Frequently Asked Questions & Flower Care

Can we drop by the farm?

Unfortunately we are not offering tours at this time. We will have a few scheduled events. These will be announced via social media/our events section and email newsletter so subcribe for more details.

Our farm is also our home so we try to maintain privacy for our family. PLEASE DO NOT COME THROUGH OUR GATES WHEN OPEN OR CLOSED!

Do you allow photoshoots at the farm?

At this time we are not allowing photos shoots. If this changes it will be offered through a photographer with booked time slots. We will announce when this becomes available.

Do you arrange flowers for events/weddings

We are always open to new ideas! contact us to discuss the details.

Info@simplerthymesfarmstead.com

Are you eggs organic?

No. our eggs are not certified organic. Our hens free range and eat bugs, grass and they are also supplemented with high quality laying feed that we ferment to provide the best possible nutrition.

Do you wash your eggs before I buy them?

No. our eggs come right out of the coop and into an egg container. We collect them daily and in the Summer multiple times a day. You can feel confident you are getting the freshest eggs on the farm. The hens produce a natural coating that covers the egg called bloom. This protects the egg from bacteria getting through the shell and allows eggs to be stored at room temperature for up to 3 weeks and months in the refrigerator if not washed.

We suggest you wash them just before preparing them.

Is your honey local and raw?

Yes. All of our honey comes from the hives right here on the farm. Our bees forage pollen from all the flowers and trees around our property. We jar it from its natural state right out of the hive.

 

Tips to help your blooms stay beautiful

  • Replenish the water frequently. Change the water entirely every 2-3 days.

    Flowers are thirsty! Be sure to change out your water completely every 2-3 days. Flowers carry small amounts of bacteria in their stems and this will help to keep that growth down. (It will also prevent that smell fresh instead of smelling rotten.)

    Add flower food to extend your vase life even more. There are some great DIY flower food recipes online.

  • Trim at least a half inch of stem off your flowers before you put them in a vase and each time you change the water.

    After getting your flowers home you will want to re-cut the stems. This helps expose the stem tissue to the water and allows it to rehydrate.

  • Keep your flowers away from heat and bright light.

    Sometimes people think they should set their vase of flowers in a sunny windowsill since that is where a plant would be happiest. However, cut flowers are actually the opposite of potted plants. They are at their peak of perfection. Sun and heat will encourage them to “mature” and thus quicken their demise. Instead, keep your cut flowers in a cool dark spot if you would like them to last as long as possible.

  • Avoid sitting your flowers beside ripening fruit or vegetables, especially bananas and apples.

    Ripening fruit gives off an odorless invisible gas called ethylene. This gas is harmless to humans, but rather deadly to flowers. The science behind it is as such: in the plant world, flowers are the precursor of fruit. Once a flower is pollinate, it begins to develop into a fruit so it can form seeds and start the plant life cycle over again. Ethylene is the gaseous hormone in the plant that induces that flower to drop its petals and become a fruit. As the fruit matures, it continues to give off ethylene. When you sit your vase of flowers next to ripening fruit, you’re exposing them to this gas and they will decide they’d better drop their petals the way Mother Nature intended.

  • After you throw out your last arrangement, be sure to wash the vase/container very thoroughly in hot soapy water or, better yet, in your dishwasher.

    Bacteria build up in dirty vases and do not go away just because the vase dries out. As soon as you add water again, the vase will once again be full of bacteria and your new bouquet will be subjected to the same bacteria that killed the last bouquet. Give your flowers a fresh clean environment free of bacteria and they will last much longer.

  • Use “flower food” for most flowers.

    While changing the water every other day or so is often just as effective for making flowers last longer, adding those flower food packets that come with packaged flowers are beneficial as well. This is especially true if you’re forgetful/lazy and won’t be changing your flowers’ water regularly. In addition to “feeding” the bouquet, these food packets contain a bactericide that keeps the water fresh for a day or two longer. You can make your own flower food by adding about 1 teaspoon of sugar, 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and a 1 teaspoon of bleach to your vase before adding about a quart of warm tap water. It is worth noting that there are a few flowers that actually do NOT like flower food in the vase. Some of these are: zinnias, sunflowers and glads.