Shining Hills Farm & Gardens

Raising 250,000 Children

Ideal as it may sound, flower farming is among the more herculean tasks known to humanity. It is, in my estimation, similar to raising 250,000 children! But the beauty that each child contributes to this world is worth every moment. 10 years ago, my now dear friend and mother of my beautiful children and I moved to the deep north woods and learned quickly that , although beautiful, the tundra was not especially conducive to agriculture. We relocated to the beautiful and verdant Kickapoo River valley-home to an amazing and eclectic community of organic agriculturalists, alternative educators, and creative artists. We began slow, humble, and small, making the appropriate "hard knock" mistakes and learning the intricate steps one must take in walking the road from landscaper in Minneapolis to small-scale organic floriculturalist.

Having walked that road, the flowers we grow are, according to the wonderful feedback from the designers to whom we sell, the most beautiful and radiant flowers available anywhere. Our current '08 production levels are at 2 acres of annuals, Ѕ acre of perennials, 2 acres of shrubs (6 acres of pre-productive shrubs), 38 acres of conservatively harvested wildflowers, and 27 acres of Great North Woods in Grand Marais, Mn from which we harvest winter greens and branches. Our new green built production and shipping facility- (barn), long term employees, passion for what we do, and kids getting older (hee hee says papa), all add up to a sustainable way of life which contributes to the celebration of our connection to Nature and with each other.