A Dream to Preserve Family Land… 2019

In 2019 we were offered an opportunity to move into my grandparents’ home of nearly 60 years, on 3 acres in West Chester, Pennsylvania. My Grandpop had made arrangements to live with my parents after the home-going of my precious Grandmom, his beloved wife of over 70 years, and we would rent the home in hopes of one day purchasing it. As we prepared to move into my grandparents’ place, my Grandpop, then 95 years old, took me to the top of the hill overlooking his property and home on Walnut Hill Road. He told me his story of falling in love with the land, remarked about the gorgeous view and pointed out the trees that he had planted, and the pond across the way. He showed me the property lines, and told me stories of sledding down the hill with his children, and dreams of farming the land that never came to fruition. He tenderly said that he had hoped I would fall in love with the property too. He knew that the plan was to someday purchase the home, but that the rest of the land would eventually be sold. His request was that I would try to one day purchase all of the land and if I could, keep his property in the family. I told him that I fell in love with their home years ago when I was a little girl, and that I would do anything I could to purchase the property someday.

A Dream of Flower Farming…

I began to brainstorm about different ways we could use the land to raise the funds and purchase the beautiful property on Walnut Hill Road. As I tossed options around, I was over and over drawn to the idea of flower farming; and so began my dream of starting Walnut Hill Flower Farm. This determination to keep my grandparents’ land intact has propelled me to go at this with all my might! My Grandpop loves the idea, and I think Grandmom would have too. I have fond memories of walking the hill with her in search of flowers. Then it was buttercups and violets, but I like to think that she would be very pleased to walk the rows of gorgeous flowers now gracing her hill.