A few weeks ago I was able to get together with Kirstin of Simple Acre Farm in Mustang, OK. She along with her husband and children have created the most beautiful flower farm right in their backyard. They’ve recently opened up their farm to the public so you can schedule a time to go out and cut your own flowers, design your own bouquet and take it home to enjoy it! I loved the idea from the moment I saw it and knew Kristin would be a perfect candidate for my Mothers Who Create project. So happy to be able to share a bit of her story with you!
Where did your journey with gardening begin?
I have vivid memories playing in the dirt while my dad prepared and tended his vegetable garden every summer. He always included us in his gardening and despite working as an accountant and being very active in our sport schedules, he would get his hands in the dirt any time he could. My mother, a very gifted artist, also loved gardening. She preferred the creative process more and worked more in the flower beds. When I was about five, I went to school one morning and by the time I came home she had tilled up a 400sq foot flower bed, planted roses and other perennials, placed various statues, a wagon wheel and decorative rock from our adventures, and made little walkways with old bricks she found. She loved that little garden and it grew and thrived for years.
Fast forward several years and my husband and I found ourselves living in my home town with two acres of our own. My love of gardening and growing was reignited after visiting a local strawberry farm owned by an incredibly kind elderly couple. After that visit, we began our journey into micro farming. We have grown a large variety of vegetables, fruits, and then on year two we started flowers. Researching, planning, growing, and creating with flowers has allowed me to reconnect with the memories of my parents, who passed when I was a teenager. I’ve also realized that I have an artistic side to me just like my mother. I just use a different medium than her beloved oil paints and watercolors. My art expression comes in the form of researching flowers that will grow in our harsh environment and pair well together, growing and tending the farm (with help!), harvesting and properly conditioning the flowers, assembling floral arrangements and developing marketing plans. The flower farm brings me an incredible amount of joy, and luckily for me, it has seemingly translated into bringing a lot of joy and goodness for the community as well.
Do you feel becoming a mother has influenced your desire to create?
Absolutely. I worked for years to earn a degree in Biology and a Doctorate of Physical Therapy. I worked several years as a physical therapist before having kids. We made the decision for me to stay home full time after having my first child. While I consider this a huge blessing, it was difficult for me mentally and emotionally. I am a very driven individual and I felt like I needed something of my own to put energy into in order to be the best mom I could be. The flower farm has been that for me and being a small business owner in general has been one of the most difficult, yet rewarding times for me on a professional level. I not only get to create a beautiful farm, grow incredible flowers, style lovely photos, and build a network of amazing people, but I get to create a business, a story, and a brand that I’m incredibly proud of. And I get to do it at my home while my kids are by my side (or on my back… or under my feet). Every late night, every difficult task, everytime I am told “no,” I remember my why… which is creating a legacy for my kids.
How do you enjoy involving your children in the creative process? What do you hope they gain from these experiences creating?
As my children get older, they are more interested in being involved. My three year old son loves admiring beautiful flowers and will even help with planting small plants and seeds. We’ve had many a plant casualty on his account. As long as they are content and out there with us, we know to expect some damage; it’s part of the learning process. My daughter will help cut flowers, and we try to cut and arrange a mom and daughter bouquet every week or so. It is really fun to watch her learn and grow and those are the memories I hope she’ll look back on someday. I know I will. She is five and is destined to be a CEO. I’ve watched her introduce herself to a group of adults, give a little tour of our farm, then instruct them how to cut and what the rules of the farm are. A huge part of our mission is to take time to appreciate the simple joys in life. I hope they always remember the lessons we’re teaching them about life in general whether it be to appreciate the beauty of nature, to treat everyone with kindness, to foster your passions, to set goals and work hard to achieve them, and to leave the rest to God.
How do you find balance in your life as a creative and mother?
This is something that I’m not sure I’ve found yet. My kids are accustomed to late dinners, flowers everywhere (including on the table.. and floor), random ideas from mom, and plenty of craziness in general. One thing I will be able to say when I look back on my time with young kids is that I tried to always hold them and listen when they needed it. And they are always along for the ride (especially now with COVID and virtual school). They are little troopers as we make flower deliveries, host u-cuts, assemble bouquets, attend farmer’s markets, and much more. I’m extremely thankful for a supportive husband who is a wonderful father to our kids and who dedicates a lot of time to the farm, despite having a full time job and a herd of cows to care for. And hiring help has been instrumental in letting me have more time with my family. My husband and I do our best to work as a team to create a safe environment full of lots of love. And our children know that Mom and Dad are here for them always. Other than that, I’m yet to figure it out.
