About
The farmer, florist, and owner.
“Splitting my youth between creating portraits with chalk pastels and tromping through the Appalachian mountains, I have always felt most excited by the creative potential of nature. I learned about gardening from my mother and her sisters, though didn’t see it as a career until after college. Inspired by families who supplement their grocery bills with home-gown vegetables, I chose to travel to West Virginia and Washington State to coordinate school and home gardening programs. After two years away, I wanted to come home to Virginia and continue my studies in agriculture. I pursued a Masters in Horticulture with a summer internship at Stonecrop Farm in Giles County.
It was at this magical farm that I discovered the power of tending seeds into blossoms that could then be woven into works of art. From brightening faces at the farmers market to bringing a bride to tears, witnessing the impact of flowers on my community changed me- it was all I ever wanted to do. I began growing and designing for my friends’ weddings, each year bringing me closer to my dream. I am now blessed and privileged to be on the same land that raised my mother. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to provide flowers to the New River Valley and beyond. Thank you for choosing this land with me.”
-Liza (any pronouns)
Photo by Laura Saunders
Photo by Amber Rogers
Like all farms, Yarrow Springs is a work in progress.
Since Liza’s mother left the farm 40 years ago, the land has been used to grow hay and run cattle. Using sustainable and low-impact farming methods, they hope to engage with the land in ways that honor the stewards before them.
Yarrow, a beautiful and medicinal wild plant, is plentiful across the farm, and the gardens are watered using one of the many springs on the farm. Hence, our name, Yarrow Springs.
Ethics.
Yarrow Springs is a business founded on ecological and social justice principles. We will implement land restoration and environmentally sound farming practices as much as possible, doing more each year. Our longterm goal is to also be a low-impact florist, which is challenging with common design materials such as glues and water-holding foams.
We also have a deep commitment to leverage our inherited gifts of land, resources, and social capital to shape a more just and atoned future. We understand that this inheritance was at the hands of a violent past and commit to moving forward in opposition to oppressive systems. We are continually learning and are open to this discussion and ideas of how to better manifest our ethics. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.
“Yarrow Springs is where my mother grew up and located on traditional Tutelo homelands. I hope to share and steward the land in ways that honor those who loved it before me.”