We Bought A New Farm In Hood River

9.5.24 | A New Beginning: Becoming Stewards of 3050 Dee Highway

This is the first journal entry to document our journey after we bought a new farm in Hood River, Oregon. We’re thrilled to begin this new chapter. We look forward to sharing the challenges, victories, and stories that unfold as we transform this land into a flourishing flower farm.

Today marks the start of an incredible new chapter in our lives—we officially became the stewards of 3050 Dee Highway, a 20 ½-acre stretch of land brimming with possibility. It’s hard to describe the feeling of standing on this ground, knowing the journey it took to get here. The land is far from a thriving farm right now—it’s more like barren, fallow dirt, waiting to be brought back to life. But we’re ready for the challenge.

The Real Work On The Farm Begins Now

In many ways, the real work starts now. After all, the vision doesn’t become reality just because you’ve found the land. This is where the true transformation begins—the long hours, the sweat, the setbacks, and the eventual joy of watching something grow from nothing. We’re not just inheriting this land; we’re stepping into the role of its caretakers. There’s a lot of hard work ahead, but boy are we’re ready for it.

I think back to how much I’ve dreamed about this moment—about finding the right piece of land where I could put down roots and grow not just flowers, but a life centered around making positive change and cultivating beauty.. Now that it’s happening, the excitement mixes with a healthy dose of nervousness. Can we really take this land, which has been neglected for years, and turn it into a thriving farm? Will it be all that I envision? These are the questions I’ve been asking myself, and while the answers aren’t clear yet, I know that if we commit fully, we will create something beautiful here.

A Five-Year Journey: From Disappointment to Opportunity

This journey didn’t start today—it began five long years ago. During those five years, we viewed countless properties, made several offers, and faced repeated heartbreak as one dream after another slipped through our fingers. We started looking for our own land after my first year of farming when it became clear that I wanted more space to grow.

My first year of flower farming was when I truly realized how connected I was to the earth, to the rhythm of the seasons, and to the fulfillment that comes from nurturing life. As that year came to a close, my husband and I knew we wanted to build something lasting—a place we could call our own, where flowers could bloom and our family could grow.

Looking Back On Our Journey

It’s funny, though, how life only makes sense when you look backward. Every decision we made, every disappointment we faced, led us to this moment. Five years ago, I wasn’t ready for what this land would require. Had this property come into our lives back then, I probably would have walked away from it, overwhelmed by the scope of what it would take to revive it. But after six years of farming, I can now see how each experience shaped me. Now, this 20-acre property doesn’t feel like too much work. It feels like a beautiful, blank canvas waiting for us to bring it to life.

We’ve looked at every kind of property you can imagine—from one-acre plots to larger parcels that would have provided more than enough space to grow flowers. But somehow, none of them felt right. I used to get frustrated by that, wondering why we couldn’t find the perfect place. It wasn’t until recently that I realized it wasn’t just about finding land—it was about finding land that felt like home. That’s what makes 3050 Dee Highway different. It feels like the right place for us to build not just a farm, but a life that will support and sustain our family and our dreams for years to come.

Our First Offer: A Vision Across the River

Ironically, the first offer we ever made on a property on this journey was five years ago. It was a farm directly across the river from where we are now. At that time, I was a full-time photographer, and flower farming was just a passion project. I was photographing a 45-acre farm that was going on the market, and as I stood there listening to the Hood River and dreaming of growing flowers, I could see the potential.

My husband had always dreamed of owning property along the river, but as fate would have it, this property wasn’t meant to be. This property slipped away from us, like many others over the years. After losing out on this riverside property, we decided two acres would be perfect for growing flowers. We were still fairly new to the farming world and thought small.

Looking Back On The Journey To Finding Farmland In Hood River

Looking back now, I realize how far we’ve come. Back then, I was still finding my way as a farmer, balancing my photography work with my newfound passion for growing flowers. I wasn’t ready for the scale of the farm we had made an offer on. In hindsight, I’m glad we didn’t get it. It would have been too much, too soon. Over the years, I’ve learned the value of growing slowly—both literally and metaphorically. Just as a garden needs time to establish roots before it can flourish, I needed time to grow as a farmer, to learn the land, and to understand the work involved.

