https://youtu.be/AMujMVQSGkM?si=2ZjthEzgpVZzdUH_

It’s early in the season, but Amy Linhart already has been harvesting from her crop of 13,000 daffodils to supply her main wholesale customer, an upscale regional grocery chain in the Seattle-Tacoma region. I visited Humming Harvest Farm in late March for a tour of the fields and new high tunnel, both of which allowed me to envision the bountiful year to come, Amy’s sixth farming season. She started farming flowers as a side venture to her full-time position as an environmental educator at Pierce College, and I’m so inspired by the ways this young flower entrepreneur is building a meaningful and sustainable lifestyle involving teaching and farming.

Amy Linhart of Humming Harvest Farm (c) Rylea Foehl photography

Today’s episode was so much fun to record because I was able to get away from the computer and visit my guest in person. It’s early in the season, but the drive was worth it. Amy Linhart of Humming Harvest Farm isn’t too far from my home – about 45 minutes to the Key Peninsula, near the shores of Puget Sound.

Casey and Amy (left), (c) Katelin McDermott Photography; outdoor production studio (right)

Fortunately, Amy’s daffodil season has begun, so we walked the fields to see those crops, and toured the future growing areas where cover crops are now thriving. We also visited the new high tunnel that Amy’s husband Casey Linhart recently constructed with the help of friends. They have set themselves up for a successful expansion to add more early season crops with the new structure.

Humming Harvest Farm

Amy Linhart is an environmental educator turned flower farmer who has spent the majority of her professional career learning from and sharing inspiration from the natural world. From working as a national park ranger in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska, to her current position working as an environmental educator at Pierce College, Amy has a deep respect for the ecosystems that she calls home.

She and Casey met in Alaska, where they fell in love with exploring wild spaces… and with each other. They moved to Washington so that Amy could pursue a Master’s in Marine Affairs at the University of Washington. Soon after graduation, they moved out of the city to purchase land and dig in the dirt. Much of this land was covered in thick, invasive blackberries and now, after a lot of sweat equity, houses an abundance of flowers and vegetables.

With big dreams and inspired by the local farming movement, Amy continually researches new ways to treat the earth more gently through her sustainable farming practices. You’ll hear us discuss some of these endeavors during my visit and our subsequent sit-down interview. I know you’ll be inspired.

Find and follow Humming Harvest Farm on Instagram and Facebook

Amy is a member of Slow Flowers Society, but her farm is also affiliated with:Gig Harbor Flower Farmers Guild and she distributes flowers through West Sound Floral Exchange, operated by Slow Flowers member Jodi Logue of Moss & Madder Farm, past guest of this podcast.

And I can’t end this episode without sharing a little update on Amy and Casey, and yes, the news that their baby Alder Kay Linhart arrived on April 1st. I have Amy’s permission to share this wonderful news. She recently texted me to say: “Our world has just changed for the better. She’s just the sweetest. She’s met the cows from afar and has explored the daffodils in bloom. We’re already so excited to bring this little one up on the farm!” Congratulations Amy and Casey!

News of the Week

Riz Reyes (left); Dennis Westphall and Diane Szukovathy (right)

In Slow Flowers News, this coming Friday, April 11th is our monthly member Meet-Up and the topic is all about hellebores – growing and designing.

We're kicking off the two-month celebration of the forthcoming publication of THE FLOWER FARMERS: Inspiration and Advice from Expert Growers, which I wrote with Robin Avni,