking about that a lot lately. How am I making the world better? What can we do to make even more change?

I wish you a thoughtful Wednesday.

Laura Beth