Building and Growing: Our Journey To Creating A Flower Farm Of Our Own

As I continued flower farming, my passion only grew. My farm started humbly with several rows of dahlias in our front yard, but it expanded over the years. By year two, I had leased a quarter-acre from a neighbor. The following year, I grew to half an acre, and by my fourth and fifth seasons, I had expanded to a full acre. Every season taught me something new—about soil health, about flowers, and about myself.

But then, tragedy struck. My dear neighbor, who had so generously allowed me to farm on her land, passed away unexpectedly. Not only did I lose the land I had poured my heart into, but I also lost a close friend who had felt like a grandmother to me. It felt like my flower farming journey was unraveling. I was heartbroken. How could something that had grown into such a huge part of my life disappear so suddenly?

That season, I found myself at a crossroads. Should I continue farming, even though I no longer had access to the land that had been such an integral part of my journey? Or should I take this as a sign that it was time to move on? For a while, I wasn’t sure. I felt lost, unsure of what the future held for me and my flowers.

(You can read my November 2023 Journal Entry about loosing our leased land by clicking here.)

Finding Purpose Through Setbacks

At first, I couldn’t make sense of it. I kept asking myself, “Why is this happening to me?” Eventually, I realized this wasn’t happening to me—it was happening for me. Tearing down everything I had built over the past five years was painful, but it gave me clarity. It forced me to understand what really mattered.

In hindsight, I see that my neighbor’s passing, as painful as it was, nudged me toward a deeper connection with my purpose. I knew I couldn’t give up on flowers. They had become such an integral part of my life, filling my soul in ways I hadn’t expected. I have always felt such a deep connection to the flowers and to the earth. I feel as if I’m meant to share something greater through my work. This connection with nature has kept me grounded and has allowed me to keep moving forward, even when it felt like everything was falling apart.

A New Vision and a Big Leap

At the beginning of 2024, I hired a life coach to help me navigate this transition. My coach asked me what I wanted most in life. Through this question, I realized that what I craved was time—time with my family and time with those I love.

This realization made me rethink how I wanted to approach flower farming. I started to visualize a different kind of farm—one where our daughter could grow up with her hands in the dirt, running through fields of flowers. I pictured us sitting on a porch, watching the sunset over the land we’d nurtured, giving back to the Earth while building a life for our family. This vision became so clear, but I had no idea how we were going to make it happen.

The vision wasn’t just about flowers anymore. It was about a lifestyle—a way of living that allowed us to be in tune with the land and to share that experience with others. I started thinking about agritourism, about opening our farm to visitors. Dreaming of creating a space where people could connect with nature. I imagined educational gardens where we could teach others how to grow their own flowers. A place to cultivate a deeper relationship with the earth. The possibilities felt endless, but the path forward wasn’t entirely clear.

The Decision to Sell: Moving Forward

After many long conversations, my husband and I decided it was time to sell our home. It was a leap of faith, but we knew it was the right move to make our dream a reality. We planned to move into our rental property and free up our cash so that we could be ready to make an offer when the right farmland became available.

As if the universe was aligning in our favor, this past July, we received an off-market offer on our home—an offer we couldn’t refuse. It all felt too perfect, too serendipitous. Things were finally falling into place, but we still didn’t have a farm.

Finding 3050 Dee Highway: A Dream Takes Shape

Just as we were preparing to close on our house, I discovered a listing for a 20-acre property on the Hood River Fruit Loop. It felt like fate. I visited the land with my husband, but it was overgrown and wild. At first, he wasn’t convinced—this would be a massive project. The grass was so tall we could hardly walk through it. It was scorching hot the day that we visited the land, and I could see why he had doubts. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was the place.

Seeing The Vision For The Farm

After seeing the property a second time, we sat down that night as a family to watch the documentary, Kiss the Ground. This film had a profound impact on all of us, reminding us of the power of regeneration, of healing the land and working in harmony with nature. The tears we shed while watching it were a mix of hope and clarity. Afterward, my husband turned to me and said, “I see your vision now. Let’s go for it.”

