Another year on the farm has passed. 2024 was a memorable year for sure.
A Year Of Memories
There was an eclipse.
There were other things going on in the sky.
We finally built a fence to keep the dogs out of the gardens. Thanks Rich and Clark for your expertise.
Carter got a drone and began taking footage of the farm.
We built a dahlia labyrinth. We are amending the soil in the spring but will do this again next year.
We were regulars at both Whites and Batesville Farmers Market this year.
We did the annual Boone County Arboretum sale, but we were too busy to take pictures.
We visited the Chicago Botanical Gardens and the Lurie Garden.
We had a photo shoot on the farm.
We expanded our dahlia collection. A lot.
Carter did well with his succulents at the markets this year.
So many memories made. 2024 was a great year and we are beyond blessed.
A Year Of Challenges
We made a lot of progress but the year came with challenges as well.
We had trouble with a new supplier and had to dump the majority of our echinacea order. It was a difficult decision but the right thing to do to protect the quality of our plants.
We all felt the weight of economic inflation and we noticed sales slow down mid way through the season.
We had two separate extended droughts that had the gardens and nursery struggling.
We felt the physical exhaustion of loading and unloading plants to make it to two farmers markets most weeks.
We did not have the energy to do any farm sales this year.
The warm winter, wet spring followed by drought ensured only the weeds and natives flourished. We had trouble keeping up until very late in the season.
Yet, despite the challenges this year brought, we remain grateful.
A Year Of Gratitude
We had lots of help this year. It would not have been possible to do what we did without help. Thank you Ben, Gabs, Brooklyn, Chris and Dawson.
We are grateful for our suppliers. It was not that long ago we had trouble finding anyone who would work with a small family farm.
We appreciate our fellow gardeners who have taken time to share what they know and who have indulged us in endless gardening conversations. Thank you Richelle and Greg.
Thank you to the Dahlia Community for your support and positivity.
Most importantly, thank you to our customers who appreciate the care we take in raising garden worthy plants.
2025 Outlook
So what does 2025 look like for Perrydise Farms?
There will be an increased focus on dahlias. These will begin shipping in the spring. I believe we are at over 200 varieties this year.
We are cutting back farmers market visits in favor of periodic plant sale days here at the farm. We will likely have Carter set up his succulents and peddle a few perennials at the markets. You can expect a smaller variety this year but cheaper prices.
Any time saved will go towards our original idea of building out beautiful gardens.
The Gardens
The gardens had a rough year due to the drought. There was not enough water or time to keep them looking beautiful in the dry parts of the season. Still, there were a few highlights.
Wishing you the best in 2025. Watch Facebook and Instagram for updates . Thank you all and God bless you all!