https://www.facebook.com/102523922687897/

West End Tiny Farm

Home
Canada
Kamloops, BC
West End Tiny Farm

A tiny urban farm built on a big dream. Growing microgreens, cut flowers, edible blossoms, and more!
(1)

07/23/2024

We went through a few smoky days here in Kamloops, but that didn’t stop the snapdragons from doing their thing.

With the rain we received last night, and the bit of cooler weather than this past week has been, they should be extra happy. They are, after all, a hardy annual which prefers the spring and fall temperatures over the mega hot days our province has been enduring recently.

The dahlias and zinnias, real sun and heat lovers, however, have been doing amazing! More and more flowers are blooming here on the tiny farm, which means more fun colours and textures to arrange with for my customers.

07/21/2024

I was so happy to be able to create this giant arrangement for a lovely little girl’s garden-themed birthday party.

There were varieties of flowers I wanted to use that I didn’t have on hand yet (like lilies and gladiolus) so I contacted another local flower farmer to see what they had. Thankfully, they have acres of flowers and a willingness to work together in order to satisfy our wonderful customers. With both of our flowers combined, I was able to create something wild and lovely.

Happy birthday to the little lady celebrating today! I hope you enjoy your flowers and garden party!

07/16/2024

The sun and heat over the past few days here in Kamloops sure has turned up the color in my cutflower gardens!

My snapdragons in the hoophouse are bringing their first major bloom to a close, but I have tons of other pretty flowers starting to emerge, like Rudbeckia, Queen Anne’s lace, hydrangea, different coloured scabiosa, zinnias, orlaya, and more.

It’s been a real treat having tons of texture to play around with for my amazing subscription customers this week.

I still have room on my weekly and bi-weekly flower subscription list, so if you’re interested in getting fresh local flowers, send a message. Both pickup and delivery options are available! 💐

07/12/2024

So happy to be able to create these large and fun arrangements right now using the giant snapdragons that have been pumping out of the hoophouse!

07/10/2024

If someone had told me ten years ago that this is what I’d be doing in the last year of my 30’s, I’d never believe them.

I dreamed of owning big fancy houses, working a high paying career, having fancy clothes and trips around the world. But after I achieved a few of those goals, I realized it wasn’t any of those things that made me truly happy.

Then, I got really sick at age 29, and my entire life got taken away for a few years as I healed. While suffering from that illness, I lost my relationship, my art career, my big fancy home, and everything I had worked so hard for. I had nothing left.

After emerging from that brush with mortality, I had to reimagine my life again, somehow. After a crazy decade of rebuilding, full of ups and downs and tears and blood and sweat, this is the place I am in now.

The important things have revealed themselves to me; family, love, health, slowing down and appreciating what you have, and being true to yourself. Here I am, with an old house, thrifted clothes, an old car, and a medium paying career… but with more happiness than I ever had back then. And so thankful for every part of the journey to get here.

07/03/2024

The additional garden space in the front yard has been an absolute godsend this year!

I’ve planted twice as many flowers as I normally can, which means double the amount of bouquets that I’ll be able to pump out.
I’ve also planted about 20 pumpkins of various colours and shapes.

With all the extra plants though, comes a ton of extra work. I’m usually out here until late at night tending to them all. Luckily, I do love this work and knew what I was getting into with all the new garden beds, so I won’t be complaining any time soon.

06/29/2024

My biggest supporters, Mom and Dad.

Thank you for always being there for me and encouraging me all along the way on this journey of mine! You have built me up to have courage and tenacity, and to never forget where I started and how far I have come.

I am so lucky to have parents like you. I love you both with all of my heart.❤️

06/24/2024

I’ve been lost in a world of colour for the last couple of days as the snapdragons continue to bomb me with their beautiful blooms.

The amount of sheer joy these flowers bring me is incredible - and I have all summer to enjoy it.

If you’re interested in fresh flowers like these, I will be offering subscription service very soon for weekly delivery of seasonal blooms right to your door. For more information, or to sign up, simply send me a message and we can chat!

06/17/2024

I finally cut into my snapdragon patch for the first bunch of the season!

All of the hard work and patience starts to pay off at this time of the year, when flowers start to explode in colour and texture.

