Posts by Melissa McKay

Hello from the other side! While I’ve had some presence on social media, I’m sure most of you are wondering what the heck happened to me. Flower farming is all consuming, mentally and physically. I’ve barely had the energy to think of what to say. But I’m taking today off, because I’ve participated in 3…

It’s another dreary day here in Nashville. Only 2 out of the last 10 days have been sunny, and we have 2 more days of rain to endure before the sun finally comes out to stay a few days starting Friday. I’ve been trying to stick to a Monday-Friday work schedule, but since Saturday and…

First off, let me give you a little update. Last week, I shared my experience with cold-calling florists. ICYMI, this didn’t go well. I posted in a flower farmer Facebook group asking for advice. One person said she’d had better luck emailing florists an introduction and telling them she’d like to stop by on one…

Spring officially begins tomorrow, and I am already swimming in tulips. I think next year, I will need to offer tulip bouquets in March. Because I have so much product right now and no sales outlets, I did one of the most nerve-wracking things I’ve ever done… cold-calling florists. I loaded up two full buckets…

It’s good to be back. As expected, I’ve been busy since I returned, prepping for my 2024 season. I’ve already faced some trials. Five of the crops planted last fall did not survive the winter: snapdragons, anemone, ranunculus, scabiosa, and dianthus. It’s a huge loss and I can’t help feeling defeated. I only have a…

I have a few more days of solitude here at the beach. Tim arrives on Saturday and we’ll spend a week together before returning to Nashville. We can’t wait! I made my last bike ride to the market this morning. I’ll take the shuttle to Progreso one more time to purchase flowers. I’m hoping for…

The weather has been beautiful, full of sunshine and crystal clear water. There’s really not much to report here, which is why this week’s post is all over the place. Tim had a wonderful time in Utah over the weekend. T.J. Maxx put Pierce back on their schedule last week, so he’s working again for…

I’m feeling a bit battered this week. Chelem is experiencing an el norte. A cold front moved in last night, with winds between 25-35 MPH. The ride to market was a challenge, but for once, the wind was at my back for the trip home. I made it in record time. Groundhogs have been the…

I’m already halfway through Winter Sabbatical 2024. My freezer is pretty well stocked at the moment (especially with ice cream. Resistance is futile.). The pantry is holding up. So far, I’ve only needed to supplement with fresh produce. I have ordered takeout a few times. I’m mostly relying on frozen prepared meals I purchase at…

We’ve had a few windy/overcast/cool-ish/drizzly days here. The forecast called for rain this morning so I was dreading my bike ride to market. Fortunately, it held off, though the wind resistance on the return trip was brutal. I pulled out my graph paper, pencils, pens, and Post-Its last week to begin farm planning. Man oh…