Rimrock Flower Farm

A local farm is making big waves. Now in her fourth growing season, Andi Thatcher has grown and harvested.....FLOWERS. This is not what you may think of as a Montana farm, or agriculture product. Yet, Andi is very much part of the farming community and growing commercial product. In year one, many of the plants that Andi started weren't able to be cut for flowers until the second growing season. Farming, a career that involves loads of patients is also one of the most rewarding or devastating careers. Weather, soil conditions, pests, and costs, along with other variables can create situations out of a farmers control, and it can be an unstable income at best.

Defying all odds, Andi has succeeded in creating a unique new farm product in Montana. Following the "Farm to Fork" trend, she is supplying locally grown florist flowers for retail, as well as doing her own floral arrangements with her products. "I am a farmer florist." Andi declares. She does arrangements all year long, and if her own flowers are out of season, she will order product in just as any other florist, but when her flowers are growing, she is full scale with her own product.

"A lot of people don't know where their flowers come from" Andi states that when flowers are grown locally in Montana, the arrangements last longer, and they are not sprayed with unknown chemicals. This can be important for people who would be putting the flowers up to their nose to smell, or on their skin, such as a corsage. She has teamed up with local business friends, the Ericksons and Elliasons to create the "Market on Main", which is a seasonal market at the end of Main Street. Andi sells her flowers there. She also sell through her flower studio at the farm, 20 Stillwater, by appointment only, as well as Frae Everyday Goods, retail store, at Shiloh Commons in Billings.

Andi is also head of the Montana "Cut Flower Association" group. The group educates the public about the business and growing, as well as doing a bit of advertising. She is also going to be doing Farm Tours this summer at the height of the growing season by appointment, where people can come see the farm, learn about flowers, and how everything is planted and grown, and then leave with a bouquet.

Like any ag commodity, the profits go back into the community. One growing tip from Andi, is to maintain a soil health, which in this area requires composting. Andi recommends purchasing from a good compost company and gets hers from two different places in Billings.

Her Facebook business page was recently hacked, but Andi would like all of her customers to know that she is still open for business, and going strong. Go to Andi's business website Rimrock Flower Farm, http://www.rimrockflowerfarm.com, to find out more about her flower farm, or make online orders.