Fresh cut flowers are a hallmark of springtime at the farmers market. Simple but impactful, somedays a bouquet can make all the difference to a friend, loved-one, or even a passer-by. Flowers are often the perfect way to say, “I thought of you today,” and bring a smile to any face. At the Dallas Farmers Market, local flower farm, Mars Hill brings fresh cut flowers to brighten your day and share the message of “Local Agriculture for a Global Cause,” that goes far beyond the beautiful petals of their bouquets.
Located just 20 minutes south of downtown in Ferris, TX, Mars Hill Flower Farm is committed to offering transitional employment to refugee communities, as well as the opportunity to grow food and reconnect with the land–a past-time that is often lost for refugee communities upon transitioning to the US. The transitional employment offered by Mars Hill allows time for community connections to be built and for English language skills to be developed as families settle into their new home.
Mars Hill Farm extends the good work beyond just the community of their farm, all the way to the soil that sustains it. Of the 2.5 cultivated acres, each plot is maintained without the use of environmentally harmful chemicals. With eyes on an organic certification in the near future, the flowers and edible crops are maintained using only OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) approved products, cover tarping, and lots of hand weeding. The resulting bouquets are hand picked each day with customers in mind.
Always seeking to create a more holistic farm system, Longhorn cattle graze the farm as well. Using a “mob-style” grazing technique, the cattle are moved daily to fresh pasture areas mimicking natural herd patterns that once dominated prairie landscapes. Within just 2 years of implementing the system, great improvements have already been seen in the soil quality and native grasses have begun to repopulate the area. This style of cattle management means that no hormones, antibiotics, or dewormers are ever needed to treat the animals. Their health is naturally maintained through daily access to fresh pasture.
A little love has gone a long way at Mars Hill Farm and it can be felt from the moment you enter the gates. Luckily, those gates are open to the community for immersive farming experiences, exclusive flower cutting reservations, special events in their newest event facility, and even educational classes! Upcoming opportunities can be found at marshillfarm.com. If an outdoor excursion isn’t on the books for you this year, you can still support Mars Hill Farm and meet their wonderful community by shopping with them Saturday at The Shed, or even becoming a flower subscription member for weekly to monthly flower deliveries.
Flowers from Mars Hill Farm offer a rare opportunity to share a little love that reaches from the smile of a friend, all the way back to the hands that tended the soil. Share a smile with a friend this weekend out of love, out of remembrance, or simply because you can.
