Today we’d like to introduce you to Mollie Payne.
Hi Mollie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2018, our family was relocating to Provo, Utah. We found ourselves with a large lot for the first time in our marriage, and since both my husband and I are passionate about gardening, we were excited about the prospects. I began calling our new home, on Foothill Drive, Foothill Farm.
Before I looked at furniture or new carpeting, I was digging into resources for what I could grow on our .8-acre lot. In my research, I discovered Floret, a family-run flower farm in Washington (ironically the very state we were moving from.) I immediately ordered her book, “Cut-Flower Garden” and spent the first few months in our new home reading all about growing cut flowers.
We had already planned for a veggie garden and orchard, so those were the first projects we completed. But by the time that was up and running, I started to have new plans for the rest of the space. I had planted a patch of peonies, and a smattering of blooming perennials. While initially my plans only included growing flowers for myself, I soon discovered that there was this thing called flower farming, and many people were doing it in their yards, on lots even smaller than ours. One night in the spring of 2019, I turned to my husband and said, “In 10 years, let’s turn the backyard into a flower farm.”
He was on board, but due to my impatient nature, 10 years turned into one. By the spring of 2020, we were selling our first bouquets at the Provo & Orem Farmers Markets. Watching people’s eyes light up as they discovered the joy of freshly cut flowers was addicting. Initially, I thought that we’d only spend a season or two at the Farmers’ markets. But week after week, I just loved that connection with my fellow flower enthusiasts, and we just started our 4th season at the Provo Farmers Market.
In 2021, we began teaching our first on-farm workshops, and I discovered that educating flower friends on how to grow their cut flowers was another great way to share that joy of flowers with my community. We now teach workshops in both the spring and the fall, and we are looking into the possibility of some design and or watercolor workshops this summer.
Last year, I joined forces with 6 other local flower farmers to build the first entirely locally-grown flower market in Utah.
The Utah Flower Market was born out of a desire to make local flowers more easily available to my growing list of florists who wanted to purchase flowers from me. We have wholesale and retail hours, and it continues to be a blast sharing that joy with the in-person customers, all while hanging out at Grove Station, a gorgeous new venue and food truck park in Pleasant Grove.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m not sure that farming is ever a smooth road. There is a lot of information to take in and apply (each flower crop has specific growing, harvesting, and post-harvest care), and the weather plays a critical role in everything as well.
For the past several years, the weather patterns have been very unpredictable, and that makes farming particularly challenging. But I enjoy a good challenge, and problem-solving is one of my favorite things, so I’ve enjoyed overcoming the struggles that are a part of this work.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Foothill Farm Flowers?
Foothill Farm Flowers is a family-run micro flower farm in Provo, Utah. We grow specialty cut flowers using organic and regenerative methods, which we sell to wholesale and retail clients through markets and our website.
We offer on-farm workshops and bulk flower buckets, as well as the occasional special arrangements. We’ve dabbled in weddings and events, and hope to add more offerings in the future. We are known for our unique flowers and bouquets and specialize in ranunculus, peonies, lisianthus, dahlias, cosmos, snapdragons, zinnias, and garden roses.
We are proud to offer flowers that are fresh, chemical-free, and grown with sustainable practices. Our whole family is involved in the growing process, and I have loved sharing the entrepreneurship ride with my kids. We have helped each of them find a role within the business, and they have enjoyed being part of growing the farm.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Joy and kindness. We are part of a non-profit group called “The Growing Kindness Project” where we help spread kindness through flowers. I feel that flowers can bring joy and kindness to the world, and I am humbled to be able to share my flowers in this way.
There’s just something really special about flowers. Each time we see someone’s eyes light up when they give, receive, or see our flowers, I’m reminded of why we continue to work so hard to bring these blooms into the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.foothillfarmflowers.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foothillfarmflowers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foothillfarmflowers
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollie-anne-payne/
