Brandy Stephen converted a couple of tobacco greenhouses at Stephen Farms and Garden into a flower haven 3 years ago. Fast forward to now, and she’s selling an assortment of flowers, fruits, and seasonal decorations to the community.
Stephen Farms dates back several generations on her husband Brad’s side of the family. The family has raised tobacco on the farm since its conception, and while that production has dwindled to make room for the flowers, they also grow 1,500 acres of row crop.
“We’ve steadily been cutting down on tobacco acreage,” Stephen said. “We converted the two greenhouses to flowers to see how we would do with this. It’s been going really well, so we plan to stay at it.”
Though seasonal, Stephen also raises strawberries on the farm, struggling to meet the community’s demand.
“We just started experimenting with strawberries, and now we’re on our second year of sales,” she said. “I’ll post the strawberries for sale on Facebook, and as people place an order, I’ll put them back.”
Stephen said they pick the strawberries daily for nearly 3 weeks straight before the season ends.
As customers visit the farm, they can also check out several options for mulch and seasonal decorations. Stephen is a big fan of the fall, offering an assortment of pumpkins, mums, and fall decor during the season.
While Stephen will occasionally lean on friends and family for help, she handles the majority of the operation on her own. She begins her work year in early February and ends in early November, spending many long days and hours perfecting her trade.
“I take pride in it – it’s enjoyable,” she said. “I want to make sure we have a good product for our customers to share with their family and friends.”
The farm is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. For more information about Stephen Farms and Garden, search them on Facebook.
“If it weren’t for the community, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Stephen said. “It’s the main reason we’re out here and still going. I can’t say enough about how supportive this community has been.”
