Page 8 - Harnett Life Fall 2021

Harvesting ranunculus with local high school employee A truckload of ranunculus, one of the most popular spring
Jennifer Callejas-Ventura flowers which they grow in their high tunnels.

into a farm Airbnb. basement via seed plugs. From fall planting to overwintering
to spring and summer harvesting, flower farming is full-time,
Ashley has fond memories of growing up on the farm, where year-round work.
there were always foxhound puppies to pet, fresh vegetables to
eat and horses to ride. The Harnett Central High School alum Perennials, annuals ― you name it.
said she always thought she would return to her native Harnett
County to “do something on the farm,” but she was unsure Sow. Cut. Repeat.
what ― until the seed for Foxhound Flowers took root, in her
mind, in her heart. Business in a Bucket
Ashley’s platform provides unique, specialty flowers to the lo-
“Growing up in a small town, I admit I wanted to leave, but cal community and Wilmington primarily through the Com-
then when I left, I missed being out in nature, having space munity Supported Agriculture (CSA) model made popular in
and the quiet and starry nights. I love my family and Harnett recent years as a way for urban dwellers and non-growers to
County. Most young people have moved and left. I felt the itch get fresh, local organically grown produce through weekly box
to go back.” deliveries.

Growing a Startup Like veggie buyers, flower subscribers pick up their fresh-cut
So, Ashley moved home, garnered her grandparents’ and par- bloom buckets at designated locations once a week for four
ents’ approval and support and dug in. or eight weeks in the spring, summer or both. She deliveries
to homes in Harnett County on her subscriber list and makes
Not only in “let’s get to work” fashion but also literally, she pick-up available in the Wilmington area at Big Sky Design on
dug in ― planting thousands of seeds, bulbs, corms and tubers Oleander and Beanie + Cecil in Lumina Station. Going out of
that first fall and every autumn since then. Some in the ground, town one of the weeks? No problem. Just gift that week to a
others in the high tunnel greenhouses and many started in her friend or postpone for another time.

Page 7 Page 8 Harnett Life ~ Fall 2021