The snapdragons are some of my most loved blooms, and I’ve been in my little hoophouse almost everyday for the past week, watching bud after bud open into magnificant glowing beacons of natural beauty. And for weeks to come, they will keep reaching for the light and providing me with gorgeous stems to pick and arrange.

04/19/2024

Tomorrow’s the day! The 47th Outdoor Market Season for the Kamloops Regional Farmers’ Market opens in 1 day on April 20th!

The Saturday market runs from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the 200 block St Paul Street and Stuart Wood Schoolyard in and runs until the end of October.

Come check it out!

04/11/2024

I remember sitting on the ground a season or two ago, taking this photo and thinking to myself: “I can’t believe I get to do this all again next year, only more!”

Owning this little chunk of land smack dab in the middle of a growing city and turning it into agricultural space has been such a blast so far. At first, I wanted everything neat and tidy and perfect. But eventually I learned that enjoying my garden had more to do with the connection to the environment I would develop - and less to do with making everything look perfect.

I so love my little oasis under the sun, and the bountiful harvest I am able to reap from it!

04/10/2024

My brain has been absolutely flooded with all things gardening for the past few weeks.

I’ve potted up at least 75 dahlias tubers, started hundreds of zinnias, celosia, and of course, snapdragons just like this beautiful bunch from last year. And thats just a handful of the varieties of cutflowers that were planted in the grow room over the past little while. The greenhouse is now pretty full with seedlings!

I am really hoping to be able to crank out more bouquets this year, and be able to play around with new textures, forms and colors. I definitely have my work cut out for me, but as I’ve said before, it’s my labour of love!

If you’re interested in getting weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly flowers for a special someone this year, I will be offering a small number of CSA subscriptions for fresh, sustainably grown flowers! Send a message for more info, and stay tuned for future updates! 💐

03/15/2024

With the warm weather in the forecast, (a 20 degree weekend) I thought it would be appropriate to start reminiscing about summer days spent navigating heat waves and picking watermelon.

Spring is officially my favourite season, but summer is a very close second. The abundance of flowers, veggies and fruit in the thick of the season is always so amazing to behold. Mother Nature is not always fair, but she loves to reward us heavily in summer if we do the required garden work in the spring.

Right now at the tiny farm, there is lots of planning and seed planting going on in preparation for those summer glory days - and with the warm weather coming this weekend, I will be able to start putting new beds together and planting out a few of my cool loving flowers. Stay tuned!

03/14/2024

A budget meal made fancy: Roasted chicken breast, served with West End Tiny Farm microgreens, and sautéed root veggies (Japanese sweet potato, rutabaga, carrot, yam, onion and garlic from Red Cliff Farm) with a garlic tahini-soy reduction.

This meal wasn’t that expensive to create but packs tons of nutrition and flavour. If you’re budgeting, but still want to include superfood ingredients into your meals, keeping microgreens in the fridge is a smart way to go. From salads to sandwiches, pastas, and smoothies, these versatile little greens have a place at every table.

Weekly and bi-weekly subscriptions are available, send a message for more info!

03/10/2024

The local food scene in Kamloops is amazing!

I am just a newcomer to it, really - but in the
few short years I’ve been in business, I’ve met so many other awesome growers, producers, makers and bakers … the list goes on and on. It feels good to be able to craft delicious snacks like this with our own local toppings.

⭐️My own rainbow radish microgreens, with their spicy flavour, sit proud on top of this roast beef sandwich.
⭐️The woman behind the pickles (which happen to be my favourite pickles I’ve ever had) are from my friend and neighbour. Dede is the owner of Tudor Farms Dedelicous Preserves , a small home based business specializing in low sugar preserves and pickles. She has become well known in the farmer’s market community and I can’t help but refer to her as the Jam Queen.
⭐️The cucumbers used for the pickles come from another friend of mine, a local farmer named Petra, owner of Red Cliff Farm. Among other things, her garlic, asparagus and tomatoes have also gained notoriety and sell out constantly.

I love trading my microgreens with these incredibley hard working women, receiving high quality products in return. Just between the three of us gals, we each bring something to the table in regard to creating fabulous local food experiences for our families and the community supporting us.

03/03/2024

Upcoming Market!

03/03/2024

Custom-cut microgreens in reusable containers - is anyone else as excited about this as I am?

