Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Guy.
Madison, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
From the time I was a child, I always remember picking flowers. I have so many memories of being in the garden with my mom, a natural green thumb, as well as memories of camping, and wanting a little arrangement for our campsite. I always had my hands in the dirt, one way or another. In high school, a new FFA program was being offered: Floral Design. I was quick to join the class, just because it seemed like a fun elective. Little did I know it would set me on a course to finding exactly what I wanted to do in life.
After high school, I moved to the Bay Area of California to live with my best friend and work on getting my Bachelors Degree in English Literature and Writing. I learned quickly how expensive it can be living in the Bay, so I scoured the city for a job, only to stumble upon one of the cutest flower shops I had ever seen. In an all-glass building filled with flowers, I found the job that would consume my life (in a good way!). Armed with a portfolio of floral arrangements and pricing sheets, showing I understood (partially) what it takes to be a florist, it took three separate times of coaxing the owner to let me work there. Persistence was the key, and that hasn’t changed, even now.
I worked at this flower shop for three years, becoming #2 Assistant Manager, until certain circumstances brought me back to my hometown: Sacramento. I knew how passionate I was about floral design, so it was a no-brainer to find another shop to work at. I found a shop that was rated #1 in their area, and if I was going to try and learn more, this was the place; not to mention, they were the most suggested shop for brides to sign with. Under the owner’s wing, I learned more about floral design, specifically wedding design, but I felt that something was missing, I just wasn’t sure what.
In a way that can only be described as divine intervention, I met my soon-to-be husband, Cameron. The very first conversation we had, he asked what my dreams were and what, ideally, I would want to be doing. Yeah, I know, heavy conversation for having just met a person. But he helped me actualize my dreams and aspirations, even when consciously, I didn’t know what I wanted. So, what was my dream? To have a better connection to the flowers I design with, especially if that means I’m growing and harvesting them myself. He became my biggest cheerleader and motivator, especially when I had decided I wanted to pick up and move anywhere with the right internship program.
Cameron and I had narrowed our farm internship search down to two farms, both in Colorado. Enter, Weathervane Farm, and the owners Seth and Cait. We came to visit in November of 2016, and we fell in love, both with Seth and Cait and their family, but also with this land and town and state. It was understood that I wanted to learn more about flower farming and not so much about vegetable production. So we agreed that I would share my design knowledge, while Cait would enlighten me with her growing knowledge. There was no turning back after we arrived home in California: we had made up our minds to leave everyone and everything we knew to move two states away and start a job we knew nothing about. After accepting the internship position, we were told to be ready to start work in mid-March of 2017. So we did just that.
Cameron proposed in early January and we were married by March 11, 2017, only to move to Colorado and live in an intern house a week after our wedding. We quickly got to work, and during our first year, there weren’t too many flowers to play with, but I found out a way to use what we had. And in our second year, flowers became more prevalent as I pushed for more production. Seth and Cait were nothing but supportive, and by our third year, we had a very strong flower production and our bouquets were well known around town.
When Seth and Cait had finally decided that they were ready to leave their life of production farming, Cameron and I were shocked. We had learned too much under them, and we were so grateful to have had the farm to help us realize our life goals. We were happy to hear that they were shedding the stress of their farm, after 18 years in total farming, and now they could have summers with their children and free time to plant and grow things just for the joy of it, not the expectation of others.
But their announcement left us to decide what we were to do with all the things we had worked so hard to accomplish. So, after some time weighing all our options, there was really only one thing we wanted to do: operate our own flower farm. During the winter we went to work, putting together seeding plans, charting out the farm property, getting the intern house in our name, and then finally, starting a business.
So the fruit of our time with Weathervane Farm became: Growing Wild, a Flower Farm located in the Heart of the Rockies, Buena Vista, Colorado, growing a wide variety of flowers for any occasion. We have a U-pick garden separate from our production garden, where anyone can come and pick whatever flowers they’d like. We have a floral fridge with pre-made arrangements, for anyone on the go, or not confident in their design abilities. We will also be offering Floral Design Workshops and Wedding Packages. We are already so proud of this labor of love, and we just want to share the joy of flowers with anyone we can.
Has it been a smooth road?
So far, things have been smooth sailing. Our community is so supportive and we really appreciate all of those who have a passion for local agriculture like we do.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Growing Wild specializes in design. We are known for what our arrangements look like, the overall aesthetic, and the attention to detail. I think we are most proud of our community. So many have helped support us, and encourage us to do our own thing, and do it successfully. We stand apart from others with our friendliness and what we have to offer our town, a place to come and enjoy the beauty in a way you don’t normally: with our U-Pick Garden.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
There are benefits to starting a farm where there are a lot of people, but the downfall would be space. You can successfully grow a lot in a small space if you are willing and motivated enough to (it’s hard, physical work!). We have discovered that U-pick gardens and flower farms are very popular, no matter where you are. And there are quite a few flower farms in the Denver area already.
Contact Info:
- Address: Growing Wild Flower Farm
15284 County Road 350
Buena Vista, CO 81211 - Website: www.growingwildbv.com
- Phone: 9168134169
- Email: growingwildbv@gmail.com
- Instagram: @growingwildbv
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/growingwildbv
Image Credit:
Elsa Rhea
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