Our Farm

It all began with a few acres of land in Blodgett, Oregon. At first, I didn’t expect much. A dusty road led to our home tucked away in a little valley among towering fir trees. There were the occasional wild turkeys, deer and elk wandering through the property in search of food. Rural life wasn’t unfamiliar to me — I had grown up on a farm my entire life, and it wasn’t until college that I had experienced living in the city. While I enjoyed the city life for a time, I always knew I would eventually return to gravel roads and quiet surroundings.

As the years passed and our family grew, I began to plant fruit trees, grapes, berries, and a seasonal vegetable garden, not to mention plenty of flowers. We dove into farming life with enthusiasm, dabbling in everything from gardening to beekeeping, and raising a variety of farm animals. When our daughters were old enough, we joined the 4-H community and raised pigs. Hands down, pigs have been the most enjoyable animal for our family to raise!

In 2018, I bought my first dahlia tuber from a friend. The tuber wasn’t much to look at when planted, but it quickly grew into a beautiful plant, bursting with vibrant blooms. The following year, I bought a few more varieties, and then a couple more the year after that. But it wasn’t until 2023 that things truly began to shift for me.

Both of my parents, who had always meant everything to me, passed away within a year and a half of one another. In the wake of their loss, I felt an undeniable pull to return to "my roots." At the time, I wasn’t entirely sure what that would look like. My career as a highschool teacher was fulfilling, my family was healthy and thriving — yet there was still a lingering desire to do something more. Something that felt connected to my past and to the land that had always grounded me. 

I can’t say exactly what prompted me to dive deeper into dahlias and flowers but one thing was clear: our farm now had an established purpose, but it needed a name that reflected what I was feeling, what I had come to understand. And so, Hummingbird Hollow was born.

Why hummingbirds? It goes back to a moment I will never forget. As my dad was taking his final breaths, I sat by his side, holding his hand. Outside his window, on a crisp January morning, a hummingbird flitted at the feeder, drinking its sweet nectar. I looked over at the window, saw the sunlight filtering through the cold, and the hummingbird hovering peacefully. Shortly after, my dad passed.

A year and a half later, I sat with my mom in hospice care, as Alzheimer’s took its toll. To bring her some comfort, I pulled out the Swan Island Dahlia catalog, hoping to share something beautiful with her in her final days. Together, we flipped through the pages, admiring the variety, form, and color of the dahlias. I showed her ones that I found especially beautiful and I placed the order. Just days later, she passed away.

That moment, sitting with my mom as she helped me pick out flowers for a future she wouldn’t see, became a turning point. It was about honoring my family, my heritage, and the quiet beauty of life itself. And so, with the memory of that hummingbird in my heart, I began the journey of building a small business that was rooted in love, remembrance, and new beginnings.