A little comfort for the January blahs
A Little Wooden Crate and a Whole Lot of JOY
Looking back at 2025 and welcoming JOY into the new year.
A cozy check in, a soup recipe, a peek at what’s coming
How are you holding up this month? January always feels a little upside‑down to me. The holidays end, the house gets quiet, and suddenly that nice, restful break is over. We’re back to routines, busy days, and shuffling around. If you’re a caretaker, for kids of any age or aging parents, you know exactly what I mean. I love being needed, but it’s funny how that role never really ends, no matter how grown everyone is. And then there are the January blahs, the gray skies, the cold mornings, the motivation that comes and goes. If you’re feeling it too, you’re in good company.
SOUPer Sunday
One thing that helps me through the winter season is our weekly tradition of Souper Sunday. Every week we make one or two big pots of something warm and simple. I’m the vegetarian in the house, so mine is always loaded with healthy vegetables to keep the cold and flu away. January always feels a bit better cooking something super easy and super comforting.
2024 Dahlia Season
Why Flower Farming?
While the fields are resting, I’ve been filling my own cup. This past weekend I spent two days attending a virtual flower conference, catching up with flower farmer friends from all over and meeting new ones, learning, dreaming, and taking lots of notes. Honestly, the best part (besides all the great information) was lounging in my comfies all weekend with a warm cup of tea and filing out my workbook. It’s amazing how a little time with other flower friends can spark new ideas and remind me why I love flower farming so much.
A few of you have asked “Your flowers are lovely… but what exactly do you offer?” Fair question. When you live inside the farm every day, it feels obvious, but it isn’t always clear from the outside. So, here’s a little about me and my farm journey.
I’m an Ohio State alum, Go Bucks! and I’ve been part of the Columbus community for many years, living in New Albany raising my family and working full‑time in Westerville. My day job is with a global organization, so I’m often up early talking with Germany or late chatting with my Asia Pacific colleagues.
In 2020, with no growing experience and on a whim, I decided to try growing flowers. The first round didn’t go as planned (I killed an entire tray of zinnias). Then I tried sunflowers, and everything grew. That led to ordering more seeds, trying more flower varieties, and eventually tilling up my backyard and starting a flower farm. My favorite part is still the joy of sharing the flowers I grow.
Since I grow at home, my farm is private. To share my flowers, I offer delivery, and this past season I partnered with Blue Turtle Tea Shop in Uptown Westerville for grab‑and‑go bouquets. I’m heading into my fourth year of offering flowers which includes:
Peony and Dahlia Flower Subscriptions
Custom seasonal bouquets
Event flowers (small, personal, build‑your‑own bouquet bars)
Returning to 4th Friday event in Uptown Westerville
New for 2026, flower workshops
I’ve learned so much about local flowers, the importance of our pollinators, and how meaningful it feels to do my small part to support them and share beauty with my community.
Newsletter Insiders: What’s Blooming
I started this newsletter so you can be the first to know what’s blooming and what’s coming up next. A little hint: specialty daffodils, tulips, and a full field of peonies are on the way.
Speaking of peonies… I’ll be opening our Peony and Dahlia Subscriptions soon, just in time for a Valentine’s Day. A gift that lasts longer than a box of chocolates. More details are coming in the next newsletter. but consider this your insider intel.
Until then, stay warm, stay gentle with yourself, and maybe make a pot of soup this week.
As always, if you have any questions, garden, flower, or just getting through the blah month send me a note.
Windy Heights newsletter published January 15, 2026
Planning With Intention (and a Peek Into January on the Farm)
A Little Wooden Crate and a Whole Lot of JOY
Looking back at 2025 and welcoming JOY into the new year.
Our NYC trip taught me something I’m carrying into the 2026 season.
Family time away is our favorite. Right before the holidays, we snuck in a long weekend in New York City, and it reminded me of something important. Normally, we love wandering without a plan, picking a spot on the map and letting the day unfold. But last spring’s trip to NYC, that approach left us… well, frustrated. Long lines, no availability, and lots of last‑minute scrambling.
This time, we did it differently. We decided our priority was to shop local for a few meaningful holiday gifts. So, we researched ahead, made a little list, and mapped out the cutest neighborhood shops, bookstores, and even a Christmas market. With our plan tucked in our pockets, we set out. By the end of the day, our feet were tired, our arms were full of packages, we’d found a new favorite slice of NYC pizza, and our hearts were overflowing with holiday cheer. The planning paid off.
That little adventure reminded me of what’s ahead for Windy Heights Flower Farm. Just like our NYC trip, 2026 will be about planning with intention — sharing stories, tips, and seasonal joy with you.
What do flower farmers do in January? We drool over seed catalogs.
January is my time to research, plan, order, and organize seeds. I gather my catalogs, scroll through all the beautiful varieties online, and let my wish list grow a little too long. Then I take a breath, look at my planting space, check what I already have, and map out what I truly need.
For organizing, I use photo boxes with individual containers inside. I sort seeds by planting time so it’s easy to grab my “Winter Seeds” when it’s time to start.
Inside each box, everything is alphabetized with color‑coded labels, so the seasons are easy to recognize. For each container, I jot down the flower name and whether it’s a transplant (T) or direct seed (D). Having a plan, even a simple one, makes life a little easier on the farm.
