OUR STORY & FARM PRACTICES
Pura Vida Flower Farm is a small, family-owned farm in Vero Beach, FL specializing in organically grown cut flowers. We have deep family roots in local agriculture, specifically the citrus-industry in Indian River County but our personal growing journey started by attempting to grow organic veggies for ourselves and then our 3 young kids. We quickly learned the benefit of flowers to protect, strengthen, and even flavor our veggies – and our love for sharing our flourishing blooms followed shortly after. We are passionate about growing our flowers organically and regeneratively in order to steward our land for generations. We are committed to continue learning, growing, educating, and sharing. We consider it such an honor to offer our bounty to our local community.
Natalie is a 5th generation local to Vero Beach and is blessed with a huge family. She holds an honors bachelors degree in biology and spent most of her early 20’s in the medical field. Although that was fulfilling for a time, she always entertained different creative outlets and hobbies. After falling in love with growing, she felt she had attained the perfect trifecta of a career. Flower farming strikes all the right cords - intricate applications of microbiology that pack meaning, an explosion of creative outlets with floral design, photography, web design, social media content etc, and the opportunity to be a fully present, intentional parent.
We do not use any synthetic fertilizers. One of the main sources of food for our plants comes from the castings of our small worm farm.
We are often met with amazement and disbelief at the varieties we are able to grow, many of which customers have never laid eyes on. This is because the majority of flowers do not ship well. So, if someone local is not growing them, there is no way for them to get here! We love closing this gap and introducing you to all the gorgeous varieties of flowers out there.
Natalie & Jarred are high school sweethearts and are blessed with 4 amazing kids.
Our bread and butter lies in growing tons of unique varieties around the farm. This biodiveristy allows a natural balance of bug and nutrient balance which causes everything to thrive. They also add a really special touch to our arrangements. Its a win-win!
So what does “regenerative” mean anyways? A buzz word, maybe! But to us it means everything. In short, it means that any decision we make regarding the farm will prioritize the soil. We are keenly aware of the blessing that is our soil and we know inevitably it will not always belong to us. We are nearly exclusively no-till, we mulch heavily, rotate crops, and we are constantly introducing life to the soil through compost teas and native fungi inoculations. We are passionate about being good stewards of our soil and will leave it better than we found it. Who knows, maybe someone a century from now will realize a dream and become a flower farmer!
Jarred grew up in Vero Beach and studied at bible college abroad shortly out of high school. After returning to the US, he joined the air force where he acquired mechanical and technical skills related to the aeronautics industry. He continues to progress in his field as a software engineer. All of the skills gained in his career played a major role in crossing into farming. He has learned to master large scale irrigation networks and plot plans. His true passion lies in the techniques of natural farming. Jarred is an encyclopedia of knowledge on the natural farming world and is always whipping up a new concoction of native fungi inoculant or fermented sea water to continue healing the soil. He is lit up by the fulfillment of flower farming and the quality family time it allows.
Toddlers in tow! You can frequently find us with a toddler (or 2..or 3) strapped to our backs while we mow or running barefoot through the fields. They can name more varieties than the average adult & we consider them master pruners! There are so many lessons embedded in farming and we love learning alongside them.
Have questions about our farming practices? Please reach out! We’re happy to tell you in detail.
