Mount Olive Farms Is A Regenerative Flower Farm In Arkansas That's Giving Comfort And Joy, One Beautiful Bouquet At A Time
By Beth Price-Williams|Published April 19, 2024
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Most of us probably would never have imagined that life would shift so dramatically for the entire world in 2020, that we’d live through a global pandemic where terms like isolation, social distancing, and masking would become a regular part of our vocabulary. While those months brought uncertainty and fear for many, the pandemic also meant reevaluating priorities and, in some cases, making significant life changes. Some amazing new ventures, including Mount Olive Farms, one of the best small businesses in Arkansas, were among the good that resulted from that turbulent era.
Interested to learn about other unique American small businesses? Our Small Business Spotlight series highlights the often-overlooked work of small business owners across the country, from Maine to Southern California.
Kayla Crow’s life is vastly different today from what it was just a few years ago. Back then, she logged long hours as a nurse practitioner, dealing with heartache, on a regular basis, that most of us can only imagine. As is often the case in highly stressful careers, she eventually suffered from burnout and stepped away from practicing full-time.
To combat the burnout, Crow sought solace and healing through gardening. As she healed, she became inspired. She started researching regenerative farming, determined to start a business that would help bring that same comfort and joy that her garden brought her to others.
“We had always wanted to use our land to benefit our community and now I had the capacity to dream what that could be,” Crow says. “After much research, the flower farm was born with an emphasis on a U-pick experience and regenerative farming methods.”
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) defines regenerative farming as a philosophy which results in farming and ranching that works in “harmony with nature” by using such techniques as covering crops and composting.
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Mount Olive Farms quickly established itself as a gem in Northwest Arkansas, welcoming visitors to experience the simple joy of strolling through fields of flowers where, from mid-June through mid-October, u-pick is available.
The Arkansas farm provides everything necessary, including buckets and shears, to make the u-pick experience seamless. All you need to bring is a sense of adventure and cash; credit cards are allowed but include processing fees.
Mount Olive Farms in Arkansas recommends wearing practical shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and bug spray. While you will be provided with a bucket to pick flowers, you might want to bring a bucket or a vase to carry them home.
The u-pick experience is just a glimpse at what this flower farm has to offer. During u-pick, its farm stand is open, and sells lip balms, small batch soaps, and an assortment of locally-made products.
Guests can even glamp at the flower farm. A four-person yurt sits near the field, where you’ll find modern comforts paired with old-fashioned camping experiences, like roasting marshmallows over a campfire.
But the impact of Mount Olive Farms goes beyond the farm's borders. In an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of imported flowers, Crow offers wholesale services to local florists and Community Supported Agriculture subscriptions, and she sells the farm’s flowers at the Bentonville Farmers Market.
While running a business has its challenges, Crow has learned to go with the flow, straddling that fine line of having enough time for family and growing Mount Olive Farms. “Having the autonomy and creative freedom to dream of what our business could be keeps me constantly motivated and inspired to keep pushing forward,” Crow says.
“Mount Olive Farms exists to fuel kindness within Northwest Arkansas by providing exceptional and sustainably grown flowers to the community so that the recipient might feel the heart of the giver and the stewardship of the grower,” she says.
Many thanks to Kayla Crow for sharing the story and history of Mount Olive Farms for the 2024 Small Business Spotlight. Learn more and support this iconic Arkansas flower farm by visiting the Mount Olive Farms Facebook page.
Of course, Mount Olive Farms is one of many amazing businesses in Arkansas that’s doing great things in the state. If you have another business you’d like to see profiled on Only In Arkansas, please nominate them for a chance to be featured. And be sure to follow Only In Arkansas on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know on the state’s events, restaurants, local businesses, and hidden gems.
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