We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chelsea James. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chelsea below.

Chelsea, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Creeksouth Farms officially began in 2019. However, the idea of starting a small farm and producing quality food began over 10 years ago. After learning about the farming industry’s unsustainable growing practices, i.e., monocultures, chemical fertilizers, GMOs, pesticides, and more, we built a small vegetable garden in the backyard of our rental home. Then one day, we decided why not do the same, but on a larger scale. So we purchased 10 acres of raw land Southeast of Austin.

It was an exciting milestone, however, the weight of this new debt and maintaining 10 acres became overwhelming quickly. So, we found peace by cultivating a small cut-flower garden that produced a few blooms for our kitchen table.

By the time we set things in motion to start a flower farm, a global pandemic was on the rise. We planted hundreds of seeds in hopes of an abundant harvest we could share with our community. However, as those seeds started blooming, the Covid-19 cases started rising. The goals we set for ourselves and the farm seemed unachievable. However, with the help of our supportive community, we started making contact-free deliveries and scheduling farm pick-ups. Learning about customers’ stories and their needs for flowers was enlightening. We discovered that most everyone purchases flowers out of love. Our job now, was to help spread that love. And now, here we are 4 years later still spreading joy through flowers. Our mobile flower truck has become very popular and is definitely my favorite aspect of our business.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My love affair with flowers began in my tender teen years at a local flower shop. The enchanting allure of flowers captured my heart and sparked a desire to learn more about their beauty and create unique arrangements that would leave a lasting impression. What was once a fleeting fascination, bloomed into a deep passion that led me to make a bold decision of cultivating a flower farm and becoming a full time floral designer.

Inspired by nature, I find immense joy in creating organic and romantic designs that transport you to a world filled with ethereal blooms. My personal style is a combination of modern elegance and timeless charm, seamlessly blending the old with the new. During my free time, you can often find me exploring antique shops, searching for vintage vases and vessels that add a touch of nostalgia to my creations.

Whether it’s a farmer’s market, wedding, or special event, I pour my heart and soul into my creations. Our seasonal market bouquets and everyday arrangements are available at local retailers and farmers markets. We also host pop-up flower shops and seasonal workshops. Our mobile flower truck is popping up all over the Texas Hill Country.

At Creeksouth Farms, we believe that fresh flowers have the power to effortlessly boost your mood and breathe life into any space. That’s why we are committed to making these vibrant and fragrant indulgences accessible to everyone, without breaking the bank. So, whether clients desire a simple bouquet to brighten up their coffee table or an elaborate centerpiece for a special occasion, we have the perfect selection that will keep you surrounded by nature’s wonders.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Farming is all about resiliency. If you fail 10 times before finally succeeding, then you’re doing something right. “Failure is the best teacher,” is our motto around here. Once we acquired our land, we got to work quickly and installed a 20′ greenhouse without any prior knowledge or experience. Needless to stay, Mother Nature had other plans, when she decided to destroy it with her 60 mph winds during a severe thunderstorm. We realized then that farming was going to challenge us in ways that we never thought possible. Thanks to the support of our local community, a gofundme page, and a couple barn-raising parties, we slowly got back into the swing of things.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Our most effective strategy for growing our clientele is definitely face-to-face interaction through farmer’s markets, pop-up shops and workshops.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.creeksouthfarms.com
• Instagram: @creeksouthfarms
• Facebook: @creeksouthfarms

Image Credits
Brooke Taelor Photo