Sweet Grown Alabama Blogs

“Pick the flowers!” It’s my mantra some might say. Nothing makes me happier than for someone to tag me on social media or see me in the grocery store and say, “I picked the flowers!” I want people to know for themselves just how amazingly wonderful fresh cut flowers are. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Any ole' variety will do, but you absolutely must “pick the flowers!"

Whitewater Creek Farm is a bloom and harvest farm located just outside of Troy in Banks. We specialize in seasonal cut flowers and crops, such as heirloom tomatoes. 2022 was our first season which makes this year three for us. I, Alicia, am the owner and take care of day-to-day operations. My husband Matt helps with the “heavy lifting” on the weekends. Together we are turning what was previously a horse farm into a place filled with gardens, fields and orchards.  

Each year brings new products and shifts as we strive toward finding the right mix to maximize profitability and streamline efficiency. We began with just summer annuals the first season but got bit hard by the farming bug and have added to our crops every year since. Our orchard has peaches, blueberries, blackberries and we plan to add muscadines this fall. Our flower gardens received an upgrade with the addition of peonies last autumn. The planting of perennials and woodies (perennial flowering shrubs) is ongoing. If it looks good in a bouquet, I want it!

Our sales outlets are varied but one of our favorites is our roadside farm stand. It is self-serve and works on the honor system. It was a hit with the locals last summer as they could come and “help themselves” to flowers, tomatoes, eggs, zucchini relish and whatever else I had out there on a given day.  

Because our growing season only runs from spring to fall, we have looked for ways to extend our season into the winter months. During the holidays we offer wreaths, porch pots and amaryllis bulb arrangements. The addition of a hoop house and greenhouse have enabled us to have flowers as early as late February. Relishes, jellies, and more are products we are able to offer during those winter months when we are unable to grow anything.  

We work hard to work with what we have. God’s design is perfect, we just have to learn how to work within it. We’ve got a lot left to learn and I am not quite sure exactly what Whitewater Creek Farm will look like in 10 years. One thing I can assure you is that I will be picking the flowers!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Sweet Grown Alabama.