One of the reasons I am so passionate about my work is that I am able to control the way things are done around here, and what I really mean by that is how -sustainably- things are done around here.

By offering a reusable container to my subscription customers, together we eliminate the need to recycle or throw away plastic packaging. Dozens of custom microgreen orders go out each week in these reusable containers, which REALLY adds up in the long run.

The reusable container idea isn’t mine, of course. Growers, farmers, and producers have been trading containers back and forth for eons. It’s the grocery giants that created such a wasteful single use container system. By supporting local farmers with sustainable practices, you can help make a difference in our environment as well as in our local food security.

🌱

02/18/2024

Peach. 🍑 Mean mugging at all times.
One of my two Buff Orpingtons, she is the largest hen I have at the tiny farm.

Sadly, she’s been limping for the past few months, and even though I’ve examined her multiple times, I haven’t seemed to find the culprit. As a 4 year old hen, she’s actually already approaching the end of her egg laying years and into her senior years. So illness and injury at this age is common.

It’s hard to watch an animal not thrive as it used to, but it’s also encouraging to see her still out hobbling after the other chickens and enjoying sunshine and snacks. Her body is not the vessel it once was, but she still manages to get through her days and maintain her feathery dignity.

02/16/2024

The mighty Micro Mix!

This blend of microgreens is my best selling item. Pea shoots, sunflower, radish, purple kohlrabi, and broccoli are the 5 varieties that make up this delicious little microgreen sampler.

I will have plenty of these available tomorrow (Saturday Feb.17) at the Farmerks Market!

We only have two more dates left of the winter market before we all take our spring break. Come down and support your local growers, bakers, makers and more! Doors open from 10-2 at the Mount Paul Community Food Centre.

Kamloops Regional Farmers' Market
Mount Paul Community Food Centre

🌱

02/13/2024

I’ve been sowing more varieties of seeds these past few days. Mostly tried and true varieties, but a few new ones as well.

I am feeling extra excited about my snapdragons, which are only about 1/4” tall right now.😆 As a beginner gardener, I used to pass by these reliable classics, never appreciating their full beauty. But, since growing them for cutflowers, I now know why so many generations of flower people have fallen in love with them.

🌟They are one of the most vigorous and longest-blooming annual cutflowers, producing bloom after bloom for months on end. They come in an astonishing array of colours and styles, last forever in a vase, are a breeze to propagate, and produce an abundance of seed to share and save for the next growing season.

Do you love snapdragons as much as I do?

02/11/2024

I love receiving photos of my microgreens in action!

This scrumptious and nutritious sushi bowl was put together by Lauren, daughter of one of my lovely regular bi-weekly customers (Hi Jenn!). Lauren is still finishing highschool, but already is a talented (and creative) young chef in the making!

Microgreens are easy to throw in so many dishes, which makes them a great staple to have in the fridge.

If you’re wanting to become a regular microgreen customer, weekly and bi-weekly subscriptions are available! Send a message to learn about varieties and pricing!

🌱

02/09/2024

Broccoli. 🥦 The microgreen superstar🌟.

I’m busy harvesting trays of this mega nutritious little green today, in preparation for the tomorrow.

I will also have other varieties including radish, sunflower, and sandwich booster blends! Doors are open from 10-2 at the Mount Paul Community Food Centre.
Come down and say hi!

- 140 Laburnum Street

02/08/2024

I. Love. Sandwiches.

Such a humble little handheld meal, but oh so versatile. Everyone likes a good sandwich, which makes it the perfect vessel to get microgreens into you and your family’s diet.

Whether you have picky eaters or food snobs to please, tucking some microgreens into sandwiches will always be a win. They’re delicious, and offer FAR superior nutrition than lettuce ever will. (Sorry lettuce, I had to say it. You’ve been demoted!) They even go amazing with eggs, so try them on your next breakfast sandwich or wrap!

Delivery is available during the week,
So send me a message if you want to get fresh microgreens right at your door!

🌱

02/07/2024

I often get asked “How much work goes into microgreens?”

Well, I am not going to say I work as hard as a traditional farmer, (the hardest working people on the planet, IMHO) but I still have my work cut out for me, and this definitely IS a full-time job.

