Summer Leaps
Summer Season 5 years ago.
My friend Andrea called me up. We farmed and lived together at Wild Willow in my early farming days, circa 2012. We stayed in touched as we bounced around to different farms, and one fall, we got together in her gardens out in New Mexico. We plotted out what a farm of our own would look like. We sat in the middle of the fields with pens and papers, and ideas, smiles, and hope. Life swept us up and we thought about moving to Bend, Oregon and things didn’t really align. Until one summer she called me up and said, "you know that farm we talk about when you came to visit me in New Mexico? The one where we said we'd start a farm together? It is time." This was the summer of 2020.
At the moment, I was working for The Ecology Center at the FarmLab campus in Encinitas (where I farm now!) and life was actually really good. I had paid vacation for the first time since my job at the San Diego Water Board, I was making $22/hour farming, and I got to cultivate a community and a space under almost entirely my own direction. Life was good. So when suggested that it was time to make the "Big Leap," I actually didn't hesitate. I always like making big moves in life when I feel really good. And this was the Big Idea that I had been dreaming of since I got into farming 8 years before.
The decision to make the leap was a calculated one. While I like taking risks (like paragliding off mountains), when it comes to financial risks, I'm less brave. At the time, I really didn't think I had what it took to do it on my own, especially when it came to the administrative lift of starting up and running a small business. I partnered with not 1, not 2, but 3 other women in the early days of BeeWorthy. And as you may or may not know, I currently am the sole owner of BeeWorthy.
While I still believe in partnerships being a powerful asset, I’m much more aware of how to hold others accountable and take more calm in my own vision and skills. This is important as I navigate the next leaps of my life, which led me deeper and deeper into my own confidence, ability, and courage. Each summer, since that first summer of 2020, has continued to leap me forward.
Summer 2021, I put my notice in to the Ecology Center for my last day in November 2021. This would allow me to focus 100% on getting the new farm started and give the Ecology Center the lead time to find my successor.
Summer 2022, I made the decision to leave our first farm in Santee and consolidate our entire operation into 1 space in Encinitas. Before this, we were growing in 2 locations, running seedling production in my front yard in North Park, and designing in Diana’s garage in Point Loma!
Summer 2023, I had to acknowledge and take accountability for the go-go-go hustle culture I was engaging in was harmful. And in doing so, used my voice to bring awareness towards a dynamic that was no longer serving the person that I was becoming. I advocated for myself (and the farm) to be a bigger priority so that BeeWorthy could fully come into its own.
Summer 2024, I woke up to the reality of my situation and just how much I was carrying. I needed to radically simplify my life. I brought myself back into the alignment with what sparks joy in me and fought for the spaciousness to shine bright by letting go of the burden of carrying other's unspoken needs.
Summer 2025...
After so much transformation these past 5 years, I’m back feeling into a really good space. I'm able to carve out time for myself, keep a balance of friends and family fun, run up a mountain to fly every chance I get, and enjoy full and joyful moments at the farm and in my business. Time for another leap? You bet! If you know me, I’m always looking toward the next thing that will support the business, progress my leadership, and bring more joy.
Cue in: the SD Flower Hub! This week we just delivered our first order through the SD Flower Hub. A vision that has been in the works since day 0 of BeeWorthy, I am so proud to have seen this though to today. With 4 farms currently onboarded, and another 3 this week, I am hoping we can collectively bring MORE local blooms to our amazing florist community. And in doing so, make local flower farming a more viable career for us growers. I am incredibly grateful for the folks that have brought this to life alongside me: Ellee, KK, Amy, Annelise, Veronica, and Jeannie! Partnerships in a new way. Where each person is grounded and secure in their own roles, businesses, and abilities. Partnerships where there is a bit more room for each to be their own unique and beautiful selves.
Let’s cheers to taking the big LEAP!
