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“We wanted our small family farm to be diversified. That's how the farmers before me survived on both sides of the family. They had diverse operations, various sales and marketing channels and never gave up when it got tough,” Meredith explains. “When we started the flower farm in 2010, there was a lack of available information on how to grow flowers sustainably, chemical free and completely outdoors. So, our expectations back then were very low, and there were many frustrating moments and learnings. Our internal drive to love, grow, cultivate, and harvest beautiful flowers kept us going. We hoped that eventually, people would want to buy our flowers.”
“Our customers don't care if a bug nibbled a little bit out of a petal because they know when they touch it won't impact their health,” Meredith shares. “This rings true at you-pick, which is why we opened that experience on the farm. When you tell the mother of a toddler that the flowers are not sprayed with chemicals, their eyes light up as if to say, thank you for thinking of my child's future.”
“Never assume. Know the weather, research, test and develop, plan to save financially (and) don’t quit when the going gets tough,” she advised. Failure is part of the process, she said.
Iowa Farm Bureau Conference participants peppered her with questions about everything from what products are used for pest control at Barnswallow Flowers to how to best germinate flowers or how far apart to plant flowers in a field.
“For flower farming, specifically, it all comes down to education and grit from the beginning, middle and beyond,” Nunnikhoven said. “I personally don’t do anything on a large scale that will affect me financially until I can actually trial it myself and see another operation doing it successfully. Failure is a part of that learning process and can be disappointing. When you are trying to farm not just one flower crop, but many, the work in this area of education will eventually pay off.”
Pictured above: Tulips always are popular, and Barnswallow Flowers had an abundance ready for distribution this spring. PHOTO / CONRAD SCHMIDT
https://www.iowafarmbureau.com/Article/In-full-bloom-265639
Ask Meredith Nunnikhoven and she will tell you, there's nothing better than diversification to keep a farm successful. The southeast Iowa woman owns Barnswallow Flowers, a fresh-cut flower farm located near Oskaloosa in Mahaska County, Iowa. That business is part of the Barnswallow & Company umbrella, which also includes a chestnut farm that will eventually include 15 acres by 2028. Nunnikhoven also helps her father on the family’s farm. “We have it set up where we can offer both agritourism and ag education opportunities,” she says. Nunnikhoven says she was influenced by her mother, Kerrilynn, when it came to starting the flower business. “We really believed diversified farming and small farms were the way to go,” she says. “We loved flowers, but we also wanted an operation that could operate long-term.”
Bringing the Buzz to Barnswallow Farm
A Tradition of Diversification
The News Review
The Sun Spot by Jackie Perkins
https://www.forfarmersmovement.com/team/barnswallow-flowers
Iowa State Extension
AMES, Iowa
Women honored for their vision and dedication to Iowa agriculture
by Madeline Schultz & Lisa Scarbrough
Four women received the Women Impacting Agriculture award for their contributions to Iowa agriculture on Nov. 30 at the seventh annual Iowa Women in Ag Leadership Conference organized by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The Women Impacting Agriculture recognition honors Iowans who are creating a more sustainable Iowa by improving economic resiliency and stability; conserving natural resources; and being influential agricultural leaders, family members and community volunteers. The 2023 honorees are Kellie Blair, Joanne Roepke Bode, Melissa O’Rourke and Meredith Nunnikhoven.
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/women-impacting-agriculture-honored
https://vimeo.com/889862916?share=copy
KTVO News
Women, Land & Legacy hosts 'Women in Agriculture Exhibition' in S.E. Iowa
Spokesman
SE Iowa Area News Front Page
Submitted by Mahaska County
Barnswallow Flowers, located just east of Oskaloosa on Hwy 23, began with a discussion of needed diversification on the Allen Nunnikhoven Farm. To Allen's wife, Kerrilyn, - who has since passed away - and daughter, Meredith, the idea of flowers seemed the most production and a process of education started. They formed a business plan, took several classes and started planting peonies. Those peonies from the first year have grown now to include a multitude of flowers including sunflowers, dahlias, lisianthus and so many more.
