Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Blitchok.
Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our dream of owning a Upick farm has been in the back of our minds for years. We kept it tucked away as a plan for when we retired. The dream fired up more when our daughter was invited to LA for a talent scouting trip in 2016. Her and I grew flowers the following summer with the intent to fundraise and sell bouquets to help pay for her trip. We were overcome by not only the support in our community but the true love and joy that flowers brought to so many people. It was amazing how many people would stop to chat and tell you a detailed story about their time growing up and the flowers they picked with their grandma. These human connections were beautiful and meant a lot to us. In 2020 when Covid hit, our world became void of human connection and almost became scared to be around others. We saw people become reclusive and even in our own family we locked ourselves away and picked up some very lonely habits. This had a major effect on us and we felt the urge to change and make change.
We decided late fall 2020 that we were going to start the dream a little early. We felt people needed to get out into nature again and be together. We planned our rows for the following year with 4-foot walking paths. We made sure to make our events small and quaint so people did not feel overwhelmed with being out again with others. We worked hard to not only let people enjoy being together with the ones they love but also have fun in a group setting with people they may not know. Together as family, we hoped others would feel a family connection again and not so isolated in the world. We hope the beauty of flowers and nature could really spread that joy and happiness our world so needed. Our once retirement goal had begun a little early for us as we felt the need for it in our lives and the lives of others.
While I am often the face of Barefoot Blossom Farm, it is very much a family-run business. My husband, son 18, daughter 15, and niece, 19 who lives with us part-time all contribute and help to make a successful business. I couldn’t do it alone and it is only with them that I was able to begin this journey while finishing my teaching career as a music teacher.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I think flower farming comes off very glamourous in pictures. Behind the scenes, it is a TON of work and it never stops. I could be working sun up to sun down and then come in the house and keep working. One of my struggles is knowing how to shut it off and stop. My husband is better at this and sometimes has to remind me to do this. One of our biggest struggles is and will always be Mother Nature. She holds the key. Too much rain-Not enough Rain, Too Hot- Too Cold, Too Windy, Early Freeze, Bugs, the list goes on and on, and no matter what you do you are not in control. Each year will always be different and unpredictable. This can be difficult to explain to anxious customers who want to know when everything will be ready and you don’t know. You can just guess. It also can mean the difference between a very profitable year and year you feel like you are a complete failure. Unfortunately, it is a part of the business that is completely out of one’s control.
My last biggest struggle would be social media. I don’t pretend to keep up with the next guy and I try to be true to who I am. I do what I can and that is tough sometimes with all the extra chores that farming has in itself. Having time to run multiple social media accounts and keep up with what is necessary to make them grow can be grueling as a startup business.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We are family-run UPick Flower Farm that hosts events throughout the season. Our most popular event is our Girls Night Out in which we bring in a local winery from Lapeer called Russell B. Gregory for wine tasting, farm fresh appetizers, and a guided Upick through the flower field. Our other events that we host include Henna and Tarot in the Flowers, Breakfast, Brew, and Blooms, Dreaming of Dahlias, Pumpkin Bar, and Tea for Two to just name a few. On top of our events, we host weekly Upicks on the farm where people are able to come for just the love of picking flowers. We also participate in our farmer’s market in downtown Ortonville.
Our business is built on relationships and we are selling more than just flowers. We are building connections with our people and community. When you come to our farm, we want you to feel welcome and at home like you are part of our family. We sell under 50 tickets for all of our events which keeps everything small. We hope to build real connections and teach each person something about the flowers they receive.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Grit – This is a word that encompasses what you need to succeed! Many words pop into my head but GRIT encompasses the most powerful ones like Persistence, perseverance, and passion for the things you believe in. It’s also about working hard and not giving up when the going gets tough. Having a business is always going to have its lows. One must face the obstacles with GRIT and stay committed to their long-term goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.barefootblossomfarm.com
- Instagram: @barefootblossomfarm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarefootBlossomFarm
