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

Alright, Leah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Growth is exciting, but from what we’ve seen across thousands of conversations with entrepreneurs it’s also dangerous if costs aren’t watched closely – sometimes costs can grow out of control outpacing revenue growth and putting the viability of the entire business at risk. How have you managed to keep costs under control?

One thing my husband and I were committed to from the beginning was NOT getting into debt. It’s something that we keep on top of mind as we continue to grow. This meant that we only purchased equipment or supplies when absolutely necessary or as we had more cashflow. A tractor is often seen as a necessary tool on a farm, but we are a small-scale operation. However, since we were not involved in the development of the property, everything is at a distance, eg production area is at one end of the property while the farm shop where the studio and walk-in cooler are located at the other end. The greenhouse is in the middle. To improve efficiency, we were finally able to purchase a tractor in our 3rd year of operation.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I think I share a similar story to many entrepreneurs who leave the corporate world to start their journey. I’ve always had an affinity for nature, being outdoors, and plants. Although not a designer myself, my career in architecture and landscape architecture fields exposed me to a wide array of design, art, and horticulture. There was one particular landscape architecture studio that taught me a great deal about plants. It really cemented my love of horticulture and a desire to pursue something related to it in the future. Flower farming never entered my mind though. Once we bought our home that came with little bit of property in 2019, it really had me dreaming about starting a plant nursery. However, I had started following so many flower farmers on Instagram by that point, and I also wanted to be surrounded by and send out beautiful flowers into the world. Initially I was still working part-time remotely and trying to start the farm. That turned out to be too challenging so I decided to go all in with the farm spring of 2020. I really had no idea what and how much we could could grow in Central Oregon since we had moved from California where we could have grown year-round. Although we have a short growing period, it surprises me, even now, the bounty that comes out of our fields.

Once the flowers started, I wanted to explore all their different uses. Dried florals have returned in popularity, and I attempted to see what I could make out of them. The most popular item I make are dried flower wreaths. I have really appreciated the response from the community for these, and now offer workshops for people to explore their creative side with dried flowers. Building community through this activity has been just amazing, and one of pride for me as I continue to learn and grow along them.

Spring of 2023, a storefront was added, and we opened a wholesale flower market in Bend, OR, to serve florists and other businesses. The nearest flower market is in Portland, a 6-hour round trip, which makes it challenging for florists to do in-person shopping on a regular basis. My hope is to fill and expand this niche and need for this region. I am proud that we supply 100% locally grown flowers (all Oregon grown) and partner with other small-scale flower growers in Central Oregon and Willamette Valley. Not only do I want to easily connect local flowers with local florists, I also want to provide a revenue channel for small growers who may not necessarily want to go the traditional route of farmers markets.

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

Weather in Central Oregon can swing dramatically day by day/hour by hour – since becoming a farmer, I check the weather app multiple times a day. Early summer of 2023, we experienced a late frost in June that killed three rows of heat loving annuals at our farm. Due to the short growing season, this meant that I could not restart to grow nor supply these to the florists at the wholesale market. It was devastating, but, at the same, I knew that I could lean on our partner farms who could supply what I lost. I appreciate that we have these partners which allows us to continue to operate the flower market and support our customers.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I get to call my co-founder and business partner my husband. Having one’s life partner as a business partner has its challenges, but I love the fact that we have created something beautiful together, on our own. We met during college while we both worked at a veterinary hospital. Our love of nature and animals, domestic and wild, has been a common bond throughout our lives. He is someone I can depend on and could not ask for a better partner, in life and business. Even though I am the one with business background, he brings the logic into the equation. I conjure up ideas and dreams, he problem solves and makes it a reality. I can honestly say that he really is my better half and no one understands me better, even when I can’t vocalize it (which is quite often).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stumpmunkfarms.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumpmunkfarms/, https://www.instagram.com/floradeschutes/

Image Credits
Personal photo is by Loma Smith of Loma Smith Photography