The story that brought us to Bear Creek Farm was unexpected and a surprise to anyone who knew us well. My husband and I have been married for 28 years and raised three daughters. As we were becoming empty nesters in 2022 I couldn’t help wonder what we would do as we entered the next chapter of our lives.

The morning after moving our last daughter to college I decided to visit the local farmer’s market before heading back to Kingsport to begin our new life. A life without our girls living in our home and my husband who had just retired from a 30 year general surgery practice. Like most moms, I had some anxiety about going home to the new quiet and calm. I knew it was going to be so different. I was use to being busy with my life of raising three girls. This included lots of noise, laughter, sporting events, teenagers, chaos, JOY and yes some drama and I enjoyed every minute of it!

I didn’t realize this trip to a farmer’s market was going to plant a seed that sprouted the plans for our next chapter. As I was strolling around, I saw this kind lady selling the most beautiful flowers I’d ever seen. At first glance I mistook them for fake flowers. I started up a conversation to ask her about the flowers and to find out where she got them. The farmer told me something that changed my life. She told me she grew the Lisianthus in a field nearby in East Tennessee. I was shocked that something so beautiful could be grown in our climate.

On the way home I couldn’t stop thinking about how I wanted to try growing some flowers on our farm. Soon after this my daughter gifted us with Floret’s book, “Discovering Dahlias”. I studied this book and fell in love with the pictures. This helped confirm that I wanted to try to grow cut flowers. I knew I had a lot to learn to make this happen. You see, at 58 years old I had never even planted a seed. Sure I had bought plants and flowers in pots and stuck them in the ground but never had I grown anything from seed. I had never even heard of a tuber or corm. I was totally green and knew nothing about flower farming.

My husband started getting excited about me growing flowers as well. It complimented his interest in honeybees. He had already been bee keeping for several years on our farm. It was at this point we decided to sell our home in town and move to the country and live on his family farm.

I spent the next year going to workshops, doing online courses; listening to podcast and asking a lot of questions. I spent days visiting and helping out on flower farms in Virginia and Tennessee so I could learn from other farmers. It’s been amazing how generous other flower farmers have been to help us get started.

We decided to take a leap of faith and try to implement what we had learned. As we are entering our third season of growing cut flowers and heirloom pumpkins we continue to learn and add new varieties of each. We work out of a 120 year old cavalier barn and a corn crib that my husband converted into a flower cooler. It has been challenging but at the same time the most rewarding work I’ve ever done. We are rewarded by the friends and new people the farm brings into our lives. It is so exciting to see them love and appreciate our flowers and pumpkins like we do.

I find there is something very special almost cathartic about being in my cutting garden during the sunrise or sunset, surrounded by flowers, butterflies, birds singing and anything else nature decides to share with me on that particular day. It’s just a happy place and we are continuously amazed at the beauty in creations design. At age 61 I think I finally found what I want to do when I grow up. I am very thankful for where we have landed for now. I hope our story inspires someone to realize it is never too late to learn new things and to grow your story.

When we’re intentional about giving thanks for everything we come across, we can’t help but feel JOY over the pure gift of another day.

Bob Goff