Bloom Corner What can you grow in January? Winter Sowing. Here in Ohio (Zone 6a)
Ohio ground is too cold and often snow‑covered or frozen to plant seeds outdoors. Winter sowing is the perfect way to scratch that “I need to get my hands in the dirt” itch while staying warm inside. It’s simple, fun, and a great activity with kids or grandkids.
Here are two methods I’ve had success with and some easy winter‑sow favorites for beginners include Black‑Eyed Susan, Coneflower, Shasta Daisy, and Bachelor’s Buttons.
Milk Jug Method
Use a clean gallon jug. Cut drainage holes in the bottom, then cut around the middle (leaving the handle attached as a hinge). Add 4 inches of potting soil, sprinkle your seeds, tuck a plant tag inside, and close it up with duct tape or zip ties. Leave the cap off and set it outside where it can catch snow and rain.
Ziplock Bag Method
Snip a few drainage holes in the bottom of a clean zip‑top bag. Fill two‑thirds with potting soil, sprinkle your seeds, and leave the top open. Add a plant tag inside or write on the outside with a garden marker (Sharpies fade in the weather, trust me, I know this!). Punch two holes at the top and slide a dowel rod through. Set the bags upright in a milk crate so they hang slightly open and can catch snow and rain.
Check on them weekly and water if winter is dry. In early spring, the seeds will sprout when the timing is right, nature knows what to do. Before you know it, you’ll have a bunch of seedlings ready to plant in your garden.
What flowers are you dreaming about this year? If you have any garden questions, I’m always happy to help. Thank you for being part of the winter season on our farm.
Windy Heights newsletter published January 8, 2026
Winter Sowing Seeds outside in milk jugs in January
A Little Wooden Crate and a Whole Lot of JOY
A Little Wooden Crate and a Whole Lot of JOY
Looking back at 2025 and welcoming JOY into the new year.
Welcome to our very first newsletter from Windy Heights Flower Farm.
As I looked back through my photos from 2025, one thing kept catching my eye, that little wooden crate Marty found a few years ago. The one that fits our mason jar arrangements just right. Nothing fancy, just a simple craft crate that’s become part of our delivery ritual.
Every bouquet we delivered last year rode along in that same crate. And somewhere along the way, I started snapping a photo before each delivery. Now, looking back, it’s a whole rainbow of color tucked into one small box. A year of happiness, one jar at a time.
Looking ahead, my word for 2026 is JOY.
And truly, the joy on your faces when I hand over flowers is one of the biggest reasons I grow them. That moment, holding the crate, you reach for the blooms with a smile. This is something I treasure every single time.
A little winter garden wisdom
While we wait for the colorful blooms, Winter is the garden’s deep rest. Everything slows down. Plants pull their energy inward, the soil quietly restores itself, and the birds make use of whatever seed heads we leave standing. It’s a season that asks us not to rush, but to trust the quiet work happening underground. A little mulch here, a few seed heads left for the birds, tools cleaned and tucked away — that’s enough. Winter doesn’t need us to push. It just needs us to let things rest.
Thank you for supporting our farm and welcoming a little joy into your lives this past year. Truly, it means more than I can say. If you’ve chosen a word for the year, I’d love to hear it.
Here’s to 2026, a year where JOY is grown, given, and shared.
Thank You for being here. Thanks for supporting local.
Have a safe and happy New Year!
Windy Heights newsletter published January 1, 2026
The little wooden crate I’ve used since my very first flower deliveries in 2022.
Blooms from the Ground Up: Five Books to Grow Your Flower Farm
Blooms from the Ground Up: Five Books to Grow Your Flower Farm
Embarking on a journey into the world of flower farming is a beautiful, inspiring and rewarding pursuit. Whether you're a novice with seeds of curiosity or an experienced grower looking to enhance your skills, cultivating knowledge is the first step towards a flourishing garden. In our inaugural year at Windy Heights Flower Farm, these five essential reads served as the guiding compass to help shape our success and played a pivotal role in nurturing our dreams and transforming them into a vibrant reality.
Whether you're sowing the seeds of your first garden or tending to an established field, these books are the keys that will help unlock the full potential of your flower growing or farming of your dreams:
"The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower's Guide to Raising and Selling Cut Flowers" by Lynn Byczynski
Comprehensive guide covering everything from choosing the right flowers to business aspects of flower farming.
"Vegetables Love Flowers: Companion Planting for Beauty and Bounty" by Lisa Mason Ziegler
Insightful book is your roadmap to cultivating a thriving and resilient garden by harnessing the power of companion planting.
Focused on hardy annual flowers, this book provides insights into growing flowers in various climates and conditions.
Written by the founder of Floret Flower Farm, this book is a wonderful resource for beginners, offering guidance on growing and arranging seasonal flowers.
Your go-to resource for cultivating exquisite dahlias, filled with secrets and insights that will elevate your gardening experience.
As you embark on your flower growing journey, let these five books be your trusted companions. They are not just guides; they are windows into the passion, art, and business of cultivating blooms.
Happy reading, happy growing, and may your flowers flourish with abundance and beauty! 🌸📚
P.S. I am a proud affiliate for these books which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you click through and make a purchase.