Windward Blooms: Local farm sees growth in fresh-cut flower business | News, Sports, Jobs

The Windward Farm Shop serves as the floral design space for Windward Blooms. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Windward at Lost Acre, a historic farm located at 743 Windward Lane in Shepherdstown, has spent the last three years since it was purchased by husband-and-wife team Reed Mayer and Misha Van Mecl, finding ways to diversify its business.

One way that the couple has successfully done so, is by starting a sustainable, fresh-cut flower business by its farm shop. According to Van Mecl, flower lovers can either come and hand pick floral bouquets on their own or purchase a bouquet designed by her.

“We bridge agritourism with floral design with farming,” Van Mecl said. “It’s really nice to be able to walk out and custom harvest for somebody. I can really put a lot of intention in it, which I think can be seen in the end results.”

She noted that she primarily uses flowers that are grown on her property for her floral designs, although she does occasionally source flowers from wholesalers, especially when the growing season in the area is at its end.

“As a farmer florist, we grow what we can and source what we can’t from our wonderful wholesale partners,” Van Mecl said. “If sustainability is a goal of yours, there’s nothing more sustainable than farm-grown blooms. Our goal is, during the growing season, to use at least 50 percent of Windward-grown blooms in our arrangements, so that we can reduce the carbon footprint and ecological footprint of the flower industry.”

Windward Blooms owner Misha Van Mecl stands in the flower garden at her farm. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

She noted that her approach to floral design is different from other designers in the surrounding area, due to her background in farming and unique artistic tastes.

“Starting this journey into floral arranging and design as a farmer first and florist second, has lent a unique take on my flower work. And I really wouldn’t have it any other way,” Van Mecl said. “I find that I treat florals like a chef would a menu, asking the questions: what’s in season, what’s the best of the best right now and how can I inspire, using what’s around me?”

Van Mecl said that, over the past couple of years, she has been thrilled to see the community embrace Windward Blooms and increasingly use her floral design services to create arrangements for weddings, anniversaries, funerals and more.

“Windward Blooms has expanded in a really big way. It’s been keeping us very busy,” Van Mecl said, mentioning the growth has been both in the size of her flower gardens and in the amount of business Windward Blooms has received. “It’s been going great. The community has been very open-hearted and we’ve been very well received.”

To learn more or purchase a bouquet, visit https://www.windwardblooms.com/ or call 571-265-9431. Bouquet delivery is available, with most bouquets being deliverable within a 15-mile radius and wedding bouquets being deliverable within a two-hour radius of the farm.

A sign at the entrance to one of the enclosed garden spaces lets visitors know when they are welcome to pick flowers from Windward Blooms. Picked flowers may be made for in the Windward Farm Shop next door. Photo by Tabitha Johnston