I’ve at all times been in awe of flowers and their vibrant, peaceable magnificence. Rising up, I watched my Mother are inclined to her backyard every day (nothing has modified to today!) and steadily realized the names of each flower and their wants. And because of Mother, gardening has grow to be a pastime of my very own. So after I not too long ago stumbled throughout flower fields minutes from my home, I couldn’t assist however be full of inspiration to put in writing about my expertise of this native household farm that brings pleasure to so many across the Nashville space.
My Backstory to Discovering this Native Gem
Do you ever unexpectedly uncover new locations or have little moments that heat your soul and add somewhat magic to your day? Simply fifteen quick miles out from downtown Nashville is a household farm that I had found all as a result of I made a decision to take the scenic route house.
On a Sunday leaving church, we took a stupendous, winding, tree-lined street that follows alongside the Harpeth River again to our home. On the route, we got here as much as S.E. Daugherty & Sons, a neighborhood first-generation farm and nursery that sits at a fork within the street in Bellevue. Whereas we had pushed by the farm stand many instances, and heard a number of nice issues from our associates, we by no means stopped to discover, and that quiet Sunday gave us the proper alternative.
Strolling by means of the farm stand previous homegrown watermelon, peaches, hanging dried flowers, bushels of tomatoes and peppers, and even freshly baked sourdough bread on show, the stand was buzzing with exercise. Previous the nursery, I observed a lady carrying a metallic bucket full of recent minimize flowers and subconsciously questioned the place she discovered the attractive association. As I hopped within the automobile to move house, I seemed up over the dashboard and noticed a mud path previous the stand, with a couple of others making their approach again holding extra buckets of brilliant flowers. I rapidly related the dots and needed to examine.
I adopted the unsuspecting filth path again by means of a line of timber, the place I walked previous a household pulling their daughter in an outdated purple wagon. As I reached the clearing, I used to be fully mesmerized. Flowers – in all places – stretching again acres. Rows of tall brilliant zinnias. Purple and white lizianthus. Vibrant dahlias. Sunflowers. Greenery. With the faint sounds of crickets chirping and birds singing within the distance, it was a tranquil, magical and heavenly scene. After taking all of it in, choosing my very own bouquet, and FaceTiming my Mother to share my discover, I left impressed by its quiet, peaceable magnificence. I made a psychological observe to go to regularly as a type of nature remedy.
After exploring their stunning fields, scouring their web site, and studying extra from farm proprietor Erica Daugherty, I felt compelled to share extra about their unimaginable enterprise. Listed here are 5 the reason why it is advisable make the journey to go to S.E. Daugherty & Sons farm (and assist them at your native farmer’s market)!
1. Household Farm Values
As you’re studying this, you is perhaps considering that I described nearly each household farm on the market. And I’ll admit, I didn’t develop up round farms – however one thing about this place touched my soul. Whereas a number of it needed to do with my love of flowers and the magic of discovering their hidden fields for the primary time, I additionally might really feel the familial love. House owners Shaun and Erica Daugherty are a husband and spouse workforce with three kids who commonly assist out on the farm. Their household values exude throughout the grounds, their web site and social media. Photographs of their household on the farm are throughout their Instagram. Shaun’s grandmother, who launched herself as “Granny Phyllis,” helped me bundle up my flowers and instructed me on learn how to take care of them as she rang me up (heat water, lemon juice, and sugar!). The entire website radiated love, household, and peace. However it doesn’t simply run on love. One other crucial worth Erica famous that’s instilled at their farm? “Palms down, arduous work. You possibly can’t enterprise into farming and suppose it’s ever going to be straightforward.”
2. You-Choose Flower Fields
Open every day from 10am-5pm, S.E. Daugherty & Sons’ you-pick flower area is the proper spot for households, a novel date, or any flower lover wanting so as to add coloration and life to their house. This website can be the proper place for a household photoshoot, too! As famous above, flowers embody zinnias, lizianthus, sunflowers, dahlias, foxglove and extra. Not overcrowded, patrons have free rein over the in depth flower fields surrounded by tree-lined hills. On the farm stand, prospects are supplied with a bucket and clippers (and wagons, if wanted!) to rigorously concoct their very own bouquets. The farm fees by the stem, however observe them on social media to catch an announcement of a $10 flower bucket day!
I requested Erica what impressed them to develop flowers on their farm. “Whereas we’ve at all times had sunflowers and zinnias, three years in the past once we had our daughter, Shaun had a imaginative and prescient of rising a number of varieties of flowers in her honor and making a flower backyard environment the place guests can decide their very own bouquets and stroll the grounds and simply take all of it in. We’re simply getting began with the flower fields…one of the best is but to return!” I can’t wait to see what’s in retailer!
3. The Abundance of Recent Fruits & Greens
Consider S.E. Daugherty & Sons like a everlasting farmer’s market. Open from 10am-6pm, they’ve an ever-changing assortment of recent fruit and veggies, depending on the season. From watermelon, strawberries and cantaloupe, to corn, squash, okra and spectacular assortments of each coloration of tomato and pepper, you by no means know what you’ll stumble throughout, which is all a part of the enjoyable. Naturally grown with no sprays, you could have entry to the freshest, healthiest produce that was picked days, if not hours, earlier than your buy.
4. The Nursery
Searching for a flower, shrub, or tree so as to add to your backyard? You may need to take a peek right here and assist this native household enterprise earlier than purchasing at a giant field retailer. They’ve an incredible choice of vegetation you possibly can deliver house proper alongside your produce and recent flowers. Visiting their stand may encourage you to begin your personal little yard farm, they usually’ve bought you lined there, too! S.E. Daugherty & Sons additionally sells seeds of all of the flowers and produce they develop, lovingly branded after their daughter, as Penelope Belle Seed Co. Whereas summer time is wrapping up, they’ve an incredible pumpkin patch throughout the Fall months (their favourite season), in addition to a Christmas tree lot that I can’t wait to go to!
5. The CSA Program
Inquisitive about a weekly provide of recent greens, prepared for pickup at a number of places, and even delivered the doorstep for sure close by neighborhoods? Their CSA (Group Supported Agriculture) subscription program is perhaps proper up your alley. You possibly can join their spring, summer time and fall 7-week blocks, or join all three! My good friend and next-door neighbor loves her weekly supply, and is at all times discovering new methods to include her produce into new recipes, which evokes me! In line with their web site: Every weekly basket is full of one of the best of that week’s harvest (most produce is harvested inside the 24-hour interval previous to the member receiving their basket). To take part in a CSA is a win-win for all events concerned. It’s a mutually helpful relationship that fosters group. To know the place your meals is coming from (know your farmer, know your meals), you realize the standard of produce you’re getting every week.
Stumbling throughout this gem actually has made me love my group much more than I already did. This farm displays a lot of the American dream – household, love, and arduous work. We’d like extra companies and experiences like this in our world and they need to be supported and celebrated each time doable! If you’re searching for fresh-cut flowers, fruit, greens, vegetation, and even just a few tranquil inspiration, head over to S.E. Daugherty & Sons. You’ll be so glad you visited their little peaceable refuge in Nashville.
You possibly can guess the flower fields will probably be on the high of our to-do listing for my Mother’s subsequent go to!
