Planting Joy
Early on, Courtney and Andrew Witt dreamed of a rural lifestyle. The Witts lived in California when they began raising a backyard flock of chickens. The hobby sparked a passion for agriculture in the young couple, and Andrew decided to enroll in a livestock management program at their local community college.
As graduation neared, the couple began discussing moving to Texas when one of Andrew’s professors, an Arkansan himself, promised extra credit if they took an exploratory trip to Arkansas during spring break.
The Witts fell in love with the Arkansas hills and laid-back atmosphere, eventually landing on Johnson County as their new home in 2015.
Fast forward several years, the Witts were living their dream on a small cattle farm while working two off-farm jobs. The couple longed for more time together as a family and sought to purchase Blossomberry Nursery, a local retail garden center.
Through a series of fortunate events – the right appraisal price, a cash offer on their original home and farm, and a quick closing with Farm Credit of Western Arkansas, the Witts became the proud new owners of the nursery.
Local Support
In less than a year, the Witts transformed the nursery by giving the grounds and store a complete makeover and converting the back part of the building into their new home.
Shaping and growing their own business has come with its share of challenges, from learning how to grow plants in greenhouses to discovering how to produce income in all seasons.
“It felt a lot like diving off the deep end of a wave pool with ankle weights on,” Courtney said. “But we have been so thankful for all the people who have helped us.”
The local agriculture community rallied around the Witts as they found their footing as new business owners.
Opportunities to Bloom
While horticulture is at the heart of the nursery, Andrew and Courtney saw an opportunity to share their farm and lives with others – from hosting family gatherings to cooking breakfast for neighbors and a horticultural-themed book club. The Witts also added a U-cut flower farm as an attraction. Today, rows of brightly colored zinnias and vibrant cosmos greet you as you pull down the gravel drive.
As the Witts breathe life back into the nursery, they take the rich 40-year history of Blossomberry seriously.
“This place is such a huge piece of Johnson County history. So many people come up to us and say, ‘Some of my best childhood memories were at Blossomberry,’” Courtney said.
From their children to the wide range of visitors they welcome each week, Blossomberry Nursery is a place enjoyed and cherished by all generations.
“We wanted this to be a place where people can come and bring a book and enjoy a picnic with their kids,” Andrew said. “Just go out, sit in the fields, and let your kids roam and be kids.”
This article was originally published by Farm Credit of Western Arkansas.
