The Story of Our farm.
With a degree in sustainable agriculture & studio art from the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, Allie found the perfect mix of plant cultivation and creative outlet through Bleed Heart Floral Farm & Design.
Allie has worked on multiple cut flower farms in Washington state and Minnesota as well as a farmer-owned floral wholesaler before starting Bleed Heart Floral, giving her invaluable insight into this industry. Allie manages day-to-day operations on the farm and handles all design work.
Tony works full time off of the farm in the local 49 heavy equipment operators union. He is the brains behind any and all infrastructure improvements–from greenhouse to hoop house, walk-in cooler to seed start racks.
Bleed Heart Floral Farm & Design has been a dream in process for the past few years. It finally was able to come to fruition with the initial purchase of just under four acres and our house in October 2019. In 2024 we added 10 acres! Growing locally and organically is our passion. Seeing our favorites begin to emerge every year fills us with excitement and joy. We cherish watching the seasons change and our field change right along with them. This is truly a labor of love and we are so grateful for everyone who follows and supports us along the way.
Allie
The Flower Expert
otto
Junior Blossom Wrangler
Tony
Equipment Extraordinaire
gus & Ole
Doggone Daffodil Directors
Cricket
Meadow Mouser
Caterpillar
Purrfessional Pest Patrol
Locally Grown & Seasonally Available Flora
Flowers from the traditional floral trade travel hundreds of miles in refrigerated compartments of airplanes and semi trucks, often out of water and having to sit for days in a chemical quarantine to ensure no foreign pests or diseases enter into the United States as they cross borders
Local flowers don’t have to go through such a crazy journey to get to their end consumer. You can know exactly where your flowers were grown, when they were harvested, and what chemicals (or lack thereof) they came into contact with.
Bleed Heart Floral grows a wide variety of plants, many of which don't travel well making them hard to find or very expensive. We still grow all of the favorites like tulips, sunflowers, and dahlias but look for heirloom and unique cultivars in addition to the less common plants. There are over 100 flower and foliage varieties growing here, including many native to the Minnesota prairies.
100% locally grown flowers
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100% locally grown flowers 🏵️
Flower Fact:
There are no USDA regulations on pesticides and herbicides used on floral agriculture the way there are on food agriculture, with chemicals used for floral production often well exceeding what would be considered safe for food production.
Flower fact:
Flowers from the traditional floral trade travel hundreds of miles in refrigerated compartments of airplanes and semi trucks, often out of water and having to sit for days in a chemical quarantine.
Our farming practices promote ecological diversity of fauna and flora. Because we adhere to an organic and minimal-till agricultural philosophy, our field is teaming with beneficial insects and soils alive with micro and macro organisms.
Our farm is not one monocropped swath of land thus our pest pressure is low and we have no need for traditional pesticides, allowing this biological diversity to thrive.
We use 100% locally grown flowers during the Minnesota grow season, roughly from mid-May to mid-October. What we can't grow on our farm, we source from other farmers in the area. This fosters community among small farmers and encourages growth in your local economy. You know exactly where & who your money is going toward.
Cultivating Healthy Plants, Soils, & Community
We work with the natural cycles of our climate here in Minnesota, meaning our flowers bloom with the seasons. While you may not be able to find peonies in September, seasonal farming allows for arrangements that speak to the time of year they were created. This does mean some flexibility as every season is nuanced.
Using what is in season ensures that those flowers will remind you of that arrangement for years to come. For example, the lilacs we use in early spring weddings bloom in early spring every year, making their emergence a reminder of joy and celebration.
