The grounding power of flowers

WATERVILLE, Minn. – Two years ago, Kuball Dairy near Waterville became a haven for flower lovers who wanted to share in the kind of beauty that only a rural setting can provide.  
That was when Shannon Kuball, who farms with her husband, Nate, decided the world needed a little uplifting.
“I have always enjoyed gardening,” Shannon Kuball. “So, I thought, ‘Why not make my gardens bigger so that other people can come in and enjoy them too?’ I realized that I could create a space of peace, joy and beauty that I could share.”
With that goal in mind, Barns & Blooms Flower Farm was born.
Kuball handles the finances for her family’s dairy farm on which they milk 240 Holsteins in a step-up parlor that was converted from a tiestall barn. They also crop over 1,100 acres of corn, soybean and alfalfa.
The Kuballs’ children – Kelsey, Emma and Keegan – help with the dairy and with the flower farm by watering plants and setting up for events. The girls help during events as well. Nate helps too.
“He has been a great supporter,” Kuball said. “When I have to burn holes in fabric, he’s out there with me after his already long days.”
Kuball also works part time off the farm. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has worked in private practice and moved into hospice work over five years ago as a grief counselor. She saw suffering up close, especially when the coronavirus pandemic began.
“I saw that there was a lot of hard stuff, a lot of sadness, especially through 2020,” she said. “I began to think, ‘How can I get people connected to something that’s grounding and brings joy and peace?’”
During that time, Kubåall went on a tour of a lavender farm in Door County; she thought she might be able to create something similar on her farm. However, Kuball realized Minnesota does not have the best growing zone for lavender, so she needed to modify her plans.
Now in its second year, Kuball’s business is succeeding in its mission to bring people to the farm to enjoy picking beautiful flowers in a rural setting and getting away from the stresses that life can bring.
There are seven garden plots on the farm, one by a field and the rest by the freestall barn.
Kuball grows all her plants from seed.
“We start everything inside under grow lights in February or March, depending on when they need to be started,” Kuball said. “As soon as it warms up a little, maybe closer to the end of April, I start moving things out to a small greenhouse and continue to start other stuff inside that doesn’t need as many weeks before being planted in the ground.”
When the ground temperatures are warm enough, she direct seeds, places bulbs or puts her starter plants into the ground.
“For all of my plots, I use a landscape fabric that I burn holes in with a torch that helps with weed pressure and controlling the gardens a little more,” Kuball said.
Kuball does some succession planting so that she has fresh plants coming for later on in the season. Once plants are in the ground, Kuball’s main work is watering and managing insect and weed pressure. She does not use any chemicals but does use a natural neem oil, which helps with certain types of fungus and insects.
 Once the flowers are ready, Kuball offers events that are open to the public for picking flowers. Customers can also schedule appointments.
The prices for bunches of flowers are based on the number of stems customers pick.
“I have jars here that have my logo on them (for purchase),” Kuball said. “Otherwise, people can bring their own vase, or they can take them wrapped in a wet cloth in a bag.”
Customer preferences vary as to their favorite flowers. Kuball said snapdragon, zinnia and dahlia are popular, and she likes to try new varieties. This year, her personal favorites are the aster varieties.
“They started early and are hanging on still, and they have unique colors and textures,” Kuball said.
Besides enjoying the fun of choosing and picking flowers, customers have found other ways to enjoy Kuball’s business.
“I’ve had people do graduation photos or else come with their 1-year-old or 2-year-old for photos,” Kuball said. “People are welcome to do that as long as they let me know in advance.”
Also, some customers have Kuball put arrangements together for them. Others have asked her to bring a bunch of flowers to birthday gatherings or other group events so those at the party can make flower arrangements as an activity.
Kuball also noticed the joy customers gain by visiting a dairy farm. This has become part of Barns & Blooms Flower Farm in the form of farm tours, often provided by her mother-in-law, Debbie Kuball.
“Nate’s mom loves to do the tours,” Kuball said. “She’ll bring her little (side-by-side) over. Then, she’ll take people on a farm tour to see the dairy.”
Like with the flower gardens, people can relax and decompress by taking in the farm environment.
“I think the dairy industry itself – with the animals, smell of the feed and all of it – is just so grounding,” Kuball said. “If I can find ways to give people access to that, emotionally and mentally, it’s a benefit.”
When contemplating how Barns & Blooms Flower Farm adds to the legacy of the family’s dairy, Kuball becomes emotional. She and Nate are the fifth generation to farm there.
“Nate’s grandpa (Laverne Kuball) loved to garden,” Kuball said. “Then, we lost Nate’s dad (Bob) in 2016. When I was adding more and more gardens to the farm, he was one of the first people who got to see what I was doing and took an interest in it. He was really supportive.
To carry on the beauty that they have created here, … it matters to our family, but it’s something that I think is special enough so that we want to share it.”
Kuball’s business has given back to her as well.
“It brings me the same things that it brings my customers,” Kuball said. “It brings me grounding.     I love watching things grow. There’s something about putting a seed in the ground and then having a harvest. You tend to it, and you get to be part of the whole process. … There’s something rewarding in that for me.”