On the Square: Farmstead Florals
On the Square: Farmstead Florals
By: Hastain Biggs
Spring is here, and Oxford is blooming! But, months--even years--of hard work, patience, and education play a role in these beautiful bouquets, you see. Katherine Webb of local business Farmstead Florals gave us the inside scoop on flower farming in Mississippi. Growing up in south Louisiana and spending her whole childhood outdoors was the beginning of Webb’s farming career. As Webb got older, her parents began running a vegetable farm, which enabled her to see all the planning and persistence that goes hand-in-hand with farming. Years went by, and Webb landed in Oxford, Mississippi, with a coincidence of some family land, which is now the headquarters of Farmstead Florals. But, let’s back up--there’s more to the story!
Being 26 years old, Webb feels very fortunate to have found something she truly enjoys and can make a living for herself while doing it. But, this has not come easily. Webb shared about the trial and error in farming, especially in Mississippi, with the unpredictable and ever-changing seasons. Building trust with florists, both local and out-of-state, has been an extreme challenge for Webb to overcome. Webb gives credit to the art of persistence and not taking no for an answer. When florists around town opted for the larger, cookie-cutter floral services, Webb chose to respectfully keep showing up, proving her accountability and the beauty she could provide--locally. Webb now sells her flower to fifteen different florists located in Memphis, Oxford, and Birmingham. You can find her beautiful flowers locally at Chaney’s Pharmacy, Chicory Market, and the Farmstead Florals stand located in the breezeway outside of Uptown Coffee.
Listening to her parent’s advice of “Play the tape all the way through” and choosing to always look at the big picture has aided Webb in growing The Farmstead into what it is today. The Farmstead is a one hundred and twenty-eight-acre property in Oxford that is home to the Farmstead Florals operation and fields. It has three lakeside rental cottages and an outdoor event space that hosts cooking classes, corporate retreats, and a pickleball facility that will be hosting clinics beginning in mid-April. The Farmstead is continuing to look at the big picture and will constantly be evolving. Something to keep your eyes out for next is the handmade ceramics to come!
To see more of this beautiful local business, follow along on their Instagram at @farmsteadflorals! Want to know what’s happening right here in Oxford? Keep up with us on Instagram at @um.squaremagazine and follow our blog at www.umsquaremagazine.com!
Photos belong to their respective owners.