A guest blog written for West Central Initiative’s movement ‘Live Wide Open’ on what the phrase means to me.

When I think of the phrase Live Wide Open my mind is flooded with memories of our family hilltop overlooking Fairy Lake. It was always called “The Hill.” The high spot in the family hayfield that witnessed my childhood, life truly lived wide open. “The Hill” served as the backdrop for our annual Christmas card and hosted bobsled races on the first snow. It was the spot my dad and I would watch summer storms roll in and where I could escape let my imagination run wild. This Spring “The Hill” became home to my favorite adventure yet- an acre cut-flower field that is True Blue Flower Co.

My family’s land has always held a spot in my heart, a little piece of my soul. I grew up as an only child on a small lakes-country dairy farm. The pastures, lakes, woods, and fields were my playground and nature was my teacher. My inner peace was always found surrounded by the flora and fauna of west central Minnesota. As much as my heart and soul was connected the family farm, it worried me too. Family farms can be tricky. I wanted continue on our farms history (our barn was built in 1920) but I wanted to have an identity of my own too. I needed to try a few things and see a little bit of the world to make sure this is truly what I loved.

The six years away were filled with college and finding love - my sweet husband who I roped in from western North Dakota’s Canadian border. They were also filled with career building, and lots of South Dakota and southern Minnesota moves. In my job I was helping farmers across the state, but all I could think of was how I should be investing in our family farm back home. I missed the lakes and the woods and and my place in nature to escape to. I missed the community and I missed the Wide Open Life of West Central Minnesota I had known.

Through beautiful chance, my husband and I were able to move back to Vergas three years ago, within 10 minutes of my family farm. Though I was excited to be closer, I wasn’t quite ready to make my part in our farm story. That would come after seeing my husband start to love the land that I grow up on and with the birth of our baby boy, True, who I know will love it too. I could see my own family memories being made on the land that already held so much meaning to me.

That’s when we decided “the Hill” with the wide open view could find a new purpose. What was once a hayfield has become an acre of cut flower fields and a little piece of my soul. True Blue Flower Co. is a way for me to reconnect to the Minnesota land that means so much to me, but it is also serving as so much more. At the forefront True Blue Flower Co. is a cut flower farm that specializes in local and sustainably grown flowers for bouquets and arrangements. We offer summer bouquet subscriptions where home-grown, fresh-picked, hand-tied bouquets are make their way to your doorstep every week. Extra bouquets are also picked Thursday-Sunday morning July - September and brought down to our self-serve roadside flower stand. Locally grown cut flowers may be the face of True Blue Flower Co., but giving people a place to take in the Minnesota landscape is at the heart. A place to stop, breath, appreciate, and to live wide open. We have Sunday Sunrise yoga schedule among the blooms starting in July along with U-Pick events to build your own bouquet. I write a weekly blog titled “Life Lessons Learned in the Flower Field” that serves as a gentle reminder to stop and take in the little lessons nature and the flower gardens have offer. In my opinion nature is one of greater Minnesota’s best resources and I want to be able to inspire others to find peace in it too.

So now instead of hours in a car traveling farm to farm, my days are spent nurturing the land and watching as Minnesota’s seasons roll through. My family still has the small dairy farm but now Payton, True, and I have a little part of our own too. We are here to stay and to continue to live wide open.

Live Wide Open is a bold new movement by West Central Initiative to encourage people to move to, return to and, yes, stay in West Central Minnesota. Live Wide Open showcases what West Central Minnesota has to offer, including opportunities for rewarding careers while living close to family, friends and the natural amenities that draw so many to this region. Learn more at www.livewideopen.com.