Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Schauer.
Hi Dawn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I have always enjoyed growing flowers, being outside, and working with my hands. In 2017, our family farm transitioned, which allowed me to pursue a different daily path. I decided to go back to school to study floral design. While taking floral classes, I discovered I could grow specialty flowers to design with, which is unique compared to other floral shops. Milkhouse Flowers grew its first flowers for production in 2019 on a 1/2 acre. We started selling bouquets at farmer’s markets and doing design work for daily arrangements. Today, we are growing over 50 varieties of specialty cut flowers on 2 acres, including perennials, annuals, bulbs, and woodies. Our flowers are sold to the community through our popular flower bouquet subscription, daily arrangements, and special occasions. We only design and work with the flowers we grow, and if needed, we will source flowers from other local flower farms. We sell flowers to the wholesale market, including several local flower shops, event designers, and the Twin Cities Flower Exchange in Minneapolis. We offer farm tours, flower bars, and flower arranging workshops, and during the holiday season, we host winter porch pots and wreath workshops in our barn. We are a fifth-generation family farm. Milkhouse Flowers is only a portion of our overall operation. We also raise commodity crops and custom-raise dairy heifers and steers. Family plays a significant role in our farming operation and Milkhouse Flowers. I am grateful for the support provided by my husband and family.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Farming, in general, is always a challenging path. It requires long days, physical work, and the ability to withstand variables you have no control over. Flower farming is no different. We hand-seed, hand-plant, and hand-harvest our flowers, which can be physically demanding. We are also subject to Mother Nature; therefore, it’s necessary to plan accordingly for extreme weather conditions and learn to accept and work with the conditions we cannot change. To help mitigate extreme weather conditions, we have installed two unheated hoop houses for added element protection but also for growing season extensions. The whole process of increasing specialty flowers has been an enormous learning curve. High-production flower farming is different from simply growing flowers for enjoyment. Each flower has its own needs, and when you grow the number of varieties needed to meet the demands of your market, managing the needs can be very daunting. I am also growing a perishable product, which means once we have harvested the flowers, they must be used or sold to the available market promptly. I have been fortunate enough to secure different markets. However, there are times when we have abundant flowers, allowing us to donate them to senior living facilities in our communities.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Milkhouse Flowers is a fresh-cut flower farm located 60 miles west of Minneapolis, MN, in the rural town of Glencoe. We are committed to responsibly growing specialty cut flowers on our family farm. Each flower is hand-seeded, planted, and harvested to bring our customers the freshest and the most amazing blooms. We specialize in growing, designing, and selling locally grown flowers. Over 80% of the flowers in your local floral shops or grocery stores are imported. The Local Flower movement is changing that percentage. When you buy local flowers, whether from a flower farmer or a floral shop that supports local flowers, you receive flowers that have been grown sustainably, are fresh, long-lasting, fragrant, and have the brightest colors. I am proud of our brand overall, the quality of flowers we grow, and our sustainable growing practices, which are essential to our family and customers. When you purchase flowers from Milkhouse Flowers, you are receiving the best of our best. I’m passionate about what I do, as seen in our flowers. I do have a great job because who doesn’t love receiving flowers? There are smiles and sometimes tears, but a connection is always felt with our customers. My motto is to bloom where you have been planted. I have been blessed to have a job I greatly enjoy, and it’s part of my mission to grow and share these beautiful blooms! Milkhouse Flowers offers flower bouquets, flower bundles, subscription bouquets, daily vase arrangements, DIY Flower packages, special event floral design, on-farm workshops, flower bars, winter workshops, and local deliveries and wholesale options.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up on a dairy farm in WI, which is still in operation today and is owned by my brother and his family. While growing up, I was involved in 4-H, showing dairy cattle, and several other agricultural-related activities. Though I had daily responsibilities on the farm, my parents also allowed me to experience the many opportunities of rural living while teaching me the values of farming. I later pursued an Agriculture Business and Animal Science education at the University of River Falls, WI, where I met my husband. I worked in Agriculture Finance for thirteen years and later decided to work full-time with my husband on our farm while raising our children. I have been involved in agriculture and farming for most of my life. The experiences and friendships I have made have truly shaped me as an individual.
Contact Info:
- Website: milkhouseflowers.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/milkhouseflowers
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/MilkhouseFlowers
- Other: app.barn2door.com/milkhouseflowers/all