That moment was a turning point for us. It solidified that this land—despite its current condition—was meant to be ours. We didn’t need a perfectly manicured farm; we needed land where we could build something from the ground up, something that reflected our values of sustainability and beauty. The Fruit Loop location also added an exciting new dimension—being on this popular tourist route meant that we could not only grow flowers but also invite others to experience the farm with us. Agritourism quickly became part of the vision: hosting visitors who could walk through our dahlia fields, pick flowers, and learn about regenerative agriculture.

The Offer and a Letter of Hope

We submitted our best offer, along with a letter explaining our vision for the land. The wait felt endless, but I also had a strange sense of peace as we waited to hear back. Deep down, I knew everything would work out as it was meant to.

And it did. Even though there were two other offers on the property, the owner accepted our offer, not because it was the highest, but because he believed in our vision. We had found our farm. After years of searching, of near misses and heartbreaks, we finally found the place where we could build our dream.

There was an overwhelming sense of relief, but it was quickly followed by a realization that the hard work was just beginning. I remember going for a walk the evening after our offer was accepted, thinking about all the possibilities ahead. This wasn’t just about growing flowers anymore—it was about creating something that could last, something we could be proud of and share with others. That’s when the idea for an educational garden came to me. I envisioned a space where we could teach others how to start their own gardens, cultivate flowers, and learn the importance of soil health. Expanding our dahlia fields and hybridizing new varieties became part of the bigger picture, too. I want this farm to be a place of healing, learning, growth, and beauty—not just for us, but for everyone who visits.

The Real Work Begins: From Fallow Land to Flourishing Fields

Now the real work begins. This land is barren—fallow dirt waiting to be revived. But I’ve learned that’s where the magic happens, in the hard work of bringing something back to life. We are ready for the challenges ahead and excited to transform this land from dirt to rich, fertile soil, and eventually, to fields of flourishing flowers.

The location of 3050 Dee Highway, nestled along the Hood River Fruit Loop, offers us even more than the land itself. It allows us to welcome visitors—people who are traveling along the loop and those in our local community. We can’t wait to invite people onto the farm, share the beauty of what we’re growing, and offer a hands-on experience of agritourism. The Fruit Loop is such an iconic part of this region, and the opportunity to share our farm with the people who travel it is an exciting prospect. It makes me think about how much I’ve learned over the years and how much I now want to teach others. Farming isn’t just about producing flowers; it’s about cultivating a connection with the earth.

Our Vision For The Farm

We plan to expand our dahlia fields and to expand our dahlia hybridization efforts, which is something I’ve been passionate about for the past 4 years. There’s something deeply rewarding about creating new varieties of flowers, knowing that each bloom holds the potential for beauty that’s never been seen before. I’m excited to see what we can create on this land—what new dahlia varieties will emerge from the soil, and how we can continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in flower farming.

We also envision this farm as a place where people can come to learn. That’s why creating an educational garden is so important to me. I want to show others how to grow their own gardens, how to care for the land, and how to farm in a way that nurtures both the earth and the soul. I see our future educational garden as a way to give back to the community and to help people rediscover their connection to Mother Nature.

A Call to Action: Join Us on This Journey

Our story is about more than just our family. We hope to show others that it’s possible to make a difference in their own backyards—that we can farm in harmony with Mother Nature and heal the earth, one flower at a time. This isn’t just our journey—it’s a movement toward a more sustainable, regenerative future. We invite you to walk with us as we regenerate this land and create something truly beautiful.

I know the road ahead won’t be easy. There will be moments of doubt, exhaustion, and frustration. But I also know that this is the work we are meant to do. To take fallow land and turn it into something thriving and beautiful is an act of faith, but it’s also an act of resilience. It’s about believing in the potential of the earth, of the flowers, and of ourselves.

We can’t wait to share this journey with you, to welcome you to our farm, and to show you the beauty that comes from nurturing both the land and our dreams. Together, we can create something extraordinary.

I hope you will come along on this journey as we start to turn dirt to soil and cultivate beauty one flower at a time.