Today we’d like to introduce you to Michaela Buhrman.
Hi Michaela, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always had a love for growing things. I’m a fifth generation farmer and was born and raised on a dairy farm, so farming is in my blood. Growing up, my mom always had an extensive flower garden, so I’ve been familiar with how flowers grow and what blooms during which season and how to tend a garden. But, it wasn’t until my best friend asked if I would grow the flowers for her wedding that I really started to take flowers seriously as a potential career. During these first five years of my flower farm business I have grown a diverse list of flowers to see which ones do the best in our area, as well as experimented with different quantities to find the right balance of what I am able to use and sell.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When you rely on the weather to produce anything, there is always stress that comes along with that. Will it be warm enough, early enough so that certain things bloom on time? Will there be enough rain, but not too much? Will there be a strange new insect to deal with this season? Because I am growing all of the flowers that I use for my business, it can be hard to navigate the season and try to prepare for every outcome.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Black Squirrel Flowers?
I own and operate a small, family farm where I grow seasonal cut flowers. With the flowers that I produce here on the farm, I create custom, unique bouquets and arrangements that I sell here on the farm in the Farm Store, at the local Cheboygan Farmer’s Market, and I also offer deliveries and flowers for special occasions (i.e. weddings, funerals, birthdays, etc). I also offer Bouquet Subscriptions, where you can sign up to receive a bouquet a week delivered to your home or office for an entire month during the growing season.
What sets me apart from other local Florists is that every stem I use has been grown here on the farm and is only available seasonally. Because of this, I am able to offer a variety of flowers that aren’t as easily available from a traditional Florist. There are many flowers that simply cannot be shipped from other places in the world because of how delicate they are.
I also believe in working with nature instead of fighting against it. I use beneficial insects for pest management and promote habitat for native pollinators. I also encourage local birds to help manage pests by providing food sources and habitat for nesting. This way, I can avoid the use of harsh chemicals, which aren’t only an environmental pollutant, but can be harmful to our skin, both mine and customers.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Flowers are a $1.83 billion industry in the USA alone. In the short-term with the ongoing fluctuation of tariffs and import fees, I would imagine there would be a shift to more localized production and sourcing of flowers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blacksquirrelflowers.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacksquirrelflowers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blacksquirrelflowers