In Depth with Dr. Bob Leonard
What it's like to be a farmer florist?
https://www.kniakrls.com/?powerpress_pinw=535604-podcast
By Channing Rucks, The Herald
Local farmer to sell tulips at Tulip Time
https://www.oskaloosa.com/news/local_news/local-farmer-to-sell-tulips-at-tulip-time/article_485d45ea-e843-11ed-8927-370ea79843cd.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR2IJZ18T8Che08CVPuVKfN0BUiNp8p6QcIQ5wwfhz2ZsdRrD_5l3_klK-4_aem_AV1O1v721qzxuv2ko-PA_Pnn_zW81hs6JcinGHojRiG7GUhOD9Jbv3vkX6MtpE-cfoI
YouTube Practical Farmer's Panel
Corn and Soybean Basics for Landowners - Farminar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j89eTrGjztU
By Channing Rucks, The Herald
Ernst talks Farm Bill, cover crops in southeast Iowa
https://www.oskaloosa.com/knoxville/ernst-talks-farm-bill-cover-crops-in-southeast-iowa/article_bf2a8c62-bc5d-11ed-a8b0-d3fed534f8d8.html
“Results matter,” said Meredith Nunnikhoven, a Practical Farmers of Iowa member who operates Barnswallow Flowers southeast of Oskaloosa. “Some of these [conservation] programs stop in five, six years … CSP is an example. That is a really hard program to sign up for … It’s a whole farm outlook program, and once it was over, it was like, what we just started, we’re not seeing the effects of that program. And for someone who’s hardwired to seeing the results, who has that cultural perspective, that’s going to be important for them.”
Practical Farmers of Iowa Autumn Issue
Field Day Photography
https://practicalfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Autumn-2022-Magazine_FINAL_web.pdf
Mahaska Chamber & Development Group Blog
Fresh Air & Farmhouse Views
https://www.mahaskachamber.org/blog/fresh_air_and_farmhouse_views/
“This is a community cottage. Those who stay here contribute to the lives of those who take care of it.” - Meredith Nunnikhoven, Owner
In Depth with Dr. Bob Leonard
What’s it like to run a flower farm?
https://www.kniakrls.com/?powerpress_pinw=497557-podcast
By Channing Rucks, The Herald
Osky farmer produces crop of colorful blooms
https://www.oskaloosa.com/news/local_news/osky-farmer-produces-crop-of-colorful-blooms/article_3298d0be-06ba-11ed-9f46-ff326a0dba2a.html
The Donna Lonna Kitchen Show
Episode 019: Flower Farming at Barnswallow Flowers With Meredith Nunnikhoven
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/019-flower-farming-at-barnswallow-flowers-with/id1609308964?i=1000571450425
Choose Local YouTube Video by IVRCD
Visit a Farm Stand
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYNhaPFCsIU&t=19s
Elija Decious of The Gazette
Amana nonprofit launches statewide campaign to encourage farmer, consumer connections
https://www.thegazette.com/community/amana-nonprofit-launches-statewide-campaign-to-encourage-farmer-consumer-connections/
Practical Farmers of Iowa
The Joy of Flowers By Jacqueline Venner Senske
https://practicalfarmers.org/2021/06/the-joy-of-flowers/
Explore Mahaska County Publication
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/65249707/explore-mahaska-county-2021
Behind the Blooms
Episode 1 & 2
https://www.northernspotlight.com/issue-4/behind-the-blooms
Heartland Wedding Ideas
Family, Farm, & Love – Allison + Jacob
https://www.heartlandweddingideas.com/the-blog/family-farm-love-allison-jacob
https://issuu.com/heartlandweddingideas/docs/hwi_janfeb_2021_issuu
Why do you want to farm?
https://practicalfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Spring-2020-Magazine_FINAL_rgb_web.pdf
Oskaloosa News
Barnswallow Flowers and Produce Speaker
http://oskynews.org/barnswallow-flowers-and-produce-speaker/
In Depth with Dr. Bob Leonard
One local farm family is diversifying their operation–with flowers.
https://www.kniakrls.com/2018/10/18/in-depth-barnswallow-flowers/