Our Story

Hi, I’m Sarah and this is my family… Matt (my ever supporting husband), Ryan, Malakai, and Tanner (my handsome boys) and Katelyn and Hallie (my princesses). They are my reason for everything! I am starting this flower farm for them. I want to work at home, doing the thing I love, to put these kiddos through college. This is my goal. It is what’s keeping me from quitting when the days get long and when I get discouraged because of all the plants I end up killing. However, most of the time I am so happy to be working outside in this land that I belong to. My grandpa, who died when I was very young, was stationed at the Farragut Naval Training Station during WW2. This corn farmer from Illinois loved the area so much that years later he moved his whole family to North Idaho where we’ve been ever since. When I’m outside working I feel connected to the land, to my family and to God. And I love it.

Let’s start at the beginning of my story. I grew up barefoot and happy under the sycamore trees in beautiful Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  As a kid, you could find me diving for golf balls at Sanders Beach, cliff jumping at Tubb’s Hill, and running foot races at Fort Sherman Park.  Some of my favorite childhood memories were at my grandmother's house.  I remember hiding in her raspberry patch, stealing from its bounty and pulling apart her bleeding hearts pretending the flowers were ladies in the bathtub.  Every year our 'momma cat' would have her babies in our own patch of berries. How I loved sneaking into the raspberries to find those furry, sweet kittens!  The garden was always a magical place for me, full of treasure and adventure. 

Time went on, and I grew up.  I moved to California and got married.  Life carried us to Florida and then Las Vegas. While I was pregnant with my 3rd baby, my farming ancestors came and planted in my heart an overwhelming desire to get my hands in the soil and grow.  Since we were renting, I did the next best thing: I cut all my milk jugs into planters and created a milk-jug-garden.  My thrifty-looking garden quickly grew into a beautiful tumble of green leaves and yellow flowers.  Unfortunately, the Las Vegas sun started to intensify and scorched my little, loved plants.  I would stand there with my huge, pregnant belly spraying down the wilting tendrils with hose water in the hopes of cooling them off.  Despite all my efforts they withered and died.  Oh the tears that were shed on that little slab of concrete, barefoot and pregnant!

My heart longed for home, so we packed up and moved back north to Coeur d'Alene. We bought our first house on a tiny plot of land, and I was so excited!  I got to work setting up my raspberry patch and veggie garden.  The planters around the house were empty, so I started planting flowers... and I fell in love! I have never turned back to vegetables... sorry Mom!  I planted peonies, lilacs, hydrangeas, roses, ‘Ladies in the Bathtub,’ and so many more!  I couldn't stop and soon ran out of room.  I also had 2 more babies for a grand total of 5.   My family and flowers made my life so happy!  Human nature is rarely satisfied though and I soon wanted more... more space to plant!  My husband, the hero that he is, found a hay field just north of town and talked the owner into selling to us.  Matt built an 8' deer fence around the whole 10 acres that summer, so I could plant to my heart's content.  For that, I will love him forever.  

Now, after a few years, we have built our farmhouse on this land that I lovingly call Meadow Wood Farm.  My dreams are dancing with rows upon rows of dahlias, sunflowers, sweet peas, cosmos and flowers of every kind.  The roots of this dream have intertwined with the fibers in my heart and I know I must do it! I know it will be a long process to get where I want to be, but I’m in it for the long haul. I’m determined enough to not let the heavy clay, pesky voles and my holy terror Dalmatians stop me. I am encouraged by the training I’ve received from Floret Flower’s online course. It has given me the confidence and knowledge to know where to start, and this year it will be at the Kootenai County Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays! So sign up for my newsletters or come see me at the market to hear about my failures and my successes and to see my flowers… I can’t wail to share it all with you!