The weeks are packed with time consuming and laborious tasks at home, like washing trays, preparing soil, soaking and planting seeds, watering, constant cleaning, mixing nutrients, keeping humidity/temperature/ ventilation at the optimum levels, harvesting and packing greens, emptying old roots and soil out to the hens and managing that compost system.

On top of the physical work, there is also a ton of business back end work involved. Seed sourcing, seed sowing scheduling, supply pickup, all aspects of customer service, attending markets, microgreen delivery, social media content creation, networking, marketing, and all of that atrocious financial stuff that makes my brain want to leave my body 😝 Phew! It can be a lot.

But I have to say, I do love it. 😊 The ability to grow my tiny farm has been such a blessing, worth every long night and early morning. The sore hands I have at the end of each work day may be a pain, but the rewards I get from pouring myself into this passion project of mine outweighs that discomfort.🌱

02/05/2024

I’ve been busy sowing Snapdragons… because how on earth could I ever have a cutflower garden without them?

I’ve really only grown them for a few years but they have quickly become one of my absolute favourites. Their height, color, form, and bloom time has earned them a “top performer” badge in my garden.

‘Orange Wonder’ is a particularly cherished variety I’ve been growing and saving seeds from. The tropical punch of color goes with almost anything, and the fullness and height of the blooms add so much volume and dimension to flower arrangements.

01/27/2024

Come say hi at the Kamloops Regional Farmers' Market tomorrow!

01/25/2024

Inflammation. 😩

These days you hear a lot of talk about it. Especially as we age and become more aware of our body’s immune responses and recovery systems.

Inflammation is one of those things that if left unchecked in our body for too long, is a major cause of many types of afflictions and chronic disease.

🌱Microgreens can help with keeping inflammation in check. Within these tiny flavour packed plants, there is an entire world of dense nutrition and anti-inflammatory compounds.

🌱Leafy microgreen varieties such as Broccoli, Tatsoi and Kale are loaded with anti-oxidants A, C, and K, which protect cells from free radical damage, and helps decrease inflammation.

🌱If you are looking to add more anti-inflammatory foods to your diet, give microgreens a try!

Pickup and delivery is available throughout the week, send a message for ordering info.🌱

🌱

Address

Kamloops, BC

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when West End Tiny Farm posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Videos

We have a beautiful blue sky above us today at the midweek Kamloops Regional Farmers' Market! Thanks to my abundantly blooming garden, I’ve got fresh cut flower arrangements for sale alongside my microgreens. With only another month or so of warmth, I’m savouring these buds and blossoms, as I know they will be coming to and end soon. Come on down and say hello today! We are here until 1:30pm. There are many other vendors and products to check out, including Frosty Hollow Mushrooms , Red Cliff Farm, Windy Acres Family Farm, to name a few. #westendtinyfarm #kamloopsmicrogreens #kamloopsfarmersmarket #kamloopsflowers

It’s a nice cool day at the midweek Kamloops Regional Farmers' Market! Today I have lots of colourful flowers to chose from, as well as an assortment of tasty and nutritious microgreens! There’s lots of great local vendors here, like Frosty Hollow Mushrooms , Thistle Farm, Forest Garden Soap & Sundry, Red Cliff Farm to name a few. Come on down and say hello! #kamloopsfarmersmarket #westendtinyfarm #supportlocalflowerfarmers #kamloopsmicrogreens #kamloopsurbanagriculturekamloopsurbanagriculture

Arranging flowers on a Sunday - my favourite way to finish off the weekend. Send a message if you would like to order something fun and colourful like these bouquets! Delivery is available ! #kamloopsflowers #kamloopsurbanagriculture #westendtinyfarm #supportlocalflowerfarmers

This week is very hot in town- which means I am extra thankful for my climate controlled work environment. As many of you know, I am a sensitive little peach when it comes to overheating. So as much as I want to be outside playing with flowers all day, sometimes I am forced back into my grow room by the extreme temperatures outside. In here I get to reconnect with my other labour of love, my microgreens. When the grow room is packed full of trays of lush micro-forests, I can’t help but get lost in the beauty of the color, shapes, and growth patterns of the various greens that I grow. They are truly gorgeous to me. #westendtinyfarm #westendtinyfarmmicrogreens #kamloopsmicrogreens #kamloopsverticalfarm #kamloopsurbanagriculture #supportlocalyka #kamloopseatlocal #sustainableagriculture #indoorfarming