The sweetest micro flower farm has taken root on Kent Island, Maryland. Just off the highway, on a quarter-acre of land, Rachel Davis has created a backyard oasis, turned floral business.
Joy and June Farm is nestled in a residential area where Rachel, her husband and two small children call home. Flower beds overflow with color, texture and bees. There's a playset for the children, and an outdoor mud kitchen too. It's happy. It's thoughtful. And it's a much needed space.
Three years ago, after the birth of her first child, Rachel suffered from postpartum anxiety.
"It was debilitating. I had a lot of fear," she shares. "Fear that I couldn't do it, or that we weren't bonding. Or that I wasn't good enough."
For months on end, Rachel carried the weight of these concerns. She had gotten to the point where she needed something for herself. A push in the right direction. And then it came to her.
Flowers!
"I needed something to get me out of the house, even if it's in our own backyard," Rachel explains. "So I made two 10x4 garden beds."
With the help of her husband, Rachel built out beds for vegetables and flowers.
Not only did the garden alleviate her worries, it gave her family a whole new way to connect. Her eldest is found wondering among the flowers, helping mommy along the way.
"She helps me pull bulbs, clip flowers, and makes little arrangements herself," Rachel smiles.
And her youngest is following behind his big sister's footsteps.
After the first season was over, Rachel was hooked. In 2022, she went all in. She added more flower beds, and started Joy and June Farm. Her micro flower farm is a love note to her children; it's their middle names.
Rachel admits, "I didn't know what it was going to lead into when I started that first little box."
Joy and June Farm focuses on no till, no sprays or chemicals. Regenerative farming methods are a center focus. Birds are welcome to nibble on sunflowers, and pollinators are admired for their work.
This past May, Rachel won a scholarship with Flourish Flower Farm in Asheville, North Carolina. She attended a two-day workshop on all things flower farming.
"It really puts it into perspective that this is doable," Rachel explains. "And that you don't need a lot of space."
She and her husband are currently rearranging the layout of the farm, wanting to utilize every inch possible. She plans to add a hoop house this fall, expand her growing potential into the front yard, and add a cooler in their shed. Chickens are coming too!
Working on a small piece of land gives Rachel room to experiment, without the overwhelm. They would like to stay in the area for 3-5 years, before they take the leap to a larger space. She has dreams of offering u-pick flowers, a small gathering venue, and more. But there's no rush, and where they relocate has to be just right.
"My family is biracial, and thinking about where we live is important," she explains. "My family needs to feel comfortable, and they need to feel safe."
In addition to being a flower farmer, Rachel works full-time at Anne Arundel Community College and holds a Masters Degree in Psychology.
She's busy. She's happy. And she wouldn't want it any other way.
You can find Joy and June Farm at Centreville Farmer's Market on Sundays. Rachel's beautiful blooms are also available through a front porch pick-up, and limited delivery service (including the Western Shore). Subscriptions will be available next spring.
For more details, please visit www.joyandjunefarm.com
*Bouquet photos taken by Rachel Davis
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