Field Trip!

Now that we are home from our trip, we are enjoying the snow settling in.  It is definitely winter, but it's too bad that we don't ever officially get snowed in being so close to the city.  The farms that we just visited seemed to be far enough off the beaten path that they really would be snowed in.  First, we went to the Great Plains Growers Conference for an all day cut flower workshop with Erin Benzakein from Floret Flowers.  We learned about wedding flowers, some marketing tips, and got to be a part of a hands on workshop to learn more about how to make beautiful bouquets like Erin.

Look at my bouquet.  I'm so proud :)

Boutonneires... like little mini bouquets

That's Erin

Then we went and visited Lynn Byczynski at her farm.  This is Lake Clinton nearby in Lawrence, Kansas.

 Then we went to Dripping Springs Garden in Huntsville, Arkansas.  This farm was amazing and the Ozark Mountains were beautiful.  The snow started right when we got into the mountains.  I can't imagine what this place must look like in the middle of the farming season.

The tool shed... something we wish we had!

Their new house, timber built with earthen walls... it was so peaceful and inviting.  Hopefully we'll attain this after more years of farming.  Talk about the good life!

Some enormous pussy willow bushes... they make ours look puny.

Another shot of their beautiful house

Look at all those mushroom logs... yum!

And a shot of the Ozarks

Everything we experienced was amazing and totally inspiring.  Now we just sit inside and wait for warmer weather.  We have been doing our last changes to our seed order and getting things set up for the spring.  2011 here we come!